6 Chapter 6

Addison stretched beneath the fluffy quilt and enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine streaming in through her window. She loved weekends for this exact purpose. Sleeping in as late as she possibly could and rising late in the day with her high East facing window. She smiled and rubbed her face against the softness of her impossibly high thread count sheets. It had taken her several years of hard work and many side jobs to earn enough money to afford the perks she appreciated in life. She made damn sure she enjoyed those luxuries now that she had them.

She luxuriated in the sensation of her naked body against the sheets as she slid out of bed and the slight pull of muscles from her playtime the night before. With a sigh of satisfaction she, made her way down the hall toward the shower. While the water heated up, she poured herself a coffee from the freshly brewed pot and turned on her laptop to play the news. As she showered she thought about all of the things she could do with her Sunday. She didn't really have any pressing errands to run, except perhaps to restock a few perishable groceries.

Maybe she would visit Zeke at Strings & Bows and see if he had anything new to show her. He made it his mission in life to find sheet music that could challenge the orchestra's First Chair. She always rose to the occasion for him. Yes, she thought, Zeke's shop was close to River Park, one of her favourite places for an afternoon stroll. Afterward, she could take the subway to the grocery store to pick up what she needed for the week. She would still have a few hours left to practice for work tomorrow. Maestro was a great friend to her, but he was also a slave driver when his instruments weren't on task. He wasn't afraid to knock the orchestra down to size when they weren't performing to his standards. Which was hardly ever.

Having decided on her Sunday activities, Addison put on a long jersey skirt, white tank top and jean jacket. Long skirts and T-shirts with lightweight jackets or cardigans were staples of her wardrobe. They were easy for her to put on, comfortable and relatively safe from wardrobe malfunctions. She brushed her long, curly hair and shook the waves out, down her back, wondering for the hundredth time why she didn't just cut it all off. Why bother with a vanity she couldn't even see?

Addison decided she'd also indulge in breakfast out, rather than eating her usual bowl of cereal and fruit, and made her way out of the apartment and into the hallway. She smiled and greeted one of her neighbours as she passed his door. He was reaching for his Sunday paper. He always managed to time it around the same time as she was leaving her place. She wondered if he had a little crush on her or if he was just curious. He was so quiet she couldn't really tell how old he was or what he looked like.

Humming to herself, she took the requisite 34 steps to the elevator and pushed the button. It opened immediately and she stepped in. She really hoped Zeke had music for her today. She was in the mood for something new. Her body ached with a reminder of the night before. She felt restless. Perhaps it was time to take a new lover. It had been a while – more than a year – since her last one. The relationship hadn't ended well. Graham had been clingy and unwilling to give her the space she needed until she finally had to end it. His constant presence in her life hadn't been worth his lacklustre presence in her bedroom.

Addison knew she was picky. She wondered who she would choose this time. It was always fun to choose a lover. She stayed well away from the orchestra. She had ears and the fallout of relationship disasters among musicians ended in bad music. She wasn't willing to destroy a man's career by screwing up his music. Literally. She snickered at her own bad pun.

The elevator dinged and the door swished open. Addison opened her walking cane, stepped off the elevator and into a gunfight.

She knew immediately something was wrong. Tension was thick in the air and a woman gasped out loud the moment Addison stepped out from the elevator. She could smell something coppery like blood, and dust was heavy in the air of the lobby. She didn't know what was happening, but she did understand that standing out in the open like she was made her a target. Addison dropped her cane, fell to her knees and rolled onto her side just as someone opened fire with a gun. The shots echoed loudly to her sensitive ears dragging shrieks of fear from her. Addison covered her ears and whimpered.

She frantically wondered what she should do. The shots made her ears ring and completely disoriented her. She had no idea which way to crawl. She could be crawling toward the men shooting at her or crawling toward safety, she had no idea. Instead, she lay frozen on the ground, fully expecting to die at any second.

Without warning, a heavy weight slammed into her and she was pulled hard into the unyielding strength of a man's body. A jolt of awareness went racing through her. Addison screamed, her hands coming out to push against a hard chest. Gunfire spat relentlessly, taking chunks out of the marble lobby. She felt the man jerk against her as bullets slammed all around them.

"Motherfucker!" he snarled in her ear.

She barely had a second to wonder if the guy holding on to her was hit when he pulled her roughly against him and lunged sideways. Addison's frantic mind latched onto the fact that he wasn't immediately killing her and held onto him tightly while he pulled her to what she hoped was safety.

