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“Book me on that plane, Celt; I don’t care what it takes. I won’t miss Mick’s burial. Are the band looking after his wife and children?” Celt looked up in shock. Chey’s memories should have reset by now. Yet Chey was still crying and asking questions. Horror flooded Celt. Was Chey finally remembering? Celt hadn’t wanted to be the one to break the news to her.
“Chey, do you remember what I said?” Celt asked gently. Chey nodded, and Celt hit the call button.
“Celt, my legs won’t move,” Chey whispered. Celt’s gaze held hers with sorrow, and Chey let out a strangled sob.
“Chey…”
“Am I paralysed, Celt? Tell me!” Chey screamed as Nana entered the room. Chey’s wild gaze flicked to Nana.
“Cheyenne,” Nana murmured soothingly.
“Am I fucking paralysed?” Cheyenne cried. Tears welled in Nana’s eyes.
“Nana!” Celt tried to warn Nana, but she ploughed ahead.
“Might as well explain to you; you won’t recall this in a few moments. Yes, Cheyenne, the crash paralysed you. The doctors give little chance of you walking again.”
“Oh, my God. Mick’s dead, and I’m a cripple. I’ll never walk again?” Chey cried as tears fell freely.
“It’s okay, baby, you won’t remember in a few seconds,” Nana muttered.
“Nana, she remembers everything. Chey hasn’t reset for two minutes,” Celt said carefully. Nana’s guilt-stricken face turned to Chey, and horror crossed it.
“Theanterograde amnesia has gone?” Nana exclaimed as Chey sobbed into her hands.
“Yes,” Celt replied as Doc Paul rushed in with a nurse. The grim looks that met him told Paul all he needed to know.
???
“You have to release a statement, Ken. You did with Mick’s death, but you need to inform the press about my medical condition now. Nana has explained how the media has been hounding everybody,” I said listlessly. It was the following day. I had banned everyone from my room yesterday except Nana, Jed, and Jesse. The struggle to understand that Mick was gone, and I was paralysed, was immense, and I’d needed time to process everything.
“That may be a wise course of action. The media are making wild stories up, and the band and family are at breaking point,” Ken replied.
“Just tell them, Ken, I’ll be leaving here in a wheelchair.”
“Chey, the doctors think you have a slight chance of walking again. Don’t give up hope,” Ken chastised me.
“Ken, I love you dearly, but please. The neurosurgeon who flew in gave me a five percent chance of walking. For now, instead of the band concentrating on Kye, they’re focused on both of us. We were meant to be committing to Kye, and I’ve taken attention away from him.”
“Five percent is better than zero. You’re stubborn Chey; you will do the physiotherapy and walk again. We’re having a room converted into a gym, and we are hiring the equipment needed that the neurosurgeon and physiotherapist have suggested. We’ve hired one of the top therapists in the country to help you. And God damn it, Chey, we won’t let you give up!” Ken shouted the last and made me jump.
“Ken, everything is overwhelming; Mick is dead,” my voice wobbled, but I continued, “I am paralysed. I’m doing my best. But I can still sing, even if it’s from a wheelchair. I am lucky to have a career remaining. Mick hasn’t, and I feel terrible. If I hadn’t asked Mick to take me to Hellfire, that juggernaut wouldn’t have been able to hit us.” Ken looked uncomfortable and avoided eye contact. “Ken!”
“Chey, there’s something else,” Ken said guiltily.
“What?” I snarled. Come on, hadn’t I suffered enough?
“It wasn’t an accident. Detective Hawthorne has been reviewing any footage he could get his hands on. The lorry was idling until Mick drove out of the forecourt, and then the driver slammed his foot down. It was deliberate.” Ken’s words left me reeling. Surely Ken couldn’t be saying what I thought he was. Because that meant that even if it hadn’t been that time, the following chance may have included Jesse being hurt or worse.
“Someone tried to kill me?”
“Twice Chey. We’re not sure who is behind it, but security and Spearfish police are combing through the mail that we isolate. They’re hoping to find a clue there, but Tobias has disappeared. We don’t know Tobias’s role in this, but we think he’s playing an active part.” Ken dropped the bomb.
“Get Jesse to a safehouse now,” I demanded. Ken went even redder. “Where is my son!” I shrieked.
“Jesse, Nana and Jed have been staying at Hellfire since Detective Hawthorne broke the news. Jed argued, but Chance pointed out the easiest way to reach you was through them. They’ve been there two nights.”
“Are you kidding me!” I exploded, and Ken blanched. Why is Hellfire involved?
