Page 18 of Not Another Rockstar
“We’ve had extra security posted outside the hospital, and you will fly back with us for your own protection until this all dies down,” Nick reassured her. “Mum and Dad are terrified by what they’ve seen on the news and online. They’ve made me swear to make sure nothing happens to you.”
“I think you’re overreacting to some keyboard warriors.” She wasn’t going to hide away because strangers who knew nothing about them had an opinion on how they should live their lives.
“We aren’t going to risk it,” Axel said, picking up August’s book and putting it on his lap as he sat down. “Like it or not, you’ll be seeing a lot more of us.”
“Won’t that just fan the flames? Surely we should put as much distance as we can between all of us,” she said, noting the dark circles under Axel’s eyes. They only made him appear more intimidating. Even though he’d slept in a cot by her side, she still knew so little about him.
“You’re my sister, it’s my job to protect you.” Nick’s tone told her his patience was wearing thin.
“We’re family, you belong with us,” August added firmly. Axel placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to put him at ease.
Axel had an easy bond with August, despite joining the band late. It had always been August and Axel, Cillian and Nick. Phoebe felt a knot in her stomach as she realised how the dynamic of their lives would have to change.
“All we’re asking is that you lie low for a short while. It’s only for a news cycle or two, until the shock fades,” Anita said, her voice devoid of emotion.
Phoebe grimaced at her insensitivity. “Cillian’s death isn’t a news cycle.”
“No one is saying that,” Nick interjected, “but we need to focus on keeping you safe, and that’s going to require some sacrifices on all our parts.”
Phoebe looked at her hand. She’d already sacrificed enough. Glancing up at those around her bed, she saw their troubled eyes. How bad were the threats, to have them all so spooked?
“Remind me to thank your brother for booking such an early flight,” Axel groaned. Struggling to keep his eyes open at four a.m., he sipped his black coffee.
“You would’ve got a better night sleep at the hotel. The doc gave me the all-clear and I’m safe here—you didn’t have to stay,” Phoebe said, packing up her hospital room.
A few days had passed since they’d told Phoebe about the death threats, and they had kept their promise to not leave her alone. She’d made her feelings clear about said promise.
“Do you have everything you need?” Axel didn’t want to argue. He’d been trying to help, but every time he moved, she scowled.
“Yep, I can’t wait to leave,” she sighed, pulling on her pink hoodie. She managed to get her head through, and he stifled a smile as she wrestled with the sleeves.
“Let me help,” he said, not wanting her to hurt her hand because she was too stubborn to ask for help. He widened the right sleeve, and she didn’t protest as she slipped her injured hand through.
“Thank you,” she muttered, tugging at the ends of her sleeves.
This close, he smelt her caramel perfume, and out of the hospital gown she looked like herself again. The small scratches on her face had healed, but he knew she still had a long way to go.
She stared up at him, like she was waiting for him to speak. He knew she didn’t want them to keep secrets from her, but the only update he had was about him packing up Cillian’s tour bus yesterday. August and Nick couldn’t bring themselves to step inside, but none of them had wanted a stranger going through his things. After hearing her crying in her sleep last night, he didn’t want to make it worse.
Axel’s phone buzzed, and he put some distance between them to read the message from Anita. Phoebe went back to packing up her toiletries and he opened the video message. Flashing lights, an ambulance, a crumpled car, a cluster of paramedics pulling open a door—it took him a moment to register what he was watching. The flash of lilac hair made his stomach twist; the paramedics were pulling Phoebe from the car out the driver’s side since the passenger side was pinned by the other car. It made it look like she was the driver. Cillian wasn’t anywhere in sight. Axel struggled to keep his eyes on the screen as they placed Phoebe’s unconscious and bloodied body on a stretcher.
Who the fuck would even take such a video, never mind upload it for the world to see?He tried to remain calm so he wouldn’t alarm her.There was no audio, and the video stopped once police moved the gawking crowd on.
He glanced over his shoulder to the bathroom door. Phoebe should never see this footage. The only mercy was that there was no image of Cillian’s lifeless body.
He slammed the phone face down as she returned. She lingered by the bed, and he tried not to stare. What if she’d already seen it?
“You can stop looking at me like I’m going to fall apart. I take it you watched the video of me being pulled from the car,” Phoebe said flatly, folding her pink blanket against her chest.
“How’d you know?” He winced, picking his phone up again.
“Because you turned terribly green the moment I came out, and it was the same shade I went when I watched it. My agent, Lena, sent it to me last night because she didn’t want me to be blindsided. It’s being circulated all over Artgram and ClickClock. Many were kind enough to tag me in the video.” She put her blanket on top of her suitcase.
“I’ll call Anita,” Axel said. “We might be able to get it taken down.”
“She already knows. I called her the moment Lena sent it to me.” She sighed. “Anita doesn’t want to address it. If the world thinks I was driving, then it doesn’t matter what Cillian’s blood alcohol level was. She’s trying to spare Cillian’s reputation.”
“By setting yours on fire? This isn’t right; you shouldn’t be blamed for the accident,” Axel ground out, wanting to tear into Anita for preying on Phoebe’s good nature.
