Fallen Idol (Love and Music in Texas Book 4)

by Nikki Lynn Barrett

"Kyra!" Matt exclaimed as he appeared at the top of the stairway. He made it to her in no time, somehow even in a rush he managed not to trip like she had. He scooped her in his arms and aided her to the living room. Dad paced, talking into his phone.

  "Amy just called," David said quietly to Kyra. "She's-"

  "You're where?" Dad's voice raised a few notches.

  Uh oh. That didn't sound good at all. At least she was safe. And alive.

  "Did you see the video?" Mom asked.

  "Dad called my name just as I was about to." Kyra ignored the throb of her ankle as she hobbled to her mother's side.

  "How the hell are we supposed to get you from there? What were you thinking, Amy?" Dad glanced at Kyra, covered the mouthpiece and informed them. "She was with Brandon on her way to Nashville. Amy had a change of heart and the man left her at the Texas/Louisiana border. She's stranded."

  *****

  "We're almost there," Matt assured a very fidgety Kyra. She kept checking her phone, then looked out the window as if anything would change in five seconds. She was nervous, he understood that. Something still didn't seem right about Amy's story, and hopefully once he and Kyra got there to pick her up, the holes would be filled. They never did look at the video Mark sent, and he'd called a few times.

  When they found out where Amy was, Matt volunteered to go pick her up. Neither of the Sanders' were in a good enough condition to drive the distance. Andrew stayed at the Sanders' house.

  "Does she know I'm coming with you?" How many times had Kyra asked this already? Matt continued to be patient. She was just upset. There went her drumming fingers again on the door handle. This time it didn't bother him.

  He shifted his gaze to her for a brief time, wishing he could hold her in his arms to calm her. Instead, he moved one hand off the wheel and covered her hand with it. "She knows, baby. I don't think your sister is in any position to complain. We're going to go get her and get back."

  "I should have looked at that video. Matt? Thank you. I can't ever thank you enough for all you do for my family." Kyra's tear-filled voice left an imprint on his heart. This woman! She was so much more than he'd imagined. Trouble followed her, but he could get past that. All he wanted to know was that he might have a chance to win her heart. He wanted to. It was too soon to say he loved Kyra, but there were a lot of feelings she stirred up inside him. She'd opened a piece of his soul he'd closed off. Musician or no musician, Matt wanted Kyra in his life, somehow.

  "Your family means a lot to me," he replied softly. As do you. Should he say that right now?

  "Do you want me to drive? You aren't tired?" They'd stopped for coffee. It had woken Matt up and done the same thing for Kyra, but she continued to babble. Was it the coffee jitters or nerves? Both maybe?

  "We're almost there. I'm okay. Promise." He moved his hand from hers, ran it up her arm in a comforting way, then placed it back on the wheel.

  "Mark set up radio interviews for me this week in Texas." She changed the subject quick.

  "That man never stops working, does he?" Matt didn't even try to hide his annoyance. Kyra's time was meant to be spent with her family, and her manager should respect that. Okay, so she was in the midst of making her comeback and they had so much riding on it, but couldn't the man bend the rules a little and cut Kyra some slack?

  "I think it's because of the break in, the fire, and my family's troubles. He's trying to kill off some of the rumors flying around, some including you."

  "Am I a knight in shining armor again?" he teased. "We can leave that rumor alone. I'm fine with it," Matt said, as he caressed her knee.

  "Actually, the newest one is that you're using me to get your ex-wife in the music business as an attempt to win her back."

  Matt hissed. He nearly swerved off the road. That one came out of left field. "Kyra-"

  "I don't believe it for a second." She cut him off.

  Anger surged. Blood boiled. "Not the point. I know you don't think that. How the hell do these things go around?" First Kendra's call the other day, now this bullshit rumor?

  "People are nosy. They look up things on the web. They probably associated her with you and just let the lies fly. I'm sorry."

  "When did you hear this?"

  "Earlier today. I was going to tell you..."

  "I don't doubt it. But with your mom coming home and now Amy..."

  "Yeah."

