Page 10 of No Mistakes
Eva stands in the far lane, her stance solid, shoulders square, while she takes her time lining up the shot. I watch while she takes a deep breath and fires. Her shoulders shift from the recoilof the gun, but it doesn’t faze her as she stands rooted to the spot. My head turns towards her target, and sure enough, the shot lands dead centre.
Bullseye.
My breath catches in my throat, mesmerised by the woman standing a few feet away from me, completely oblivious to the people around her watching.
She looks the same, but at the same time, she looks different. There’s something raw in the way she moves, something I can’t quite place, but it keeps me frozen in place. Ant nudges me, and I take a step forward. But before I can get any closer, someone steps in front of me, blocking my path.
Mandy.
She moves fast, getting closer so I’m not able to see Eva behind her. “Are you fucking serious right now?” She asks. I’m not sure how she is whispering but shouting at the same time, butfuck, the look on her face is scary.
“So Mandy, here’s the thing.” I say, trying my best to distract her before side-stepping to get my eyes on Eva.
“Oh no you fucking don’t.” Mandy snaps, matching my steps.
I look down towards her and her expression hardens, anger breaking through the surface. “Axel.” She says, getting closer. “You don’tgetto just walk in here like you didn’t rip her apart.”
I clench my fists at my sides, swallowing hard. “I just need to talk to her.”
Mandy lets out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Talk?You had your chance, and you blew it. Andnowyou’re gonna show up while she’s finally trying to breathe again?” She shakes her head, her expression unreadable. “You should turn the fuck around and leave before you make this any worse.”
I manage to get a peek at Eva again. She still hasn’t noticed me. Or maybe she has, and she just doesn’t care. Ant shifts beside me, his presence solid and unmoving. He doesn’t step in.He knows this isn’t his fight, but he still stands there… fucking smiling. Mandy turns her gaze to him, and the smile disappears swiftly when she points towards him. “Andyou. I will be talking to you about this later, mark my words, mister.”
The echo of the gunshots around the room starts to fill my head as a pounding thump bangs against my skull with each shot. I grit my teeth and grab Mandy’s arm lightly. “Mandy,please.” I don’t beg. Ever. But right now, I’m barely holding my shit together. “Just let me talk to her.”
Mandy exhales sharply, her fingers twitching like she’s considering punching me as she removes herself from my hold. “If she tells me she wants you here, I’ll step aside.” Her voice drops lower, more serious. “But if she doesn't? You walk.”
I nod swiftly, swallowing back the anxiety clawing at my chest. Mandy studies me for a second longer before stepping away. “Your funeral.” She mutters. I watch her walk towards Eva, but before she gets there, Eva turns.
Her eyes land on me instantly, and for the first time since she walked out of the house, I see it. Not just the heartbreak. The rage.
I see the storm brewing inside of her as she locks her gaze on to me. I’m pretty sure if we weren’t surrounded by a group of people, it would be enough to bring me to my knees.
She places the gun down, making sure to secure it before turning back towards me. I don’t get the reaction I expect. She should be yelling. Screaming. Throwing something. Maybe even hitting me. But instead, she just… laughs.
And not just any laugh. Full-bodied, hands-on-her-knees, like I just told the funniest joke in the world. My stomach twists into knots as I watch her straighten, wiping at her eye like she’s actually amused.
“There is no fucking way.” She shakes her head, letting out another sharp, bitter laugh. “You really fucking followed me here?”
I force myself to hold my ground. “Eva-”
She holds up a hand, cutting me off as she takes slow, deliberate steps closer. There’s no warmth in her gaze now. Just a quiet, simmering rage.
“What was your plan here, Axel? Huh?” She tilts her head, circling me. “Thought you’d show up, flash those sad puppy eyes, and I’d forget that you let me think you were fucking dead?”
I inhale sharply, trying to find the right words to say. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
She barks out another laugh. “Oh, well,thatmakes itsomuch better.” She takes another step, getting close enough that I can see the tension in her jaw. She’s close enough for me to grab her and take her with me, but I know that will only make things worse. “You didn’twantto hurt me? Then what the hell did youthinkwas going to happen?”
My throat tightens from hearing the pain behind the anger, but I won’t let that stop me. “Eva, just-”
She walks away, back to where the gun lies on the table. I watch, hypnotised by the way she moves when she lifts the gun, aiming at the target down the range.
My pulse kicks up, but she doesn’t hesitate as her finger squeezes the trigger and the shot cracks through the air.
Bullseye.
The whole range falls into silence from Eva’s actions. Everyone, no doubt wondering what the fuck is going on as whispers start wrapping around us.
