Chapter 18
Genevieve
T onight, I’m going to a hit with Mason. I am nervous, not because I am about to witness someone get killed. No, that part excites me more than I care to admit. I’m nervous because I don’t want him worrying about me while he needs to focus on the job.
I may still be in a little bit of pain from the night Rico found me, but I’ve been able to walk around my room and am getting through basic stretches. It has just been the tightness of the scar tissue that is bothering me.
I need to be strong and stand on my own two feet.
There is no better experience than being out in the field. Mother would hate this if she was still alive, but if she could see that I’m doing this in preparation for taking my father out, I know she would approve.
Their marriage started going further downhill just after I turned five. As a kid, I never understood why, though.
Mum wanted me to be able to live my life and choose who to marry when I was ready. It was why, when she could, she packed our bags and ran. I had always wondered why she left him and when I was old enough to understand why, I never wanted to come back to this place.
Then she passed away. My father found out and, when he attended her funeral, he could finally sink his claws back into me. He made it known that he never cared about what I wanted. He would be dragging me back to the mansion whether I liked it or not.
“You ready for tonight, sweetheart?” Mason’s voice makes me jump as he calls out through the locked door. He had left my room for a brief moment to collect something from his room, making sure I locked my door behind him.
Ever since my father’s outburst, Mason is not taking any chances leaving me alone. I am thankful for his constant watch, though, even after he opened up to me last night about why he ran that night, things are still a little awkward between us. At least now, I am confident that it will get better.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” is all I can respond as I open the door to let him in.
“Alright, first things first, let’s get you into something a little more movable.” He points to the jeans and tank top that I am wearing.
“I can move in these.” For a pair of tight-fitting jeans, these are the most flexible pair I have. I stare right into those icy blues and do three low squats, standing back up with a smug grin. I hide the grimace of discomfort.
“Alright,” he smiles at me, even though I am sure he is able to see I am a little stiff when I move. “I trust you.”
He walks out of my room and towards the foyer of the house before I can even get my Converse on. Picking them up, I run out of the room after him. “Slow down, speedy,” I call out.
“Hurry up then, put your shoes on and let’s get out of here.” He waits for me as I slide my shoes onto my feet. But he’s tapping his foot.
“You’re nervous, aren’t you?” I ask as I tie my laces.
“No.” He looks down the hallway.
“Mason, you can’t stand still.” I stand up, placing my hand on his shoulder. He glances down at me.
“Ok, maybe just a little.” Placing his forehead on mine, he whispers, “Just please do everything I say.”
I nod. “Of course I will. Now let’s get going.”
Walking out of the mansion, Mason gently wraps his arm around my waist. “I also have a present for you in the car.”
Being around Mason is comforting. Finding out that he had promised my mother that he would always look out for me fills me with the warm and fuzzies.
It doesn’t take long to get to his car. He opens the door for me before getting in the driver’s seat himself.
I watch as he slides into the car. Watching this man do anything has me addicted. I just want to have him trust me enough to let himself open up fully about the anxiety he has.
He leans across the car and opens up the glove compartment, revealing a leg holster and a pistol inside. He pulls it out and places it in my hands. I look at him with what is probably the dumbest look ever because he just chuckles and turns his head to look out the windscreen. “I am not going to let you go into this alone or unarmed.”
“But… I…” I can’t seem to find the words.
“You don’t know how to shoot?” He looks at me and I nod. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing we are going to the range first then.”
“Wait?” I am more and more confused as the seconds go on.
“Yep. Two birds, one stone.” He smiles, turning the key in the ignition.
I glance down at the gun and the holster in my lap and then up at Mason as we speed down the driveway and out onto the road. The range is on the east side of town, surrounded by industrial buildings. There are a lot of run-down places in this area too. Probably all gang-owned. Each area of the town has its gangs and Underbellies nearby. The south has Blackmere, the north has Redbay, East is Claymore and West is Grimward. Our Underbelly organisation is right in the heart of Murwood. Even though the other gangs were in their own towns, they border the outer areas of Murwood.
We are classified as the most powerful organisations, with Blackmere being the second. Never on the wrong side of the law — we are the law. All the weapons we’ve sold are top of the line. Blackmere always tries to take the top spot but is always knocked down a peg or two. Informants are embedded amongst their ranks and their plans funnel to us. Bribery of their buyers, turning their suppliers — everything adds up over time. They have nothing over us, well, until my father decided to bring me back here.
