Chapter 12 #2
“You’re gonna like this but it might be a little hard at first. Besides your shoulder…” he begins but she interrupts.
“My shoulder is fine. It doesn’t hurt,” she admits.
“This might aggravate it,” he counters.
“It won’t,” she insists.
“A’ight but know that trap shooting is hitting a moving target, usually a clay pigeon, but we’ll focus on basic gun handling and hand-eye coordination. If you hit one, great, but don’t worry if you don’t.”
“Oh, I’m hitting one!” she exclaims excitedly and he shakes his head while chuckling.
“Well, let’s go, shooter.”
After killing the engine, they get out and head to the main entrance.
Gulf Rifle and Pistol Club is a massive property.
It consists of twenty-five and fifty-yard pistol ranges as well as one-hundred, two-hundred, and three-hundred-yard rifle ranges.
For trap shooting, there’s a fully automated range and shed.
They enter, sign the required waivers, and Akeem purchases ear plugs, safety glasses, and 7.
5 ounce loads. He also rents two 12-gauge shotguns and they head behind the clubhouse to the trap house.
Three shooters are already lined up. So after securing their plugs and glasses, Sunjiya and Akeem join them.
“Can you go first so I can finally see the professional shoot?” she asks, speaking louder than normal due to her earplugs.
He removes one of his earplugs then hers before answering. “I can do that and I won’t miss,” he says, then winks. “Watch my stance, how I position my gun, and my follow-through,” he instructs before stepping forward.
Because she’s studying his every move, Akeem exaggerates each of his movements.
After adopting a comfortable stance with his knees bent slightly, his feet shoulder-width apart, and his weight shifted forward, he pre-mounts the shotgun.
He places it to his shoulder, ensuring the muzzle is just above the trap house. He sets aim, then calls out.
“Pull!” he yells and the clay pigeon is released. Smoothly, he fires, swinging through the rising target and following through. He keeps his gun moving after firing, and bullseye! He hits and shatters the clay pigeon.
“Yes!” Sunjiya screams excitedly. She’s anxious more than ever to shoot now but she also wants to actually hit the target. So she studies Akeem as he calls out and successfully hits four more targets.
When Akeem finishes, he turns to Sunjiya and notices her and the three other shooters staring in admiration. The oldest of the crew shakes his head while smiling then taps his ear, signaling for Akeem to remove his plugs.
“You know what ya doing with the gun. Military?” the older man questions.
“Special Forces,” Akeem replies.
“Retired Navy,” the older man says and Akeem offers a nod of respect. “You ’bout to teach her a thing or two?”
“I’m gonna try,” Akeem says before stepping toward Sunjiya. “You ready?” he asks.
“Yes. So ready,” she gushes. “And I really think I’m going to hit one. You didn’t miss at all.”
“I’ve been shooting since I was eight.”
“Right. I got the best teacher then. School me,” she says and he shakes his head at her excitement.
“A’ight. Let’s go. We’re starting with stance,” he begins and they head to the station line.
Carefully and as detailed as he can be, Akeem talks her through the steps and properly positions her body.
Then he mounts her shotgun on her shoulder.
“Does this hurt or feel uncomfortable?” he asks with concern.
While she can definitely feel the weight of the gun on her shoulder and a bit of tension, the minor pain won’t prevent her from doing this. She’s been itching to shoot a gun. So after slightly tilting her head to the side, she replies with insistence, “No. It doesn’t hurt.”
“Okay. Then, look over the top of the muzzle right here,” he says while placing his hand on the muzzle. “I don’t want you to focus on the clay for these first shots. I’m going to call pull but you just shoot. You have to get a feel for your gun and actually squeezing the trigger.”
“So just shoot anywhere?” she questions.
“Yeah, at something stationary, not moving. Like…um…that tree right there,” he says while pointing.
“Got it. Now?” she questions too excitedly.
“Take a deep breath with me,” he says and she slightly turns to face him.
“Just do it with me. You have to be calm to focus, aim, and shoot. Come on. In and out,” he says and she follows.
As soon as she exhales, she focuses on the tree, ready to take her first shot.
He examines her finger placement to ensure that the trigger is between her fingertip and first joint.
“You’re gonna squeeze, not jerk. Apply slow, steady, and straight-back pressure,” he directs and she nods.
“Ready?” he asks and she nods again. “Pull!” he yells and she squeezes.
Because of her proper stance and holding of the gun, the recoil is minimum and her shoulder barely feels the jolt. However, the clay isn’t hit as planned and she actually grazes the tree.
“I hit it!” she screams excitedly and Akeem grabs the gun before she drops it. “You saw that right? My first shot and booyah!” she brags proudly.
“I saw. You did great. You ready to shoot again?” he asks.
“Hell yeah. I wanna try the tree again then the pigeon thing.”
“Okay. Let’s work on your aim.”
Sunjiya holds her hand out for the rifle and he safely passes it to her.
She sets up again and he goes over aiming techniques with her by demonstrating with his rifle.
She mimics his actions as he talks her through the process.
Her second shot is more successful and she hits the trunk of the tree.
The clay pigeons are next. She’s determined to hit at least one.
Although her excitement and determination are abundant, her skill level and experience with rifles is not. She doesn’t hit any clay pigeons but that doesn’t diminish her smile. Sunjiya has a blast and seeing Akeem’s pleasure while shooting and teaching her only heightens her great time.
“That was fun, right?” she asks once they make it back to the rental.
Stepping toward her and leaving no room between them, Akeem gently presses her back against the passenger door. His hand caresses the side of her face as he tilts her head toward his. Today was more than fun. It was perfect and solidified his feelings and his desire to be with her.
