Page 91 of Hard Bargain

Knox went still, staring downrange. Dominic watched the slight shift in his breathing, the way his grip tightened and loosened like he was trying to settle himself. “You’re not focusing on the sight,” Dominic said.

Knox cleared his throat. “I am.”

“You’re not.”

A pause. Then, still facing the target: “You’re standing very close.”

Dominic didn’t move. “Yes.”

He remained exactly where he was, close enough that if Knox leaned back even slightly he’d feel him there. He watched Knox pull in a slow breath and force his attention back downrange. “Now the trigger,” Dominic murmured.

The shot cracked through the room. Recoil kicked through Knox’s arms, and Dominic’s hand came up instinctively, steadying his wrist before the muzzle could snap too far upward.

They both looked downrange. A small hole had appeared in the paper, low and to the left of center.

Knox stared at it. “That was loud, even with these on.”

Dominic’s mouth twitched. “You get used to it.”

“So how bad was that?”

“For a first shot?” He adjusted Knox’s grip again, shifting the pressure of his fingers. “Not bad. You pushed the gun down right before it fired. Most people do. You anticipate the recoil, so your body tries to compensate before it happens.”

Knox considered that. “So how do I stop?”

“Stop thinking about the noise,” he said, leaning closer behind him. “Or the recoil. Only focus on the sight.”

Knox exhaled slowly through his nose but didn’t raise the gun. “Can I ask you something?”

“If it’s relevant.”

Knox turned his head, a faint smile touching his mouth. “I guess it is.”

Dominic gave a slight nod, permission enough for Knox to continue.

“How old were you?”

“When?”

“The first time you killed someone.”

He didn’t answer right away. The question settled somewhere he usually didn’t let people reach, and he found himself turning it over before he let it out. “Thirty.”

Knox glanced back at him, surprise flickering across his face. “I thought it’d be younger.”

“I spent a long time doing other things first.”

“The legal businesses?”

“Among them.” He rested a hand lightly over Knox’s wrist. “Now. Front sight.”

Knox raised the gun, but he wasn’t finished. “Did you know him?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

Dominic’s mouth twitched. “He died.”