Page 90 of Hard Bargain

A short laugh escaped Knox. “That sounds ominous.”

“It’s practical.”

Knox tilted his head. “Why now?”

Dominic opened the car door. “Because my world is about to get more dangerous.”

Knox watched him carefully. “Because of Mercer?”

Dominic paused, then nodded once. “Yes.”

A beat of silence before a slow grin spread across Knox’s face. “Okay. This I’m actually looking forward to.”

* * *

The shooting range was empty, exactly the way Dominic preferred it. The room smelled of oil and burned powder, the long row of lanes stretching ahead under harsh fluorescent lights. At the far end, paper targets hung motionless downrange.

Knox stepped in behind him and looked around with open curiosity. “So this is where you come to practice killing people.”

Dominic ignored the comment and set the case down on the counter. “You listen carefully,” he said as he opened it. “You do exactly what I tell you. No improvising.”

Knox leaned against the counter beside him. “Yes, sir.”

Dominic glanced at him. “Don’t start.”

Knox’s mouth twitched.

Dominic lifted the handgun from the case, checked the chamber automatically, and set it down on the counter. “First thing,” he said. “Respect for the weapon. You treat it like it’s loaded even when it isn’t. Every time. No exceptions."

Knox nodded, the humor fading from his face.

Dominic reached into the case and set a magazine beside it. “Seventeen rounds,” he said. “You load it like this.” He picked the magazine up and pressed it into the grip with the heel of his palm until it clicked into place. “Always confirm it’s seated.” He ejected it again and held it out. “Now you.”

Knox took it, turned it over once, then pressed it in. It clicked. He looked mildly pleased with himself.

“Safety’s here,” Dominic said, reaching over and guiding Knox’s thumb to the small lever on the side. “Up is on. Down is off. You check it before you do anything else and you check it again before you put it down.” He paused. “Say it back.”

Knox glanced at him sideways. “Up is on, down is off, check it constantly.”

“Good.” Dominic reached for the ear protection hanging on the partition and held out a pair. Knox took them without argument. Dominic put his own pair on and picked the Glock up from the counter. “Now,” he said, holding it out. “Show me how you’d hold it.”

Knox took it and wrapped both hands around the grip with the easy confidence of someone who had no idea yet what he was doing wrong.

“Not like that.” Dominic reached out and adjusted his grip, fingers closing over Knox’s hand to reposition it. The contact was brief, but it was enough.

Knox went still, and Dominic was already too aware of him. “Firm,” he said quietly. “Not tense.” He shifted Knox’s hands, guiding the position of his fingers along the frame.

Knox’s breathing changed. Just slightly.

Of course it did.

Dominic stepped in behind him. “Feet apart.”

Knox adjusted his stance. “Like this?”

“Wider.”

He reached forward and nudged Knox’s shoulders into place. Their bodies were suddenly much closer than they had been a moment ago. He leaned past him, adjusting the angle of the gun toward the target. “Focus on the front sight. Nothing else.”