CHAPTER 133: SHOOTING RANGE

As she stepped into the room, she made a beeline to her dressing table, picking up the brand new bush that looked like something her black curls were definitely going to love, given how smooth and blunt it was. A complete contrast to the one she managed at home.

Making a mental note to take it home, she brushed her hair, tips first, working her way up.

When she was done, she parked half of it up, leaving some bangs to frame her face. Satisfied with her work, her eyes scanned the make up accessories that sat on the table, as she contemplated putting on any make up.

Just as she stretched her arm to pick a brush, she sheard him knock on the door, calling her name softly. She withdrew her hand, settling on some powder, mascara and lipgloss.

Pouting at the mirror and checking outfit for the last time, she smiled, proud of how well she was able to put it all together.

He knocked again, a little harder this time, causing her to jerk a bit.

"Be patient, you Rabbit." She whispered to herself, opening the door.

"How wise of you to refer to me as a rabbit." He said as he turned away from the hallway he had been staring at to face her, his lips remaining parted as he took her in.

"You look ravishing, Princess." He said, softly. "I love the jacket." He added, assessing the rest of her outfit. "I need to get a picture." He said, walking past her into the room as he pulled out his phone, her purse hanging across his broad shoulders.

It was as he did that she noticed they were kinda matching, but only the jacket and silver looking jewelry. Inside his jacket, he had on a black and white stripped shirt (the white having the bigger stripes), and below, he had on black leather pants, but they weren’t glossy like hers.

"You’re not expecting me to pose for you, are you?" She chimed, still standing by the door.

"How are my supposed to take the photo then?"

"I don’t know. I don’t take photos. Now, chop chop. You said we didn’t have plenty of time if you can remember. " She said, spinning on her heels, already walking down the hallway.

"You are so mean." He said from behind her, while making a video of her from behind, since she didn’t do pictures.

"Yeah. You’ve said that almost ten times today, Trist." She said glancing at him. Upon seeing him making a video, she couldn’t help but pause in her steps, looking at him in disbelief, her hands on her hip.

"You really are seriously." She said chuckling.

"What? Can’t blame me. You look gorgeous, and the boys have to see." He said. "Now, move your body. You’re standing like a rock." He instructed, making a moving gesture with his hand, earning a groan from her.

"Fine." She said. "Just few pictures. We have to go downstairs. It’s better in sunlight." She quipped, walking ahead down the stairs that led to the foyer.

"Thought you didn’t do pictures, how do you know it’s better in sunlight." He asked, wearing a cocky grin proudly as she walked beside her.

"I just know things, dumbass." She chimed in a bored tone, nudging his shoulders as they got to the foot of the stairs.

"Here is okay. " She said as they got outside the building, standing on the small balcony before the numerous stairs.

"Okay?" He asked giving her an incredulous look. "You’re literally standing under the sun." He pointed ike she didn’t know.

"That’s the damn point. Now, can you please take the photo? I’m roasting here." She groaned, pouting.

"Yes, ma’am." He quipped, going down a bit till he got a good vantage point. "Okay. You can switch to a different pose now." He informed, turning the phone to a different angle, that looked pretty awkward.

When he was done snapping, he climbed back up and scooped her into his arms, back down the stairs and into the passenger seat of the posh vehicle his valet had brought around.

"Thank you, Kind Sir." She beamed as he sat in his own spot, putting his seat belt on.

"Anytime, Princess. Now, are you ready to shoot some bastards?" He asked, his cocky grin on full display.

"Damn right, I am." She mirrored his reaction, causing him to cackle loudly.

"Damn right, you are, Baby."

________

"This is so difficult." She groaned, massaging her upper arm that was beginning to hurt like a bitch.

"It isn’t, Princess." Tristan cooed from beside her, trying his hardest to keep his hand to himself seeing how irritated she was. If there was anything he’d learnt from his parents relationship, it’s to not touch an irritated woman. "This is your first time. It’s bound to seem difficult. It was the same with me. You’re even doing better than I did."He added.

"But I’m doing everything you showed me. My stance, my fingers, my sight, everything. Why aren’t they working?" She asked, frustration dripping seriously from her words.

"Can I touch you?" He blurted without thinking.

"Huh?" She asked in utter confusion, trying as hard as possible to prevent her confusion and frustration from mixing.

"Like.. So sorry. It came out wrong. Like, can I hold you, and show you?" He explained, trying as hard as possible to keep his voice firm.

"Why would you need permission to touch me?" She asked without wasting a breath, since frustration was practically choking her.

"Because you are irritated. Women do not like to be held when irritated." He chimed, hoping her frustrated mind would be able to comprehend.

He couldn’t blame her for being frustrated, at all. And he wasn’t lying when he said she was doing better than he had done in his time. When he was younger, he was so hot headed, that he almost shot his firearm instructor during his first day because he thought he was the cause of his failure.

He would’ve been a young murderer if Troy hadn’t punched the foolishness out of him.

She sighed, shaking her head. "Can you please come show me? I’d try not to burst your balls." She said, giving him a bored look.

"Yes, ma’am." He quipped, taking his place behind her, carefully.

"I’m not going to bite you, Trist. I might be frustrated, but I’m not mad." She said, sensing his hesitation.

"Yet." He chirped , just above her head, as he positioned her properly.

"Huh?" She asked, following his nudges and pushes like fluid.

"I said you’re not gonna to bit me yet. In my time. I almost shot my instructor. I don’t know what I would have done if Troy hadn’t punched sense into me." He said, covering her hand with his, putting her head in the right position, as well as her fingers.

"You’re doing well, taking the recoil like a champ. The boys and your parents-well maybe not your Mom- would’ve been proud if they were watching. Learning to shoot is harder than learning to drive or use knives." He pacified.

"So don’t beat yourself up. The only person you’re meant to be angry with, is him." He pointed to the metal carved plate few meters from them. "Not yourself, or anyone else. Do whatever will help. You can picture him as the devil, your enemy, whichever or whoever is capable of bringing out the hotshot shooter in you. Okay?"

She nodded, using her other hand to adjust the googles strapped across her eyes.

"Now breathe." He drawled, running his hand softly and slowly around her back, easing all of the tension that had gathered there.

She shut her eyes, doing as he had instructed, taking slow deep breaths.

"Your good." He cooed. "Now, I want you to open your eyes, wide. Don’t squint them. Lock your gaze on the part of the target you want to hit, and take a deep breath. Relax. Do not let anything pressure you. Your mind, or the thought of what may happen next. Just breathe and do it." He paused.

"Now." He instructed as he removed his finger from between hers and the trigger, and she did as he said, without holding back.

She froze when she saw it was a perfect hit to the middle of the chest. She gulped as she looked up at him, her corners of her lips turning up as excitement swelled in her chest, and pride in his.

"You did well, Baby." He said pecking her softly on her lip.

"Thank you." She said as he withdrew, beaming.

"Now, let’s try again." He said, two of them going back to their former positions. The corner of his lips turned up again when his saw her shoulders weren’t tensed anymore, just straight and ready for action as she looked ahead at the target, her gaze razor sharp.

"Last time, I noticed your trigger finger was shaking. I know you weren’t scared. You were just nervous, but I don’t want you to be nervous anymore. He’s a villain, who deserves to be shot dead. So give him justice without holding back, okay?"

"Yes, Sir."