Page 76 of Obsessed Bratva King

I shiver, but not from the cool temperature.

Ivan methodically checks the magazine of a sleek black handgun. His movements are effortless. There’s no hesitation in the way his fingers glide over the weapon, no wasted effort.

I’ve seen him kill before. I know exactly what those hands are capable of.

He holds out the gun, grip first. I take it carefully, the metal heavy in my hands.

He steps closer, close enough that I can feel his body heat at my back. His arms slide around me, and before I can react,his hands are on mine, adjusting my grip. His touch is firm, impersonal—but it lingers a fraction of a second too long.

“Your stance is wrong.” His voice is quiet, edged with something rough. “Feet apart. Knees slightly bent.”

“Managed to kill a few people, didn’t I?”

“Got lucky. Focus.”

I shift, and his hands guide me, one settling on my waist, steadying me. I stiffen.

He doesn’t pull away.

Instead, he leans down, his breath brushing against my ear. “If you ever need to defend yourself, you don’t hesitate.” His fingers press lightly against my back, urging me to straighten my spine. “Hesitation means death. You shoot to kill. Every time.”

A shiver runs down my arms.

A simple paper silhouette at the end of the range. Unmoving. Harmless. But in my mind, I replace it with something else. Someone else.

Darren.

The thought burns through me like gasoline.

I square my shoulders, inhale sharply, and pull the trigger.

The gun kicks back hard against my hands, jolting me.

“Again,” he orders.

I grit my teeth and fire again. The recoil still stings, but this time, I brace for it.

Again.

Again.

My arms shake from the force, my breath coming harder now, but something inside me is shifting. I keep firing until the magazine clicks empty, until the sound of the shots stops ringing in my ears.

Silence settles over us.

Then—

“Good girl.”

His voice is approving.

I turn my head slightly, meeting his gaze. There’s something unreadable in his expression, something dark and knowing.

A sudden wave of dizziness washes over me. My knees wobble. I blink rapidly, trying to focus, but the edges of my vision blur.

Ivan notices instantly.

His hand is at my waist in an instant, gripping tightly, holding me upright. “Cora.”

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