Chapter 108 The Jealousy Shot
\[Lilia\]
“Spread your legs,” Val murmured next to my ear as his body pressed close to my back.
“Position your feet in a boxing stance, with the non-shooting-side foot in front, toes pointing forward, and the shooting-side foot behind, toes pointing slightly to the side. Put most of your weight on your front foot and lean forward slightly at the hips. Your body will “blade” the target, meaning you’ll be at an angle instead of facing it straight-on,” he went on, guiding my body to a proper stance, and I followed everything he said.
I am currently carrying a Glock 17, which is an excellent choice for me due to the fact that it is pleasantly large enough to fit my complete hand and provides a better grip. Val has previously given me a rundown of the advantages and disadvantages of working with firearms. The precautionary measures that I must adhere to, particularly while it is loaded, to protect not just myself but also those around me from injury. Only then do I need to take a shot when I have a clear view of my target.
It is important to be aware of the angle of the wind as well as the direction it was blowing in as these factors could have an impact on the speed of the bullet and the distance it traveled. I also must take heed of my surroundings. If I am in an open space or in a place with obstacles, but for now, I am aiming at the three cardboard targets in a ten meters range.
“Stretch out your shooting arm in front of you with a straight elbow, but do not lock it. Straighten out your supporting arm by bending the elbow all the way down. While you pull back with the hand that serves as your support, you should push forward with the hand that shoots. This tension between pushing and pulling generates stability and improves control.” Val instructed further as he extended my arms properly, positioned my both hands gripping the gun and index on the trigger. I was wearing ear gear, but I could still hear Val’s muffled voice in our close proximity.
“Take a deep breath, exhale slowly and focus on the target.” I was concentrating on the torso-shaped target ten meters away from our position when I noticed a mini-golf car that had come to a stop exactly outside the perimeter fence of the shooting range. My heart suddenly skipped a beat, and my hand trembled slightly soon as I recognized the person climbing off the vehicle.
“Focus, Lilia, eyes on the target,” Val seemed to have noticed my uneasiness for him to remind me what I had to do.
Tearing my attention away from distractions, I focus on the target, take a deep breath, exhale slowly, take my aim, and block everything around me as I take the shot. My arms recoiled for a bit, and I held my wrist firmly and steady, taking in the impact. Fortunately, Val was holding my shoulder for support.
I took a careful look at my target right away, and my eyes sprang wide with excitement as soon as I noticed a small bullet hole on the outer circle next to the number five, which is two circles away from the target's bull's eye.
“I hit it!” I exclaimed, pointing down the muzzle and turning to Val, preening as I pointed the target.
“Not bad. Pretty close to the bull’s eye.” He complimented me and patted my shoulders as he pointed to the other two targets that I was required to shoot at. “Now, practice your stance and fire the remaining two.”
After hitting my first target, I was filled with elation. However, as soon as I heard a vexing voice came closer to our place, my joy vanished almost instantly.
“Can I try too, Kael?”
She looked at me for a moment and smirked as she looped her arms around Kael, who seemed not to care about what she just said, though his eyes were fixed on me, or more likely on the bright bruise on my cheek, and then to Val who was standing right behind me.
“Right after they’re done,” he replied without bothering to look at his beloved fiancé. Just the thought of it makes me want to laugh in contempt.
What the hell are they doing here?
I just kept myself from rolling my eyes and snubbed him. I am still angry. After almost a week since that night, this was the first time we crossed paths again. But, as much as it pains me to confess it, I couldn't help but steal a glimpse at his face in the vain hope that I might somehow tell in his eyes that he misses me. Yet, all I could make out in his face was a blank, frigid expression.
The smile on my face completely faded, and I glanced up to Val, my lips curling with annoyance.
“Can I change my target? I found someone interesting to shoot with,” I hissed. I cocked the gun in my hand and prepared to fire another round, but this time I was hoping I could shoot Sabina in the face.
“Now, now, you’ve got quite a temper,” Val remarked, following my gaze, and then he chuckled, seeing my reaction.
I am not jealous, but damn, do they really have to be here together? Can’t they just be out there in some places where I could not see them?
“You can’t blame me. She brings out the worst in me,” I groused, turning back the safety trigger and turning away my attention from them.
However, an interesting idea came to my mind soon as I saw the table where Val laid the guns I would be learning for today, and there’s one thing that caught my eye.
I hid a devious smirk as I walked toward the table. I put down my Glock 17 and pick up the one I have been eying as my plan concocted inside my head. I weight it in my hand, testing its heaviness, and positioned the buttstock on my shoulders, closing my one eye as peer into the optic mount and aimed into the target. Releasing the safety trigger and ready to fire.
Val’s heavy footsteps instantly fell on my side. His huge hand clamped on the handguard and pointed it down.
“Too soon for rifles, sweet cake,” he chided me in a soft voice, narrowing his eyes at me and shaking his head as though he were trying to convince me that this was not a smart idea—whatever it is running around my head.
Well, I know that. That is why I needed his participation in this little charade that I will be doing. Truly, Kael might not have shown any interest in my presence, but one thing I am sure of is that he doesn’t want his possession to get attached to another person aside from him.
That obsessed possessive bastard thinks that he can parade me and declare me as his own in display of his infinite wealth.
Val said that Kael holds the largest mob in the country, but the sure thing is I can annoy the hell out of him. The bruise on my face stirred him enough. How much more if he sees me this close to another man. Even though it is Val.
“Back me up,” I said, yanking the rifle out from his grasp and aiming it at the targets, one eye to the optic mount and hooked my index to the trigger, ready to fire. Though my heart was hammering in my chest, I was a little bit scared in case this plan of mine would go sideways and hurt myself instead of others.
“What?” Val exclaimed in whispers, pressing his mouth closely into my ears so I could hear him through my gears.
I cast a quick glance to Kael, and I saw something stirred past his gaze, and now he was burning his eyes to Val. I hid a smirk and leaned my face closer to Val, asking him to help me fire the rifle.
“Stand right behind me, push your body against mine, and lend a hand. You said it's too soon. You don't want my shoulders to pop out of their sockets, do you?” I stated it with just a touch of emotional blackmail. I am sure injuring myself would be the least of things he wanted, and I could see it in his face as what I was trying to execute was sinking into his head.
“Oh, I know what you’re doing. You’re going to get my head skewered in a spike,” he commented, though amusement lingered on his voice as a sly smirk appeared on his lips.
However, he still didn’t move an inch. Instead, he stood up straight and cast me a sidelong glance.
“Come on, Val,” I groaned, rolling my eyes on him and inched closer to where he stood, tipping the rifle in the wrong direction and clumsily holding the grip.
He just stared at me for a moment, his eyes moving to see Kael staring at us. I could feel it wandering on his head as to what the hell we were talking about and that I had not taken my shot yet.
“Fine,” Val finally conceded, taking the place right behind me, pressing his body close, and positioning my back directly on his chest, supporting my shoulders.
“But if you’re not going to see me after this, it is entirely your fault,” he continued in jest, reaching his hand on the grip, covering mine firmly.