Page 71 of Goodnight, Sinners

She slammed the cage shut and hefted the rifle across her shoulder. “Let’s go.”

The two women left the artillery and walked through the indoor range to the door that led outside.

Saskia suppressed a shiver as a blast of cold winter air slapped her in the face. She jogged to keep up with Ayaan who was taller and faster. She seemed in a hurry to establish her skills. Saskia wondered what she was trying to prove and who she was trying to prove it to. She wanted to know everything about this mystery woman.

Ayaan set herself up quickly on the range, showing no awkwardness. She was clearly comfortable with the weapons she’d chosen and the range itself. She’d used it before.

Saskia wasn’t surprised. All of Jozef’s team members went through rigorous training. A woman would be no different. But her place on his elite team meant he was making significant changes. Shaun’s influence, no doubt.

Ayaan pushed her mufflers over her ears and picked up a pair of safety glasses. She hefted the Uzi up, set it on one of the wooden benches and kneeled to load it. Once the magazine was in place, she stood and brought the weapon to her shoulder, hunching to look through the sight.

She was breathtaking. Saskia couldn’t take her eyes off the other woman. When the hell had she learned to use a weapon of war? She looked like she was born to it. She had to be tough as nails.

The first blast of gunfire reminded Saskia that she needed to cover her ears. She set her own weapon down and pulled her blue mufflers on. She watched in fascination as Ayaan aimed at each target, then shredded it with a volley of bullets. Though an Uzi wasn’t considered a precision weapon, Ayaan’s aim was impeccable.

When she’d finished with her targets, she set the weapon down, careful to point the muzzle away from both women.

Saskia gave her a slow clap and flashed her a smile. “Well done.”

“That was nothing.”

Ayaan picked up her rifle next. She knelt on the ground and took careful aim at a target that was clear across the range. Saskia knew that some of Jozef’s men would struggle to hit the target Ayaan appeared to be aiming at. Somehow, Saskia had confidence that Ayaan wouldn't miss.

The blast shook Ayaan’s body, but she held steady. The top of the target disappeared as it was shot clear off. Ayaan glanced over her shoulder at Saskia to make sure she was watching, then she stood and jogged over toward a barricade, lunging behind it, then taking aim at the next furthest target. She repeated the process until she’d reached the end of the obstacle course.

Saskia followed behind at a slower pace, admiring Ayaan’s form and skill. The other woman could out-shoot most of the security experts on the estate. Truly impressive.

It was a hike to reach the last target where Ayaan was waiting for her. She was rolling her shoulders back and tipped her head from side to side, working out some kinks. Her warm breath was creating puffs in the cold air. She looked more relaxed than she had when the two women met, like she’d needed to work through some tension.

“Feel better?” Saskia asked, leaning on the fence at the edge of the property line. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught one of the guards watching them.

“I’m fine.” Ayaan scowled at Saskia.

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

Ayaan stared at her, then sighed and dropped to the ground, sitting cross-legged.

“It’s my brother. He’s found out that I’ve left France and he’s furious. He’s demanding that I go back immediately.”

Saskia sat down beside her, cringing as the cold hit her backside. “Are you afraid he’ll come find you? This place is crawling in security, he’d have a hell of a time getting inside.”

Ayaan smiled grimly. “He is more than capable of cracking this place wide open. Who do you think taught me to shoot? No, he won’t attack while I’m here. He won’t risk hurting me. I’m afraid that he will find out who I am staying with and make life difficult. I’m afraid that… that Jozef will insist I must leave. I’m happy here, maybe happier than I’ve been since I was a child. I finally found a place where I fit in and I don’t want to leave.”

Saskia felt a sharp pang in her chest. She knew how that felt. She’d never felt like she belonged in the Koba family. She wasn’t like the rest of them. She had no interest in the mafia world. She didn’t want to be arm candy for some old man who bought her through a family merger.

“Jozef knows who you are, right?” Saskia asked. “He knows about your brother?”

Jozef wouldn’t leave any stone unturned in checking background on his hires. There was no way he would hire Ayaan without knowing about her baggage.

Ayaan nodded. “Yes, he knows. He met my brother a few months ago.”

“Then you’re good,” Saskia said dismissively. “He won’t give you back just because your brother demands it. If Jozef wants you for his team, then it’s done. You’re part of the family. That’s how he works. You will be protected until the day you die.”

Saskia pushed off the grass and stood, brushing the back of her pants. The ground was cold enough to be uncomfortable to sit on. A recent snowfall had melted, but the ground still froze each night. She didn’t know how Ayaan stood it.

She reached a hand out to the other woman. “Come on, let’s see if you have any hand-to-hand skills.”

Ayaan took her hand in a firm grip and allowed Saskia to pull her to her feet. Saskia suspected Ayaan was more than competent in hand-to-hand combat and that she was about to get her ass handed to her. It was worth it to see such a formidable woman in action.

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