“It was everything,” he admits. “In the middle of this shit with your sister, you thought of this. Thank you.”
“I wish I could think of more to do because I really appreciate you looking for Tanjaya. Once you figured out I wasn’t her, you could have said fuck it, killed me, and went back to your life in Texas.
Hell, you still can, but you’re not. That’s not the man you’ve shown me.
You’re helping me find her and you’re going to make sure Marcelin never hurts anyone else again.
I can’t thank you enough for that.” Her arms latch around his neck before she leans in to kiss him. “Thank you,” she says.
After ending their embrace, they enter the car and head toward the storage facility. Right as they pull up to the entrance, so does Aunt Pri’s tan Camry. Akeem slows and allows her car to approach the gate first. When she gains access, he trails her to the unit.
“God’s timing is always perfect,” she says once they are out of the vehicles.
“I hope so,” Sunjiya says as she approaches. The moment Sunjiya is in front of her, Aunt Pri pulls her in for a tight hug. “You look pretty,” Sunjiya compliments when they part.
“So do you, baby,” Aunt Pri says before looking over at Akeem. “And lawd, you’re still handsome.” She winks. “I hope y’all ready because there are a few boxes.”
“Yes ma’am; we are,” Akeem assures.
As Aunt Pri steps to the ten by thirty by eight foot unit, Akeem prays it’s not filled to capacity. The size is equivalent to a two-car garage; so filled would be too damn much.
Once she unlocks the two locks, Akeem steps up, unhooks the latches, then lifts the weatherproof door. It’s full enough. Over half of the unit is filled with boxes, an old exercise bicycle, artificial plants, and a few lamps.
“This is it,” Aunt Pri announces while waving her arms.
“And what are we looking for?” Akeem asks.
“A floral box with some of Tanjaya’s things and postcards over the years. Some of them had addresses or postmarks. Maybe something here can help.”
“I’m sure it can,” Sunjiya says after grabbing Aunt Pri’s hand. “But before we get started, is there a restroom back here?”
“Not back here but there’s one up front in the main office. They’ll let you use it,” Aunt Pri answers.
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll go with you,” Akeem says.
“No. Stay and get started,” she says, then lowers her voice so only he can hear. “It’s a lot. We’re going to be here all day.”
“Bet. Go. We’ll get started,” he says and she leaves the two of them.
Seizing the opportunity to speak with Akeem without Sunjiya, Aunt Pri steps closer. She reaches for his hand, and out of respect, he takes hers.
“Not everyone is blessed to have an easy path in life and Lord knows Tanjaya wasn’t.
She came into this world unwanted and that is truly not a good start.
Her road has been rocky and she truly reached hell on earth when she got with that no-good ass Marcelin.
He beat her down, emotionally and physically.
That boy is gonna kill my baby if he gets his hands back on her and you can’t let him,” she cries.
“Yes, ma’am, I won’t,” he says.
“Thank you,” she sighs, then squeezes his hand tighter. “That girl right there is—” she begins but her words halt.
“Akeem! We gotta go,” Sunjiya yells as she frantically barges into the unit.
“What’s wrong?” Akeem and Aunt Pri ask in unison.
“He’s got her! He’s got her!” she cries. “Marcelin has Tanjaya.”
“Oh God!” Aunt Pri sighs and stumbles. Akeem hooks his arm around her waist to keep her steady. “I’m good. I’m good,” Aunt Pri assures him in a shaky voice.
“We have to go. Now!” Sunjiya stresses.
“And we will,” he says as calmly as he can. Emotions are high with both ladies and he needs to figure out what the hell is really going on. “Are you sure he has her and how do you know?”
“Honey called,” Sunjiya reveals.
“Honey?” he asks for confirmation.
“Yes. Honey just called me when I was in the restroom. Let’s go. We gotta get her before he kills her,” Sunjiya pleads.
“Go,” Aunt Pri insists. “Please go.”
Sunjiya rushes toward Aunt Pri and hugs her, then grabs Akeem’s hand. They rush out of the storage unit and damn near run to the rental. A million questions run through his head and the moment they’re in his ride, he fires them off.
“What number did Honey call you from? Can you call her back? What happened? Where was she and how the fuck did he find her?” he asks.
Sunjiya pulls her cell from her tote and dials the last number on her call log. When the call connects, Honey’s voice fills the car.
“What happened?” Honey asks frantically.
“I’m in the car with Akeem. You’re on speaker. Please tell him what you told me,” Sunjiya pleads.
“That nigga has her,” Honey says.
“What happened?”
“Tan showed up at my house yesterday afternoon. I thought it was you at first but it wasn’t.
I was so happy to see her ass. She stayed with me all day then left to see a few people at the club.
I wished she hadn’t,” Honey says, then loudly blows out a sigh.
“I don’t know who but somebody told that nigga Marcelin she was in Jacksonville at the club Monday night.
They must’ve saw you and thought like I did, thought you were her.
Who-the-fuck-ever contacted Marcelin and he had her snatched. That muthafucka has her.”
“When did he snatch her?” Akeem asks.
“About an hour ago. We were on our way to brunch and two Haitian niggas grabbed her in front of my damn house. They busted my fucking lip too,” she explains. “I knew I should have had my blicky in my damn purse. I hope you kill his bitch ass,” she grits.
“Thanks for the info,” is all Akeem says, then nods for Sunjiya to end the call.
“Aight, Honey. Thanks again for letting me know.”
“Please use this number to let me know what happens,” she begs before ending the call.
“How are we getting to Miami?” Sunjiya asks.