Rhapsody (Butcher and Violinist 1)

“You’ve been my obsession for three years.”

His confession hung in the air.

I’d wanted him to crave me. I’d relished in fantasies of him loving me. But I never knew that his attention would be beyond my comprehension. That his love might hurt in some ways. It might make me rethink what love and reality really was.

Could I do that?

I studied the Eiffel Tower off in the distance.

“How many have you killed in my name?”

“Hundreds.”

That was what really had kept me in my room. I knew he had power. I didn’t know that it moved deep within his blood. While I thought he’d helped Rafael, maybe even had a higher position than most thought, he was the head of the Corsican.

Could I date him? Could we move forward from all of this?

I didn’t know the men who’d tried to battle Jean-Pierre and his men, but I attempted to imagine them in my mind.

All these people had died for what? For me to just get scared and run away?

At the bare minimum, I had to give this a chance.

You’re coming up with excuses. You’re trying to make yourself feel better about choosing him over your aunt.

That was another reason why I sat in my room. Jean-Pierre’s confession had made it clear about where my aunt stood on him and I being together. She didn’t want it to happen, so much that she’d called in numerous amounts of favors with powerful people to keep him away.

If I just go to Jean-Pierre with open arms, it will break her heart. Only God knew what she did to fight against Jean-Pierre.

But I hadn’t asked her to do it. She’d been trying to protect me. Was I now forced to live my life according to her wishes because she’d fought a war that I’d never asked to happen?

Why does this have to be so fucking complicated? I don’t want to walk away from either. I don’t even want this to be my reality.

At least with the girlfriend experience, I knew exactly where everyone stood in the situation. Now I’d been thrown into a new world. No wonder his staff and men had treated me like the lady of the manor. They all knew about his obsession.

I was the only idiot walking around and going about my day with no clue.

I sat at the window as the sun rose higher in the sky. Fear gathered along my shoulders. I was scared shitless and unable to move. My phone sat silent in my lap. Aunt Celina hadn’t responded to any of my calls. Shalimar’s phone was still off. Leo hadn’t even answered his phone.

“For three years, you’ve been my obsession.”

A small scraping sound distracted me from my thoughts.

I checked where the noise came from and rose. By the door, a long red envelope lay in front of the door.

Did he slip it under?

I hurried over and opened the door.

No one stood on the outside, but a large box half my size sat on the floor. A large white label covered it. My name was written on it.

I ducked my head out, didn’t see anyone in the hallway, and brought the package in.

A present? Jean-Pierre. . .you’re not helping.

I’d taken time to myself because I knew that being around him would keep me in his corner. My aunt loved me. She was wise and had helped raise me. I had to at least get her side of things.

But, where is she? Is everything okay? Has she gotten herself into trouble over this whole thing? Unnecessary trouble!

I dragged the package inside and dropped it on the bed.

The door slammed behind me.

Jean-Pierre had no limit to spoiling me. I knew that whatever lay in the box would be elegant and priceless.

The letter was what had me the most intrigued.

What’s on his mind? What the has he been thinking for these past three days?

Curious, I ripped open the envelope and pulled out the folded card. Jean-Pierre’s perfect script covered it.

Eden,

I want to see you. Can we take a break from our break and spend the evening together? Either way, I’ll respect your wishes.

If you say yes, then please wear the gown in the box and meet me in room 644 in an hour.

If you say no, then know I am thinking about you and understand.

Jean-Pierre

What other answer could I give him, but yes? He’d been patient and calm as he waited for my thoughts on us. While he shouldn’t have gotten points for finally being honest, he had been, and that mattered.

And I miss him. I miss his scent. The feel of his skin. His hard body. I miss him.

I checked my phone.

Aunt Celina still had not called.

Sighing, I walked off to the big box on the bed, yanked off the top, and pulled out the tissue paper. “Wow.”

I lifted a stunning gown out of the box. It was all lace. A large oval had been cut out the back and would expose most of my violin tattoo. I took the gown out and brought it over to the mirror near the window.