I receive word about the emergency band meeting thirty minutes after Opal flees her room. I’m not gonna lie, I consider not showing. Running back to LA with my tail between my legs sounded the best of my options, but I refuse to allow my uncle this pass.

“Leighton, have a seat.”

I’d rather stand, but I take the chair and stare across the room at my uncle. It was him. It had to be.

“The charade’s over, kid. They know. We all know you’ve been dishing to the press.” My uncle passes Trent, Austin, and Sean, who all lean against the wall, glaring, and drops a stack of computer printouts on my lap. I don’t want to flip through them. I can only imagine the content. But morbid curiosity takes hold and I shuffle through the pile. Text messages. Ones I recognize to and from my uncle, but the number isn’t his. Money transfers. Emails. Articles from celebrity tabloids. Total bullshit mixed with the truth. His expertise.

My jaw works back and forth and I nod to the guys. “They know you’re my uncle, too?”

“Yeah.” He narrows his glare. “Which makes all of this worse. We’re family and I trusted you, Leighton. Put my reputation on the line.” If things don’t work out in the music industry, he’ll make a damn fine actor. “As of today, you’re no longer employed by Three Ugly Guys or Off Track Records. Breach of contract. I’m sure you understand.”

“So, that’s it?” I always expected a mess. A blow up. For my stack of cards to come falling down, but I can’t say I ever thought it’d be at his hand. “How could you do this?” I glare at my uncle. He’s getting away with all of it.

His stare is hard, but nothing in his features show any sign of remorse. “It’s too bad. You really are a great performer.”

“Fuck you.” I shove to my feet and the papers scatter everywhere. I take a step forward.

“Security!” my uncle calls.

“Not necessary,” I grind through my clenched jaw and walk toward the door. I can’t believe him. How could he do this to me when I’ve played by his rules, at least to his knowledge? What does he get out of this, of throwing me to the curb?

And then I see it. Trent’s glare softens as he turns to Bedo. “Thank you. For having our backs.”

My uncle nods. “I always have. I never stopped.”

Fuck it. I glare hard at my uncle and slam my fist against the door. All eyes dart to me exactly as I intend. I look at each of the guys, hoping they’ll take my warning to heart. “Just beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

I yank the door open and stomp down the hall at the utter bullshit of everything. Should I have said more? Maybe, but what’s the fucking point? No one would believe the truth. I’m almost to the exit when a door slams from behind.

“Leighton! Wait up!” Austin calls out.

I pause, not sure whether I can deal with him or anyone else. Fuck it. It’s not as if this day could get any worse.

“What the fuck was that back there? A warning or a threat?” He stomps forward, quickly closing the space between us.

I lift my chin in challenge. “Your precious manager isn’t who you think he is.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” He throws his hands up.

I consider laying it all out. The truth. All of it, but at the hardness in his gaze I realize it’s pointless. “Nothing.” The word spits from my mouth full of disgust not just for Bedo, but for me. A flash of Opal’s face from this morning hits my memory. The hurt I put there is one I’ll never be able to erase. She’ll never forgive me. Not with the story she’s been fed. Hell, the truth isn’t much better. “Doesn’t matter how it all went down. I’m out anyway, right?” I turn toward the door, ready to get out of here.

Austin shoves me back, and his hands wrap in tight fists at my shoulders as he knocks me against the wall.

I don’t struggle. All the fight’s been sucked from me. I’m not mad at Austin. I understand his outrage. If anything, I’ve earned it.

“You’re out because you broke our trust. Plain and simple.”

I nod and my shoulders shrug under the weight of my sins.

Austin pushes against my chest, a shove that begs for a fight. “And that’s all you have to say for your pathetic lying self?”

“Hit me if you want. Beat the shit out of me. I don’t care.” And I don’t. The pain would feel good. A measly penance for my sins.

Austin meets my gaze and shakes his head at whatever he finds. He steps back but his posture is tense. “How could you do that to her?”

Opal. My heart sinks with how much this costs her, more than anyone. Everything with her was real and true. But how will she know that now? I could explain, if she’d even listen. She won’t choose me over family. She shouldn’t have to.

“I asked you a question, dickhead.”

And fucking Austin is poised to swoop in and reap the benefits of her broken heart.

The thought of her in his arms ignites jealousy in the pit of my stomach. Fuck him. I clench my jaw and brace myself for his rage. “Opal enjoyed everything I did to her.”

Austin slams me against the wall. “You fucking think this is a joke? So help me God, I find out you forced her or hurt her and I will crush you. Make it so you don’t play a precious note ever again. Take away that pretty boy jawline. Do you understand me?”

I heave with all my might and shove him away so I can breathe. I straighten my clothes, a scowl pressing my features much like his. “Down, man. I didn’t hurt her.” At least not physically. I tried to make everything about last night special for her. Perfect or close to it, because that’s what she deserves. Fuck, she deserves more than I could ever give, but I tried. Goddamn, did I try to make our time together worthy of everything she gave in return.

“You’re a real cocksucker, you know that?”

“I’m sorry, okay. I screwed up. She’s gonna be fine without me.” Better off, really.

“You don’t get it. Do you? You can’t take something precious from a woman like that and disregard the consequences.”

I know this, but I can’t go back in time and undo the past. Hell, even if I could, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from falling for her. I shake my head. Like he’s one to talk. “Don’t pretend you have such high morals when it comes to women. You hook up with a different girl in every city.”

“Whatever.” He scoffs, his mouth twisted in disgust. “If you don’t get it, you never will.”

“Get what? Lying is bad and the truth is worse? If I could go back and make this better, I would.” I shake my head and meet his glare with one of my own. “You think I don’t regret hurting her? I do. I fucking do. But I can’t go back, and even if I could I’d choose her all over again.”

“You can’t go around taking something just because you want it. This isn’t a store. She isn’t a commodity. You don’t use people.” Hurt frames the edges of his glare. “You don’t use her.”

Did I use Opal? My gut churns with the recognition that I took more from her than I was able to give. But no. I won’t be made to feel guilty for what we had. I dare anyone in my place to walk away from the same situation. No man in his right mind would. Especially Austin.

“How about you mind your own business. You have no fucking clue what went down between me and Opal.”

“You’re right. I don’t. But if you didn’t intend to love her, to make that level of commitment.” He shakes his head and practically spits his next words. “I hope I never see your face again.”

“Austin.” Sean steps out into the hallway. “He’s not worth it. Come back inside.”

I turn away from both of them, ready to get the hell out of here. Where I’m going next? I have no fucking clue.

“You still gonna be a problem?” Austin calls at my back. “Any more band secrets you gonna sell?”

I stop, shake my head, and glance over my shoulder. “No, you don’t have to worry about that. I never sold anything to the press.”

“So, you’re gonna be a traitor and a liar now?” he shouts.

And there’s the kicker. Because of my transgressions, no one gives a shit about the truth. I’m unforgivable. There’s no redemption for me. On a deep exhale, I drop my gaze to the floor and push my legs forward, one foot in front of the other. I don’t look back. I can’t. It’s game over and time for me to walk away.