Page 63 of Root

A shiver of lust races through me. It should be annoyance. Fuck is he dangerous to me and my senses. “I’m talking a real gun. Bullets.”

He’s quiet a moment, then straightens and walks off. He stops. “Are you coming?”

Probably, if he touches me… “Where?”

“Where do you think? I’m gonna get you a gun, Jessie.” He turns and continues walking away. “A real one.”

I take aim and shoot the target. My aim used to be better. But it’s been a while.

Next to me, Rush is shooting, too.

This place, the mansion, compound, estate, whatever you wanna call it, is fucking unreal.

They don’t just have a shooting range, they’ve got one with a few booths, where multiple people can practice. Or…string up fuckers who take brothers and use them to threaten me with. The whole lot of the Ten64. Yeah.

I aim again.

Then I step back and slide a side eye at Rush. He’s not very good, I’m better.

Although why would he be good at shooting? He’s not the criminal mastermind, that’s his cousin. Nikolai’s hard, seemingly emotionless. Not Rush. I’m not sure I want him to be a mini-Nikolai, though. Rush…he’s not unsullied, but he’s able to float through life, not letting it touch him.

Of course, I don’t know that.

I’m guessing.

But it fits.

Rich spoiled boy who’s delicious. Shit.

I set my gun down and slide off the noise cancelers as he takes careful aim and misses.

“You need to follow through.”

He puts his gun down and slips off his cancelers too. “You’re talking, but I don’t hear a thing. You’re messing with my vibe now.”

“You don’t have a vibe. You missed.”

“Well, fuck.”

I’m about to make a joke when my breath catches tight in my chest and cold drenches me. Fuck, I’m not meant to be joking, I’m meant to be pumping him for information, poking about for weak spots.

“Where is everyone?”

“I don’t know.” He loads his gun, then lunges around me and into my booth to get my gun. He digs out a clip from his pocket and shoves it in place. “I’m not the secretary.”

“Do…” I swallow. “Does Rose work?”

He looks at me and something flashes in his eyes. He hands me my gun. “Word of advice if anyone from that gang asks? Don’t fuck with Rose. You fuck with her, you fuck with Nikolai and you don’t want fuck with him.”

I’m cold inside, extremities ice as he hits close to the bone.

“He must love her.” I’m trying to angle in the right words, but I don’t know what they are and this is harder than it should be.

Rush goes to his booth, picks up his gun. I don’t know guns, just how to shoot them. It’s enough, but his is sleek, almost beautiful. Pity he doesn’t know how to use it.

“I don’t know what you’re up to,” he says quietly, “but if you think that this gang might use her, then they’re all dead. Even Nikolai doesn’t see it, but I do.”

Now, I’m really curious. “See what?”

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