“No.”
“Uh.”
“Will you go to the range with me? I need to let off some steam.”
“Yeah. Give me ten minutes and I’ll wait for you out front. Do you want Jacob to watch over Mason?”
I let out a sigh. “No, he doesn’t need it. I’ll give access to the security cameras to Hayden so someone can check in every now and then.”
“Sure.”
And then Dante hangs up. The ten-minute drive tothe house calms me a little more, especially with the promise of going to the range to let off some steam. When I pull up, Dante is waiting outside with a bag slung over his shoulder just as he promised, dressed in all-black with a pair of bright red Chucks on. He slides into the car with a Cheshire grin that immediately sets me on edge.
“The point of this outing is for me torelax, not to goad me.”
“I never goad anyone,” Dante replies, willfully lying through his teeth.
We stare at each other for a few moments until Dante sighs and rolls his eyes. “Okay, I do sometimes, but not you unless you start it. What’s this about? Hayden grabbed me on the way out of the house and told me there’s a mission tomorrow night, by the way. I’m surprised we’re not keeping a low profile considering everything.”
“Did Hayden talk to Robin about Mason?”
Dante shrugs, eyes on the road. “Not that I know of, but he keeps all of that so hush-hush. Why do you need to go to the range so badly?” Dante wiggles his eyebrows salaciously. “Got some frustration you need to let out?”
Instead of answering, I gun the engine so that Dante jerks back, then slam hard on the brakes so he jerks forward. The look he sends me is lethal, but I just grin in the face of his fury. That’ll teach him a lesson. The range we go to is out in the suburbs, and it’s membership only, so there won’t be anyone there on a day pass just learning how to handle a gun, like you’ll find at a public range. Also, no cops allowed, which is always a plus. We don’t need cops sniffing around. Hopping out of the car, I swing my rifle over my shoulder, glad that I stashed it in the car earlier so I didn’t have to run back toMason’s house and explain myself. Not that Mason would ask, but I’d feel the urge to tell him, which is almost worse.
“Reid is still begging me to teach him to shoot,” Dante grumbles beside me.
I shoot him a curious look. “I don’t know why you won’t let him at least have knowledge. What if he’s on a mission with us, something goes wrong, and he needs to defend himself? It’s only logical to teach him the mechanics at least.”
Dante sighs and rubs a tired hand over his face. “I just want to keep him innocent in thisonesingle way.”
The idea of Reid being innocent in any shape or form sends me into a fit of mild hysterics. I grab Dante’s arm to stop him in the parking lot of the range while I bend over with painful laughter. Oh my god, it actually hurts.
“Sorry, that was just so funny.” I stand and wipe away pretend tears from my eyes. “Hearing you mention the words innocent and Reid in the same sentence is just fucking hilarious.”
Dante rolls his eyes. “You know what I meant. The taser is enough.”
“It is certainly not enough,” I argue while swinging the door of the range open. “Not when we deal with the kinds of people we deal with.”
Dante grumbles something undoubtedly sarcastic behind me that I can’t make out. We pass by the sales counters, waving at the normal guys, before using our passes to swipe into the secure back. The stillness of the range settles me. Dante and I pick stalls side by side and go about getting ready. The last stall has a setup for my rifle so that I can get on the ground for sharp shooting, despite the target being at too close a distance to make the practice skillful. Earmuffsfirst, then eye protection, and then I set about readying the rifle.
“Want to place a bet?” Dante calls out, loud enough to be heard through the ear protection.
I snort as I lie down on the ground on my stomach, setting my rifle up. Ignoring him will only fuel him on.
“I don’t want to embarrass you,” I shout back, just before leaning down to adjust my sights.
The target is in view, and I take a deep breath, pulling the trigger as I release the inhale. Right in the center. Perfect. Dante’s predictable pops rend the air as he shoots less for aim and more for maximum damage. Since the room is empty, I go about moving around to take aim at all the targets scattered down the concrete wall. Dante’s shots quiet as he no doubt watches me angle until I’ve hit the mark on all ten targets.
Rolling over onto my back, I stare up at Dante standing over me with his arms crossed. Grumpy and sullen, just the way I’m used to him.
“You’ve always got to show me up.”
“Your skills lie elsewhere,” I tell him, meaning every single word.
The corner of his mouth lifts in a hint of a smile. We pack up the guns, careful to ensure they’re properly stored, before heading out of the range. The air outside is pleasantly chilly after working up a sweat in the heat of the range. We settle into the car quietly, mutually deciding to skip lunch.
“Does Reid talk about Mason much?” I ask, trying to sound casual, soundcool. But per usual, Dante notices my question exactly for what it is.
