Page 106 of Before You Fell

“Whatever needs cancelling, cancel it.”

“Phoenix—”

“I said cancel it.”

His expression hardens. “You’re not thinking clearly.”

“For the first time in years, I’m thinking perfectly fucking clear.”

“The tour cannot just be cancelled.”

“Then postpone it.”

“Do you have any idea what that costs?”

“No.” I take another step. “And I don’t give a fuck.”

His face drains of the little color it had. “Do you have any idea what you’re saying?”

“Yes.”

He draws a slow breath. “There are contracts. International venues. Insurance clauses. Crew. Sponsors. Promoters. A label that has invested millions. Fans who have paid money and booked flights, hotels, and time off work.”

He gestures toward Willow’s room. “You want me to tell all of them the whole machine stops all because Willow Hart made a bad choice?”

Silence rushes into the waiting room.

Jax and Jett come over, as if they, too, want to take a swing. Cruz’s jaw goes as hard as stone.

Damon looks from one of us to the next, frustration flashing across his face.

“Well?” he snaps at Jett and Jax. “Is one of you going to talk some fucking sense into him or are you really going to let him throw away everything you’ve built? What do the rest of you want?”

Jax answers first. “Postpone it.”

Cruz doesn’t even hesitate. “Cancel every fucking thing that can wait.”

Jett finally speaks, his voice quiet enough that everyone has to listen. “Unlike you, we put Willow first.”

For the first time since Damon stepped out of that elevator, he realizes he is standing alone.

“We have a stadium show in three days,” he says.

“I’m not fucking leaving,” I tell him.

“The label will come after you.”

“Let them.”

“Fans will turn.”

“Let them.”

“The press will eat you alive.”

“They already fucking do.”

“This is millions of dollars.”