THE DARE | BWWM 18+ (editing)

l - facing diabolo: part 4

I R I S

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"Always watch your back," Xavier reminds me again for the 100th time.

We're in the gun room for target practice and he's using automatic guns to shoot at me.

They aren't real bullets but they do hurt the same. I'm not 100% sure how it all works but Xavier said something about the bullets triggering the pain receptors in the body then it goes away after.

We've been training every day for the past three weeks and I'm pretty sure I've learned every single way possible to kill someone. I learned how to torture, maim, blackmail, and even dispose of a body.

"Yes Xavier, I know. It's not like you haven't said it to me every three business minutes, say sarcastically.

"I have to remind you since I got shot because-" I cut him off.

"Because you didn't watch your back," I finish. "You're not letting me forget it," I say before shooting at one of the dummies.

"You're getting good at this," he compliments.

"Getting good? Excuse me? I am good at this," I say confidently before turning around and shooting at another dummy.

"That was the last one," Xavier yells and I feel something shift behind me. I quickly duck and roll on the ground when a surprise one shoots at me and misses.

"Ha, you tried to trick me," I say pointing at Xavier. "But I got it," I laugh.

"Yes you did," he says as he applauds me. "I think you're ready sorellina."

"Woah Woah! I'm your boss and you will address me as such," I fake a serious face and he laughs.

"Yeah right," he laughs and puts his hand over my shoulder.

"You really think I'm ready?" I ask him.

Even though I am training, I don't have to officially get sworn in as the queen until I feel like it, and I want to get rid of Martello first. I don't want to carry that baggage with me.

"Yes, you are. You will be the first female don of the Sorelli empire. How does it feel?"

"Empowering," I tell him and he hugs me.

"I'm proud of you though. You've put a lot of good work during this past week and even when I made it way too hard, you prevailed."

"Thank you," I smile when we run into Luciano.

"Ready for one last fight lesson?" He asks and I shake my head.

"You have to keep teaching me even after I get sworn in until I get better than both of you but yes, I am ready."

This has been the norm for the past couple of weeks. Luciano teaches me how to fight, and how to take handle knives and swords and Xavier teaches me how to shoot, and handle guns.

Then they come together and teach me how to make someone hurt without killing them. It's inhumane stuff but hey, it's part of the job.

"You want to get better than the both of us?" Luciano asks.

"Yes, I do and I will," I shrug. "It's just a matter of time."

"You remind me of Eleanor when she was training too," Luciano says and Xavier nods in agreement.

"That's a good comparison, but Eleanor has always been violent. Iris had to work up there," Xavier adds in.

"Are you guys forgetting that I killed my dad when I was seven?" I ask and they groan.