Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
He pulls the pistol from my fingers and slips the magazine in with an ominous click. Then I get it back in my hands.
“It's heavier.”
“Full mag, of course it is.” He wraps his warm hands around mine, giving me support. “Take your time. Aim at the biggest rock like I showed you.”
“Okay,” I say, so incredibly nervous. I know it's going to make a lot of noise this time and kick back at me. Only his steady grip calms me.
“Draw a deep breath, hold it and flex your core and shoulders, make yourself as stable as you can. Then pull the trigger.” His voice is right in my ear.
I do my best and when I think I'm ready, I put my index finger in and squeeze.
The gun explodes. Even knowing what to expect, I still scream in surprise. “Did I hit it?”
He laughs. “No, but I’ve seen worse first shots. Let’s try that again.”
Outlaw supports my hands again, and this time I brace better, remembering the power of the gun from the last time. I promise myself not to scream this time as I aim down the sights. Then I squeeze.
This time when the gun barks, at least I see where the bullet hits. It wasn’t the rock I was aiming at, but I’m getting closer. Next time for sure. With a smaller gun, I think this would be way easier. It’s actually a little fun. “Okay, let me try on my own.”
Outlaw doesn't say anything for a moment, but then he backs up a step, letting me go. “Okay.” He sounds a little uncertain, but lets me try.
Determined, I get into the stance as he's shown me, aim right down the barrel, and pull. The rock next to the one I was aiming at shoots off into the distance with a loud crack. “Did you see that?” I won't win any shooting contests anytime soon, but at least I can fire the gun without losing complete control now. I spin around with a huge grin on my face.
Before I can react, he's on me, grabbing my wrist and forcing it down so the gun points at the ground. He has me disarmed in no time. “Always fucking treat the gun like it's fucking loaded!” he yells, then his face twists in pain and he looks like he’s about to be sick.
“I—I'm sorry. I wasn’t thinking…” I mean, he's right, I should've been more careful with the gun, but I wasn't prepared for him to explode like that. “Are you okay? Maybe you should sit down?”
“Just go back to the others and don’t cause trouble,” he snarls, hand on his side and walks away, leaning to favor his injured side.
“Outlaw!” I yell at him. “I'm sorry. It was a mistake.”
“It’s fine,” he growls, not even looking my way. “Go tell Shadow to bring me my shit.”
He’s hurt. Of course he is. You don’t heal a hole in your side overnight. I feel like such an idiot. He was so patient with me before that. A little crabby maybe, but in a nice way. He must have twisted his wound when he grabbed the gun from me. The guys look at me as I walk back to the bikes where they’re waiting.
“Everything okay?” Thunder asks.
I nod, heading right to Outlaw’s bike. “Yep.” We picked up some medical supplies on the way out of town, and since it’s my fault he’s hurting, I’m going to fix it.
Whether he likes it or not.
19
OUTLAW
Fuck.
I fucked up and drove someone away again. But what the hell did I expect? She doesn't fucking need me when the others are all over her. Thunder and Lightning didn't surprise me, but Shadow? I didn't expect him to line up for his turn so fast.
I flick the safety on and find myself a piece of rock to curl up against and die like a wounded coyote. There's blood on my palm, and it's spreading across the shitty drugstore undershirt. Where the fuck is Shadow? I need help wrapping everything back up and making sure my guts aren't leaking out.
“Hey, are you okay?” Harper's voice, sweet and timid, drifts over to me.
“I told you to go wait with the bikes,” I growl, not wanting her to see me hurt.
“I'm not useless, you know,” she says, and sits down right next to me. “I've had to learn a lot about nursing over the past couple years. Let me see.”
“What? No, I'm fine,” I lie.
“No, you're not. Lift up your shirt and show me.” She's already reaching to look.
I try to move away, but she's right on top of me, her hand pushing the hem up and exposing the blood seeping through the bandages.
She sucks in a little breath and her mouth quirks in a smug smile. “Totally fine.”
“Fuck off! Just because I offered to teach you to shoot doesn't mean I want you touching me. Why are you acting like you care? Is it to impress the rest of them? Because they'll fuck you either way.” I said it to hurt her, but when I see the words actually land, I want to take them back immediately.