As if confirming her words, he spoke softly to her while releasing her onto the hard floor, "You're safe."

She was about to speak, when he turned away from her and snapped at someone else, "Get your ass back here!"

Addison frowned and felt a rush of air around her as another person, wearing a cloud of expensive perfume, came around the side of what she assumed was the reception desk and dropped down beside her. Addison jumped when she felt a hand on her arm, then forced herself to relax. She was pretty sure whoever was shooting would make their feelings known with bullets, not hesitant touches. Normally she didn't mind being visually impaired, but she could positively say now that it sucked be blind during a gun fight.

"Are you hurt?" a woman asked, grabbing her shoulder. Addison winced, realizing she must have bruised it when she hit the ground. "I'm not going to hurt you," the woman continued, sounding concerned.

Addison frowned and pushed herself up to a sitting position, hoping she wasn't going to get her head shot off. "Wha-what's happening?" she asked shakily.

"We're being shot at," the other woman said quickly, her hand still tight on Addison's arm.

Addison rolled her eyes. "I'm blind, not stupid. I figured that much out from the shooting sounds! Why are we being shot at in what's supposed to be one of the most secure and safe buildings in the city? Tyson King lives here, for the love of god! This place should be a fortress."

The other woman paused for a moment, taking in Addison's sarcasm and then said, "Of course, you're right. I'm Claudia, Tyson's- girlfriend. And the guy that grabbed you is Daniel Mercer, Tyson's head of security. If anyone can keep us safe until help arrives it's him."

Addison's quick mind read between the lines. There was a good chance the reason they were being shot at was because Tyson King lived in the building. Being a high profile billionaire businessman made him the most likely target. Or said businessman's undoubtedly beautiful girlfriend. Which meant Addison just got off the elevator at the wrong time. FML.

After contemplating the absurd situation, she decided there was no use in being standoffish. After all, Claudia and Daniel had saved her life when they could have left her to die. Finally she said, "My name is Addison Sterling- Addie."

"Hi Addie," Claudia said into her ear over the sound of gunfire. "It's nice to meet you."

The absurdity of their polite meeting hit both women and they laughed together quietly crouched on the floor. Claudia clutched onto Addison for dear life while Daniel held their position. Addison could hear him breathing where he crouched next to them. Unlike the evening before when she'd felt nothing but empty, cold space where he stood, she now felt a raging inferno. He wanted the shooters dead and he was happy to be doing it. She felt the emotion as strongly as though it were raging within herself. Blood lust.

Why was she suddenly so connected to him? She was usually aware of other people. But not like this. She didn't even know the guy. Yet she felt every breath he took right now as if it were her own. She could almost see through his eyes when he turned his head to look toward the elevators when the stairway doors banged open, exposing them to a new threat. Claudia stiffened in fear, but Daniel remained relaxed. Addison did too. The person or people coming through the door must belong to him. She trusted him to get them safely through this situation.

Daniel shouted at his guys, who apparently used the stairway for cover and drove the shooters away. In a matter of seconds, the entire ordeal was ended. The silence was so sudden Addison's ears rang and she barely noticed when Claudia's body was jerked away from her and the other woman was forced to stand up.

Addison pushed herself up onto her knees and then got awkwardly to her feet, blinking rapidly to clear the tears forming from dust particles in the air. She had nothing to use for balance and the ringing in her ears made her completely unable to situate herself. Daniel Mercer was talking to someone. Addison shook her head and turned in the direction of his voice. It was deep and quiet, but deadly. Not to be taken lightly.

"Is the penthouse still secure?" Mercer asked his men.

"Yeah, I think so," muttered someone close by. "We caught these bastards on their way up. They had equipment to break through the reinforced stairwell door, but didn't get that far."

"Good. Take her upstairs," he snapped. Addison felt movement and assumed Claudia was being shoved toward one of the other bodyguards. "King is on his way, he'll want to see her safe. Stay with her until he arrives. Sweep the penthouse for good measure."

Turning slightly, Daniel said, "Stay for the police report. Give only the necessary information. They can talk to me if they have a problem. Have the rest of our guys sweep the building. I'll be with Miss Sterling in her apartment, suite 1210."

Addison gasped. How did he know where she lived? She was beginning to feel very vulnerable in the midst of these people she didn't know.