THE ESCORT

TWENTY-FIVE | A KINDNESS WITH MOTIVE

"What's his next plans for you?" Hana asked as she led Elodie away from the main house, and towards the sprawling land behind the house.

Elodie's head swilved right and left, gaze drinking in the rustling leaves in the gentle hands of the breeze sweeping through the large space. Soft blades of grass crunched underneath her boots and Hana's fancy pink flat shoes.

After she'd stormed—it's embarrassing now that I think of it—out of the sparring room, Elodie had hid out in the bathroom, splashing water on her face in a bid to get rid of her anger and shame.

She'd thrown herself at the man over and over again, and thank God he'd resisted her. Elodie clearly hadn't been thinking.

"Yes," she replied, taking deliberate slow steps so Hana took the lead. "That's what I asked. All these cloak and dagger stuff looks a bit suspicious to me."

Hana's chuckle carried in the quiet air. "Mr. Casieri isn't planning to kill you, if that's what you're worried about."

"Then, why the secrecy?"

A tall square-shaped structure made out of smooth woods (sturdy looking woods) appeared down the small slope the moment they got to the top of it. A quick look over her shoulder confirmed that they'd walked for a bit, because Elodie couldn't see the main house anymore.

"Let's just say, he likes the element of surprise."

Hana picked up the pace, signaling that she didn't want to talk anymore.

The woman was tighter than a virgin's asshole. She wouldn't be out of place in the military.

By the time Elodie met up with Hana, she was already pulling the door to the building open. Elodie had taken a few steps into the building before realizing that Hana hadn't followed.

She stopped and turned to the other woman. "You're not coming?"

"I'll be at the main house," was her reply.

Elodie didn't wait to see if she shut the door. She made her way through the brightly lit hallway, eyes taking in the smooth expanse of concrete spanning both sides of the corridor. Seeing as the outside was made from wood, Elodie was surprised that the inside was solid concrete.

At last, the hall tapered off to reveal a steel door. Elodie pushed the door opened and stopped just on the threshold, gaze wide as she scanned what was before her.

There were long lanes, each one sectioned into six places. At the end of the lane was piece of corrugated cardboard with a printed image ; dark each one a dark silhouette that had a heart shape drawn over where the heart should be with orange ink. The high ceiling was precast concrete panels with a smooth flat surface. There were also roof baffles installed at an angle twenty-thirty degree protecting the light fixtures embedded into the ceiling.

Angelo stood with his back to her, tinkling with something on the table before him. A few feet to his right, facing the lanes were six booths divide with black panels.

This type of place was familiar to Elodie because she'd seen one in an action movie sequence Jean had forced her to watch with her one day when the waffle maker had stopped working and they had to take an indefinite break.

It was an indoor firing range.

Angelo straightened, drawing her gaze away from the target at the end of the lanes. While she didn't know why, Elodie knew instantly why she'd been brought her.

He wanted to teach her how to shoot.

Elodie's heart began to pound.

When she'd asked Angelo to include her in his meetings, she hadn't realized just how dangerous it would be. At least, she'd expected that she would be an arm-candy at most. But, these trainings he was put her through told her she'd bitten more than she could chew. And backing out now wasn't an option.