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Dorian laughed. “That’s not even in my top ten concerns. Onyx Knight has a massive, almost rabid, fan base. They might not love you at first, because Carter was extremely popular, but they’ll get over it.”
I really hoped so.
The last thing I wanted was to spend my career in the shadow of a dead man.
* * *
The band had booked a limo to take us to the venue and there was a lot of energy in the waiting crowd when we pulled up. Since this was my first live appearance with the band, Sasha and Dorian had made it into a huge event, with us arriving to a red carpet and a mass of reporters. It wasn’t the press who got my attention, though. It was the fans. There were hundreds—maybe thousands—up and down Sunset Boulevard, lining the sidewalk, the street, and the front of the club.
And they lost their minds as we pulled up.
“Holy shit,” I breathed under my breath.
Tommy rubbed his hands together. “This is it. You ready, Big D?” He’d started calling me by some version of my first initial earlier in the week and it somehow stuck.
“Not even a little,” I admitted, staring at the throngs of people. Many of them were holding signs that said things like “We miss you, Carter!” and “Love, Carter,” which was the name of the new album. There were other, more generic signs, like “Onyx Knight Fucking Rules!” or “Marry me, Tommy!” but mostly they were about Carter. And it broke my heart a little, though I wasn’t sure why.
Obviously, I had nothing to do with his death, but I was his replacement.
The person whose memory and legacy I would have to somehow live up to.
I could play the music and make it my own. That part was easy.
Winning over the fans so that they didn’t hate me for taking his place?
That would be more complicated.
“Just smile and wave,” Kingston said as the limo pulled to a stop. “Don’t let them smell your fear because they prey on that. Be your gorgeous, confident self and they’ll pick up on the fact that you’re not afraid. Even if you are.”
“I’ll get out first,” Tommy said. “Then Z, Kellan, Lady D, and you bring up the rear, King. The ladies will be so busy throwing panties at you they won’t have time to miss Carter.”
“Let’s go.”
Tommy practically burst out of the limo, both hands in the air as he grinned and waved to the crowd. Kellan did something similar and they paused to do a fancy high-five-handshake thing that made everyone laugh. Z got out next and did a mock bow, pausing to make small talk with whatever photographers were closest. Out of nowhere, I felt Kingston’s fingers gently lace with mine.
“You got this, Devyn. Show ’em how it’s done. You have nothing to prove to anyone but yourself.”
He let go of my hand and I took a deep breath before putting one foot out and then the other. Z, always the gentleman, paused to offer me a hand, and I took it with gratitude as I stood up. Flashbulbs went off in unison, momentarily blinding me. Someone called my name, and I turned, lifting a hand to wave as the crowd began to cheer.
The knot in my chest slowly began to loosen as Tommy, Kellan, and Z stopped to sign a few autographs and photographers continued practically assaulting us with the nonstop flashbulbs. A little girl of about ten thrust a notebook and pen at me and gave me a grin.
“I love bass!” she gushed. “I’m learning to play and want to be just like you when I get bigger!”
“Lots of practice,” I told her, quickly signing my name and circling it with a heart. “Finish school and then you can be anything you want to be.”
“Yay!” She clutched the note pad to her chest. “Thank you.”
I signed a few more autographs, took a couple of pictures, and then security ushered us inside.
“See? That wasn’t so bad,” Kingston whispered behind me.
“It was great,” I replied. “I didn’t realize how much it impacts the kids. You don’t think of the younger ones as hard rock fans, but I guess your fans span all ages.”
“Our fans,” he corrected me gently. “And yes, we always see a ton of kids around eight or nine at our shows. It’s cool to see them sharing the love of our music with the parents.”
“Hello, boys and girls.” Dorian breezed into the room they’d set up for us. “It’s a full house tonight and the line on the street is out of control.”
“What are they waiting for?” I asked curiously. “The show is sold out, isn’t it?”