Maybe — I would have to convince Mason of this one — but maybe we could work with Rico with a promise of our organisations working together once Sal is gone. Maybe they can help me with my plan.
Rico already knows the ring I am wearing is just a sham, but maybe — maybe he just wants me to think he knows, like he is trying to call my bluff.
Then I realise something: “Wait, hold on.”
Mason looks over at me briefly as he drives.
“The target trains at the range?”
“Try again Princess.” He chuckles.
“He owns the range?” I look across at him as a smile crosses his face.
“Indeed, he does, which is why we go there, I train you to shoot — you may not be perfect but at least you can defend yourself — and then, when it is closing time,” an evil grin crosses his face, “we strike.”
“At the range, or are we going to take him somewhere else?” I am genuinely curious now — I realise he hasn’t told me much about his plan.
“There is a little area out the back.” I can tell by the hesitation in his voice that he is thinking about how much information he is going to give me. Letting out a breath of air, he continues, “He likes to go out the back, smoke some weed and pull his dick. He is also in a lot of debt to your father. He thought he would be sneaky and try not to pay for his protection.”
He grips the steering wheel. “How much does he owe?” I ask, turning in my seat to face him.
“Over a hundred grand.” His focus becomes fixed on the road in front of him.
I let out a little whistle. No wonder he is a target. I want to ask more questions, but I am certain that Mason isn’t going to answer any more of them, so the rest of the ride to the range is in silence. I just sit in the passenger seat looking at the sleek, black gun in my hand.
As I am moving the gun around, looking at the intricate patterns on the grip, I notice there are words engraved into it.
‘My Sweetheart Genevieve, keep me close to you and never hesitate. Love Mum’
“This was my mother’s?” I question, breaking the silence.
“Over the years that you and your mother initially left, I wanted to make sure that you were both safe — from the other rivals, but mostly your father — but I was never able to find you, until that day on your eighteenth birthday.” He starts to slow down, pulling into the parking lot of the range.
As he cuts the engine and turns to face me, he looks sad. “Your mother gave it to me before you left that first night and I’ve held on to it, waiting for the day to be able to give it to you.”
“No, my father never tried to find us; he cut contact after we left.” I shake my head, as if denying it would make it the truth.
“That’s what your mother wanted you to think, Viv.” He takes my hand in his. “Your father was ruthless. He was doing everything he could to figure out where your mother had taken you. You were his ticket to an alliance with Blackmere.”
“Rico?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Rico’s mentor.” He places his hand on my knee with my hand as a barrier. “Your father still wants you to marry Rico, even though he says he doesn’t, and after he told you he should just send you to Rico, I have this gut feeling something bad is going to happen, and I know Sal is trying to remove me from the picture.”
“You? But why?” This is getting more and more confusing as the day goes on.
“Your mother wanted you to marry me, but she wasn’t going to force you to do it. She wanted you to figure out your own path in life and make your own choices.”
I shake my head. What the fuck is happening right now . “Okay, so I may have a bit of a crazy plan.”
“What is it?”
“Okay, so you say my father still wants me to marry Rico, even though he tells me he wants to protect me from him?” He nods. “Well, how friendly are you with Rico?”
“As teenagers, we were best friends,” he says.
“So do you think he would get in on this plan? We pretend that I chose to marry Rico instead, that moves me closer to potentially running Murwood, my father lets his guard down, thinking that I am the pet of Rico and then BAM” — I slap my leg — “I take him out, you and I rule Murwood side-by-side and we form a stronger alliance with Rico and Blackmere.”
“After what he did to you? I think the fuck not Viv!”
“Come on Mason! You know it’s crazy enough to work.” Why am I begging him? “I don’t care that I was bedridden for a few weeks.”
“But he hurt you, Genevieve!” The use of my full name stings a little but I press on.
“Not intentionally!” I hated to use that on him, but I need this.
He ponders my crazy scheme for a moment, his eyes staring out the window. The longer he takes to think about it the more I wonder if it had been a good idea to ask him.
“You know I don’t like this idea.” He finally looks at me.
A quiet sense of satisfaction fills me.
“I’ll have to arrange a meeting with him at some point, and let’s just hope he doesn’t kill me on the spot after what I did to his brother. But, until then, I am going to be teaching you how to shoot and how to fight.” He taps his hand on my leg. “Strap that holster on and let’s go training.”
