Sonata (Butcher and Violinist 2)

“Giorgio wants a steak-frites—”

“Eden is gone. I don’t give a fuck what Giorgio wants—”

“When’s the last time you ate?” Rafael asked.

“I’m not hungry—”

“I’m overriding you. Let’s get some food and regroup.”

“We don’t need to regroup.”

Rage blazed in his eyes as his voice rose. “We do, because we fucking kidnapped the Lion’s chick!”

My heart boomed in my ears.

I did do that. Okay. Fine.

I returned to my earbud. “Louis, we’ll meet at the restaurant. Giorgio’s hungry and Rafael wants to. . .regroup.”

“Good,” Louis said. “After that shit, I think we all need a minute to breathe.”

You both win for now. But we won’t break for too long. The clock is ticking.

“By the way,” Louis continued, “The Bratva sectors residing in the East of Paris, are up and about.”

“I figured Kazimir would wake all his people out here.”

“I have men on them. You want me to kill them?”

“No. Don’t kill his men. They could help find Eden. Do you have an eye on Kazimir?”

Emily turned to me and widened her eyes.

Louis spoke, “Kazimir is in his helicopter. It was parked on the hotel’s roof. It’s moving south.”

“I thought we killed the guards.”

“Titi didn’t kill the pilot. He just tied him up.”

“Fine.”

The first job of last night had been to put a tracker on his helicopter. We’d done that before taking out his men. While I hadn’t planned on kidnapping his lover, I had wanted to monitor his moves just in case he had a direct hand in kidnapping Eden.

“See you at Shalimar’s.” Louis’s connection ended.

Getting this food better not take too long.

We could’ve sent anybody to do it, but that wasn’t our way. When one of us was shot, we personally came through to see them and brought food. Nothing was supposed to be over taking care of us.

I gazed out of the window.

The sun hovered over Paris.

Did you see the sun rise this morning, Eden? Has the Devil treated you humanely? Has he at least. . .

My heart crushed, but I couldn’t show it. I had to remain ready to kill and nothing more. A mask of violence. I’d already made several mistakes and knew I would make more.

The whole time Kazimir’s lover studied me.

How long would the Devil keep Eden alive? How long would he wait before he tried to do to her face, what I’d done to him?

I took out my phone and tossed it to Emily. “Call your brother.”

She picked up the phone with shaking hands, turned it on, dialed, and waited. After a few seconds, she spoke. Her whole expression shifted from a scared woman to all business.

“Maxwell are you with Misha?” she asked. “What? Strip club? Go outside. Yes! I’m serious!”

His name is Maxwell. Where have I heard that name before?

I scanned my brain and thought of one of the conversations I’d had with Giorgio.

Giorgio closed the file of dead FBI agents. “We’ve got a name for the black man with Misha.”

“Please say it’s mouse.”

“No. His name is Maxwell. A small-time hustler from Harlem. Nowhere on Misha’s level.”

“He’s from New York?”

“Yes.”

At least things were starting to make more sense. Finally, I was getting some answers. Maxwell could still be the Mouse, not that all of that mattered in the moment. First, I needed to get Eden back. Later, I’d have to discover the Mouse’s identity. After kidnapping Kazimir’s lover, he would come after us.

It was best to know everything about my enemy from here on out. When Sasha was killed, everyone talked of Kazimir’s new associate. They called the man, the Mouse. If they’d taken down Sasha, they would come after me.

Rafael leaned my way. “What if she’s calling someone to have us tracked?”

“It doesn’t matter, if Kazimir knows where she is or not. He won’t get her back until I say so.”

Her bottom lip quivered and then she spoke, “Yes. I can hear you now. No. Good. Listen. The Corsican kidnapped me—”

“Get to Eden,” I growled.”

“I…I need you to get Misha to locate Eden. His people might’ve kidnapped her. What? No. She’s not somebody’s grandmother. It isn’t.” She looked back at me. “Maxwell, it’s not someone’s grandmother. Okay. I’ll ask.” She looked at me. “Is Eden, the name of Ava’s grandmother?”

I growled. “Who the hell is Ava? Eden is no one’s grandmother.”

“I’m sorry. He’s drunk.” She went back to the phone. “It’s not Ava’s grandmother. We’re talking about Eden. Yes. Yes. I guess. Then, Misha kidnapped someone else. Did you happen to hear the part about the Corsican kidnapping me?! Yes. Eden!”

Calming herself down, she turned back to me. “Maxwell needs a picture.”

“I’ll send one.” I took the phone and spoke into it, “Make sure Misha contacts me. And hurry up, Maxwell.”

I hung up the phone and studied her. “Why is your brother working with Misha?”

“He’s not working for Misha. He’s only hanging out in St. Petersburg.”