Page 24 of Absolution

“You’re the matriarch of this house,” Viktor corrects. His voice isn’t cold but stern enough to make a point.

“I’m still me, and I don’t want to be treated differently.”

He doesn’t speak, but his silence speaks volumes. We continue to stroll in silence.

I’m about to speak when he opens a door at the back of the guardhouse.

“Viktor…” Not wanting to argue, I don’t finish my sentence.

We walk straight to the back of the guardhouse’s yard. I thought I’d see grass and shrubs, but it’s far from a greenish patch of lawn. The back of the guardhouse is a gun range. I’ve seen enough movies and television shows to make me confident in my assumption.

Still quiet, Viktor guides me to a table displaying guns, eye protectors, and ear protection. Once we’re in front of the table, he turns me to face him.

“There are a few rules you need to know about gun safety before you learn how to shoot.” His tone gives no indication that he’s annoyed about our earlier conversation.

“I’m listening.” I let it go. It’s not worth an argument.

“First, always keep your gun pointed at the ground when not shooting. Second, treat all guns as if they’re loaded. Third, keep your trigger finger outside the trigger area until you’re ready to shoot. Above everything else, only point your gun when you’re ready to shoot. This is a nine millimeter…” He goes over the rules again while showing me everything there is to know.

There’s a sweetness and sexiness to what he’s doing and how he takes his time teaching me. I’ve never seen this side of him, and I love it. He is showing that this is as important to him as it is to me, which makes me crave him even more.

“Right now, the gun isn’t loaded. I want you to take it and feel the weight of it.”

I accept the gun he’s holding out and pass it between my hands. “It feels heavy.”

He nods, agreeing with me. “It will at first until you get comfortable.”

For the next ten minutes, he goes over how to load and unload a gun. He takes his time showing me how to hold it and stand correctly before taking a shot. Although the gun isn’t loaded, he asks me to pull the trigger to get a feel for it.

“Do you think you’re ready?” he asks with a cocked brow a few practices later.

Hair falls in front of my eyes when I nod. “Yes.”

“Good. Because I don’t think I can explain any more.”

When he laughs, I join him.

Once our laughter settles, he takes my gun, loads it, and then sets it on the counter in front of me. “Ready?”

After looking at him, I nod. “Yes,” I answer, ready to learn how to defend my family.

* * *

Before I know it, we’ve been practicing for almost an hour. Viktor has shown me how to load the gun and shoot. It’s fun, and the adrenaline it arrives with is amazing.

But regretfully, we’re interrupted by Viktor’s ringing cell.

“Put the gun down,” he orders, his focus always on my safety.

When I set the gun on the counter in front of me and take off my ear protection, Viktor answers his cell, and his demeanor immediately changes.

“Angus,” he answers. “What? When…Fuck.Let me try.”

“What is it?” I ask, suddenly panicked.

Viktor remains quiet, but whatever it is, he’s worried—almost scared.

My stomach gurgles when I recall there’s only one other person besides the kids and me who’d get this response out of him.

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