* * *
There aren’t many people training at the range. A few from rival Underbellies; they look at me like I am their next meal, then they see Mason trailing behind me and their eyes quickly divert back to whatever it is they are doing. I am grateful to have someone as well-known as Mason behind me, acting all tough and macho, being a good guard dog. I will never call him that to his face but thinking it makes me giggle to myself.
Looking back over my shoulder at him, I smile. “So where are we going?”
He points to the spot at the far end of the range. “Just over there.”
I make my way down towards the end. The feeling of the holster on my right leg with the gun strapped in was strange at first, but I start to feel more comfortable with it there. Knowing that it is in an easy place to reach if I need to access it quickly.
“Put these on.” He hands me a pair of earmuffs and I slide them over my ears.
I hear the sound of an announcement muffled by the muffs. “The range is open, please stay behind the safety lines.”
We continue to walk to the other end of the range, stopping at the booth we have been allocated. I place the target and the ammunition onto the counter. Mason walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “You look so fucking hot standing there,” he says in my ear, lifting the earmuffs up slightly. “Instant fucking turn on.”
Heat floods my cheeks and a smile crosses my lips. “Stop it.” I slap his hands playfully.
He laughs in my ear, deep and gravelly, before putting the ear protection back down again. “Let’s get training.”
He steps back from me, making his way over to the bench, pulling his gun out from behind his back and placing it on the counter. It is bigger than the one I have been given, but then, I don’t want anything that is too powerful.
He clasps the target to its holder and then he hits the button, sending it out to the twenty-five metre distance. Pulling out the magazine, he loads five rounds in and slides it back into the grip of his gun. In a quick motion, he pulls the metal piece on the top across, loading the first round into the chamber, aims, and releases the five shots in five seconds.
Looking back at me, he grins.
His target comes back towards us. All five shots are in the centre of the target.
I raise a brow at him and smile. I’m not going to be that good, but if I get all my shots on the target, then it is a start. I have grown up around guns and violence, but I am the complete opposite of that. I know how a gun works, I have just never put it into practice.
“Ok, your turn sweetheart.” He walks past me, slapping my butt.
“Believe it or not, I don’t really have a lot of experience with a gun,” I say as I walk over towards the target and press the button to send it out. I take the earmuffs off so that I can hear Mason.
“Ok, well let’s start simple.” He pulls my gun out of the holster and holds it out in front of him, aiming down range. He points to the two small bits of metal that are protruding upwards on the top of the gun. “These here are your sights. You line the back one up with the front one and then line those up with the centre of your target.”
He hands the gun back to me, placing the grip in my right hand and moving my left hand to sit underneath. His arms are around me and his hands are placed on top of mine. “Place your hands in this position, you have better control of the gun and any kickback.”
I can feel his heart racing as I am encased in a wall of muscle. It is comforting and feels safe. I can feel his breath tickling the back of my neck, his breathing slow and calming as he steps me through all the parts and how to pull the trigger for maximum control and straightness. “So it’s as easy as that?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper. “I just push the magazine in, pull back the slide to load the gun, and then gently pull the trigger, slowly firing off the shots to keep it controlled?”
“Exactly.” He steps away from me and folds his arms across his chest. “Now just put that all into practice and let’s see how you do. Eventually, you will be able to fire as fast as I do without missing.”
The sudden cold that surrounds me after he steps away has me realising just how comfortable I am around him. My body shivers and I’m instantly greeted with his warmth again. “I know you’re nervous.” His voice is a deep whisper in my ear. “Let me help you.”
“Show me every single thing there is to know about firing this piece of metal.” I roll my head back onto his shoulder. I can feel him growing harder against my back. I have butterflies in my stomach and they aren’t from the nerves of learning how to shoot a gun.
I look down through the sights aimed at my target, about to pull the trigger.
“Wait.” His voice is normal again as he reaches over to pick up the earmuffs, but all I want is his arms wrapped around me again. “Put these on, we don’t want to damage your hearing.”
He puts the earmuffs on my head and steps back again, but I can still feel his warmth against my back. “Ok, now you’re ready.”
I have already pulled the slide back and loaded the chamber and, as I look down the sights again, lining up my target, I gently squeeze the trigger.
Bang!
I squeal at the kickback on the gun, which shocks me for a moment. I never expected it to kick back that fast.
I hear Mason laughing to himself behind me. There is no way I am giving him the satisfaction of watching me flinch at using a gun. I may not have used one before, but I will learn and I will be as good as he is.
