Halo (Fallen Angel, #1)(9)

I blew out a breath as I knocked on the door, determined to walk in there as an equal. There was a reason I’d been asked back, and I needed to show these guys that they’d made the right choice.

The door swung open and Killian cocked a grin at me, resting his arm against the doorjamb.

“Hey, man. You ready for this?”

Something about the way Killian said it made me think he knew I thought I was in over my head but wasn’t about to show it, so I answered honestly.

“Is anyone ever ready for it?”

He laughed and moved off the door. “Fuck no. Just gotta wing it.”

“Fake it till you make it,” I said, stepping inside as he shut the door behind me.

“Exactly. See, you’re more prepared than we were when we started out.” He led us into a huge open room with red walls and exposed beams that seemed to be a combination of living areas, the kitchen and dining room, and an entertainment area. None of the other guys seemed to be around, and as Killian rounded the oversized granite island in front of the refrigerator, he said, “So what’s your poison? I’ve got coffee, tea, sodas, and a full bar.”

“Water’s good for now.”

He handed me a bottle from the fridge and pointed out where everything was. “I’ll give you a tour later, but this is where we rehearse, so make yourself at home.”

I looked around, curious as to where, because I didn’t see any instruments, and a drum kit wasn’t something you wanted to lug around all the time.

Like he could see what I was thinking, Killian laughed and shook his head. “Not literally in here. We soundproofed a room through there.” He pointed out a towering wooden door to our left, and after pouring coffee into a tumbler, he nodded for me to follow him.

I’ve got this. No need to be starstruck. They’re just normal guys…normal guys who’ve sold millions of records and live in penthouse apartments. No big deal.

As I stepped inside the rehearsal space, I saw the others tuning their instruments, snickers ringing out as Jagger said something that made them roll their eyes. Compared to the rest of the penthouse, the room was surprisingly simple. Carpeted floors, wood walls, and framed black fabric-wrapped panels on the walls to absorb the sound. Nothing fancy, just their instruments and a couple of leather couches and chairs against a wall.

Slade saw me first and lifted his drumsticks in greeting, and then Jagger’s and Viper’s heads turned my way.

You’re the fucking frontman, I told myself, straightening, and then I nodded at the guys. “Hey.”

“Halo, my man,” Jagger said, grinning and holding out his fist. I set down my guitar case and then bumped his fist with mine. A few feet away, Viper stood watching us, his arms crossed over his guitar.

“Viper,” I said in greeting.

He inclined his head ever so slightly. “Angel.”

“It’s Halo.”

Viper smirked. “Same thing.”

Okaaay, so obviously Viper hadn’t warmed up much to the idea of having me onboard since yesterday, but he hadn’t told me to fuck off either, so I figured he’d come around. Eventually.

“So let’s get started,” Killian said, rubbing his hands together. Excitement sparked the air around him, and I wondered how long it’d been since they’d come together in this space to rehearse. Had any others who’d auditioned before me been invited here? Was I the first? And more importantly, would I be the last?

I set my guitar case and backpack off to the side, swallowed some water, and took my place behind the main mic stand. I wasn’t sure if I’d be playing a guitar like Trent had on occasion, or if they wanted me just to sing, but I’d brought my own in case.

“We’re gonna start with the Daybreak album, since that’s the most recent,” Killian said, stacking a few sheets of paper that contained lyrics on the stand in front of me. When I opened my mouth to protest that I didn’t need them, he held his hand up. “I know you said you’re familiar with the songs, but even we forget the lyrics sometimes.”

Right. Good point. It would be worse forgetting a line in front of these guys than having to look at the words in front of me.

“Thanks,” I said, as Killian moved to my left and strapped on his bass guitar.

“‘Crossroads,’” he called out to us. I glanced down to make sure that was the lyric page on top as Slade counted us down to the intro. When he launched into a heavy beat, a thrill shot through me, goosebumps popping up all over my skin. If I’d thought yesterday’s audition had been surreal, it had nothing on what was happening at that moment, when the others began to play. Their sounds blended together so perfectly that for a moment, I was frozen in awe, completely blanking out on the fact that I had a role to play.

Killian held his hand up when I missed my cue and the music stopped. Then he raised an eyebrow at me. “Everything okay?”

“Shit, sorry,” I said, but I was unable to stop the huge grin from taking over my face. “That was just so fucking cool. You’re just”—damn mind-blowing—“amazing.” I tried to tamp down my excitement and glanced over my shoulder at the other guys. “Sorry. Can we do that again?”

Behind me, Killian chuckled, and then Slade counted down and kicked off the song again.

This time, I was ready even as I tried to take in every second of what was happening. I shook out my arms as the music swelled, and then I grabbed the mic and began to sing.