Tension thickened in the air.
I’m going to kill you, Jean-Pierre. Should I serve your cock to you too. What else could I do to break your soul.
I directed my view back to the screen. “And is that my mouse behind you?”
“It is.”
“But it’s not.”
“Go ahead and confirm.” Jean-Pierre rose. “I’m ready for this to end.”
My men pointed their guns at him.
I remained seated. “We don’t exchange yet.”
His voice rose higher. “We exchange now!”
David’s men kept their guns pointed.
Maybe we should kill him now. My mouse is close. . .but then what about Louis, and Rafael behind us? We could get them, but how many more men are outside the theater and how many were surrounding the mall.
I shook my head. “You’re lucky I’m letting you stay alive.”
“Am I?” He inched closer, a little bit in front of me.
Yeah. Get closer, Jean-Pierre.
“Do you know why I haven’t shot you yet?” I looked up at him. “My mouse said you were nice.”
Jean-Pierre had to know that I contacted her by now. “She was a good guest.”
I grinned with pride. “But you couldn’t hold onto her?”
He moved in closer. I watched his feet. The right one lifted a little. He would charge off that one.
“Take another step, Jean-Pierre.” I scowled. “Take it. If you do, then I’ll snap your flute player’s neck, and whistle a tune for you.”
“She plays the violin.”
“She will play my men’s cocks, if I want her to.” I returned to watching the screen. “Be grateful that she has s been a good guest. But for you…your very limited life will forever change. There are things that must be done to deal with this. Several people must die.”
My men lowered their guns.
Let’s see how nice, Jean-Pierre is.
I pointed to Rafael. “Maybe we can kill the funny one. I don’t like him anyway.”
“Let’s discuss who dies later. We both need a night with our women. What are we waiting for?”
“We’re waiting on my mouse. She said she escaped. The only question is…did you tell her to say that?”
“I didn’t.”
“How do I know she’s not trapped somewhere now? She says, she’ll be here soon.” I placed my hands in my lap. Edge coated my next words. “You better hope she arrives with not one fucking scratch on her hand!”
“Can’t guarantee that. She’s not easy to hold on to.”
I looked at him. “My mouse gave you a hard time?”
Pride warmed the coldness in my heart. Jean-Pierre crossed his arms in front of his chest, and standing directly in front of me. He blocked my view of the movie.
I frowned. “When they say the French are rude, I never understood until this trip.”
“Not your best visit to Paris, Kazimir? Maybe next time the weather will be better.” He looked at Eden. “How are you?”
She whispered, “I’m fine.”
“Are you ready to come home?” he asked.
“I am,” she whispered.
I watched the couple with intrigue.
You love her more than you love yourself. Then, she’ll die first. Perhaps, it would be better to kill her. I want you to hurt.
An edge lay in Jean-Pierre’s voice. “And who did that to your face, reine?”
She swallowed. “The Devil.”
Reine? Did he call her queen? And what is he supposed to be. . .a king?
I held in my humor.
Jean-Pierre turned back to me. “Where’s the Devil now, Kazimir?”
“I’m holding him.”
“Why?”
“Bargaining chip.”
Jean-Pierre shook his head and went back to Eden. “Since you’ve been away, I’ve heard Strauss’s sonata in my ears. The first movement so romantic, yet the—”
“Enough with the conversation,” I was tired of seeing both of them talk, and appear so lovey dovey. They wanted their happily-ever-after. They wouldn’t get it, until I got mine.
Hurry, mouse. Hurry so we can kill them together.
Jean-Pierre watched Eden. “The second movement seemed louder without you. Fast. Erratic. All over the place. Almost like feet to the ground. Running. Running really fast. Do you remember the notes?”
What is this about the sonata? Jesus. I should just kill him now and deal with the consequences later.
Jean-Pierre continued to annoy me. “Notes running. Running fast—”
Before he could finish, Eden jumped out of the chair and ran off.
Goddamn it. She’s not as weak, or slow as I thought.
My men charged for her.
Rafael shot them.
More shots rang out as Eden ran to Rafael.
But I didn’t care about that. Jean-Pierre would not have his happy ending today. He’d done too much, and by now the world would be watching.
Jean-Pierre pulled out his gun.
I rose and barreled into his side. He grunted. I latched onto his neck and choked him.
Finally.
With my hands tight around his neck, Jean-Pierre struggled to get his gun.
Die. Die. Make it easier for yourself. If not, you’ll watch her die.
We fell to the floor.
More shots rang behind us.
Eden screamed Jean-Pierre’s name.
Good. She can watch you die too.
But somehow, Jean-Pierre pulled out his gun as I choked him. He shot. A bullet grazed my side. Goddamn it. Pain burned my skin. I fell back.