Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

TYSHAWN

Partner. I'm his partner, and he's mine. God, I love the sound of that.

Even if it's just when it comes to murder.

I never thought I'd want to kill someone, that I'd want to take a life, erase someone from existence. But after Michael, knowing there are more people like him than the law can deal with—if the law even works half the fucking time—made me want to do something. Leo and his cousin are doing something. Granted, Leo kills random people too, but that's not the point. I have a partner that wants me to work with him, ridding the world of scum that slips through the cracks.

The morning air feels good on my skin. I tip my head back and peek at the fluffy clouds that are just visible through the thick canopy of the tree foliage. It's lovely here, peaceful. A little too isolated for me to enjoy full time, but it's a nice getaway. The quiet and seclusion are great decompressors.

"So pretty out here," I mutter, hopping over a tree root as thick as my arm. "But I do miss the city."

"We'll go back soon. I could take you to a shooting range near my condo, but I wouldn't be able to bring all my guns with me."

I nod, following behind Leo and staring at his ass. Fuck, his ass is so nice. A perfect fucking squat booty. "Where do you go to the gym?" I ask, my eyes still locked on that peach in front of me.

"My building has a gym with top-of-the-line equipment. I haven't been since the day before we came here. I'm slacking."

"Me too. Though I didn't have a choice since someone kidnapped me." I wink at Leo when he turns to look at me.

He lowers the bag in a clearing with a bunch of tree stumps at differing heights and distances. "Yeah, well, look at you now. Learning how to kill people. So maybe you shouldn't complain."

My smile is wide. "Hey, that's not the tone you take with your partner. I'm sensitive."

Leo laughs and wraps an arm around me, pulling me tight to his body. "I probably should apologize for kidnapping you, but I can't say I'm sorry."

"Neither am I," I mutter before I stand on tiptoe and peck him on the lips. "What are we starting with?"

Rummaging through the bag, Leo pulls out a handgun. "This is a Glock 19. A semi-automatic handgun. This is great for beginners." He slaps it in my hand and starts to describe the weight and all the other specs. I pay rapt attention, making sure to take it all in. He won't quiz me on it, but I want him to know I'm attentive when he's going through the trouble of telling me. His face radiates seriousness, a far cry from the jovial expression he usually wears. "It holds fifteen rounds in a normal magazine, but it can hold extended magazines. Most people use these guns for home security, so they usually keep it to a fifteen round mag."

"What is this one?"

"Fifteen rounds. Now, the first rule to shooting a gun is treat it like it's loaded. Point it only at your target and keep your hand off the trigger until you're aiming it at your target." I nod, moving my finger from the trigger.

He teaches me a good stance, how to grip the weapon and proper aim. It's a lot to take in, but I'm liking this training business. Leo is so serious, and it's hot as fuck.

Leo moves behind me, raising my hand level to the can closest to me. "I want you to try to shoot that can. If you don't hit it initially, that's fine. I want to see how you react to the recoil. Then we can either keep practicing with this one or work with a smaller weapon you can handle."

I nod, taking a deep breath and holding it. "Don't hold your breath," Leo whispers just behind me, his breath ghosting over my ear. "Breathe normally, but fire when you breathe out."

He steps away from me, and I look down the sight of the gun. Fuck, this is harder than I thought it would be. Every time I think the can is in my sight, it seems to move again. I don't want to shut one eye like I saw in movies because Leo didn't tell me I should do that. And this isn't like a rifle with a scope or something, so I'm sure it's not necessary.

Just as he said, I breath normally and squeeze the trigger. I'm careful not to jerk my finger on the trigger like Leo told me. The recoil isn't too bad since I know what to expect.

Surprisingly, the can flies off the stump, landing a few feet away. I lower the gun—sure to take my finger off the trigger—and look at him in disbelief. "Did I shoot that off or did a rock hit it?"

Leo chuckles. "That was all you, kotenok. Try another."

I turn back to the stumps and find the next closest and take aim. I breathe normally and shoot when I exhale. Again, the can flies off the stump. A whoop leaves my lips as I put the gun on safety and set it down. I jump into Leo's arms and wrap my arms around his neck. He laughs, holding me under the ass.

"Did you see that? I shot two of them, Leo. Two! My first time and I got two!"

"I saw." Leo kisses me quickly then sets me on my feet. "How as the recoil? Too much?"

"No. It was manageable."

"Good. Let's test your limits."

That's exactly what we do. He has me shoot a 9mm Beretta, a Sig Sauer, a Glock 30, and a Heckler and Koch HK before we move on to an assault rifle. I don't shoot as well with the others as I do the Glock 19 and Glock 30, but I still hit the majority of my targets.

When I'm finished firing at the paper target he pulled out of his bottomless bag, Leo takes the weapon from me and turns me around, eyes sparkling with what I can only describe as pride. "Kotenok, that's the best shooting I've seen in years. Almost as good as Ivan and he's the best. How did you learn to shoot like that?"

I shrug. My parents never had guns, and Juliette was afraid of them, so we never tried to shoot one as kids. As an adult, I never got around to buying one for protection or going to the range. My first time holding a gun was an hour ago when he put that Glock 19 in my hands.

