Remembering why I needed to see her shoot, I opened my eyes just as she emptied the clip. I pressed the button to retrieve the target, and even before it stopped in front of us, I could see the tight grouping at the center.
One look at Abel had him walking over to see for himself.
Hunter was silent but tense as she silently filled another clip.
Abel inspected the paper and tried not to look impressed. “Can you do that again?” he asked skeptically.
Hunter shrugged while avoiding our gazes. “Sure.”
I hung another target and pressed the button. This time, I sent it to twenty-five yards. The maximum distance for the pistol range.
Hunter took aim and emptied the clip.
I called the target back and sent Abel a smug look when I saw the tight grouping. All fifteen rounds were dead center.
Abel’s brows were damn-near touching his hairline as he studied the paper and Hunter with new eyes.
“Well?” I urged while bouncing on my toes. Vengeance was the fucking truth.
Abel rolled his eyes and sighed. “Are you any good with a rifle?” he asked her in a bored tone.
Hunter turned to face us, her wary gaze moving back and forth between us. I could see the curiosity in her eyes, but she didn’t allow herself to ask what we were up to. “I’m okay.” She gave a dainty shrug as if we hadn’t just watched her shoot better than any mercenary. “I prefer handguns.”
Abel and I looked at each other.
Ten minutes later, we were outside at the rifle range located behind the building. Hunter was clutching a semi-automatic and listening intently to Abel’s instructions on how to operate it.
“You already know how to control your breathing and how to aim, so the key here is keeping the butt of the rifle firmly against your shoulder to brace against the recoil. It takes some getting used to, so don’t feel bad if you need practice. Everyone does. We can adjust your sights once we see where your grouping is.”
Hunter nodded, but I could tell under her excitement she was nervous—not just of the weapon, but of me. It was evident by now that I hadn’t simply brought her here for a good time.
She glanced at me before quickly looking away and taking aim once Stoll confirmed the range was hot.
Hunter’s grouping was all over the place this time, but that was to be expected. Her second attempt wasn’t much better,but instead of becoming discouraged, it only made her more determined as she grew comfortable with the rifle. Her third attempt was less scattered, but on her fourth try, she went back to shooting like she was aiming with her eyes closed.
Now I see why she went for the automatic when she raided my cache. She didn’t need as much control over her aim in order to kill.
“May I?” I asked after she took aim again, but immediately began fussing with her adjustment. She licked her dried lips due to the wind and then nodded, so I stood behind her—probably closer than necessary—and brought my fingers to her chin. “This lovely face has uses beyond dazzling unsuspecting admirers, Hunter.” I gently pushed her face toward the rifle until her right cheek rested against the stock and her dominant eye was properly aligned with the sight. “Better?” She nodded, so I smiled and kissed her soft but cold cheek, making her lips part on an exhale. “You’ve been forgetting your cheek weld,” I instructed. “You won’t get consistent shooting without it.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I let my hands rest on her voluptuous hips and kissed the corner of her pretty mouth. “Make me proud, Vengeance.”
I stepped back.
Her fifth attempt to zero the rifle was successful. Hunter practiced for two more hours, switching to kneeling and then lying down with Abel’s instruction before we were satisfied she’d gotten the hang of it.
Abel and I exchanged a look, and at his reluctant nod, I smiled victoriously and led Hunter back toward the building. She was too excited about her day of shooting and learning a new weapon to notice that we were walking hand in hand. She even let me help her into the back of the Denali, but we didn’t speak the entire drive.
We were back at the cabin when she stopped before the door and turned to face me. “Thank you for today,” she said sweetly. “I needed that. And I had fun.”
“So did I.”
It felt like the end of a first date—when the guy was standing on the girl’s front porch, hoping she’d invite him in. I knew Hunter wouldn’t, just like Hunter knew she wouldn’t stop me if I asked.
“Did you know I’d enjoy it because you had me followed?”
“Yes,” I confessed. It fired something inside me when Hunter didn’t look away. There was nothing honorable about my obsession, but Coby and Hunter didn’t run away from it. Instead, they embraced it on their own terms and brought me to heel with their own desires. “But I don’t know what made you want to learn in the first place.”
