Page 57 of Ravaged By a Devil

"Feed your fingers around the grip," I instruct softly, my breath hot against her ear. "Index finger high along the frame, off the trigger until you're ready to kill what you're looking at. Wrap your other hand around to lock it in."

I guide her stance, nudging her feet apart with my boot until her base is wide and balanced. She feels soft in my arms, but her grip on the steel is solid.

"Line up the front sight in the notch," I murmur, my chest rising and falling against her shoulders. "Breathe out... hold... squeeze."

BANG.

The loud crack echoes through the soundproofed walls. Down the line, paper rips as the bullet punches a clean hole right through the center chest of the silhouette target.

Alexis blinks, letting out a sharp breath, her eyes widening as she looks back at the target. "Did I hit that?"

I rack the slide, loading another round, and step back slightly to let her hold the frame on her own. She takes three more shots in quick succession—bang, bang, bang—each one tearing through the paper target within inches of the bullseye.

I tilt my head, inspecting the tight grouping with a quiet, approving nod.

Alexis lowers the gun slightly, turning her head to shoot me a teasing, wicked little smile. "What's wrong, Cain? You look disappointed that I'm not terrible at this."

"I'm not disappointed," I say, my voice gravelly as I step close enough to trap her against the booth ledge. "I'm glad. Listen to me, Alexis—if someone comes for you, if a Devlin or one of their dogs corners you in an alley... you do not threaten them. You do not issue warnings, and you do not try to negotiate."

I reach down, tapping the steel barrel of the pistol. "You draw, you point, and you pull the trigger until they stop moving. You shoot until they cannot get back up."

Alexis stares up at me, her chest heaving slightly under the weight of my words. "That is a terrifying lesson, Cain."

"Staying alive is more important than being good," I answer without a shred of hesitation, my dark eyes locking onto hers with absolute authority. "Out here, there are no morality points for dying with clean hands."

I take the empty magazine out, slide a fresh, fully loaded clip into the mag well, and slap the baseplate shut with a final click. I safety the weapon and press the cold, sleek handgun back into her palm.

"Keep it," I order softly, my heavy hand wrapping around hers over the grip. "It stays in your purse or under your pillow."

Alexis looks down at the black steel in her hand, a small, thrilled smile curving her lips as her eyes glitter with excitement.

"I love it," she whispers.

I want to kiss her right here. The sight of her flushed cheeks, her eyes glittering with dangerous excitement as she holds a loaded weapon, makes my blood boil hot. My cock hardens instantly against my pants.

She’s so fucking different from every other woman in this city—and it’s intoxicating.

Alexis suddenly tilts her head up and catches me staring. The air between us thickens, heavy with unsaid promises, until she clears her throat and steps into my space.

"What else can I do to help?" she asks, her voice steady.

"Just stay safe, doll," I rumble, turning on my heel and heading toward the double doors of the range. "That's your only job."

Alexis lets out an irritated scoff, her boots clicking sharply against the floor as she follows right on my heels. "No! I want actual work, Cain. I’m not some porcelain doll you keep on a shelf."

"Your shift at The Blackwood is your actual work," I say over my shoulder, pushing open the heavy steel door that leads back to the alley where the car is parked.

"That's bullshit!" she snaps, rushing up beside me as we hit the cool air. "You use me for information whenever it suits you, but the second I offer real help, you shut me down! Honestly, I prefer your brothers—at least they actually see my strength and value my input."

I freeze.

Every drop of blood in my body instantly turns to ice, followed by a surge of raw, murderous fury so intense my hands shudder where they rest at my sides. I turn around slowly, towering over her, my dark eyes boring into hers with lethal rage.

"Do not," I growl, my voice dropping into a razor-thin, terrifying whisper, "ever say that to me again."

Alexis swallows hard, the color draining from her face for a split second, but to her credit, she doesn't break eye contact. She holds my gaze, her chin lifted in pure defiance.

I take a deep breath, forcing the violent edge down just enough to speak. "We're done fishing for intel. The only thing left to do now is keep an eye on Nolan. He's cornered, and he's going to make his move any day now."