  They drove in silence. Matt thought about what she'd just told him and wondered. This would be the kind of thing he'd have to deal with if they wound up together. Could he really handle it? Then he thought about Kendra's random call the other day and her abrupt comment about Kyra, then about coming home for Andrew's birthday. Maybe she'd started the rumor. There were a few stories about Matt and Kyra lately, so it wasn't hard to figure out he was somewhat involved with her.

  Matt pulled up to the motel and cringed. This place didn't look good at all. It reminded him of a haunted hotel in a horror film or something. Amy was here by herself? At least when she'd called, Kyra was able to set up a room for Amy so she didn't have to roam around the unfamiliar streets at night.

  Matt's phone rang as he pulled into the run down looking place. He parked, then reached for it. Kyra's father. "Hey, we just got here."

  "Matt, be careful. One of the hired bodyguards was just found dead. I don't know who that Brandon guy is, but he's dangerous. Bring my girls home safe."

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Kyra barely paid attention to Matt and the phone call. As soon as he parked, she opened the door and ran toward the shabby building, both anxious and nervous to see her sister. Amy hadn't given them much to go on, so her mind played way too many scenarios. She breezed by the front desk, barely stopping as she asked for the room number. The man behind the desk shot her a bemused look, but pointed. Yeah, it was late. Very late. By the looks of this area, she'd bet this man had seen stranger things than a woman running inside. He probably thought she was a hooker looking for her late night booty call. If she wasn't so freaked out about Amy, she'd laugh over the thought.

  Reaching the door, she wondered where Matt was. Kyra knocked. "Amy? We're here." That's when Matt approached, waving her down. "What took you so long?" She asked when he was close enough.

  "Kyra, I've got some-" Matt's statement was interrupted by the door opening. Amy peered out. Kyra took in the sights of her sister's puffy eyes and red tear stained cheeks.

  "Come in." Her voice was hoarse. Amy took a step back, allowing room for Kyra and Matt to come in. Once they did, she peered out the door, then closed and locked it.

  "What the hell is going on?" Kyra questioned.

  Matt reached for her hand. "Stay calm," he whispered softly. "I know it's not easy, believe me, I know. But we have some big things to deal with here."

  "You think?" she snapped. Matt reeled back and let go of her hand. She shouldn't have yelled at him. Matt was right. They needed to be calm. Kyra tugged on his hand, pulling him close to her again, and mouthed an 'I'm sorry.'

  Amy flopped down on the chair and covered her face with her hands. "I swear I wasn't pulling a stunt. I know with everything going on and how I've acted you won't believe me, but-" She choked back a sob. "I told Mom and Dad I went with him willingly, but it's not the truth."

  Kyra settled in the chair across from her sister. Thinking about Matt's advice to stay calm, she spoke quietly. "Tell us what happened."

  Matt pulled up another chair and scooted it as close to Kyra as he could. He reached for her hand and held it against his chest.

  Amy moved her hands away from her face. "Okay. I've been dating an older guy."

  "We got that much. Sharon told us."

  Her sister squeezed her eyes shut. "Damn it. Well, you must know where I met him then?" She looked Kyra in the eye.

  "Yes."

  "So you know I've been singing."

  "Yes." Amy was stalling.

  "Brandon has been trying to coax me to make a career out of it. I mean really pushing hard.
"

  "Were you two fighting in the park the other night over it?" Matt asked.

  Kyra raised her brows at him. What the hell was he talking about?

  "Yes." Amy's voice came out small and timid.

  "So, today..." Kyra prodded. The back story they could find out later.

  Her sister heaved a long sigh before continuing. "Brandon picked me up from the choir room, saying he was going to take me to see Mom. He knew we were bringing her home today. He lied, obviously. He had bags packed in the car. I didn't see them until later. We stopped by his house for something and then we left, me still thinking we were going to Mom. When I discovered we weren't heading anywhere near the hospital, Brandon's attitude changed. He said we were going to Nashville and that he'd contacted your manager with a video of us singing, and that we were going to meet him. My battery died, so I couldn't call. This was the first stop we made and I managed to fight him off. He screamed at me that it wasn't the end and drove off."

  "What kind of threats?" Was Brandon behind everything?