"Can I shoot someone? Please?" I beg, giving Leo my best puppy dog eyes. Leo's deep laugh burrows into my ears, making me smile. "Maybe this camp counselor." A frown tips my lips down at the thought of the man walking free after what he's done. "I want to see what happens when a bullet enters someone's body."

"Yeah sure. What else do you want to do?"

I shake my head, not wanting to tell him. "You'll think I'm sick. I mean, I never thought about killing people before, and now I'm thinking of ways to torture."

"I'm a psychopath, kotenok. Nothing you say can make me think differently of you. Tell me what's going on in that beautiful mind of yours."

Sighing, I move around his clearing, helping Leo pick up the cans. Since I'm not looking at him, it's easier to describe what I want to happen. It's not bad, but it will be extremely painful. I'm sure he's seen or maybe even done worse.

After I describe what I want, I expect Leo to gape at me, at my depraved mind. But he just looks at me with a thoughtful expression for a beat, then nods. "That's doable. I think I can scrounge up those tools somewhere."

While I smile at his willingness to do what I ask, my excitement to have it done is giving me pause. Not that I want to take it back. Fuck that guy. He trafficked kids for money, and he deserves pain. My question to myself is: where is the anger coming from though? Have I always been like this?

No, I don't think I was. My view of the world changed. After what happened to Juliette, I started to wish more and more that people who committed horrible crimes and got away with it would be fucking put down. Knowing Leo can help me do that without getting caught soothes my nerves and my second guesses. "That's what I want," I tell Leo. "I want him to suffer. Those kids suffered. He deserves nothing less. Can we leave him somewhere people will find him? Juliette isn't here for her to know Michael is dead. His other victims aren't either. But the kids that went through what Ian put them through are. If anything comes of this, it'll be them knowing the man that did this to them is dead."

"I can do that. June does the same with the victims he picks for Blu. Like I said," Leo says, throwing an arm around my shoulder, "anything you want."

We walk back to the house in silence. I'm not sure what's going on in Leo's head, but mine is a mess. I'm wondering if I'll freeze up with this murder since I don't have a personal vendetta against Ian. He's a sick fuck, but I don't know the children he sold personally. Can I still do it? I hope so. I want this fucker in the dirt.

Leo takes the guns inside while I relax on the porch. I should go inside and start the croissants, but right now, I want to think for a bit. I could always roll the dough in the morning and bake everything at once.

I sit in the rocking chair, pushing off slightly as I let my mind empty. This is the best place to relax and think about nothing. The soft breeze, the sounds of nature, the fresh smelling air. I'll have to convince Leo to bring me back here sometimes when I get overwhelmed back in the city.

The only thing that can make my head full is wondering how I'm going to get my bakery. I want nothing more in the world than to see me and my mother's dreams of our own recipes being tasted and enjoyed by others. I've thought about making a site and selling online since I haven't been able to afford a building space.

I sigh at that option. With the way technology is now, an online bakery would be lucrative, but people would have to take a chance on it. I could advertise all I want, but if someone hasn't tasted the food, they wouldn't want to buy the goods. And what if their order didn't arrive? A customer could rate my shop negatively, and other people would be hesitant to give me a shot.

The best way to build my business is in person, so there can be taste tests. I stand behind everything I bake, but all taste buds are different. Someone could say they liked my lavender cookies, and someone else could say they taste like ass.

I wish I could get a larger small business loan, but I'm lucky to have the one I was approved for. When I got my first three credit cards as soon as I turned eighteen, I was hella irresponsible and barely paid them off. It took years to rebuild my credit and get the loan. I'll just have to work with what I have until I can locate somewhere more ideal.

"Want to sit out here for a while?" Leo asks when he steps back out.

I start, since I didn't hear him come outside. "Just for a few. Then we need to find the address for the camp counselor. The sooner we get rid of him, the better."

Leo pulls me out of the chair, sits down, and rests me on his lap. The rocking chair squeaks but holds both our weight. I'm surprised. Leo is so fucking big, I almost think it'll crack at any moment. When we're rocking for a another minute with no more squeaking, I relax against him.

"What were you thinking about?"

I could tell him my thoughts about my bakery, but I haven't figured things out with it. It would be nice to get his opinion on it but only when I've considered all options myself.

Instead of mentioning the bakery, I say, "It's nice out here. I'd like to come back with you sometime. I'm not sure how often you get away or what will happen when we're back in the city and our real lives, but we should make time to decompress here. Even if it's just for a night or two."

"Sure thing, kotenok. I like it here too. It's made even better with you here."

My heart melts as I gaze into Leo's eyes. "You're sweet," I mutter.

"I'm honest. I enjoy my solitude, and this place brings me that, but I get this wonderful feeling in my chest seeing you out here. The look on your face every time you step out of the house and breathe in the clean air makes me … happy. I've never felt happy about anything outside of a kill in my entire life. But you make me feel that way."

My eyes fucking mist as I listen to him. No one has ever said anything like that to me before and meant it. And Leo means it. The conviction in his voice and the earnest look in his eyes is all I need to know he's for real.

Feeling choked up, I lean in and kiss him softly. "I really love you, Leo. It's too fast, but … I love you."

"I love you too, kotenok. It's not too fast. We don't need to go by anyone's timeline but our own."

"Our own timeline," I mutter, kissing him again as I relax into his strong arms.