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He hadn’t spoken to me because he was carrying the blame.
He truly believed he’d failed me, when it was completely out of his control.
If this was his way of dealing with that, then so be it. Besides, knowing how to defend myself if needed, that was more than welcome.
“Okay.”
25
ZANE
She still wore the ring, the sun glinting off it as she held her wine glass, looking like a fiery beauty and a beacon of hope and survival.
Kieran had told me of their lovemaking, of how she’d wanted him to fix things for her, and Enzo had been spending so much time with her, doting on her and making sure she was always comfortable. She’d been sore after her attack, and after her time with Kieran, he and Enzo had talked her into allowing Dr. Elliot to check her over. She’d been torn a bit internally, but she was on the mend and would be fine. He was more concerned about the emotional and mental toll when he’d taken them aside to talk about it. Something we’d all work on with her, although she seemed to be taking it in stride oddly well enough.
I’d avoided her, only checking in here and there while I focused on finding the bastard who hurt her. The Morettis were working with us to find the perpetrators, wanting to deal with their own unrest in the family as well.
Matteo and Mario would pay with their lives, along with Vincent.
But for now, I couldn’t do anything except wait. So it was time to make sure that if Vee was ever alone again, she could defend herself.
Veronica agreed, the fire burning in those eyes as I took her hand, leading her through the penthouse and to the elevator. We owned the entire building, and a few floors down was a training room for our guards, but it could also be used as a shooting range, since it was soundproofed and protected.
“You guys never cease to surprise me,” she stated as we stepped into the elevator. “A whole level just for training purposes.”
“The security team is in here as well for the cameras. It’s a safe house but one of our more central locations. We’ll take you to the main compound soon enough,” I shared. What would she think of the mansion we’d grown up in? The vast grounds that our mother had cherished and worked on. She’d always enjoyed throwing events and using the gardens for them, having big light displays and fireworks outside whenever she could.
I could see Veronica enjoying it.
The elevator doors opened, and we headed into the foyer, meeting the guard stationed behind a glass window by the only door on the floor.
“So, this floor would have to be pretty huge,” Veronica stated. “What’s the building used for?”
I nodded to the guard as he buzzed us into the hall, where we passed several doors.
“The guards have some of their accommodations on this floor, along with the next floor up. But it’s mainly a security room, kitchen, training area for all sorts of exercises, and a shooting range. As for the rest of the building, we lease it out to businesses, but a fair few of the floors are our own businessesand companies. Our money isn’t all blood money, we have many legitimate companies and business deals.”
“Right, makes sense,” she said as she peeked into the glass windows of some of the doors we passed. Mainly training rooms of various kinds.
I led her to the shooting range, the final door at the end, which I had to punch a code into.
Once inside, we had a guard stationed at the gun room, who was quick to get me the requested pistol.
Vee’s eyes widened at the array of weapons tucked into the room, ranging from pistols to assault weapons. It was one of our many stashes of weapons for the family.
“Relax, stray, you’ll be fine,” I said when I took the pistol and led her over to the shooting range. As soon as I said the words, I wanted to take them back.
I couldn’t make such promises anymore, I had no right. Thankfully, she didn’t comment, and she let me run her through how to load and unload the pistol and show her the silencer equipped before I set her up.
I gave her the earmuffs and protective glasses, pleased with how willingly she accepted them and allowed me to show her how to aim.
I tugged one earmuff back as I stood behind her, helping her position her arms and plant her feet.
“Now, I want you to breathe in, then let it out. When you finish exhaling, fire. There’s different methods of shooting, but it’s what I prefer. Your breathing alone can throw off your shot.”
“Got it,” she whispered as I let the earmuff slide back into place.
I leaned back, staying close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off her, but giving her the space needed so she could do this alone.