Now that the first shot has been fired, he steps back from me just slightly. I know what to expect now, pulling the trigger four more times before placing the gun down and bringing my target back.
Mason walks over to where the target has returned and assesses my grouping, as he calls it. “Not bad, sweetheart,” he says, facing me. “A little more practice and you’ll be as good as I am.”
“If not better,” I counter with a laugh.
“Cease fire!” An announcement comes over the speaker. I take the earmuffs off and place them down on the bench, turning to see Mason stalking towards me.
“Keep dreaming.” He walks over to me, pulling me into his chest, kissing my cheek before whispering, “I just want you good enough to defend yourself, in case something goes wrong tonight. Do you still have your knife on you?”
“Yes,” I whisper back. His scent is intoxicating.
“Good. Now, when they open the range again, we will practice your shooting a little more.” He steps back, planting a kiss on the top of my head. “We still have a few hours to wait.”
The next few hours go by in a whirlwind. I am getting better with the groupings and Mason seems pleasantly surprised with how quickly I pick it up. I still need more practice but right now I can hold my own. Which is enough because the range is closing and it is showtime.
We walk out of the range and to our car. We watch as everyone else leaves too.
“Remember what we talked about,” Mason says, placing his hands on either side of my face, bringing it closer to his. “Stay hidden, watch what I do, and if you have any questions, I will answer anything you want to know.”
“Ok.” I nod, and he places a light kiss on my lips.
It doesn’t take long for everyone else to clear out of the area, leaving Mason and I standing around the car, making it look like we were two love-struck teenagers who couldn’t wait to get home. If anyone slowed down, we would just start making out.
I’m not upset about that part. With his lips soft against mine, I completely forget where we are and what we are doing.
He pulls back, my lips feeling bare without him. I open my eyes and watch as he scans the car park.
It’s empty; the only car left is that of Johnny, the owner of this range and the guy who owes my father a lot of money. I look over at Mason and he nods.
Making our way back towards the venue, he puts a hand out in front of me to stop me from grabbing the handle of the main entrance. I glance over to him and he shakes his head before pointing to the side of the building: the one with access to the back living area where Johnny spends his free time. “There is a dark hallway once we go through this door. Remain in the shadows and watch what I do,” he whispers.
I nod and follow his lead. Opening the door, it surprises me with how quiet it is. Did Mason plan that or were we just lucky? It is probably the latter.
He holds the door open as I slide past him, his body pressed against mine. “Shadows, now, over there.” He points.
I do as he says, making sure that I am in an area well-covered by darkness. He walks past where I am standing, moving lightly on his feet. He is like a feather and no man his size should ever be able to move like that. It is probably why he is nicknamed the Viper: he stalks until he is ready to strike.
Johnny sits in his recliner, a bong by his side, watching a porno of a woman being railed by another chick wearing a horse cock-sized dildo. I am slightly disgusted by that scene alone. The other scene before me is Johnny, pants around his ankles, watching his porn and stroking his dick. “That’s the way baby, fuck her good.” He doesn’t know it yet, but he is going to die with blue balls.
I am so intrigued by Mason pulling his gun out from behind his back and sliding a round into the chamber, the noise drowned out by a moan from one of the girls on the screen, that I don’t notice two other guys coming towards me from the room behind.
A large hand clamps over my mouth so I can’t scream and I’m lifted off my feet and carried to the other room. My heart starts to race, confusion flooding my thoughts. I can’t turn around to see who has hold of me.
When I’m thrown to the ground, I try to jump up onto my feet, but another large hand whips across my face.
“Who the fuck are you two?” My voice is like venom.
I can still see Mason out of the corner of my eye. He is stepping slowly towards Johnny. He hasn’t noticed these other two yet, but I know he will glance around to make sure I am there before doing anything else. I can’t scream, even if I want to. The adrenaline is still coursing through my veins.
“We are looking out for our dear Johnny in there,” big guy number one steps closer to whisper in my ear.
I move my hand down to the holster on my leg. Empty. “Fuck!” That is not meant to be said out loud .
Big guy number two holds up a small gun. “Looking for this, princess?” He mocks. “It’s a little small, but it’s cute.”
He throws it onto the counter. I am small and nimble, I can easily duck underneath him, take the gun, put a bullet somewhere on his body and then get the other guy. Small height and speed are on my side.
