Confusion clouds Verona’s eyes, and I decide to explain while I pull the Glock from my back and place it on the counter.
“Kickback is what happens when you pull the trigger and the gun recoils,” I explain. “The strength in your arms will determine what you can handle, and when you first begin to shoot a firearm, you’ll want something that won’t throw off your aim due to the recoil. Not only can it hurt you due to the pressure on your shoulder, it can pull your muscles. It’s also incredibly frustrating to learn how to properly use a weapon that’s trying to get you to drop it.”
Verona nods slowly, showing she understands as I return my weapon to its holster.
Rosa continues to shop, choosing weapons for the three of them, and I push a black card toward her on the counter. Like Dario, I am also fixing oversights.
“Look at the name on it,” I murmur in her ear. I’m a gentleman as I ignore the shiver that runs through her body and swells my knot, watching as she flips the card to find her name on it.
Rosalia Domino.
“Spend our money however you wish,mia piccola.Arm yourself to the teeth, and fuel our revenge. Because when someone hurts you, they hurt us as well. One day you may even believe me.”
Her fingers tremble slightly as she pushes the card across the counter to Looney, and he glances down with a shake of his head.
“You don’t know if they’ll be what you need until you try them out,” he grunts. “I have jackets to protect your shoulders.”
“We didn’t come prepared to shoot today,” she says with a small smile.
“It’s hotter than a witch’s tit outside. No one wants to wear layers right now,” Looney says, shrugging.
Walking to the door, he flips the sign to closed and locks it before putting the weapons on a tray with ammunition and leading us all down a hallway. I learned on our run together that Rosa prefers it when we keep our mouths shut.
Working in tandem, my brothers and I help hand out protective gear. I lean against the wall as I watch Rosa explain the different parts of the gun, as well as how it works. Looney nods along as he listens, and she glances at him as if to ensure he doesn’t have anything to expand upon.
“Your bullets will go where your feet are pointed, so don’t steer them wrong,” he drawls. His accent is thick and lazy, causing me to focus on each word to understand what he’s saying. “Watch my feet, how my legs are spread, and my breathing.”
The silhouette target is pushed back in the lane until it’s where Looney wants it, and we watch as he hits each target. Several are kill shots, while others are not. Pulling it back, heexplains when and why each is important. Sometimes, you’re not shooting to kill.
Rosa’s lips twitch in amusement and he rolls his eyes at her.
“I used to train cops,” he explains. “I’m retired now, and you’re helping me miss it a little less.”
“You are very thorough,” she murmurs.
The next two hours are spent with instruction and practice, and my brothers and I rotate around the room to help where needed.
“Remember to breathe,” I say to Verona. “Depriving your brain of oxygen makes you react slower and increases your stress. You’ll freeze less as well.”
She doesn’t respond to me, but her lips stretch into a smile as she empties a clip into the silhouette in front of her. I notice many of those bullets are in the man’s pelvis, and I wince as Rosa takes over for me.
The alpha is a fucking maneater and knows it.
“Verona is taking no shit, I see,” Ciro murmurs as I join him. Dario is helping Pablo, and I watch as his shots become cleaner.
I am pretty sure he pretended to be a worse shot than he really is to get out of practicing. I also noticed he can keep up when needed while we were running, though he’s out of shape.
“She’s not. My dick is commiserating with the target. There’s natural talent there, but she needs to remember to breathe.”
“This is true of most things,” he mumbles. “Dario found a gym with a private room to spar in. I think it’s our best option. We don’t want anyone to see what’s ours, and I know they won’t come to the rental.”
“That’s a good call. We’ll give them a break and find some lunch, and then discuss sparring. I know this is a lot for one day, but I don’t want to run the risk of losing time with them.”
“I know what you mean. None of them are pissed at us yet,” he snorts.
“Silent like little mice,” I agree. “Can’t be a shithead if you’re not speaking.”
“We need that tattooed somewhere.”
