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Easier said than done. I swallowed hard, fighting back the urge to punch something ... or someone. But she was right. I had a job to do, and giving the media a sign of weakness was the last thing I needed.
Ryder slammed his hand down on the table. “Shouldn’t we release a statement that it’s all bullshit? They’re harassing my wife and daughter, and I can’t even help them.”
Trudy turned to him. “I know this is hard, Ryder. Vector will keep them safe. And, we have to be very measured with our response. We’ll be speaking with Greyson’s team shortly to coordinate. It’ll be a lot better for everyone if we’re all on the same page.”
Knox held out his phone for us all to see. “Christ, look at this.”
It was a video clip of Greyson getting mobbed by the press outside his studio. They were shouting out all sorts of crazy questions, including speculation about who he’d slept with. It was sickening.
My hands curled into fists as a wave of anger rose in my chest. Those leeches had no right to invade Grey’s privacy like that or to put Talia and Zoe in their crosshairs. They didn’t deserve to be dragged into this mess. None of us did.
But there was no escaping it now. The story was out, the damage done. All that was left was the fallout and the sinking realization that nothing in my life would ever be the same again.
“Right now, the best thing we can do is put on a killer show tonight,” Darren replied, his eyes meeting mine. “We’ll handle everything else. Just focus on giving the fans what they came for.”
I knew he was looking to me to lead the band right now. “Alright,” I agreed, forcing myself to sound more confident than I felt. “Let’s give them a show they’ll never forget.”
Trudy’s gaze softened with sympathy. “I know this is hard, but try to stay focused on the show. Your fans are counting on you.”
It would be easier said than done. My fans were the last thing on my mind. But I couldn’t lose myself in this chaos. I had to stay strong, stay in control. Letting the darkness win wasn’t an option.
“Trudy and I need to get back to our bus. We have a lot of work to do.” Darren eyed us. “Call if you need anything, but stay on the buses. When we get the all-clear from Vector, we’ll be heading to the venue.”
Trudy made her way to the door, pausing to glance over her shoulder before she stepped out. “You’ll get through this. Just remember why you’re here.”
The door slid shut behind them, leaving us alone in a silence that echoed with the tangled mess of Remi’s betrayal. I sank onto the leather couch and dropped my head in my hands. I couldn’t help but let my thoughts wander to dark places, my past demons clawing at my insides.
After everything I’d survived, all the work I’d done to leave the past behind, I was right back where I started.
“Remi,” I growled, fury lashing through my veins like fire. “Fucking Remi.”
Disgust curdled in my gut. She’d played me, exploited my trust to further her own ambitions. I should have known better than to let her get close.
The weight of her betrayal anchored itself in the pit of my stomach, dragging me down into a dark chasm devoid of light. A torrent of emotions raged within me, threatening to tear me apart from the inside out. My mind raced as I stared at the phone Sid had handed back to me, with Remi’s article plastered across the cracked screen, highlighted by the number of likes and shares that only seemed to multiply by the minute.
Tension rippled through my muscles as I clenched my fists, knuckles turning white with the force. My breaths came in shallow gasps, my lungs struggling to take in enough air as my chest tightened painfully. The world seemed to close in around me, suffocating me with the crushing realization that Remi had betrayed me in the worst possible way by using me to hurt my friends. The memory of her touch, her taste, was forever tainted by the bitter sting of her deceit.
“I’ve got to get back to my bus before Kaylie finds out about this. She’s going to be upset.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “If we all stick together, we’re gonna be fine.”
“I’ll come back with you.” Bash’s voice was subdued compared to his usual playfulness. I could tell that he, too, was feeling the weight of the situation. “We’ve got this. Just tune out the noise and give a good show tonight.”
“Yeah, mates. We’re in this together,” Knox reminded us, reaching out to squeeze my shoulder. “We’ll come back here after the show to talk it out. We’ll grab some booze and weed and chill. Just the five of us, like old times.”
“What about hot chicks?” Bash asked.
Ryder flinched. “No chicks. Not tonight. Let’s keep a low profile until we get this figured out.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face, weariness seeping into my bones. At that moment, I didn’t know how the hell I was going to face the crowd that night. How was I supposed to pour my heart out on stage when it was ripping me apart inside? But Trudy was right. My fans deserved better than that. They’d stood by me through good times and bad, and I wouldn’t betray them now. Tonight, I’d give them what they came for. A performance they’d never forget.
I nodded to my bandmates, forcing a small smile despite the turmoil brewing inside me. We were a family, bound by the music that flowed through our veins and the love that held us together. No matter what Remi had done, no matter how much her betrayal stung, I knew I wasn’t alone. We would face this storm together, as a band, as a family. And somehow, we would survive.
“Let’s do this, guys,” I said, my voice laced with renewed conviction. “Ride or die.”
“Ride or die,” they all repeated, full of grim determination.
Chapter 30
Remi
