Page 36 of Pretty Poison

“I-I don’t understand.”

“Then let me spell it out for you.” As I inch closer, she counters my steps backward until she’s boxed in and there’s nowhere else for her to turn. “Cassian is one of my best shooters and he personally chose the most difficult marks on the target board for a beginner to test your ability and you did it with ease. Not an ounce of hesitation or stalling from your end. You were ready for it, almost as if it’s second nature or habit to you.”

“I don’t like guns,” she admits. “Gabriel keeps them around the house, but I’ve never used one. I’ve never had a reason to, not until now.”

“But that makes no sense, Liana. Are you even hearing yourself? Are you even listening to what I’m telling you? You expect me to believe that by some miracle, you managed to pass it effortlessly? I’m gonna be frank here. I’m not buying what you’re selling me.”

“It’s true,” she spits. “Gabriel owns so many guns that I’ve lost track, but I can tell you exactly where he keeps them because they’re in places I avoid like the plague. I hate guns and what they do to people. I’ve never had a reason to use one because I’ve never been in danger before, but according to you, once we’re married, I’ll be in more danger than I could ever imagine. You’re the reason I’m doing this. If anything, you should be glad that I’m doing well.”

“How can I be glad?” I scoff. “Nothing makes sense, but I applaud you on your one-woman show there; you almost had me.”

“Take it any way you want, but it’s the truth and it won’t change.”

Closing her in further, I plant my hands on the wall above her, confining her to an even smaller box. “Let’s say I believe what you’re telling me; it would mean you indeed are that good. I haven’t come across anyone like that before, and I know alotof people that prioritise guns over knives. Everyone I know still tests themselves, trying to hone their abilities, including my father, and he’s been through a literal war between families. I know you’re leaving something out. Your aim is impossible with no training and I refuse to believe you’ve had none.”

As if listening to me makes her summon the courage to act, she pushes my chest. “Believe what you fucking want,” her words are like venom, “I’m not here to impress you; I’m simply doing what you’ve asked of me. If you can’t come to terms with that, then fine, but don’t ever insinuate I’m a liar. I’m not my father.”Like a child having a tantrum, she barges past me, her shoulder swinging into my bicep.

I watch her leave, her entire being is shaking with anger. She completely ignores Remi and Cass as they approach her, almost as if she doesn’t notice them.

I didn’t mean for my words to come off that way, but they did, and I have to fucking own that. I can’t take it all back now, but I can regret it, and I do. She’s lived her entire life on the innocent side, only to be thrust into the darkness at the hands of her own father. If I’m going to get any answers, it’ll be from him.

Seventeen

DARIO

“What’s on your mind?” My mother’s soft voice reaches my ears, but it registers within me like an echo.

“It’s not this,” I say, indicating to her stomach, “I promise. I, I have a situation, and I can’t quite figure it out.”

She forces a smile. “We’ll put a pin in this,”—she strokes her belly—“and circle back to it. Talk to me about what’s on your mind.”

My mother is and always has been my confidant, the one person I can turn to when shit doesn’t make sense or I’m conflicted for whatever reason. Liana being a perfect shot is one of those ‘shit doesn’t make sense’ scenarios.

“It’s Liana,” I admit. “I knew there was something about her, but this is the icing on the cake for me.”

“Whatever she’s done, you can’t blame her for. She’s still adjusting here. I’ve been in her shoes, and I know it isn’t an easy task.”

I shake my head. “No, it isn’t that. I think she’s doing better than anyone could’ve imagined here, and apparently, she’s fitting right in.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I sigh, lowering my head into my hands. “I took her to Remi earlier this morning for her introduction and the basics of training, and she passed the gun range with flying colours.”

“That’s good though, right?” Her head tilts as she sits across from me.

“Itshouldbe good, but there’s something that doesn’t sit right with me. Cassian wanted to test her, to see how easily she can pick up on unfamiliar skills—you know how he is—and he chose a target he made himself. Somehow, she passed flawlessly. She hit every target twice, directly hitting the markers like it was an everyday thing. She did it with ease, and now she’s lying about it. Why would she lie?”

“What do you mean she’s lying about it?”

“She says she’s never held or shot a gun before.” I snap my head back to its previous position, my eyes flicking to find hers. “If she’s lying about something that holds no weight in the long run, what else is she lying about?”

“It could be beginner's luck,” she tries to convince me, her tone soothing. “Give her a real challenge and she’ll fail. You mustn’t be in your head all the time; it makes you think up these silly little scenarios. You can’t keep doing this to yourself, Dario, not if you want to make something out of your relationship with Liana and have children with her. It just won’t work.”

“We’re still learning about each other, Mama. Children come down the line—I’m sure you know that.”

She sighs, “I want grandchildren, Dario.”

“And I don’t want to replace the twins, but we can’t have everything we want, can we?” The words shoot from my mouth before I can even think them over, and hurt fills her face.

---