Page 49 of Emerald Vices

“I think so,” she squeaks.

“Keep both your eyes open. And remember: breathe, aim, shoot.”

Her shoulders rise and fall accordingly. A second later, she squeezes the trigger. The silencer on her gun renders the shot little more than a dull pop. The target remains untouched.

“Dammit!” she cries.

“That was good!” Shura claps. “Really good.”

“Don’t patronize me,” Natalia snaps. “You’re the only one to actually hit the target today.”

“That’s because I’ve had a lifetime of practice, whereas you just got used to holding a gun last week. Give yourself a break.”

“Stand back. I wanna try again,” she orders, as though she hasn’t heard a word Shura’s just said.

With a resigned sigh, he steps away and Natalia takes aim once more.

She looks magnificent. Even more so when this bullet grazes the outer edge of the target.

“Yes!” she screeches, jumping up and down. “I did it! I actually did it!”

“Whoa, there,” Shura cautions, snatching the gun from her hand and putting the safety on. “This thing’s still loaded.”

“Did you see that?” she demands, turning to Shura with blazing eyes. “I hit the target.”

He laughs. “I did. Well done.”

With a squeal of delight, she launches herself at Shura and wraps her arms around him. He stumbles back a few feet before returning the hug.

Something hard twists in my stomach. Before I can decipher what it is, I’m striding out of my hiding place and towards them with only one intention in my head.

Getting Shura’s hands off my fucking woman.

As soon as she sees me, the smile wipes itself clean off of Natalia’s face. She drops her arms and backs away from Shura, gaping at me like I’m the one holding a gun.

“What are you doing here?” Natalia chokes out.

“I was walking and I heard voices,” I lie smoothly. “How long have you been practicing?”

She glances guiltily at Shura. “Um… a few weeks.”

I tip my head towards the target. “That’s impressive for only a few weeks. I’m proud of you.”

She scuffs the toe of her shoe into the dirt, refusing to meet my eyes. “Thanks.”

Shura clears his throat. “I’m gonna put the gun away. Excuse me.”

He leaves the two of us in the little clearing, and Natalia watches him go like she’d love nothing more than to follow after him.

“How did it feel?”

She turns to me, resigned to a conversation. “Terrifying at first. The first week was kinda sad. I barely even touched the thing. But then…” She can’t quite bite back the smile that tips the corners of her mouth. “Then it felt amazing.”

“I’m happy you kept trying.”

She nods. “It’s important to respect my limits while still pushing them.” I raise my eyebrows and her cheeks flush with color. “Er… I’m also in therapy. Thus the lingo.”

How the fuck have I missed so much?

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