Page 42 of Chasing Infinity

Eli jumps right into “instructor mode” without missing a beat and starts running me through each tiny detail of shooting a weapon at the range. I fight the urge to roll my eyes with every word that comes out of his mouth but let him do his thing.

“Okay, so you’re going to want to make sure that you reset every time you fire a round,” Eli tells me as if I don’t already know this. “So instead of rapid firing, after each shot, just line up again and hit it. You’ll be more likely to get your target each time you do that.” I nod my head along as if his instructions are really sinking in.

I sure wish Charlie was near our booth to see the ass whooping I’m about to give Eli Montgomery.

“Okay, I think I got it,” I respond, playing along. I set up my stance, doing it wrong on purpose and grinning to myself when Eli corrects me.

“There, that’s better, nice stance, good form. Go ahead and give it a try.”

I nod and then look toward where the target is down the lane. I line up my sights, move my finger to the trigger and take a deep breath in and out, sinking into the hold before firing the shot. I know I hit dead center, but I line up again, tuning out Eli’s praises from beside me. I do this four more times, firing five shots in total before relaxing my stance and hitting the button to bring back the target.

As it’s coming up the track, I hear Eli clapping his hands slowly, patronizing me. “Not too shabby, McCoy. You look like you could be a natural. All you gotta do is keep practicing it. I bet you got at least one on the target.”

I don’t bother responding. I just look down the lane as the target paper gets closer and closer. As soon as I can see the results, I smirk. When it’s close enough that Eli can see it, too, he goes suspiciously silent. I look at him, the sly grin still pulling at my lips.

“Not too shabby, eh, Monty?”

Eli’s staring at the target, his jaw slack and eyes wide, where I managed to hit not one but all five of my rounds right in the center. “Nope,” he says after a beat, then mutters more to himself than me, “What the hell?”

Charlie walks to our bay and whistles lowly when he sees my target. “Damn, Lockwood, you still got it.”

Eli looks accusingly at Sully. “You knew he could shoot like that? Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”

Charlie laughs and nudges Eli with his elbow. “You were on a roll, man. I didn’t want to get in your way.”

“Honestly, though, you’d make a good instructor,” I tell Eli with a smirk. “You ever thought about giving private lessons?”

Eli groans and drops his head back. “Thanks, guys, real nice.”

We go for another hour or so. Eli grumbles every time my target returns with each shot perfectly placed, but he doesn’t give me any more shit. When our time is up, we head back to the lobby. As I’m about to step through the door behind Eli, I feel a hand clasp my shoulder. I turn and come face-to-face with Charlie, who’s giving me a severe look.

“I just wanted to have a word with you,” he says at my questioning stare. “It’s no secret that you and Addison have some history, and I saw how she was looking at you this morning.” I frown and open my mouth to retort, but he holds up his hand. “Let me finish. I know things are changing between the two of you again, and I just thought we needed to have a heart-to-heart.”

“God, please don’t do this.” I squeeze my eyes shut and let my head fall back. I should’ve known this was coming by the way he was watching us so curiously this morning.

“I should have done this the last time you two were getting together, but I just let you two have at it, and maybe that was a mistake, but… I won’t let you hurt her again, Lockwood.” Charlie fixes me with a hard stare. Hissheriffstare.

I let his statement sink in before I respond. “That’s a nice sentiment, Sullivan, but what happens between Parks and me is really none of your—”

“No,” he cuts me off firmly. “It is my business. Addison is like a sister to me. She’s one of my favorite people in the whole world. And frankly, she’s the best thing to ever happen to you if you get so lucky. I know her better than anyone, and she’ll take you back in a heartbeat if you decide that’s what’s best for you. But I swear to everything, Noah, don’t hurt her again.”

“I won’t.”

“Good,” he claps me on the shoulder, appeased for now. “I might not be as good a shot as you are, but I can certainly hold my own. I’m not playing here. I hope you know that.”

“I do.” I fix him with a nod. “You’re a good friend to her, Charlie.”

“Yeah, I try to be. We’re all she has left, you know? I’m her family; she’s mine,” he exhales and then presses his lips together in resignation. “And I’m not an idiot. I realize there’s a good chance that someday you may take that position, but she’ll always be important to me.”

“I know,” I admit. Though I’ve never fully understood it, their relationship doesn’t bother me now as much as it used to.

“Thanks. We better go find Eli,” Charlie says and starts heading to the waiting area.

“Wait, one more thing,” I say. Charlie pauses and glances back at me, an eyebrow raised. “I set up a time to look at the Witch House.”

Surprise takes over Charlie’s features and then morphs into uncertainty. “Noah, I don’t know if that’s really necessary. Like I said earlier, the place is a safety hazard. There’s no way there’s anything of value in there. I have guys stationed there various times throughout the year, and nothing has ever come up.”

“I hear you. I just have a hunch,” I implore him. “The realtor said she wouldn’t be able to take me out there until Friday of next week, and I was hoping you’d be able to go with me out there. You know, as backup.”

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