Chapter 20 Duke
Solana and I decided to go to the gun range during her lunch hour.
When she brought it up to me, I wasn't a fan of it at first. But at the same time, I wanted her to know how to defend herself even when I wasn't around.
She was right. I'm not always going to be there.
Granted, I would do everything in my power to be there for her.
But I also wasn't crazy enough to believe everything couldn't change within a second. I couldn't chain her to my side to keep her safe at all times. The knowledge of her stalker situation had hiked up the natural protector in me.
I'd had a couple of the Thorns watching over her shop. I needed to slide by my grandparents' place since Solana and I had made things official. I found myself underneath her any moment I could get.
I pulled into the driveway and parked beside their truck, then walked over to the side door and knocked a few times before letting myself in.
The moment I walked in, Heiress was laid out on the couch, her mouth hanging open with a trash can next to her.
The smell of vomit wafted through the living room, letting me know she was drunk as fuck before she ended up there.
I turned to see my grandma coming out of the kitchen with a mug of coffee. She stopped and glanced in my direction with a big smile before taking a sip.
"Well, look who finally decided to pay his grandparents a visit. I was starting to think you were avoiding this house because of your momma."
I smiled and walked over to kiss my grandma's cheek.
"I wouldn't be wrong. It's clear nothing will ever change with your daughter. But I've been busy lately and time got away from me."
"Mm-hmm, I heard. You know Maybeliene couldn't wait to tell me how fresh you were being in that bakery with that woman. Now tell me about her."
I shook my head because I knew she was going to find out sooner or later. Solana wasn't a secret to me, so I didn't mind. I turned just as Heiress leaned over the side of the couch and emptied whatever was left in her stomach. I brought my hand up to cover my nose.
"Winnie, can you come down here with your daughter? I don't want her to choke on her throw up." My grandma shouted up the steps, then sat beside Heiress and lifted her hair as she continued to go to town.
"Aye, Grams. I don't have much time. It's almost my girl's lunch break and we have plans. I was coming by to see y'all and let you know I'd be bringing Solana by to meet you. Can you do me a favor and make sure your daughter has somewhere to be that day?" I asked.
Before my grandma could respond, my grandad did.
"Boy, that's your mother and this is her home. If you want to bring that girl by, she might as well meet the woman who gave you life. Don't be disrespectful."
I nodded and turned to head for the door, then stopped to look back at my grandparents as they babied Heiress. If they kept this up, this was exactly how she would die. From a bottle or some other habit she chose to pick up in her need to live life wild and carefree.
"I have the right to choose what I subject my girl to, and this ain't it. I hope y'all know neither of you are helping Heiress by coddling her. I understand she is your only child, but she has her own child and doesn't know a damn thing about him."
My grandad turned to face me with a scowl and held up his finger. "I'm not going to tell you again. Watch your tongue in my house."
I nodded. "Heard. Don't expect me to help you bury her when the time comes. If you keep this up, it will surely be you doing it and not the other way around. Y'all have a good day."
I turned and left, closing the door before anyone could say a damn thing. When I decided to visit today, it wasn't for this. But seeing Heiress on that couch sick triggered the fuck out of me. It only proved that things were never going to change with her.
No time was wasted. I got on my bike and rode to the corner store in the parks to check in with Sammy. I parked out front and made my way inside.
"Duke, long time no see," Sammy called out.
I held a hand up as I walked to the cooler in the back to grab two bottles of water. I figured Solana would need one for our ride. I walked back over to the register and placed both bottles on the counter.
"Yeah, man. I've been busy."
Sammy scanned both bottles, then lifted a brow. "You not grabbing any skittles?" he asked.
I chuckled because normally I would have stocked up for the week. But things were different now. I didn't need them.
"Nah, don't need em. I got my own brand of skittles at home."
Sammy shook his head and told me the total. I reached into my back pocket and handed over ten dollars.
"You seen Vinny and his boys around lately? They haven't been messing with you, right?"
Sammy tried to hand over my change but I waved him off. He released a sigh and shook his head.
"I actually haven't seen them in here in a while. From what I hear, his mother isn't doing too good, so he's been missing a lot of school to help out around the house."
I hated to hear shit like that, but those kinds of things were the reality for a lot of people here in the parks. Which is why we hosted our backpack fundraiser every year.
I tapped the counter and let Sammy know I'd be back to check in on him.
The ride to Sugar Kissed felt like it went by slowly. I knew it had a lot to do with hearing about Vinny. I planned to make a few calls to find out if what Sammy said was true, but he had never been wrong before.
I parked my bike in front of the shop and let myself in. Solana still had a few customers in line. I walked around the counter and she turned to kiss me a few times before returning her attention to the customer in front of her.
"Grab that basket from the kitchen," she said over her shoulder.
I lifted a brow and headed to the back. On the counter sat a wicker basket with a pink checkered blanket folded on top. I was about to open it when Solana called my name.
I grabbed the handle and carried it out front.
"Don't look inside yet."
I smirked in her direction. "Girl, ain't nobody peeking in this basket."
"Mm-hmm," she hummed, then rang up the next customer.
I walked over to an empty table and placed the basket in front of me, then leaned back and spread my legs to get comfortable. I licked my lower lip and ran my hand over my beard. I couldn't help but watch my girl smile and laugh. That shit made every thought running through my mind null and void.