  Amy flashed a guilty look. "He threatened to hurt David, Mom, Dad, and you."

  Matt's grip on Kyra's hand tightened. "How old is this guy, Amy? How much do you know about him?"

  "He's twenty five." Amy blanched even before Kyra or Matt's reaction. "And I thought I knew him pretty well. He's got an amazing voice. We sing well together. I want music in my life, but I don't want to live in your damn shadow." Her voice changed from fear to bitter.

  "So you hid it from Mom and Dad. Don't you know they would have supported your career too if that's what you want to do?" Kyra let the information sink in.

  Amy jumped up from her seat. "It's not about that! I know they would, or at least thought so. I don't want to be the girl known as Kyra Sanders' sister. You had the spotlight for so long. Every time I perform, that's what I hear. 'Oh look, Amy Sanders is following in her famous sister's footsteps.'"

  "Brandon isn't happy with this," Matt stated.

  "Hell no. We've been told we'd make an amazing duo. He's not happy that I hold back." Pacing the room, Amy stopped abruptly at the window and glanced out.

  "What do you keep looking around for?" Kyra's senses were on alert.

  "I don't know. I've had this bad feeling. This area also creeps me out. Can we get the hell out of here?"

  "We can go home now," Kyra said softly. So far, at least Amy wasn't cussing her out, but the revelations weren't easy to hear. The last thing she wanted was for her sister to resent her. Even though Kyra had been told this before, it was hard when Amy finally admitted it.

  "I'm going to go to the bathroom then." Her sister flipped her hair back and headed towards the adjacent room. The door closed with a loud thud.

  Matt turned to Kyra. "I need you to listen to me and keep this quiet. We don't want to alarm your sister right now, but that phone call I got was from your dad. One of the bodyguards assigned to tail your sister was found dead. I think this guy she's dating is far more dangerous than we all know."

  Kyra's hand flew to her mouth and she held back a wave of nausea. Bile still rose in her throat. "Oh God. Matt-"

  "Shh. I know it's hard to keep quiet about this, but we need all the information about him we can get from her. Once we get back to town, the police are going to want to talk to your sister. She's going to have to admit this wasn't intentional."

  "Do you think he's the one who-" Kyra's heart raced.

  The bathroom door opened and Amy stepped out. She grabbed her purse, glancing warily at the two. "Let's go, please? I want this nightmarish night to be done with. I just want to go home."

  *****

  The ride home was more tense than Matt had encountered in a long time. Luckily, Amy fell asleep in the back and the conversation between him and Kyra was light. She kept closing her eyes as well, but fought to stay awake, saying she wanted to keep him company. After a quick stop for coffee and a bathroom break, he told her to get some sleep. Looking over at her now that they were almost home, Matt smiled. Kyra was out, too. This was going to be a long night even when they arrived back, so he was glad she got a little rest.

  Matt pulled up in front of the Sanders' house. The porch light was on, as was a light from the living room. After cutting the engine, he brushed his hand against Kyra's arm. Damn, he hated to wake her. If only he could carry her inside, up the stairs, and set her gently down in her bed and crawl in beside her. But he couldn't. They had the police to talk to, her parents to calm, her sister to deal with, and so much more. Plus, work was only four hours away, and he had a feeling coffee would be his best friend all day.

  Kyra stirred and mumbled something. He didn't catch most of it, but clearly heard his name at the end. "Hey, sleeping beauty. We're back." He continued to rub her arm until she turned her head, blinked, and stared at him. As if something stabbed her from behind, she sat up on full alert.

  Kyra unbuckled her seatbelt and shook her sister's leg. "Amy. Wake up, we're home."

  Wasn't this going to be fun. Matt wondered who'd be the one to tell Amy her boyfriend possibly was a murderer?

  Kyra still favored her other foot from her slip down the stairs earlier. Amy already ran inside, so Matt stayed behind and aided Kyra. He wrapped his arm around her waist and instructed her to lean on him. She did with no hesitance at all, and a fiery need shot all the way down to his groin. Touching her, no matter how big or small, made him want to take her again and again.

  Once on the steps before they went inside, Kyra turned to face him and kissed him softly on the lips. "Thank you, for everything."

