Sienna POV
The next morning Luca and I drove out to a private range outside the city, the air holding a faint bite of gunpowder.
Luca stood beside Bellini in a plain black shirt, cuffs rolled to the wrist — less distant than usual, and no easier to ignore.
Bellini had just finished his last round when a black SUV rolled in.
Adrian stepped out in dark glasses with a black gun case, took them off, and walked over smiling.
“Morning, Mr. Bellini.”
The old man looked him over.
“Well now. You’re upright at this hour? The sun must be rising in the west.”
”For you, I manage it,” Adrian said, unbothered.
“I’ve been awake since before dawn, waiting for you to call.”
”Mouthy as ever.” The old man gave him a scolding look, then his gaze landed on me.
“Girl — can you shoot?”
I shook my head.
“No, sir. I’m afraid you’ll find me hopeless.”
I didn’t even blink saying it — not so anyone there would notice.
The truth was I’d first held a gun years ago, and the first thing I’d learned was to judge, in the shortest possible time, which direction a man would come at you from.
At this range I wouldn’t need to aim for long.
But right now I was only the assistant Luca had installed in the chairman’s office — beautiful, clever, no background.
So I had to be unable to shoot.
“What a coincidence. I can.” Adrian snatched the words out of the air at once.
He set the case down, popped the locks, revealing several handguns inside.
He turned to me, smiling.
“And I’m good. Give me a chance to show off in front of the lady?”
The old man gave him a look of disgust.
“Really? You’ve got more women around you than there are bullets on this range. Don’t go corrupting the girl.”
Adrian clutched his chest, mortally wounded.
“That cuts deep. I’ve turned over a new leaf. I sleep alone these days.”
Luca spoke then, mildly.
“It’s been a while since you and I had a match.”
Adrian turned to him, his smile sharpening.
“You’re in the mood today?”
”Mm.”
”I didn’t come here for you.” Adrian’s gaze returned to me.
“I came to teach her.”
The old man looked from one to the other, brightening at the prospect of a show.
“What, scared?”
Adrian put his earmuffs back on.
“Fine. Let’s shoot.”
”Ten rounds, fixed target.” He lifted his chin.
“Winner teaches Sienna. Loser stays out of the way today.”
Luca’s expression didn’t change.
“Agreed.”
They stepped up to their lanes.
Adrian was sharp and aggressive; Luca held an almost cold steadiness.
“A tie.”
Then he turned to me.
“Girl, you choose.”
I let myself look blank.
“Choose what?”
”Who teaches you.”
I looked at Luca.
He stood beside the lane, his face calm.
Adrian didn’t bother with modesty.
“Pick me.”
”Why?”
”Because I’m patient.” He smiled, then glanced at Luca on purpose.
“And I’m better at handling women than he is.”
I ignored him and kept my eyes on Luca.
“Would you teach me?”
Luca was silent two seconds.
Then: “Suit yourself.”
The corner of my mouth lifted, but I turned to Adrian.
“I almost forgot — Mr. Hawthorne is an engaged man. He really should avoid appearances. Then I’ll trouble you, Adrian.”
Adrian laughed outright and flicked his brows at Luca.
“Hear that? She picked me.”
Luca only looked at me once, then turned toward the lounge.
The old man watched him go and shook his head.
“Adrian, teach her properly. Don’t scare the girl.”
”Relax.”
Adrian took a gun from the attendant and led me to a lane.
The moment it settled into my palm I knew its weight and balance.
I only glanced down and made a show of gripping it awkwardly.
“Like this?”
He came up beside me and laid his hand over the back of mine, adjusting my grip.
“Don’t curl your fingers so tight. First time you’ve handled a gun — no need to wrestle with it.”
His palm was hot; through the thin sleeve the closeness was intimate.
I relaxed my fingers with the movement.
“This way?”
”Mm.” He didn’t step back.
He bent to adjust my aim, his body behind mine, shoulder almost against mine, his breath at my ear.
“Find the target first, then squeeze. Don’t rush.”
”All right.”
My first shot, deliberately, went into the eight ring.
Adrian didn’t complain; he only smiled.
“Not bad. At least you hit the paper.”
”Is that a compliment?”
”Of course.” He looked down at me.
“I have a great deal of patience with beginners.”
I let my eyes drift to his hand.
“Were you planning to take it off?”
He noticed our closeness only then, and instead of stepping away, smiled more openly.
“Why? Do you mind?”
”Just thinking you take your teaching seriously.”
“Since you picked me, I have to be worth that trust.”
Second shot: nine ring.
His brows rose.
“Improving fast.”
Third shot: dead center.
He stared at the target a moment without speaking, then turned to me.
“You’re sure you’ve never touched a gun before?”
I met his eyes with perfect innocence.
“Isn’t that because you teach well?”
I didn’t let myself look better than that.
Over the next shots I kept my accuracy on a tight leash, and that gave Adrian no reason to step back sooner.
“Relax your shoulder.”
”It is relaxed.”
”Not enough.” He stood behind me, almost folding me into his arms, his arm reaching around to guide my hand through the angle.
“Now?”
I raised my eyes to the glass.
Over in the lounge, Luca sat beneath the sunshade, and across the distance our eyes met.
He showed nothing.
I pulled my gaze back and squeezed the trigger; the hole landed in the nine ring.
“Good,” Adrian murmured.
“Looks like I’m a successful teacher.”
Behind us the old man coughed.
Adrian finally let go, and I lowered the gun.
“Tired?”
”My wrist’s a little sore.”
He handed the gun to the attendant and caught my arm.
“Easy.”
I steadied myself and stepped half a pace away.
“I’m fine.”
When we walked back, Luca had returned to his seat.
He looked as he always did, except that the teacup in front of him was empty.
The old man saw us coming and laughed.
“Taught her already? That fast?”
Adrian answered for me.
“Sienna’s a quick study.”
Luca finally spoke.
“Your interest in firearms runs deep, Adrian.”
Adrian lifted a brow.
“That sounded almost jealous.”
”I’m only curious.” Luca leaned back, his tone flat.
“How many people have you taught?”
”Why?”
”Are you this patient with all of them?”
The air went still.
Adrian looked at me, then turned back to Luca, his mouth curving.
“Luca, let me put it this way. I’ve taken a fancy to her.” He paused, smiling, brazen and easy.
“So I’m willing to spend more time teaching her. Isn’t that normal?”