Sonata (Butcher and Violinist 2)

Chapter 22

To Friendship

Jean-Pierre

Emily hurried off.

Her guards followed.

If Natalie found all our security and guns odd, she was smart enough not to comment on it. Natalie stared off in the direction that Emily had left.

Then, she turned to me. “I have some extra pregnancy tests in the medicine cabinet, if your girlfriend wanted to check. Sorry, if I’m imposing.”

“You keep extra pregnancy tests in your bathroom?” Louis interrupted.

“After my buddy over there.” She grinned at Benji. “I’ve got a bit nervous about getting pregnant. Not that I do anything anyway. . .whatever. Long story. I always have a few tests and…a Day After pill or…you know what? Let me stop telling you my business and try to mind your girlfriend’s business too.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.” I kept a straight face. “She’s just my best friend’s girlfriend. I’m watching her for him, while he’s in Paris on business.”

“Oh, okay. Well you can tell her about the tests or not. I don’t mind. I’m not doing anything to take a test right now anyway.” She paused and then shook her head. “Pretend I didn’t say that.”

Louis quirked his eyebrows.

She blushed and turned to me. “Anyway, Jean-Pierre, how do you want your coffee?”

“Black.”

“All black. No sugar. No cream.”

“Exactly.”

“I’m the same.” She batted her eyes. “I like my coffee like my men. Hot and all black.”

“Hmmm.” Louis took a sip of his coffee and watched her pour my cup. “That’s the only way you like your men?”

“It’s a joke.” Natalie made her own cup and drank a little.

I was about to leave the kitchen, when Louis tapped the side of his cup and hit her with an intense stare.

What’s wrong with him?

She must have noticed Louis studying her too, because she nervously turned away.

Louis smiled which was not a typical thing to see on his face. “You only date black men?”

“The saying is a joke, but. . .” She shrugged. “Yeah. . .well, it’s not that I only date black men. It’s that black men only date me.”

“False.” Louis wagged his finger. “I doubt that. No man has come your way and tried to seduce you? Not even in Paris, the city of love?”

“No. Not a lot of French guys are chasing after me these days.”

“We could change that.”

“You’re funny and cute.” Natalie set the cup down, grabbed a wet cloth, and wiped the counter.

“Let me help.” Louis rose, towering over Natalie and looking too eager to get closer to her.

“Umm.” She held her cloth in mid-air. “I’ve got it. I have to go anyway. I only wanted to do a quick clean, so Gwen wouldn’t trip. Benji and I are lucky that she lets us stay here.”

Louis frowned. “Breakfast was delicious. Thank you. I have to repay you.”

“It’s all good. Next time you see a sister, help her out.” Giggling, she hurried over to the highchair, lifted Benji up, and carried him away. “Okay, buddy. We’re off to begin our day. Daycare. Ballet. French class. Your doctor’s appointment. Park. Grocery store. Blah blah blah.”

Benji giggled. “Blah blah blah.”

I didn’t know he could talk.

“Natalie?” Louis reached out his hand but didn’t touch her. “Can I say something really quick?”

She held Benji in her arms. “Umm. Not right now. I have to go. We’re already late. I hope I see you again.”

“You will,” Louis muttered under his breath as she rushed away. He looked at me. “You think I came off as creepy?”

“Probably.”

I gestured to where Emily had been sitting by the counter. “It’s usually hard to get a girl’s number, when you’ve got a kidnapped woman with you.”

We watched Natalie.

She stopped at the bathroom, switched her son to the other hip, and knocked on the bathroom door with the other hand.

Emily opened it a few inches.

Both women exchanged rushed words.

Natalie was apparently trying to get Emily to do something.

My men looked at me as if wondering what they should do. I shook my head and let the women have their conversation. Even if Emily was trying to get Natalie’s help, it would be monitored. Louis had put eyes on Gwen, Natalie’s phones, and apartment.

There could be no more surprises.

Natalie said something else, closed the door, and went into her room with Benji.

What was that about?

I checked the bathroom where my men stood outside of it and whispered to Louis, “You think the Mouse is pregnant?”

“Hope not. Then the Lion won’t just kill you, he’ll kill all of us.”

I laughed. “Aww. I see. You were hoping to get out of this by blaming the kidnapping all on me?”

“Yeah. Imagine that.”

I checked my watch. “We should go soon. Kazimir will have the exchange’s address. Plus, I don’t want this shit touching Gwen, Natalie, or Benji.”

“Me either.”

“Where’s Rafael?”

“Out there with Gwen. Let him be for now. Give him a few more minutes.”

I rubbed my eyes and watched the bathroom door.