Page 142 of Shades of Loyalty
And Yuri? When I called him this morning, he said he would’ve known if they planned something.
This couldn’t have been them. But I killed my uncle. He was behind all this. Right? Everyone agreed with me on that.
Fuck. Just when I thought it’s over, all of this bullshit starts again.
I sigh, leaning onto the metal bars. Jesus. I seriously need a vacation. But I can’t let my family down. I can’t leavenow.
Jennifer steps away to the small room next to the target shooting range, the one where we keep the other guns—away from the main practice area. She’s determined to get this right.
I watch her go, hoping she doesn’t take too long.
I can’t let her be out there in this kind of world unprepared. Not after everything that’s happened.
She’s trying her best to be strong, but I can’t shake the feeling that she’s in over her head. I need her to understand what’s at stake, but I also need to make sure she knows what she’s doing.
Yes, I want to teach her. But fuck, I also don’t want her to overestimate herself.
A few moments later, Jennifer’s voice calls out, sounding uncertain. “Which one was it again?” Seconds later, she comes right back, looking at me with confusion.
I walk over to the counter where we keep the most important weapons, picking up a Glock 19 and turning it in my hands.
“Here,” I say, handing it to her. “This is the one you need to find, okay? Glock 19. It’s compact, easy to handle, and a reliable gun for anyone. Even for you.”
I pause, looking at her, hoping she’s taking in what I’m saying. She nods slowly, taking the gun and inspecting it.
“See this?” I point to the slide. “This part moves when you pull the trigger. When you load it, make sure there’s a round in the chamber.”
I show her the magazine and explain how to load it. “The grip is slim, so it’ll fit comfortably in your hand, especially since yours are small. You just need to get used to the weight. It’s not too heavy, but it has enough punch to stop a threat.”
She nods again, clearly taking it all in. Fuck, that’s it. My smart, pretty woman.
She steps back, the gun held loosely in her hands, yet she’s still unsure.
I smile a little, trying to ease her nerves. “You’ll do fine. You just have to keep calm and steady. That’s the key with a gun like this.”
She looks at the Glock one last time, then glances back at me. “Alright. I’ll be right back!”
“Hopefully with the right one.” I grin at her. Her soft giggles back off the walls as she heads toward the small room next door.
It’ll still be the same as the one from the counter, however, it’s going to be a fully loaded one.
We need that for her training. I’m sure she’s not gonna get it right the first few times, but the more she learns, the better she will get.
As I wait for her, I lean back against the counter, feeling the weight of everything that’s happened. The sudden responsibility, the loss of my father, and now this—having to teach Jennifer how to protect herself.
I’m so damn tired.
But before I can sink too deep back into my self-destroying thoughts, I hear footsteps behind me.
I stop in my movements the second cold metal meets the back of my head.
No. It wasn’t my uncle. It wasn’t the Mexicans either. But I know that if I turn around now, I’m going to find out.
The stranger’s presence is suffocating, a reminder that nothing stays calm for long in our world. I don’t turn to face them, but I know they’re standing just behind me.
Thestrangersounds quite familiar, though. Too fucking familiar.
“You look like shit,” Julian says, his voice carrying that smug tone I’ve grown so used to hearing. “You’re not even looking at me. Something wrong, Daniel?”