“What do you want with me?” I ask them, watching their two brain cells bounce between one another.
“Your friend will notice you are not in the shadows,” big guy one says.
“But by then you will be dead,” says the other.
“Now you see boys, that’s where you’re wrong,” I smile. “I have a few tricks up my sleeve and my friend out there wouldn’t have left me alone if he didn’t trust I could take care of myself.”
In reality, Mason thinks we are alone with Johnny. He hadn’t been expecting these two to be here. Come on Mason, please notice I am gone, I think as one of the big guys blocks the view of the doorway.
The second guy starts to walk towards me. His head tilts to the side in confused interest. “Who are you anyway?” he asks. “I know that’s Viper in there, everyone knows who he is, but you are a mystery.”
“That’s none of your concern.” I put my hand into the back pocket of my jeans.
Smart enough to take the gun, dumb enough to leave the knife . These two aren’t going to be alive for long.
Taking one step to the left towards where my gun lay, I watch them. They move in the opposite direction, clearly forgetting they had put it there in the first place. Dipshits. I take another step.
“What do you think you’re doing?” the first one asks. “Stay still.”
“Sorry boys, I had one too many energy drinks today and I can’t stay still.”
“If you don’t stop moving, we will make you.” The first guy steps up in front of me.
I hear a bang come from the other room. About fucking time, I internally berate him for not realising I disappeared sooner. I can keep this pair occupied but for how long?
As if on queue, the big guy I had been talking to steps up towards me, raising his hand – and the next second it is coming down to connect with my face, but instead connects with the sharp blade in my hand.
He roars in pain, holding his hand against his chest, my knife still sticking out of it. Sorry, Mason. It was do or die. I sidestep the big wall of muscle coming straight at me.
Swiping my gun off the table, I pull the slide back.
Bang!
Down goes number one.
The other guy stares at me in shock. His friend lay lifeless on the floor, a bullet hole in his head.
Holy shit, I just killed a guy .
That felt amazing, I feel alive.
“You fucking bitch!” the living guy yells. “You killed my brother!”
Looking down at the body on the floor, I smile. “I guess I did.” I turn my gaze back on him. “And you’re next.”
I don’t have time to pull the trigger on number two before Mason comes bursting through the door, letting off another shot, and the other guy drops to the floor next to his brother’s lifeless body.
“Genevieve?” he calls.
I lean against the wall and slide down it until I am sitting on the ground, my hands instinctively moving to my side where I had been stabbed only weeks ago. I stare at the bodies in front of me.
As I glance up at Mason, standing there watching me, the whites of his eyes are visible in the dim light. I sigh. “I am okay, I think.”
“I heard gunshots, Johnny is dead.” he squats down in front of me, taking my hands in his. “Shit Viv!” He brings my hand up to his lips.
“It’s ok Mason.” I sit up a little straighter even though my mind is racing. “I am fine.” My voice trembles slightly.
“I don’t know what I would do without you here. You make me feel alive again, like I am that carefree seventeen-year-old again.” There is an anger I have never seen crossing over his features. It must be anger at himself.
It has been a long day, and just hearing him say those words is enough to release any anxiety or stress I felt. “I’m okay, Mason.” I place my hands over his cheeks. “It’s okay, I am okay.”
He nods before standing up. “Come on, let’s call clean-up and get out of here.” He pulls his phone out of his pocket. “Lennox. Gun range, back door.” Pause. “Three total… Yep, that’s the one… Cheers.”
He hangs up and puts his phone back in his pocket before turning to face me. His expression is unreadable.
He takes a step towards me, staggering slightly. I reach out, holding him steady. “Mason, are you okay?” His eyes are glazed and it’s like he is looking right through me.
He crouches down in front of me for a moment, taking deep breaths in and pushing the air out before he stands up again, his eyes landing on my face. “I think I am okay now” is his only response.
He seemed a little panicky and shaky and his eyes never left me the whole time. “It’s okay Mason, I am fine. There is not a scratch on me.”
His eyes scan my body, my exposed flesh. I know what he is looking for and I step back with my arms out as I spin around. “I’m okay, see? No blood.”
He nods.
“Do you ever…” I pause, wondering what I’m going to say, before shaking my head and walking over to him, taking his hand in mine before placing my head on his chest.
He places his free hand on the back of my neck, holding my head close to him and kissing the top. It is a subtle gesture, a sweet one. “Let’s get you home,” he whispers before leading me back out to the parking lot.