Page 127 of The Rogues

Lark shakes her head. “Things like this always stem from something the person can’t digest or handle. Cleo is dealing with something, something that none of us know the truth of. She could have gone down this exact road even if we weren’t celebrities. You can’t blame yourself for giving her the best opportunity to show the world her gift.”

“She loves to sing, Jo,” Nicola reminds me. “She loves what we do.”

“I know. Thank you. I’m just sorry that this is where we ended up.”

“It’s not ideal,” Lark agrees. “But we’re more than just bandmates, you guys are my family. We’re going to get through this.”

They both reach over and give me reassuring squeezes. Being here with them, having their support, finally having candid conversations, is healing something in me. I’ve missed being with them, really with them. It’s a reminder to prioritize more time with them from now on.

Ruby finds us, her demeanor subdued and she slumps over in exhaustion. She relaxes in her seat, finally done with the circus that is the paparazzi.

“Well, that was a fucking mess,” she says. “But they’re gone. The news of her overdose is probably already out. I swear, hospital staff don’t understand confidentiality anymore.”

“What’s going to happen?” I wonder out loud.

Ruby sighs. “They’ll probably cancel the tour. As for Cleo, I’m not sure how this affects her contract yet, but I know your label loves publicity no matter if it’s considered good or bad. For appearances’ sake, they’ll probably ask her to go to rehab.”

My breathing evens out. A part of me feels like that won’t go over well, but another part of me doesn’t care. Even if they have to force her hand, the idea of Cleo getting help from real professionals puts a piece of me at ease.

I just don’t know where that leaves her and me, or if she still wants my friendship at all. I guess I’ll have to wait it out, even if that breaks my heart into small jagged pieces.

FORTY-TWO

We’re all anxious as we wait for Josie to get back.

Cyrus has been pacing the entire time. It puts my alpha on edge seeing our prime so distraught, but I understand why. This was his biggest fear when he allowed this fake arrangement to happen.

This was why he didn’t want us near Cleo Del Rossi. He knew it was only a matter of time before something like this happened, and he was determined to keep us away from it. But here we are, immersed in the aftermath of it anyway. All for our beautiful scent match.

Mac called shortly after Josie left with her bandmates, and offered condolences for the horrible incident. Of course, he is our friend as well as our manager, but then he had to go over the logistics for what this means for the rest of the tour.

So far, there seems to be no plan to continue. Today is more than likely the last day of the All or Nothing tour.

That name didn’t age well at all.

Just when it feels like the well is about to break, there’s a knock at the door. All of our heads whip up with hope.

“If that’s another roadie or Mac back to break more bad news, I’m going to lose it,” Malaki hisses.

Cyrus trails over to the door and looks through the peephole. When he exhales with relief, my entire body relaxes as he lets Josie in and pulls her into his body.

She doesn’t hold it in. She immediately falls apart in his arms, and I spring up to rush over to her.

“This… fucking… sucks,” she says between sobs, her hands tight around my prime’s center. He holds her back just as securely, his face morphed into his usual protective mask.

“Let’s sit down, baby,” I say, guiding them both to the couch with difficulty since neither of them wants to part.

I sit beside them and she practically climbs into our laps, letting us hold her together as she continues to let her emotions run free. We’re flanked by everyone else, and they try to push out soothing pheromones, their beasts just as on edge as ours.

“What happened? Is she going to be okay?” Jamie asks.

Josie finds it in her to nod to his question. “She…” Her eyes well up but she sits up a little bit straighter to get the words out. “They had to use Narcan. She’s weak right now, but they think she’ll be okay.”

My heart drops. I knew she had dabbled with hard substances. I saw her doing coke with my own eyes one night at a club, but I didn’t think she did that…

“Oh fuck,” Lennon says, voicing my own thoughts. “I’m so sorry, Josie. That’s awful. Did you get to speak to her?”

She shakes her head. “No, she is still recuperating. I don’t think they want anyone to see her for a while.”