Sonata (Butcher and Violinist 2)

“Hurry, Jean-Pierre. I’m starting to rethink not killing you.”

“Thanks for not taking me out. You definitely have the shot. I’m glad you’re not going to take it.” I stared off into the spot where I thought she might be. A small black woman stood near a kiosk, but running people kept blurring my view. “It looks like we’ve become friends after all.”

“Don’t come for Kazimir.”

“Friends don’t kill friends.” I smiled. “Make sure your lion knows that. You get safe passage out of France, and I promise to not bother the Bratva again, unless its warranted.”

I had my queen. There was no reason for war, if I could avoid it. And now another piece had come into this complicated puzzle.

Emily was the Mouse, and she made Kazimir crazy. If necessary, she could be used in the future. It was best to develop some form of a connection. Especially when she’d could’ve killed me and didn’t.

Her words came out shaky. “I can’t make Kazimir do anything—”

“You can and you will.” I got to the van door and opened it.

Inside, my lovely queen spotted me, hurried, and wrapped her arms around me.

And I crumbled on the inside, as I held her with my free and aching arm. I’d almost forgot that the Mouse was on the phone when she spoke, “I can’t promise—”

“You can. I’ll give you time.” I inhaled Eden—my heart, my love, my destiny and then whispered into the phone, “Tame the Lion.”

I hung up, unable to focus on anything else, but Eden. I climbed into the van with her. We sat on a bench. I damn near encased her, trapping her to me. There would never be another moment where we would be separated.

Louis and Rafael jumped in behind me.

The chef looked relieved to see them.

The door closed.

The van moved.

And I closed my eyes, holding Eden and whispering in her ear, everything I’d been waiting to say since she’d been stolen from me.

Louis spoke within the darkness. “My men have an eye on the Mouse.”

I kept my eyes closed, as I held Eden. “Where is she?”

“Scurrying in the direction that Kazimir fled.”

The van bounced.

The driver honked.

“They’ve got a head shot,” Louis said. “Should they take it?”

Eden whispered, “Please, don’t.”

I nodded.

Louis spoke the order, “Let the Mouse go.”

I tightened my grip on Eden. “How are you, my love?”

“I’m fine.” She shivered against me. “Now that I’m with you. Everything is okay.”

“When we get to Nice, I’ll have someone look at your face. How deep is the cut?”

She shook her head, not wanting to talk about it.

I ran my fingers through her soft curls. “It’s okay. He won’t touch you anymore. No one will.”

Kazimir had mentioned the Devil, as a bargaining chip. I’d take the Lion up on anything he had to offer, just to play a song on the Devil’s face.

Your day will come, Devil!

This time I would kill him. This time I would take my time. This time he would scream, and cry for his death for the same amount of days Eden had been taken from me.

Soon, Devil. Very, very soon.

“You’re going to Nice?” Rafael asked.

I opened my eyes. “We all should.”

“I’m not leaving, until I bury Shalimar.”

“We stay together. If you want to bury Shalimar here, then we will.” I shrugged. “We can go to Nice afterwards.”

Eden moved from my hold and turned to Rafael. “I’m so sorry, Rafael. I’m so sorry, about Shalimar.”

Rafael whispered, “It’s not your fault.”

“It is.” Eden left our bench and went to his, sitting on his side. Everyone turned her way. Already my hands itched to touch her.

“I…” She swallowed. “I led them to Shalimar.”

Rafael responded in a dark chuckle. “Shalimar led them to her. Had she told us everything from the beginning, none of us would be in this van now. . .and she would’ve been alive.”

“Still. . .” Eden hugged him. “I’m so sorry, Rafael.”

“I’m fine.” He didn’t raise his arms to hug her back.

She held him longer.

And then he broke down. Not a loud cry or a shriek. Not a groan or sound. But tears fell from his eyes. And tears never left him.

Everything had finally hit us.

Rafael hugged Eden back.

Louis closed his eyes.

Gwen let out a long breath, as if she’d been holding it for hours. And I watched my beautiful queen, console the other important person in my life.

It was worth it. Every bullet. Every dead Russian. Every play. Every swerve. Every fight. It was worth it to see her again. Anything for her. Anytime. Any day.

Chapter 25

The Feel of Love

Eden

Are we really safe? Is everything over?

We separated from everyone. Rafael had to take Gwen to her apartment. Louis rushed off to the airport, to make sure the Russians left. Jean-Pierre and I left the limo and went to his car.

Jean-Pierre drove out of Paris. Two black vans filled with guards led the way. Three more black vans followed behind us.