Killing Aquila by Carlton Harriet

Author:Carlton, Harriet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ashton Publishing Group
Published: 2023-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Sascha pressed something into the palm of her hand. Looking down, Zoey saw a pair of earplugs. She swallowed, heart starting to pound again. This was happening. Beside her, Sascha tilted his head, as though considering something. He picked up the handgun from the table, then turned toward the target box. Zoey draped the earplugs around her neck.

“Come here. Stand in front of me.”

Zoey hesitated. She eyed the weapon in his right hand, and a breathy laugh left her chest.“Okay.”

“We’ll just get you used to the position for now. I’m going to step up behind you and let you mimic what I’m doing. That alright?”

“Yeah,” nodded Zoey. She stiffened as Sascha’s chest bumped her back.

“Feet a little over shoulder-width apart. My feet should bracket yours.”

A small rush of nerves ran up Zoey’s back as she inched her feet further apart. She stopped dead as her shoes contacted Sascha’s.

“Lean forward and put a bit of bend in your knees.”

Zoey swallowed, doing as he asked. Was this supposed to feel awkward? “Better?”

“Better,” said Sascha, bringing the handgun up in front of them.

Zoey leaned back a fraction, the top of her head just brushing Sascha’s chin. Black weapon in front of her. The tiny gap in the rear sight Sascha had pointed out earlier gave way to the single rise of the front sight. How exactly was she supposed to use these pieces of metal to hit a target? She’d always thought it was just point a gun in the general direction of something and the bullet would find its mark. That was how films always made it look.

“Right hand underneath mine, Zoey,” said Sascha. “You’re left-handed, but your right index finger will be your trigger finger. Sounds opposite, I know.”

The rumble of his voice vibrating against her back pulled Zoey back to the task, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. She reached up, sliding her hand under Sascha’s. The handgun’s plastic grip felt rough under her palm. Sascha’s hand closed over hers, and Zoey took a heavy breath. She could feel the callouses on his palm against her knuckles. Had she always been this hyperaware of touch?

“Left hand now. You’ll want to just press your left hand’s fingers just in front of your right. Don’t lace your fingers together and don’t cross your thumbs. Extend your arms all the way, but don’t lock your elbows out. Hold them nearly locked. Steady but not stiff.”

“How do you remember all this?” asked Zoey, laughing nervously, trying to diffuse the tension.

Was there tension? Really? Or was it just her imagination? She bit the inside of her cheek. She had no reason to be nervous around Sascha. At least that was what she had to tell herself.

“Practice and muscle memory,” shrugged Sascha.

She stiffened again as she felt Sascha’s chest vibrate against her back as he spoke. A third chill ran up Zoey’s back, and she could have sworn that in her peripherals, she saw the tiniest flash in his eyes, the tiniest upward tilt to his mouth.

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