She finally helped her last customer and walked them out, locking the door behind them. Then turned to face me with a smile.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
I raised two fingers and gestured for her to come to me. Solana clasped her hands behind her back, giving off her natural sweet energy, but the sensual sway of her hips contradicted it all.
She placed her hands on my knees and leaned forward, leaving only a few centimeters between our lips.
"What can I do to help you, Mr. Hinton?"
I closed the distance but kissed her jawline instead of her lips.
"You can do a lot, baby. But if you want those lessons, you've got five minutes to meet me outside. We gone need to take your car now since we're having a picnic too."
Solana turned around and I reached out and gripped her ass as she walked away. She giggled as she headed to the back to grab what she needed.
"I'm going to pull my bike around back. Leave the basket there. I'll come through the back to grab it," I told her.
"I hear you. I'll lock the door again."
I jogged outside, hopped on my bike, and headed around back to park beside her car. Then came in through the back to grab the basket from the table. Solana waited at the back door, then locked it once we were both outside.
I placed the basket on the backseat, then walked over to my bike to grab the bag holding the 9mm, rounds, and targets. I placed it in the back as well, making sure everything was secure before walking around to open the passenger door for Solana.
I could tell she was nervous when she saw the bag. But this was part of it. If she wanted to learn, we had to have a gun. I got in on the driver's side and pulled out into traffic.
The ride to Hunter's Point wasn't long. My grandfather used to bring me here when I was a kid. This was the first place I ever learned to shoot. I still remember running through these fields with my grandad chasing behind me.
I pulled into the gravel parking lot. They'd built the place up a lot more than I remembered. They now had actual targets in the distance, so I could leave mine behind.
"We gone practice first, Sweets. I'll come back for the basket after. They have picnic tables in the opposite direction from the targets."
Solana nodded. I watched as she rubbed her hands together.
I didn't want to make her more nervous than she already was, so I grabbed the bag from the back and opened her door so she could step out. I held my free hand out and she took it gladly.
We walked hand in hand up to the small wooden building to grab ear guards, then made our way to our designated target on the far end of the field. I set the bag down and turned to look at Solana.
"Baby, look at me. We don't have to do this. We can turn around and go somewhere else for that picnic," I told her.
Solana closed her eyes and released a breath.
"No, I have to do this. Okay, what's the first thing I need to know? Give it to me straight."
Her expression had steeled as she gripped her hips, waiting on me.
"Alright. Before you even touch the gun, safety first, aight."
She nodded, so I continued.
"First rule," I started, pulling the gun from the bag and placing it on the wooden platform beside us. "You respect the steel, baby."
She smiled, then fixed her expression when she realized I was serious.
"Always treat a gun like it's loaded, love."
I tilted my head for her to come closer and she moved in. I picked up the gun and showed her there was no bullet in the chamber, then placed it in her hands.
"You want it in your dominant hand, gripped like this," I said, stepping behind her and placing my hands over hers to adjust her hold.
"Got it," she affirmed.
"You always want your grip firm and your thumb positioned forward along the side. And never place your finger on the trigger unless you're ready to pull it. Understood?"
She nodded, soaking in everything I was telling her. The targets were already in place.
I removed my hands from hers and ran them down her sides until I reached her hips, then leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Relax your shoulders, baby."
"I'm trying, but you're making me nervous," she said, then giggled.
"My bad. I'm just making sure you got it."
I slipped my hand between her thighs from behind to widen her stance a little and she released a breath, then looked over her shoulder with reddened cheeks. The gun was still positioned facing the target.
"Get yo' head out the gutter, baby. I'm just fixing your stance. And don't lean back. The gun has a recoil. You want to let that come into you."
She rolled her eyes and turned back to face the target.
I stood back up and showed her how to load a bullet into the chamber.
"Whenever you're ready, pull the trigger. Remember, shooters stay controlled. Take a deep breath, release it, then pull."
Solana nodded and stood still for a moment. I looked over her form and her hands one more time. I wanted her as safe as possible. She placed her finger in front of the trigger, letting me know she was ready.
"Slow squeeze. Don't jerk it."
The shot cracked through the field and Solana jerked backward. "Okay, that wasn't as bad as I thought. But I missed the target completely."
I smiled and walked back up behind her.
"You did just fine, baby. Nobody expects you to be John Wick on the first try. That's why you keep coming back to practice and build your confidence."
Solana nodded and turned back to face the target. I covered her hand with mine again and adjusted her aim.
"When I let go, stay positioned right there. Then go," I instructed.
"Okay."
I released my hold and took a few steps back. Soon after, she pulled the trigger and hit the center of the target.
"Oh my gosh! Did you see that?" she asked, then pointed the gun toward the ground away from her body as she turned to face me with a big smile.
I smirked as I strolled over and readjusted her stance.
"Practice, baby. My grandad used to bring me out here all the time when I was a kid."
"I have to hear all about that. But I want to try again."
I could tell she had gotten more confident.
"Go ahead. I brought enough rounds for you."
I watched her intently. I wasn't sure about this before, but watching her regain her confidence made it clear this was the right call. My baby needed to take her power back.