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She nodded and turned back around.
She should’ve shot the target by now, but she hadn’t. How long had they been in the basement? An hour at least. Dylan had given her his standard gun safety instructions. She’d heard them before during their previous sessions, but he always started with them. No matter how many times he told her what was safe and what wasn’t, she just couldn’t seem to get used to holding a pistol in her hand. Shooting it was even harder.
Another tap on her shoulder. Again, she turned. This time it was Dylan, in his signature sunglasses. He motioned for her to put the gun down and hit the safety button that would prevent it from firing. She did, happy to be free of the thing.
He took off his earplugs and she did the same. “What’s the trouble? Why aren’t you shooting?”
“I don’t know. It just seems weird to hold the gun. I know I’m from Destiny where most people grow up around guns and get their own at a pretty young age. I just wasn’t that girl. My brothers loved the ranch, loved hunting, all of it. I’m a city girl at heart. Sure, I love the outdoors, but I’m more comfortable with a cellphone in my hand than a Glock.”
“You’ve always been shaky with this gun,” Dylan said. “Maybe we should get you a smaller one. A Saturday Night Special?”
“It’s not the size of the gun that bothers me. It’s what I’m supposed to do with it.” She pointed to the paper target. “That’s not real but it is shaped like someone that is. I’m not the kind of girl who can fire a gun at someone. I know that makes me weak. I hate that I can’t.” She sighed. “If I could be stronger, I think none of this would’ve happened. I failed Megan. I failed myself. I failed everyone.” The sobs were just under the surface. She didn’t want the dam to break within her. She wanted to keep her composure.
Cam put his arm around her. “Why are we here then, sweetheart? If this is too hard for you, we don’t have to do this.”
“I have to do this, Cam. I have to get stronger, tougher. I have to protect myself.”
“I know what we need to do,” Dylan said. “I know what the issue is.”
“You do?” she asked, looking at him in his coat and tie. He and Cam were the most beautiful men in Destiny. And they were here. With her.
“I do.” Dylan put his hand on her shoulder and she felt electricity roll up and down her body. “There are too many people here. You’re nervous. Cam knows how to calm your nerves. He’s proven that, hasn’t he?”
She nodded.
“I’m a bit of a task master about this kind of thing. I think I’ll leave you two alone. It’ll calm your nerves, Erica. You’ll see.”
“Are you sure?” Cam asked, pulling her in tight. “I think you’re the expert in this, not me. Maybe you should stay and I should leave.”
“No way. You’ve got this. You’ve got to help her. Understand?” Dylan didn’t wait for an answer before heading to the door. “I’ll see you two later. Bring the target. I want to see a bunch of bullet holes in it.”
“Will do,” Cam answered.
Dylan nodded and then brought his hot attention her direction. There was something odd in the way he was acting. She couldn’t put her finger on
it, but she wasn’t ready to question him. “Okay. I’ll do my best, but I’m making no promises that I’ll be able to pull the trigger.”
“You’ll do it, Erica. You’re stronger than you think. You’ve proven that to me again and again.” With that, Dylan was gone.
“Cam, did he seem odd to you?” she asked.
“You mean more than his normal?” He shrugged. “A little. I think you’re breaking through his hard shell, sweetheart. Dylan is not used to people doing that. He likes his control, not just of the situation but of himself, too. You’re challenging that in him.”
“I am? I don’t know how I could do such a thing.” To her, Dylan seemed the bastion of strength and willpower. He was quite the opposite of her.
“But you are doing it, and that’s very good for both of you. Now, enough stalling. Time to fire that gun.” Cam put his arm around her. “I’m going to help you with that. You say you want your power back, correct?”
“Yes. I do. More than anything.”
“Then you have to fire this gun. I want you to close your eyes for me.”
She obeyed.
“Good. Now, I want you to imagine that you’re the best shot in all of Destiny. No one can beat your aim. Not me. Not Dylan. Not anyone. Are you picturing that for me, Erica?”
She nodded. “Yes. I am.” The image her mind had dreamed up was during the paintball competition that took place annually in Destiny. It’d only been a couple of months since the last one had occurred, so it was on her mind. She wasn’t about to tell him that she wasn’t seeing a real gun in her hand. “I got it in my head now, Cam.”
“Good job, baby.” Cam squeezed her shoulders. “Now, put your earplugs in. Keep that picture in your head. Fire on the target. One shot. Just one. Take your time. Feel the metal of the trigger on your finger. Breathe. Then shoot.”
