I hold myself still,my palms sweating over the steel of the gun.
I can do this!
But I can't. Not really. I'm just a regular girl, one who's never even been in the outside world until today. And now? I suddenly have to deal with so many things I'd never thought possible.
Starting with the handsome devil. My lips curl in disdain the moment I think about him and his suave tactics. I'm pretty sure he'd expected me to fall to his feet and worship him. I'd seen his smug expression when he'd thought he had me and how it had dropped when I'd gained the upper hand.
I might not have been out in the world much, but I know his type well. He's just like my family and my future husband—a bully who gets off on intimidation.
I'd resolved not to give him the satisfaction of getting to me, and so I've been on my guard at all times.
And now? I stare with incredulity at the gun in my hand, still hardly believing that this is the reality I find myself in.
And whose fault is it?
Pursing my lips, I shake my head and try to focus. Will it make a difference if I die now instead of an hour ago? The way things are going, I must be fated to meet my end today.
"Ready, little tigress?" he asks me, and I give him a nod. That nickname again. If I'm going to die today, I wish he'd at least stop calling me that. It just makes my skin crawl.
A shiver goes down my back at the thought, and I remind myself to keep my head in the game.
I take my position at the window of the vessel and Enzo starts his maneuvers. The ship quickly shakes as he turns it around to evade the enemy. We're gaining speed, and for a moment I feel giddy, the wind in my face, the chilly night making mefeel.
But then I open my eyes and see the other ship right behind us, the distance shrinking by the second. Just as they get closer to our boat, a storm of bullets starts raining down on us.
"Little tigress," Enzo calls out, his voice tense.
I will my trembling hands to obey and settle my fingers on the trigger. Tuning everything out, I focus on the incoming ship and I shoot.
"That's it. You can do this, little tigress," I think I hear him say from behind, but I don't stop. Maybe it's the adrenaline, or maybe I suddenly want to live, but I keep going. I don't know if I hit someone, and I try not to think about actuallykillinga person.
No, this isn't me harming another human being. This is me defending myself and, by extension, the handsome devil.
A smile stretches across my lips even through the height of my concentration.
He will have to thank me.
The thought of having this proud man bow down to me makes me even more determined to do a good job.
The gun is soon out of bullets, and I quickly pick another one up, continuing to shoot at them.
"This isn't working," Enzo mutters under his breath, and the boat makes a sudden move to the right, almost making me lose my balance.
"What's happening?" I yell at him, my fingers still on the trigger.
"We're getting hit." He pauses, turning to me. "I don't think the boat will last much longer." Just as the words are out of his mouth, the sound of an explosion makes me trip, and I back away from the window.
"What..." I start, my eyes wide as I catch sight of a fire.
"Shit! This is exactly what I was worried about. They fucking hit the reservoir." He pushes a few buttons before standing up.
He takes a box out of his pants and opens it to reveal a ring.
"Who would have thought this little thing would bring me so much bad luck," he says, shaking his head and pursing his lips. Reaching inside his shirt, he takes out a necklace, quickly slips the ring on the string, and puts it around his neck.
I just stand there watching him, the sound of an engine approaching becoming louder, with more and more bullets hitting the boat.
"Here," he says, coming around, undoing my vest, and taking it off me. I stare at him, but I can't find it in myself to react.
