“You only shot it once; there’s more ammo in there.”
“You need to learn your way around a gun, though. Just do it.”
Following his lousy instructions, my finger grazes the edge of the gun near the trigger until I feel a small rise, and I click it, the clip releasing and I watch as it falls to my feet as if in slow motion.
He sweeps it up, placing it on the stall’s counter in front of us. “Might need to work on your reflexes, too,” he jokes.
Grabbing the second magazine, I pop it in place with a click.
“Okay, now assume your previous stance and fire away.”
I nod, putting my headset into its rightful place on my head, doing as he asks.
Bracing myself, my finger grazes the trigger and it settles in front of it, begging to press into the metal.
Giving in to the temptation, I press it once…
Twice.
Three times.
Each shot fired makes my eyes squeeze shut, my bullets are probably embedded in the wall behind the target.
Pressing the button below the countertop, the target slides towards us, Cass squints his eyes as he looks at it.
He hums, ripping it off the clip and folding it up into his pocket. “I think that’s enough for one day.”
“Don’t I get to see?” I ask, motioning to his pocket.
“Not this one,” he says. “This is mine. House policy.” He says nothing more on the matter, leading us out of the room into the empty arena.
I follow him out into the long, stretched-out corridor, back into the main hall and through the doors of Remi’s office.
“We’re done,” he says with a nod. “Want me to take her back?”
“No need,” Dario says, from the couch in the corner. “Dinner’s in an hour. Be late and Mama might make good on her threats to take you out of the world. She’s on a rampage today. You do NOT want to get on her bad side.”
“Noted,” Cass replies, leaving the office with a pat on Dario’s shoulder.
“I’ll rearrange my training session then,” Remi says, sarcasm lacing his tone.
“Good idea,” Dario replies with a laugh. “Let’s get going, Lia.”
“Family dinner again?” I ask, walking towards him.
“My mother has an announcement, and as always, she must make a show of it.”
Sixteen
DARIO
When dinner is arranged last minute, it’s never a good sign. Not for my family, anyway. It’s where we discuss personal matters like a sudden death in the family or strategic ones that get us one step closer to our intended goal. Either way, I’m not looking forward to walking through the dining hall door in front of me, but I have to; it’s expected of me. And, the way my mother is acting today tells me this dinner is mandatory, and there will be severe repercussions if I don’t show up.
Taking a deep breath, I push open the double doors and everyone stands, greeting me. I stride over to the head of the table to my rightful seat and, with a nod of my head, everyone sits down in unison with me.
My eyes instantly fall to Liana as her face continues to hold the confused expression she had earlier. My eyes meet hers and I force myself to look away, scanning the table. Everyone’s here—except Ciro, but I spoke to him earlier so I know it’s not him—my brothers, Kat, my parents, my grandparents and of course, Liana. Everyone is here and safe, so who’s hurt?
My mother stands and my father clinks his fork on his glass. Everyone turns their attention to her.
