Sonata (Butcher and Violinist 2)

“It would be.” I was about to discuss the point further, when the lights shut off in the building. I reached for my gun, didn’t feel it. I’d been with Eden. Anytime I was with her, I kept the guns and knives away.

“What the hell is going on?” Louis sped up as I rushed to the door.

Our men spotted the problem. They flanked us as we entered the building. Hysteria had erupted in the lobby. There’d been a few elegantly dressed couples leaving and coming.

A few of my men used their phones as flashlights.

“The elevators will be locked.” I passed them. “Where’s Eden? Did she make it upstairs?”

“Giorgio never checked in, but he never does. I’m sure she’s fine.” Still, he had his gun out. “Rafael was going up there.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

She better be fine.

I pulled out my phone and climbed the stairs. Others ran ahead of me. Everything was black. I heard scattered noises as we passed certain levels. Everyone in the building was trying to figure out why the lights were off.

We hurried up on the third floor.

“No cell service.” My heart boomed in my chest. “And the power has been out for too long.”

“Yeah.” Louis handed me his gun and pulled out another from his jacket.

This isn’t a simple power outage. This is a set up.

“Get to the fucking top!”

We’d already been racing, but everyone found the extra energy within them.

My legs burned. I had to remain calm. Losing my mind with worry in a situation like this, always put me at a disadvantage. But my heart screamed inside my chest. And every time I glanced up the stairwell, all I saw, was an unending spiraling darkness hovering above. Constantly ascending. Never ending. Foreboding. Doomful stairs.

It’s going to take us forever to get up there.

Every floor, I checked the phone for service. I just had to hear her voice and make sure Eden was okay.

“I don’t like this shit.” Louis grabbed one guy. “Pull the fire alarm and go get more men from downstairs. Have every fucking exit blocked. No one leaves this building without you checking them for anything suspicious. I don’t care if they’re old or young.”

I increased the pace, climbing three or four steps at a time, but still it didn’t seem like we’d gotten anywhere.

Had to convince me to get the penthouse, Rafael?!

The lights turned on, when we hit the eighth floor. I rushed on that level to get to the elevators.

Come on. Come on.

When we made it to the elevators, Louis pressed the buttons.

By now, several men guarded the stairs and watched people leaving. We didn’t know what the hell everyone was looking for, but the lights and phone service shutting off wasn’t a coincidence. Someone had either attacked or was trying to attack.

I hoped the situation was on a low level. Cyber-attack. Hacking. Some idiot trying me.

Whatever it is, just let Eden be safe.

“Phones are back on.” Louis had his out. “I’m calling Giorgio.”

I dialed Eden. She didn’t answer. The more the phone rang, the more my heart sank.

I gripped the gun hard and looked at Louis. “Did Giorgio answer?”

“No.”

“Fuck!” I hit the wall near the elevator.

“We’ll get them.” Louis turned to the others. “Make sure more men are guarding the exits. Roof. Everywhere.”

They rushed away. Only a few remained with us. The elevator stopped on our level. Just in case, we pointed the guns at the elevator. The doors slid open.

A sweaty Rafael stared back at us with his own gun. “What the fuck happened to the lights?”

We lowered our guns and got on.

“I don’t know.” I hit the button, unable to talk until I saw Eden safely in front of me.

Giorgio was with her. He would protect her with everything. I had to believe it and relax.

She’s fine. She’s fine.

We rode up in silence.

Everyone had their guns out.

The elevator lights flickered.

Louis sighed. “Now that our people know what they’re doing, they won’t be able to control the lights anymore.”

Not good enough, if anything has happened to Giorgio or Eden.

We made it to my floor.

The doors slid open.

I rushed out.

The first thing I saw was blood.

Someone was shot in the hall.

My mind shifted to insanity. I was down by the door, before anyone else. Had it open and my gun out. I had no idea who’d bled in the hallway. My brain couldn’t grapple it, or I’d lose control.

Louis tapped at two bullet holes in the wall.

With his gun out, Rafael kept the door open and checked the hallway again.

Make sure Eden and Giorgio are safe. That’s it. Focus. Don’t think about anything else.

In times like these, one had to concentrate. Breathe in and out. Clear the mind. Laser-centered focus. It was the only way to make the accurate move in times of stress. It was the only way to not get killed, when a killer stood within the shadows, waiting patiently to jump out and attack.