Archenemies (Renegades #2)(58)

“Hey, you guys know about that gala that’s coming up?” said Oscar. He was perched on the short wall that divided the range from the shooters, passing the handgun from palm to palm, apparently uninterested in actually shooting it.

“Of course,” said Ruby, without lowering her gun. She took another shot. “It’s like the whole organization is going.”

Oscar scratched his ear. “Yeah, I heard it’s turning out to be this real swanky affair. And now, with the fund-raiser auction, it’s like … for a good cause and stuff.” Oscar took out the magazine from his gun, flipped it over a few times, then clipped it back in. “I was thinking it might be fun if we all went together. I heard we can bring family, too, so I thought I’d mention it to my mom, and…” He glanced up, quickly, then back down. Ruby’s attention was glued to the targets, but Adrian caught the look. The fidgeting, the nerves. “I thought maybe you could bring your brothers too, Ruby.”

This, finally, brought Ruby’s head swiveling toward him. “My brothers?”

“Yeah,” said Oscar. “You’ve said how much they wish they were Renegades, right? They might think it’s cool to rub elbows with some of the patrols. Adrian could introduce them to his dads, they could listen to us all talk shop for a while.” He shrugged. “It could be fun for them.”

Ruby studied him for a long time before saying, carefully, “You’re talking about going to a swanky gala … and you think I should bring my brothers?”

Oscar blinked at her. “I like being inclusive?”

Ruby turned to the targets and went to take another shot, but her gun clicked, empty.

“And maybe Nova could invite her uncle?” suggested Oscar.

Nova let out a peal of laughter. “He’s not the gala type.”

“Oh. But … you’ll go?” asked Oscar.

Nova pulled back and Adrian could sense the emphatic no building on her tongue, but then she hesitated. Their eyes met and he saw indecision there. A question. A … hope?

“I’ll think about it,” said Nova.

“Okay,” said Oscar, checking his wristband. “Does anyone know when we get to break for lunch?”

“Maybe,” said Ruby, “after we’ve actually practiced.”

Oscar inspected the gun. He seemed about as enthusiastic about learning to use a new weapon as Adrian was.

“Come on,” said Adrian, raising his gun again. “I’ll buy you a pizza if you hit a bull’s-eye before I do.”

Ten seconds later, he owed Oscar a pizza.

Adrian groaned.

“Okay, I can’t take it,” said Nova, setting her gun down. “I’m teaching you how to do this.”

Adrian chuckled and shook his head at her. “Honestly, Nova, I’ve had some of the best Renegade trainers here try to teach me. It’s just not in my skill set.”

“Oh, please. It’s not that hard.” She came to stand beside him and took the gun from his hand. “You know what the sights are?”

He gave her an annoyed look.

“It’s a legitimate question, given that you apparently don’t use them,” she said. “We’re starting with the basics here.”

“Do you know how many times I’ve drawn a handgun?” he said. “I must have practiced it a thousand times when I first started on patrols. So, yes, I know what the sights are. And the hammer, the barrel, the cylinder … all of it. I understand how gunpowder works and the physics of propulsion. I know how guns work. I’m just not very good at getting the bullet to hit what I’m trying to hit.”

“Okay, smart guy.” Nova returned the gun to him, handle first. “Show me what you’re doing.”

He groaned. “You really don’t have to do this.”

“So you’re okay being mediocre?” She clicked her tongue, disappointed.

He scowled at her, but it was competing with a smile. “What am I aiming at, oh wise teacher?”

“That bull’s-eye,” she said. “The close one.”

“Oh, the close one,” he said. “You’re already setting your expectations low.”

“No, you already set my expectations low. Now stop talking and shoot.”

His lips twisted, but he conceded her point. He lifted the gun and fired.

He heard the dart hit something, but whatever it was, it surely wasn’t the bull’s-eye.

“Okay, for starters,” said Nova, “you need to relax. You tense up when you shoot.”

“Of course I tense up. It’s loud and … loud.”

“You need to relax,” she repeated. “And hold the gun like this, straight up and down. You’re not a cowboy.” She folded her hands around his, locking the gun’s handle between them.

Adrian swallowed. Her hands were smaller than his, but there was a confidence in her touch that surprised him. She’d always seemed so unsure when it came to physical contact … but maybe that was one more thing he’d only imagined.

“Like this,” Nova said, lifting his arms so they were parallel to the floor. Her cheek was against his shoulder now. “And widen your stance. You want strong, stable legs.”

He planted his feet, though his legs didn’t feel strong and stable. If anything, the closer she was, the weaker his limbs became.