at a time. Keep going. Not worry about playing on stage with one of the biggest rock bands in the world in front of thousands of people. He groaned. Maybe he could disappear too.
As he went through the motions of getting all the gear moved and put in place, a new emotion thrummed beneath his skin. Excitement. Braylin unpacked Sal’s pedals and took a deep breath. Sal’s pedals. Not his. He couldn’t allow himself to get too accustomed to the idea of playing in the show, not when Sal genuinely might show up and kick his ass from one side of the arena to the next if he caught him playing.
Braylin fought the shaking in his hands that wouldn’t stop. Shaky-handed guitar players were not useful. That was when he realized this situation wasn’t about him. It was about Glitter Kink and the fans, not letting anyone down. He had to quit freaking out and do the job, put his big boy pants on.
In his peripheral vision he caught several people gathering in the wings. A mixture of disappointment and relief filled him as he glanced up. Undoubtedly, Sal had shown up and was getting the riot act from everyone. Instead, he was met with a thumbs up and smile from Zen and Gordy, along with Zen’s assistant holding up his guitar case.
Shit. Or yay.
He still wasn’t sure.
Big boy pants.
Braylin jumped to his feet so he could grab his guitar and get it plugged in and check the tuning. There wouldn’t be enough time to mess with the wireless—he’d be stuck going direct. At the same time, he hadn’t planned on racing around the enormous stage, so there was that.
Right as he reached the wings, Sal stumbled up to Zen and clutched at the sheer, sparkling sleeve of Zen’s shirt, tearing it free from the shoulder. Zen whirled around, and for a second, Braylin thought for sure he was going to lay him out. Instead, he grabbed Sal’s arm in a vain attempt to keep the obviously wasted Sal from hitting the floor.
Zen’s assistant, Cassidy, had jumped to the side, cradling Braylin’s guitar as if it were a baby, while Gordy and Zen hooked their arms beneath Sal’s pits and dragged him to his feet. Vinnie and Marlon must have already taken their positions in the opposite wing, but Derek remained, his scowling features saying more than words ever could.
Braylin wasn’t sure what to do, so he stood near Cassidy and waited to see how it all played out.
“You!” Sal jabbed a finger at Braylin. “I hope you fuckin’ gah my fuckin’ EQ right for once. Otherwise, Ima kick your ass!”
Zen called to Derek. “Go get security while me and Gordy keep this animal in check.”
Derek snorted. “Gladly.”
Braylin swallowed hard, reminding himself that Zen had told him whenever Sal said hateful things, that it was because the man lived to make people feel bad about themselves so he could make himself feel good. Because no matter how many times Braylin tried to be better, to do the things Sal wanted, he’d still yell at him and say it was all wrong. Apparently, he’d been doing that to the band for years.
“The fuck?” Sal weaved between Zen and Gordy, his brow furrowed, his eyes hooded as if he could barely keep them open. “Gotta show to do, assholes.” He glared at Braylin. “Wha’ you lookin’ at pretty boy? Thin’ you’re hot stuff now that Zen’s drillin’ you down every nigh’?” He grunted then spat. “Fuckin’ whore. Wait ‘til he dumps your ass.”
“That’s enough lying, shit talk from you, Sal! You’re done.” Zen gritted out.
Sal’s words were like a gut-punch, but Braylin willed himself to focus on Zen’s advice. Sal used his words like weapons, and right now, he was fighting for his survival. Somewhere deep inside his booze-addled brain, he had to know he’d made the final fuck-up with Glitter Kink. Twenty years of playing with his friends, eighteen years of fame and fortune and a brilliant music career all shot to hell. Braylin almost felt sorry for the guy.
Almost.
Zen jerked his chin at Cassidy, and she seemed to wake from the hypnotic pull of the human train wreck unfolding before her eyes.
“Oh!” Cassidy shoved Braylin’s guitar at him. “Here’s your guitar.” She chuckled. “Obvs.”
Braylin ducked his head as he accepted the case from her. He lifted his eyes at the sound of Zen’s voice.
“You got this.” Zen winked. “Go on and get ready while we take care of this mess.”
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