Page 85 of My Crazy Killers
“I think I’d like to try with one hand. It feels more natural.”
“That’s good,” I tell her, releasing her hands and squeezing her shoulders. “Whenever you’re ready, then.” I take a few steps back, and she fires before I get far, freezing me in my spot as I see the bullet hole in the edge of the sheet, right near the hip.
“Falcon!” Pete yells in excitement. “You did it!”
She lowers the gun before turning her huge grin toward us. “I hit it!”
“Great job,” I tell her, smiling back. “Try again.”
She nods, turning to the target before her head whips back around, her gaze finding Sly. “Oh, and that’sone,” she says with so much attitude I can’t help but laugh. She grins, pleased with herself as she turns back to the target and lifts the gun; this time, she leaves a hole in the right calf.
I’m not exactly sure where she’s aiming for, because those were strange places to hit, but at least she was hitting it.
“Two!” she yells excitedly before lifting the gun again. I think she’s too excited to really focus this time, as she misses again.
“That’s three misses,” Sly tells her.
“How many shots did we decide on?” Dex asks.
“Twenty,” I tell him. That means she needs to make eleven. I don’t love her odds right now. “Take your time,” I tell her.
“Like she’ll be able to do in the field?” Sly asks as I move back beside him.
“Give her a break,” I whisper so she won’t hear. “She’s trying.”
“I’m surprised you want her anywhere near that warehouse tomorrow,” he says with a frown. “It’s too dangerous.”
“You want her to stay home and have dinner ready for you instead?” I ask, crossing my arms as Wren’s next shot rings out.
I smile when I see the hole in the knee. “That’s three!” I call out. She doesn’t lower her gun this time; she just takes aim and fires again, missing.
“Four,” Sly says. Lowering his voice, he answers my question. “And no, of course not. But she doesn’t belong out there.”
“Uh, sorry, Sly, but I beg to differ,” Pete interjects. “She most definitely belongs out there with us. She’s smart, brave, and she can think quickly on her feet. What more does she have to do to prove it to you?”
“Hit the target eleven times,” he fires back as Wren lets off another shot.
“Woo!” Pete cheers, seeing the hole in its elbow before I do. “She’s getting better,” he says quietly to us.
“If you say so,” Sly says, crossing his arms.
Jagger steps forward to get Sly’s attention as he signs,“You can’t take this from her. She’s been told what to do her whole life.”
Sly’s lips thin as if he wants to argue, but wisely keeps his trap shut, watching as Wren fires off another round.
“Four!” she yells before any of us can find the hole.
“Where?” Sly finally asks.
“In his crotch.” I have to squint and step forward a little to see it, but sure enough, there’s a little nick out of the spot where his legs meet.
She rolls her shoulders back before aiming again, and this one hits it in the center of the thigh. “Yes! That’s five!” she says happily.
“Keep going, baby, you’re doing great!” Dex yells, giving her a thumbs up when she glances at him over her shoulder.
She nods at him, a look of determination filling her as she readjusts her grip and takes aim again. This one hits it just two inches away from the last hole. Pete and Dex both yell, “Six!” as she turns her head to smile at them, pride shining in her bright blue eyes.
The next shot goes wide, missing the target completely. “It’s okay, baby, you got this!” Dex yells, encouraging her.