  "You don't have to thank me. I care about you. All of you." He cupped her face and watched her lips form words but no sound escaped. "We'd better get inside."

  "Yeah. We should." Kyra nodded, tore her gaze away from him, and stepped into the warmth of the house.

  Two police officers showed up ten minutes later. Amy and her parents were in the middle of a very tense discussion. Kyra had said a few things, but then walked out of the room. Unsure what to do, he followed her. Maybe he should get Andrew and go home, but Matt wasn't ready to leave yet. He found Kyra standing by the back door, staring off into the yard. In the living room, Amy explained her story. Had someone told her about the bodyguard yet? Matt stood behind Kyra and placed his hands on her shoulders.

  "I wish she would have told me she loved to sing." Kyra turned. "I would have supported her."

  "I don't think it's because you wouldn't have," Matt said. "She doesn't want to always be compared to you. In the music world, that's exactly what would have happened. Ask Avery. Blaine says she gets compared to her mom all the time, because Belinda's been in the music business so long. It's why Avery doesn't want her mother to do anything to further her career. Baby Stetson wants to know they can make it on their own."

  She nodded, but Matt wasn't sure she really heard his words. "If this guy really did kill-" A shudder rippled through her. "I can't even think. What if he attacked me at the concert? And he's still out there? No one even knew about Brandon! This could have been-"

  "Shh. Don't do that." He pressed his fingers to her lips, silencing her. "Don't, Kyra. I know, it's hard not to think of the worst possibilities. I play that game all the time, and it's a real ugly mind plague. The best we can do is be on our guard and hope like hell the police catch him soon. Maybe he'll head to Nashville and live his little dream, and they'll catch him there. Your sister should have enough information to get him found."

  "In the meantime?" Kyra squeaked out in a childlike voice.

  He gently eased her body against him and held her. "In the meantime, I'll be here to keep you safe and comfort you." His phone rang, and in the middle of the night like this, Matt knew it wasn't good.

  He was right.

  "Matt? You might want to get to the shop. It's been vandalized. There's a... a message on the wall that says something about Kyra." Rhett's shaken voice on the other line woke him up a little more.

  Sleep? Forget it. Let the long, ni
ghtmarish night continue. His heart raced, thundering against his ribcage. If Brandon had driven out of state, would he have time to come back and do this? Or was there more than one enemy out there targeting Kyra, her family, and now him?

  "I'll be right there." His voice came out strangled. He hung up.

  "Matt?" Kyra asked with uncertainty.

  "My shop." He couldn't even focus to get the words out. "I have to... Damn it. Kyra-" Words died in his throat. "Someone vandalized my shop and left some message about you."

  Her face paled and she gasped, nearly toppling over into the glass door before Matt caught her.

  *****

  Suffice to say, no one got any sleep last night, other than David and Andrew for a few hours. Mom and Dad kept Amy and David home from school, and Matt called to say Andrew could stay, too.

  It didn't go over well with Amy about her murderous boyfriend, but that was to be expected. He'd been named the prime suspect in the bodyguard's murder.

  Kyra took a chance and headed over to Matt's shop. He wouldn't tell her how bad it was, and she wanted to see. If it had to do with her...

  Standing in front of the shop, she forced herself to swallow the lump lodged in her throat. So much debris was strewn around the front. The walls were full of graffiti. The police were long gone, and it looked like they were just cleaning up.

  "Hey," Matt's employee- Rhett?- said quietly from behind her.

  Kyra whirled around. "I can't believe this. How's Matt handling everything?"

  "He's pretty upset, understandably so."

  She nodded and mumbled a reply, then pushed past him.

  "Kyra, wait! You don't want to-"

  Ignoring his plea, Kyra stepped inside. She had a feeling as to what he wanted to say. That she didn't want to see the inside.

  But she did.

  And now, standing in the middle of Matt's shop, she wished she hadn't. Choking back a cry, she stared at the spray painted words on his white walls. Stay Gone, a song she'd put on her second CD that became a top ten hit. Bile rose in her throat again, and she made a beeline for the bathroom, only at the door remembering it required a key.