In a Chord (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Beth D. Carter Page A

“With Momo’s vocals and violin, they’re gonna love us!”
    “Yeah, yeah,” Taylor muttered. “We can name our first album China Doll .”
    Everyone fell silent again, staring at Taylor.
    “I’m not Chinese,” Momo told him coldly. “I’m Japanese.”
    “Sorry. Geisha Girl , then.”
    “Enough, Taylor!” Byron said firmly, surprising everyone. “I’ve heard her sing, and Keaton’s right. She’s what this band needs. Now shut up and keep your smart-ass comments to yourself.”
    Taylor’s eyes were wide. When Byron was finished, he turned his back on the drummer. Keaton saw Taylor shoot Momo a dirty look before walking out of the changing room.
    Mike cleared his throat and glanced at Momo. “Don’t worry about him. He’s just got a mouth he can’t control.”
    Momo nodded and took out her violin, turning her attention to tuning it.
    The band before them was wrapping up their set, and Keaton had a brief thought of dragging Ash to their closet but didn’t really have the time. He had gone to hunt down Taylor, who was pouting in Mike’s van. It bothered him a lot that Taylor had such a low opinion of women and held such an obvious distaste for Momo. He would hate to lose the drummer, but drummers could easily be replaced.
    They set up quickly on stage. This time, instead of waiting for the count from the drumsticks, Byron would flip on the overhead light to highlight Momo. She would lead the song before everyone joined in.
    The crowd was edgy, knowing something was different this time. A buzz could be heard over the electric charge through the room. And then Momo was spotlighted, and she had her violin under her chin and started “Space.” Her intro was only an eighteen-second beat, but her notes were high and classic. Then with a pulse-pounding beat from the drums, the lights came up, and the song began. The crowd went wild because they knew this song, and yet, it was completely different.
    Keaton belted out the first verse, with Ash providing the background vocals, and then Momo’s clear voice chimed in with the first two lines of the chorus before Keaton sang with her on the last two.
    The crowd was screaming, dancing, and head banging along with them. They had always had a great welcome at The Black Tiger, but this was something different. This was mind-blowing. The song came alive, pulsing through the heavy beat of drums and thrum of guitars.
    And when the song came to an end, Momo finished it up with her eighteen-second beat interlude from the beginning before the lights went completely out. The crowd erupted, almost deafening, stomping their feet and demanding more.
    For the next twenty minutes, they held the crowd captive. Each one of their songs had undergone a transformation that resonated with the audience. It was a blending of hard rock with a softer edge, a bit of punk with grace. And when their set was finished, and they waved to the audience, all that could be heard was their name.
    Back in the changing room, they all collapsed in exhilaration. Momo was doing a little dance, and Keaton snatched her up in a hug, twirling her.
    “That was amazing!” she squealed. “What a rush!”
    “By far, that’s the best night we’ve ever had,” Mike enthused.
    “I don’t know about you blokes,” Taylor said, giving a significant look at Momo, “and blokette, but I am thirsty! Who wants what?”
    He went to the cooler that Byron had provided and started handing out cans of soda.
    “Momo?” he asked.
    “I’ll take a cola.”
    He turned around to get one for her, opening it for her before passing it over. She took a long gulp. She grimaced a little and looked at the label before setting it off to the side.
    Just then Byron came bustling in. “Keaton, Ash, there’s someone I want you to meet. Come on.”
    Keaton shot a surprised look at Ash, who just shrugged. He grabbed Momo’s hand, and they followed after their manager, who led them into the crush of people.
    They pushed their way