Beneath The Rain (18+)

Chapter 15 : Return

The Investigator

  We are now in his back yard, where he set up targets all around. He's wanting me to be able to shoot a gun with no hesitation. I believe he has forgot these are just targets, not people.

"Are you ready?" He steps up to my side, handing his pistol to me.

Taking it slowly, I nod. Placing my hands in the position he showed me earlier. But before I go to aim he steps behind me, racking his touch up my arms till they reach my hands on the gun.

"Squeeze, make sure it's firmly in place. When you go to shoot, always have an agenda. A motive, that helps with trying to hit the target." He lifts my arms up slightly before moving back to my side.

Aiming at the simple homemade target. I think of David Willard, I may not know what he looks like but, the thought of the actions of whatever the fuck he's done to Ashley fills me with rage. Pulling the trigger, the loud bang making my ears ring slightly. The adrenaline settling in as if it's found a home for its madness. A wide grin slowly appearing on my face as I turn to Owen.

"Perfect. Again, this time try to aim for the head, chest, or the knees. If you can't kill them, immobilize them." I nod at his statement before continuing to shoot around four more mags.

We've been out here for hours, after the practice with the pistol. He had us move on to hand to hand combat. I can tell he's taking it easy on me and yet I've been thrown to the ground and pinned more then I can count.

"USE YOUR ANGER. YOU WILL GET NO WHERE IF YOU DON'T!" He's also been yelling instructions   since we've started. Guessing to get me mad enough to try harder and not going to lie it's working. Rushing him his hand goes to my throat, bringing my elbow up just before shoving it down on his arm that's holding me in place and pushing myself away creating an opening. I get low to the ground before trying to get behind him. That gets interrupted by his hand landing on my chest next thing I know my back hits the ground yet again. Before he lets go and starts the 'match' over I slam my knee into his lower stomach. His hands leave me, allowing me to slip out from beneath him. Running over to the knife that's laid out next to the empty gun I grab it.

Turning around, there he stands. Sweat dripping down his face from the beating and relentless sun. I keep my eyes on him, not letting him figure out my next move.

"Fine, you win again. Next round it is." I state, slowly slipping the switchblade into the rim of my leggings. He backs off, turning around. Following him I wait till we're close to the wall next to where we have been training. Swiftly I job up next to him flashing him an aggravated glare, before I grab his arm thats closest to me twisting it up and behind his back using every bit of my strength to push his chest into the wall. He looses my grip on him a bit before I take the knife out bringing it to his neck.

I lean into him putting more pressure to his arm. "I wouldn't want to use this but, move one more time and it's going into your throat." I threaten, giving him a grin. I did it I won. Pulling the knife down and back into its spot in my legging "Don't turn your back on your enemy. Ever." I recite his own logic back to him before letting go and stepping away.

"Finally you win. I thought we'd be out here for days. I will be the one to admit I'm glad I was wrong." He praises while rubbing his arm. I can't help but to smile at his words.

We head back into the house while grabbing the weapons off the table. I feel like I'm sunburnt, if I am that'd be the first in years. After only one training round I already feel more confident and a bit cocky but, I think that's just all the time I've spent with Owen showing itself. He can be cocky because he's experienced, he knows what he's doing. Me on the other hand has no right to act cocky when I can get myself killed out of a mission just by saying one stupid comment.

After showering I head downstairs to find Owen cooking yet again. His hairs wet, he must have took a shower down here. Looking around I see that it's already 6pm.  We were training for 7 hours? Of course I feel so haggard. Hearing a knock my eyes shoot to Owen but, he doesn't budge. Walking up behind him, I grab his gun and head to the door.

"Who is it?" I ask but, am met with silence. Swinging the door open and aiming the gun up just to see Brandon at the end of the barrel. Putting the safety on, lowering it down to my side. I give him a smile. "OWEN! BRAY'S HERE!" I holler in the direction of the kitchen.

I move away from the door and back to Owen, putting the gun back. He sets out three places of steak and oven backed potatoes. Bastard knew it was Brandon, yet again another test. We all sit down and dig in. Brandon's shoveling the food down like he hasn't eaten in days.

"You okay?" I finally speak up breaking the dreadful silence.

"Yeah, Serena I'm okay. Just hungry." Bray dismissively answers, making me look up at Owen giving him a tiny head tilt to Brandon. They're best friends I understand if he went through something he only wants to tell Owen.

"The side work not go as planned?" Owen questions, taking a bite of his food.

"It went well. Just got the news that the people that were the cause of it are dead. Justice for all" Brandon looks up from his food with a long sigh "they were bad people they deserved it. Believe it or not but, they were best friends with the couple only to become infatuated with their friend's partner." He shakes his head in disbelief.

  I agree, that's insane if Ashley was here and betrayed me to get with Owen just the thought makes me sick.

"I'm sorry bring this up but, whatever I'll just get to the point. David Willard, are we going to look into him?" I push, I hate to be the one to. They know my motives, they should expect this.

"I have looked into him a bit while I was gone but, without my tech that's at the facility I couldn't go in depth. He's pretty wealthy in terms of money. He owns a few businesses in Manhattan so, while I was there I visited one of them and asked a few 'regulars', they said when he last visited he was with a woman that they described as his girlfriend" He pauses before looking at Owen, I sit up now giving him all my attention waiting for him to finish "named Myia." He words have me shooting Owen a confused look.

Myia? I slump back in my chair trying to piece anything together and coming up with no result. Looking at Owen his brows are pinched together and his head resting atop his hands that are twinned together under his chin.

"Okay. Time to see if we can find anything on this Myia woman. She might have answers about Ashley." I state, looking between them.

"Or what if they're the same person?" Owens question has me shooting him a confused look.

"You mean like he changed her name?" I speak up, towards both of them.

"No little flame. I mean what if Ashley's not who we think she is?"

"Don't be crazy. I've known her and her family for years. Since she was 13." I shake my head at him, shifting my focus back to my food.

"Time to meet Ashley's family then." Owen states firmly.

"Fine." I say, before looking up giving him a small nod.