Page 14 of Killer Notes

He nods to me, sniffs, and steps back.

“What are the cops doing about this?” Connor adds, finishing up his vodka cranberry.

“They are searching the area, but whoever shot at us is probably long gone now,” John replies and then glances at Tobias.

“Fuck.” Connor’s fisted hands slam onto table. “Could this be coincidence, orwerethey aiming at Danny?”

“Danny was opening up the door, so he had to be the target,” Callum admits, then he throws back his tequila shot.

“Get your food to go. We’re heading back to the condo,” Tobias says, his face a mask of stony composure.

“But we have one more song to work on,” Raef adds, getting to his feet.

“I called Ron, and he said you can work from the condo,” Tobias says firmly.

We glance at each other before Connor says, “Then to the condo.”

I slump back in my seat. The adrenaline rush and fear are slowly seeping out of me. I’m not hungry anymore, and I’m suddenly tired.

“Listen to me,” Tobias says with authority. “Once you get your food, we’re going to walk out of here in this order. I go first, with Raven and Connor behind me. Then Bobby, Raef, and Callum, with John behind them. No messing around. Get in and buckle up. Got it?”

We all agree with yeahs and nods.

With the bags of food in Raef and Callum’s hands, we head out just like Tobias instructed us to do. With each step toward the vehicles, I wonder if everything I’m doing is worth the price of living in fear.

The last thing I want is to disappoint my bandmates—my friends. But with being shot at, a stalker sending me threatening notes, and Laney’s attack, maybe I should re-evaluate what’s most important in my life.

I never thought that being in a rock band would be dangerous. Worse yet, not knowing if and when this shit in my life will be over… or if it ever will be.

CHAPTERFOUR

Tobias

It has been a full week since the incident happened at the restaurant. The cops found no evidence at the scene, not even a shell casing in and around the area.

John went back that night and found a bullet in the wall, but who knows if it wasthebullet. He also scoped out the roofs of the buildings across the street and found nothing.

Could it be a coincidence that the door just happened to be faulty and shattered at the very moment the singer opened it? Maybe. But my gut’s telling me no.

I was hoping a night away would erase the image of what could have been a fatal shot to Danny’s head. It happened so fast, I didn’t think. The second that bullet shattered the glass, I was on the singer like a flea on a dog’s ass and covered him with my body.

John hauled ass and corralled the other band members inside the building and then covered me while I got Raven inside.

The entire time, my mind raced at the idea there could be another shot. But luckily, there wasn’t. One attempt on his life is enough to make this shit all too real for the singer and the rest of the band. The entire week, they were on a knife’s edge as they worked on their songs.

And the strange way Raven penetrating gaze was off putting, I had to leave.

First, to check in with my neighbor, who has my dog, Saint. Then, I needed to grab more clothes from my two bedroom house in Milford Gardens.

Now I’m driving back to the condo while thinking of fucking raspberry. Danny smells like my favorite fruit—Jesus.

As I approach the Nob Hill area, John calls. I tap the screen on my dash. “Hey.”

“ETA?” John says in a rush.

“Ten minutes. Why?”

“The men are restless. They want out of the condo,” he grates out.