Page 96 of Rulebreaker

This time it works, and I feel some of the tension leave my body. I roll my neck, straighten my shoulders, and step into my black pumps.

“All right. Let’s do this.”

Atlas takes my hand and we go downstairs where our friends–our family–are waiting.

“You all right?” Jade immediately hurries to my side.

“I’ll be better once this is over,” I admit.

She nods. “I know.”

She and Royal are here, along with Dash and Willow, and Stacy and her husband Brody. Briar’s in L.A. taking care of Frankie and covering for Atlas, and Aspen and Banks weren’t up to taking the baby on a trip like this, which is totally understandable. I feel like they’re with us in spirit, though, because Aspen and Briar have been texting me nonstop.

“Sorry if we kept you waiting,” I say. “I really appreciate all of you coming to support me today.”

“That’s what family does,” Royal says, nodding.

Damn. I really don’t want to crybeforethe service, but what Royal just said is… powerful. Meaningful. It’s four simple words but they pack an emotional punch. Especially to someone who hasn’t had a family in a really long time.

Now I have a man who loves me–and a family too. Whichis pretty cool since that includes Jade, who was one of the few people in the world I considered a true friend.

And it means the world to me.

“The limo is waiting and we’re going to make quite the grand entrance if we don’t leave soon,” Atlas breathes in my ear.

All right. Time to get this show on the road.

I slide my hand into Atlas’s.

“You won’t leave my side today…will you?”

The expression of love on his face answers my question before he opens his mouth, but it’s nice to hear it anyway. “Never.”

That’s really all I need to know.

THIRTY-THREE

Atlas

My nape has been itchingsince I showed Harrison the door—or the moment I scared him toward the door anyway.

But, despite Lily’s worries, nothing at the memorial has gone the least bit awry.

From the moment she stepped out of the limo, the cries of her fans made it clear that the crisis team has been doing their job. It goes against everything in me to give the world personal details of Lily’s life, but it’s been important.

Her fans need to understand there was a mix of manipulation and real feelings, naivety and medical complications.

So, the words that reach us as I help her out of the car, as Royal and Jade, Willow and Dash, her friend Stacy and Stacy’s husband Greg immediately close in on us, are positive and kind.

And as I slip my arm around her waist, tuck her against my side, keeping her close, her body relaxes, the tension bleeding out of her.

Then we’re walking up the steps and into the church, the noise of the crowd outside fading as the heavy wooden doors slide shut.

The church is full, musicians everywhere, and though there’s a moment of hesitation as we’re noticed, there’s no cold shoulder. In fact, the nearest woman–an older star named Sally who sings ballads that still top the charts regularly, even though she’s in her sixth decade–immediately comes over and enfolds Lily in a hug.

“Sweetheart,” she says. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thanks, Sally,” Lily says, drawing back after a long moment. “That means a lot.”