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faith and her sacrifice on his behalf seeped down to the marrow in his bones. What was more alarming was that this petite creature had a knack of touching nerves he never knew existed.
    “Son, when ya gonna call her?”
    “I can’t,” Ray whispered in a hoarse tone.
    Mama Z lifted her brow. “Ya can’t or ya won’t?”
    “Where’s Red at now?”
    Mama Z shrugged. “Since ya wouldn’t talk to her or see her, guess she got tired and went on back home.”
    “But—”
    “Uh-uh,” Mama Z interrupted and held up a silencing hand. “I don’ told all of y’all, I don’t get in grown folks business. Ya needs to be talkin’ to Laney, not me.”
    “I know,” Ray whispered and squeezed his grandmother’s hand. He’d hesitated to speak with anyone about his illness, including his family and close circle of associates. “Maybe when this is over—” He stopped because he didn’t want to make a promise, especially to his grandmother that he might not be able to keep.
    Mama Z smiled. “Son, been on this journey a long time. Every now and then, God sends folks into our lives when we needs ‘em the most. Laney is ya godsend.”
    “How you get to be so smart, old lady?”
    “’Cause I don’ been where ya tryin’ to get to.” Mama Z stood. “Want ya to remember somethin’ for me.”
    Ray stared, confused. “What’s that Mama Z?”
    “The will of God will never take ya where the grace of God won’t protect ya.”
    ~ ~ ~
    “What the hell do you mean my medical records were breeched?” The next morning, Ray sat at the white baby grand piano in the recording studio at his estate. His voice escalated with each word. “I checked in under an assumed name. How did this happen? Talk to me, mon frère .”   
    Alex sat next to Ray and held up his hand. “Listen partner, I said your records might have been breeched. The hospital administrator called me this morning with the news, and he’s already launched a full investigation.” He placed a hand on Ray’s shoulder. “Listen, buddy, this could be nothing more than a false alarm, but as the person in charge of your security detail, I don’t want to take any chances.” 
    Ray slammed both fists against the piano keys. This was exactly what he’d feared. Although he’d taken every precaution necessary to protect his identity, if some nosey employee put two and two together, the nature of his illness could be exposed. It was bad enough to deal with cancer, but he didn’t need the added stress of his diagnosis leaking to the media. 
    For a celebrity, publicity was one thing, but this type of news? It was a killer. Image was everything in the music industry. If the paparazzi ever got wind of his illness, they’d circle him like a pack of vultures over a week-old carcass. Before he could blink, the news would be splattered on the front page of every ragtime tabloid in the country. How was he supposed to announce to the world he had cancer when he hadn’t come to terms with it himself?
    Ray knew Alex was on top of the situation. The top-notch private investigator had provided the security detailed for Les Croisés from day one. The man who was as close to him as his two blood brothers could get to the bottom of things when others failed.
    Suddenly, panic raced through Ray faster than a category five hurricane making landfall. Although he hated when his privacy was invaded by the media, he’d learn over the years to stay a step ahead of them. “You got extra security in place, right?”
    Alex nodded. “Calm down, partner. You’re covered on that front. Right now, my concern is for you.”
    “ Mon frère , if the media ever finds out—”
    “Don’t worry, they won’t,” Alex said with confidence. “The best shot we’ve got at keeping this on the DL until things are resolved is to get you out of Dodge for a little while.”
    Frustrated, Ray threw his hands in the air. “ Mon frère , I start chemo in a week. I can’t skip out on