Chapter - 8

"Let's see what your weapons training has been like," Vincenzo said to Sofia, motioning for her to follow him out of the training area.

Sofia jogged a little to catch up to him, her eyes on his back muscles which flexed as he walked.

"Uh, aren't you going to put your shirt on?"

"I can walk around naked if I want to since you clearly don't have a problem doing the same," he replied, not bothering to look back at her as he walked towards the arms room.

Sofia frowned, looking down at herself. She was dressed in a full support sports bra and slim fit shorts. "I have clothes on," she replied, looking up at him.

"Hardly," he scoffed as the duo entered the arms training area. Vincenzo selected a Ruger GP100 revolver and Sofia watched, entranced, as he picked up a magazine off the counter and loaded the gun, his movements fast, almost graceful, as if it was all engrained in his muscle memory. Given his line of work, it probably was.

"You're fast," Sofia couldn't help but comment as he handed her the pistol.

"I learned how to do that when I was seven. It'd be a disgrace if I wasn't," he replied casually, setting up the target in place for her.

Sofia's eyes widened at his words. He was seven when he learned how to handle a weapon? A child that old shouldn't be anywhere near weapons, let alone learn how to load a gun. She briefly wondered what his childhood had been like growing up but her musings were cut short when placed the ear protection over her ears and his own. Then he placed his hands on her shoulders to maneuver her so she was facing the target ten yards away.

She couldn't help but shiver at the contact before forcing herself to relax. "Hold the pistol with a firm grim but anticipate a recoil, yes?" He whispered and goosebumps prickled along her skin at his smooth voice.

She nodded and readjusted her grip, her finger hovering over the trigger, when Vincenzo let go of her shoulders and stood to the side, observing her.

Letting out a slow breath, she fired the shots one after the other, keeping her sight focused on the red dot in the centre and her arms steady, just like her father had taught her to. Shooting was something she had always liked and was actually good at. It was one thing that had kept her teethered to her step father even after all had gone to shit when he had remarried. The two often used to practice together when she was still in high school, challenging each other and just having fun in general. It was one of the few fond memories she had of him.

Once the magazine was empty, she placed the gun on the counter and removed her earmuffs, pressing the button so the target moved towards them to see how she had done.

Most of the bullets had hit their intended target, so much so that there was actually a large hole in the middle, the red barely visible.

"Impressive," she heard Vincenzo mutter and couldn't help but grin pridefully.

"Hard to believe you've learned to be that good in less than a week," Vincenzo added, setting up another target for practice.

"That's because I didn't. My dad...my step father was a cop and he's the one who taught me how to shoot. You can say that I've had years of training doing this," Sofia explained, deciding that it wouldn't harm to admit it since he already knew who her father was from his extensive background check.

Vincenzo seemed surprised at her words, making her chuckle. "What, scared of what I can do with a gun?" She said, a teasing lilt to her voice as she picked up a Colt Python and loaded it. She wasn't nearly as fluid as Vincenzo with her movements but she knew she wasn't a complete goner either.

Turning to him and pointing the gun straight at him, she said, "Scared I'll shoot you?"

Vincenzo smirked. "I've been in a situation like this more times that you can count, gattina," he said, moving forward and holding the barrel of the pistol, pointing it more firmly at his forehead, not an ounce of fear in his eyes even though the gun was fully loaded. All she had to do was pull the trigger and he'd be dead within seconds.

In that moment, she felt powerful, like she held the entire world in her palm right then.

But she couldn't do it.

She knew she didn't have it in her to kill anyone, nor did she wish to. Judging by the way Vincenzo was staring at her, not an ounce of fear on his face, she knew that he knew that, too.

So, she lowered the gun and turned towards the target instead. "The hospitality business seems like a dangerous one. Ever considered changing professions, Mr Moretti?" she said to him, biting her lip to hold in her smile as he scowled at her jab.

"I like to live life on the edge," he said dryly, making her chuckle as she shook her head and placed the ear protection on.

For the next twenty minutes, she displayed her impeccable talent in handling firearms. She grinned from ear to ear as she removed her earmuffs when she was finally done.

"Had your fun, gattina?" Vincenzo muttered, taking his own ear protection off, though he seemed clearly impressed by her abilities. "Though, you've done extremely well. Not all women can handle the power of a .357 magnum."

Sofia couldn't help but smirk, preening under the compliment. "I like my guns how I like my men, Mr Moretti— strong and powerful."

Vincenzo shot her a smirk of his own, moving towards her until there was barely an inch separating them. "As you must've seen, I am both. Does that make me your type, gattina?" Vincenzo rasped, his accent heavy as he looked down at her.

"Maybe. I do have a long list of qualities," Sofia managed to say, her voice sounding breathy to her own ears, her mind short circuiting at his proximity as his scent engulfed her completely.

"Yeah?" He murmured, lowering his head so his nose skimmed along the length of her neck, making heat pool in her stomach.

"Mhmm," Sofia said, her eyes closing of their own accord as she craned her neck to give him more access.

His nose was replaced by his lips as he placed soft, open mouth kisses along her neck, making her knees weak. Almost as if sensing the effect he was having on her, he wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her in place as he continued his assault, making her hot all over.

"Mi fai impazzire, gattina mia," his huskily whispered words made her shiver and not for the first time since meeting him, she wished she had learned italian as well.

Slowly, he made his way towards her ear, placing a kiss at the hollow just behind it and she nearly melted right there.

Then, she felt his other hand skimming along the skin of her stomach and she couldn't help the gasp that escaped her as something cold touched her stomach. Her eyes snapped open at once and she looked down just in time to see him slip something small and cold into the waistband of her shorts.

"A small gift," he whispered. Somewhere in the back of her mind it registered that the gun he had given her was too small but she was too far gone to say anything. She nodded dumbly in response, feeling, more than seeing him smirk against her neck.

Pulling back only slightly so he could look down at her, he said, "We'll be leaving for France in a day. Antoinette will help you pack, yes?"

Sofia frowned, the lust induced haze lifting a little as his words registered. "France? I thought you said the meeting you wanted me to attend would be with some Irish men in fourteen days? It's only been a week."

"There's been a change of plans. Pack a few dresses," he replied, a small frown marring is forehead as he fingered the strap of her sports bra. "Nothing too revealing, though."

Sofia couldn't help but smirk at his words, though her mind was still reeling from the new piece of information. "Is that for my benefit or yours, Mr Moretti? Afraid of a little competition?"

The Don expelled out a low chuckle, the voice reverberating in the small space between them. "I don't share, Sofia," he replied and the way he said her name, almost like a softly spoken prayer sent shivers down her spine. "And you would do well to remember that."

Sofia scoffed. He had some nerve saying stuff like that when he had a little mistress roaming about his place. Sofia had asked Antoinette about the woman she had run into a few days back and Antoinette had promptly told her that the woman was Don Vincenzo's ex-fiance who he had allowed to stay at his property for as long as she liked for whatever reason. The woman had stayed, of course, in hopes that the two would reconcile. She wouldn't be surprised if they fucked occasionally, too.

"A bit of a hypocrite, aren't you?" Sofia couldn't help but fire back.

Vincenzo frowned at her. "What do you—"

"Vincenzo!" Came a voice right outside the arms room.

Sofia shook her head as the woman the voice belonged to stepped inside the room.

"Here you are. I've been looking all over for you!" the woman, dressed immaculately as always, said.

Sofia shook her head. "I'll see you in a day for our trip."

And then before either of the two could say anything, she left.