Page 69 of Omega Rock

Wes is escorted through the small cell block by a police officer, and he happens to have Leo’s backpack of medicine with him. He stops long enough to give me a withering glance before walking up to the cell with all the men in it.

“Wes,” Aiden says.

Wes holds up a hand.He, I can see clearly. “I’m allowed to give Leo anything he might need overnight and into tomorrow, but I’m leaving after.”

My heart sinks as I grip the bars. “Wes…” I trail off because what else am I supposed to do?

Wes shoots me another glance and then confers with Leo about what he needs. There’s a quick conversation and a hand-off of medication that the police officer escort watches closely. Wes then throws the back-pack over one shoulder and turns so he can easily address everyone.

“This was stupid, let’s just call it how it is.” He jabs a finger to the guys’ cell. “And the fact I’m here and Jordan isn’t should tell you everythingyou allneed to know. Unfortunately, I’m only working on bail for my band. I hope Jordan contacts you all soon.”

Wes then crosses his arms. “Jordan shouldn’t have tried to poach Mia. Let’s start there. And for you all to come trying to start shit afterward is certifiably…” Wes actually struggles for words. “I realize a lot of this has to do with pack dynamics, and Aiden being exiled from one and starting another, but let me beveryclear.”

Wes looks to me. “I care for you all of you, especially Mia.”

He doesn’t say it, but I hearbecause she’s so young and new. It makes my gut churn. I can take care of myself.

“You’remyband even if this isyourpack,” Wes continues in the deathly silence that’s grown thick in the holding cell space. “So you all need to sort out whatever bullshit is happening, and you’re going to do it before I pay bail. Because if I’m going to continue managing Exit Fate, I can’t do it while you’re creating PR nightmare after PR nightmare. Whichthis”—he swirls a finger in the air—“has become. Someone caught the fight on video and it’s all over the place. I’d be surprised if Knotty Tour wantseitherof you back, but I’ll let them decide that.”

Wes starts to walk back down the block toward the exit. The police officer follows his every move. When he’s nearly at the door again, he turns on heel and holds up a hand. “Fix this. I’ll deal with Jordan. But if either band starts shit again, we’re done.”

Wes’s words feel like an ice pick has been drive straight into my chest. And worse, I can’t even fault him for them. Because he’s right. Starting and maintaining a new band only works if people enjoy us and our music. But if we’re too much of a risk, or our behavior turns fans away, it’s over. And we know he’s already put up a lot of personal capital to make this work.

What a disappointment we’ve become. ThatI’vebecome.

The exact type of disappointment he and Sable warned me not to be.

I sit back heavily on the bench as he leaves and wonder how this will all play out. Much of the world falls away through the rest of the night. I hear the guys periodically call out to me but I can’t reply. Everything is numb and falling away with more speed than I can handle.

I want a drink. God, I want a drink so damn badly. I want to flood my veins with a buzzing liquid that quiets this silence and numbness that’s falling over me.

The best I get is water.

At some point, I fall asleep, and it’s not until a flurry of movement when the sun is shining that I fully wake up. Wes has returned and is having us released. But it’s too late in the day, I think. What I thought was morning is actually afternoon, I realize, as I catch sight of a clock in the lobby. I must have slept through the entire day.

I can’t make eye contact with Wes as we leave. And worse, the entire pack is silent, too. I go to Leo’s side to check in on him, but he’s quiet with a tight look on his face as he just holds one arm to his side. Noah and Aiden cast us both worried glances. But we’re all silent until we’re back at the tour bus and the sun is setting.

We miss our set that day. But so does Designation Outsider.

I’m too scared to check social media to see what people think about all of this. From Wes’s words last night, I can imagine it’s nothing great. Ignoring socials is easy, though. Much easier than the calls I let go to voicemail from Sable and my parents.

Wes eventually leaves the tour bus. I sit with Noah on the couch. Aiden is across from Leo at the table. Leo’s tight and pained expression has only gotten worse as the night has gone on.

“Is there something we can do?” Aiden asks.

Leo shakes his head. “I’m sure it’ll be better by morning now that I can take stuff again.” He’s flipping his phone back and forth on the table. “Just waiting on my doctor to respond.”

“Being in jail all night certainly didn’t help,” Noah replies curtly. He’s got a beer in his hands but he’s yet to open it.

I want to grab it from him and drink it myself, but I’m pretty sure no one else in the room will let that happen. It drives me insane. “Wes should’ve bailed at least you out last night.”

Leo shakes his head. “It’s okay, I’m okay.”

“No, you’re not,” I volley back. “It’s clear to anyone with eyes, Leo. He could’ve kept the rest of us in time out but got you out safely.”

Aiden’s gaze rises to me. I expect it to be hot like his glares last night before Designation Outsider showed up at our tour bus, but it’s muted. Defeated. “It’s over now.”

My chest squeezes tight. Does he mean the situation with Designation Outsider, or our band as a whole? Or, worse, the pack?

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