Crave

A Figure in the Shadows

The recital had been going on for what felt like forever, and my feet had grown tired of standing.

I started making my way back to my seat before my feet decided to take me somewhere they had no business going.

Namely...

Her.

Before I could stop myself, I was lowering into the empty seat beside her.

The laughter on her lips died instantly.

She turned to face me, fixing me with a blank stare.

I honestly didn't know what she found so amusing about the performance.

It wasn't as though we were watching different shows.

I'd spent the last hour trying not to die of boredom.

"What do you think you're doing here?" she asked, her tone flat with annoyance.

"What does it look like?" I replied, answering her question with one of my own.

She huffed and shook her head.

"Occupying a seat you have no business being in," she said, stating the obvious while shooting me an irritated look.

I was about to deliver what would undoubtedly have been an excellent comeback...when she raised a finger to her lips, silently shushing me.

Right then, her brother's name was announced.

He was invited onto the stage to perform a violin solo.

The hall erupted in applause as Mika stepped onto the stage.

When he began to play...

I had to admit, he wasn't half bad.

Actually...

He was impressive.

Not that I'd ever say it out loud.

Still, I wasn't nearly as impressed as Eliana.

She watched him with the kind of pride that only a sister could.

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and her hands rested beneath her chin as she admired every note he played.

She rose to her feet, applauding as Mika finished his performance and bowed to the audience.

I was just about to deliver another brilliant remark as she lowered herself back into her seat.

That was when something caught my attention.

A lone figure lurking in the shadows.

Watching.

Not the stage.

Her.

A figure I would recognize anywhere.

I rose to my feet, ignoring Eliana's curious glance, and made my way toward him.

The figure was standing with his back relaxed on the wall.

"What are you doing here, Enzo?" I asked as I stepped into the shadows beside him.

He turned slightly to face me. His dirty blond hair fell across his face giving his eyes a dark appearance.

"Nice suit, brother," he replied with a smug grin.

"That wasn't the answer to my question."

My voice was cold, my face devoid of emotion.

"Relax. Am I not allowed to visit my older brother?"

He draped an arm around my shoulders.

I shrugged it off immediately.

"We both know you didn't come all this way to compliment my suit. So I'll ask you one last time."

I met his eyes.

"Why are you here?"

I emphasized every word.

"If you'd just done your job the way you were supposed to, I wouldn't have had to come”.

His jaw tightened. For a split second, guilt flickered across his face before the anger returned.

He couldn't quite hide the anger in his voice.

I couldn't bring myself to argue.

He was right.

I'd let myself get distracted.

And in our line of work...

Distractions got people killed.

Enzo rarely challenged my authority. The only time he ever did was when he believed I was losing sight of the mission.

Which is very rare…

I wasn't losing sight of the mission.

I couldn't afford to.

Especially not when our mother's life depended on it.

I wouldn't do that to her.

She was only a game.

At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

She had no idea she'd been dragged into a war that wasn't hers.

She smiled too easily. Trusted too quickly.

People like her didn't survive in our world.

“Easy with the staring brother,it’s getting too obvious”. Enzo said, his voice laced with mockery.

“Shut up Ez” I muttered,while throwing him an unamused look over my shoulder.

He raised his hands up in surrender, still snickering like the damn fool he was.

I looked over at her one last time and found her clutching her stomach, her body shaking with laughter.

At least one of us is enjoying the show.

I was so carried away by her that I didn’t notice Ez had already pushed himself off the wall. He now stood straight, his hands tucked into his pockets.

“I must admit, she’s such a beautiful lady. It’s such a shame she had to be caught up in all this mess.” He tutted and shook his head.

My eyes widened.

Enzo reached into his coat.

Time seemed to slow.

My stomach dropped.

“Enzo—”

The gunshot rang through the auditorium.

For one impossible heartbeat, everything froze.

The man beside Eliana stared blankly ahead before his body crumpled to the floor, blood blooming beneath him.

Screams erupted throughout the hall as everyone scrambled to escape.

Adrian and Elsa sprang into action, drawing the guns they had concealed. Elsa reached Eliana first, gently shaking her out of her stunned state while her husband moved with practiced ease to secure the rest of their children.

Adrian didn’t hesitate,one hand shielded his wife while the other held his pistol. He looked about ready to put anyone who would dare to show in front of him into the ground. Together, they moved toward the exit, scanning every corner for any sign of danger. I wouldn’t have expected any less from a man who used to be the highest paid assassin in Russia.

Rage exploded inside me.

I slammed Enzo against the wall, my grip tightening around the front of his shirt.

“How dare you?” I snarled through gritted teeth.

He tried to move me off him but he didn’t stand a chance. I was bigger and stronger than he was, I slammed him against the wall again.

He choked.

“Relax I wasn’t aiming for her in the first place, I just wanted to reassure him that we hadn’t lost sight of the mission”

“That could have gone wrong” I said, still snarling in his face. He locked his eyes with mine, challenging me with a fury of his own.

“I said I wasn’t aiming for her and I meant it. You of all people should know that I never miss. If I wanted her dead she’d be dead by now ” he said anger radiating off him breathing hard. “Your priorities might have shifted but mine still stands and if your feelings get in the way of getting my mother back I won’t hesitate to put her into the ground and this time I will make sure not to miss”.

His fierce look matched mine, neither of us was ready to back down. But the truth is that he wasn’t totally wrong,while I was busy playing the game of cat and mouse with the girl who was supposed to be our mother’s ticket out of the prison our mother was being held captive in the middle of nowhere.

I let go of him and turned around to look at the hall which is now empty, left for the body of the poor man my brother killed ...what a shame.

“It’s a shame the show had to end so soon, I was beginning to enjoy it” he said standing beside me.

“Indeed” I replied, we stared at each other and a look of understanding passed between us.

“See you later brother”. He said, patting my shoulder as he passed by me heading toward the door. I watched him until his shadow retreated.