"The world's bigger than you think," Frederica said carefully. "Magic is real and can do fucked-up things. Best be prepared for everything in my experience."
By lunchtime, Giana's arms ached, and her ears rang despite the protection. Beneath it all, her body still hummed with the lingering echoes of last night, every sore muscle a reminder of Rodrigo's hands, his mouth, the way he had taken her apart.
"You're smiling," Frederica observed during a water break. "Thinking about Rodrigo's big puppy dog eyes?"
"Thinking about how much everything hurts."
"Good hurt or bad hurt?" Athena asked, genuine concern cutting through her usual irreverence.
Giana considered. "The kind of hurt that makes me want to do it again to get the muscles working again."
"Then you should." Frederica took a long drink from her water bottle. "Tonight, tomorrow, whenever. Here's some unsolicited advice from someone who's been around the block a few times."
"I'm listening," Giana said.
"Don't let a control freak like Rodrigo set the pace." Frederica's eyes were serious. "He's clearly into you and knows what he's doing, but if you want something? Ask for it. Want to try something? Suggest it. Want to pin him down and ride him until he forgets his own name? Do it."
"Yeah, show him who is really in charge," Athena added with a wicked grin. "Big boss or not, he's still just a guy. Something tells me he would fucking love it if you took charge."
Heat flooded through Giana as she imagined Rodrigo on his back, that iron control finally cracking, her name on his lips…
"I see you thinking about it," Frederica said with a teasing smile. "Don't forget sex is supposed to be fun, Giana. Even the intense, feelings-heavy, life-changing kind."
"Especially that kind," Athena corrected. "The best sex happens when you stop worrying about looking sexy and just enjoy yourself. Be messy. Be loud. Always ask for what you want."
Last night, Rodrigo had wrung pleasure from Giana's body like it was his holy mission. He made her feel powerful, wanted, and seen in ways she had never experienced. Why the hell shouldn't she return the favor? There were a few things she really, really wanted to try out.
"Okay, back to work," Frederica said, cutting through her increasingly dirty thoughts. "Now, let's see if you can hit a moving target."
The next hour was brutal. Athena operated a mechanical system that sent targets sliding across the range at varying speeds while Frederica called out scenarios.
"Threat at three o'clock, closing fast."
"Multiple hostiles, prioritize nearest."
"One shot, make it count."
Giana missed more than she hit, but the hits were getting better. By the time they called it, she had actually managed to nail a moving target twice in a row.
"Not bad for your first real session," Athena said, helping her clean the weapons. "Keep practicing, and you might actually survive if shit goes sideways."
"Such high praise," Giana said with a laugh.
"From me it is," Athena replied. "You did good today, Giana."
Frederica bumped Giana's shoulder companionably. "And tonight, you show that stuck-up Colleoni what you're made of."
Giana shook her head. "You two are terrible influences."
"That's the best kind of influence," Athena countered. "Now go shower off the gunpowder and coordinate your next attack. I recommend wearing your birthday suit. Nothing makes a statement like confident nudity."
"I hate you both," Giana replied, covering her face with her hands.
"No, you don't. You love that you've got people in your corner. Even if we are crude, violent mercenaries with questionable life choices."
She did, Giana realized. These fierce, dangerous women who barely knew her had spent the morning not just teaching her to shoot but making sure she was okay. Making sure she knew she had choices, had power, had worth beyond what any man, even one she loved, decided to give her.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "For all of this."
