Page 114 of Gunnar

“Look at the knot. Not the gun.”

I fix on it.

“Now squeeze.”

I fire.

The sound cracks through the trees. My hands jump, the recoil sharper than I expect.

“Again.”

I fire a second time. The shot goes wide.

He steps in, adjusts my grip, presses my hands into place.

“You’ve got this, Alexandria.”

I snort.

I take a breath and stop trying to control it.

I let the weight settle into my hands the way he showed me. Line it up properly this time.

Then I squeeze.

There’s a thunk as it hits the tree. I gasp.

He goes over and whistles. “Right on.”

“Truck’s ready,” Torin calls.

Gunnar takes the gun from me, checks it, then hands it back.

“Keep it on you.”

I nod, too overwhelmed by everything to say anything else.

“Let’s go.”

We head back inside to grab jackets.

Tabitha is curled up on the bed. I put out some extra food and water.

If we don’t come back…

I cut the thought off.

Leave the window cracked.

Gunnar takes his keys from the counter and holds the door open for me.

Torin is in the driver’s seat. Gunnar opens the passenger door and looks at me.

“We’ll sit back here.”

I climb up. The seat is cold through my clothes. Gunnar gets in beside me and shuts the door.

Torin pulls away from the lodge immediately.