“I can’t . . . I made a mistake. But not the one you think. I should have told you. I should have told you everything. I know that now. I’m a coward. I am.” He runs his hand through his hair and over his back to knead at his shoulders. “You think I don’t know that? You think this doesn’t kill me?”
Hurt gaping and profound slices through me. I open my mouth to speak, but the words don’t feel like mine. “The only thing I know is that you did this, Leighton. You broke this. You. I can’t see around that right now.” I walk past him, and open the door.
“Don’t leave. Please.”
“Save your words. They mean nothing.” And just like that I’m gone.
32
Leighton
I receiveword 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.”
