Tear It Down

Chapter Eighteen

Tommy had his arms crossed as he watched Adrien take another shot at an empty can in front of her. He did not know if he wanted to laugh at her missing of the target or simply walk away. He had expected her to be talented, or at least show a little promise with the gun, but he could not believe what he was seeing. The can sat on a stump no more than a few yards away yet she missed. Finally he grew impatient and snapped, "Stop."

Adrien looked to Tommy with a scowl. "What?"

"What do you mean what?" He looked to the gun in her hand, shaking his head. "So is that for show then? To seem like a bigger threat?" When she took out the guard it wasn't with a gun, when she took down the horses it wasn't with one either, her aim a clear indication of why.

"No, I can use it."

"If the damn person is within arms reach." He took the gun from her and aimed, hitting the target easily. He handed it back to her, her scowl gone and replaced by anger.

John and Arthur snickered as they leaned back against the car that they drove out to this secluded part. Adrien looked back to them and opened her mouth to say something but it was cut off by Tommy telling them to shut up. "The last thing we need is you two making this situation worse."

"We couldn't do worse than her aim." Arthur chuckled before pulling out one of his cigarettes.

"No worse than your ability to keep track of your gun." She growled and Arthur tried to slyly feel for his gun, pulling out his matches instead, as though trying to mask what he did. She rolled her eyes at him and looked back to Tommy. "So what was the point of this?"

"To see what you'll be useful for. Sneaking around and gathering information is the obvious one, but I want to see what else you're capable of. I want to be sure in my investment of you."

She gave a nod at his words, showing she understood, though her expression showed she did not like it. "What now? Knife fight? Or fists?"

Tommy shrugged as he reloaded the gun and gave it to John, who came to stand beside him. "Whichever you choose."

"Fists then."

* * *

Arthur hissed in pain as he touched his blackened eye, muttering under his breath foul words for Adrien. "I told you not to goad her." Tommy said as he  looked to his brother. "You also didn't have to participate."

"I didn't want her making me look weak."

"Ah yes, and your black eye certainly helps that out." Tommy scoffed.

"I would have gotten a hold of her, but she's quick."

"Good thing she didn't choose the knife fight then, huh, Arthur?" John snickered.

"I'd like to see you go after her then." Arthur snapped at him.

"If she gives me a reason, I won't hesitate."

"Of course you say that." Arthur shook his head and poured himself a drink, downing it quickly before turning back to Tommy. "So, we have a better idea of what she can do, what she can't, what now? What do we have her do?"

"I have an idea." Tommy said as he sat down at the kitchen table and removed his hat, scratching his head with a sigh. As he looked to his brothers, their faces showing eager curiosity, he heard the front door open and Finn came running in, followed by Ada.

"Tommy! Where-" but Finn stopped in his tracks when he saw Arthur. "Oh, uh," he turned to leave but Arthur called for him to stay put. "You're not mad?" Finn asked weakly.

"Very mad, but not at you." That relieved Finn, but Arthur continued. "But if I ever see you with my gun again-"

"You won't! I promise."

"Good." Arthur said as Finn ran upstairs, eager to escape.

"What's going on?" Ada asked as she entered the kitchen, brows drawn together. "Finn had your gun?"

"More or less."

"What's that suppose to mean then?"

"We have ourselves a new employee." John said as he leaned back in his chair.

"And when was I to be informed? This business doesn't just concern you three." She snapped.

"When we decided that we would take them on officially."

"And I see you have." She crossed her arms. "I'm part of this business too, I need to be in on the decisions that are made."

"Please," Arthur scoffed with a roll of his eyes, turning back to pour himself another drink.

"And who gave you that then Arthur? Someone putting you in your place?"

John snickered as Arthur glared at her. "You'll meet her soon enough."

"Her? Well seeing what she did to Arthur I'm excited to see her now." Putting emphasis on "her" to get a rise from Arthur. But he didn't say anything, simply glaring at Ada.

Tommy looked to Ada and she shrugged innocently under his glare. "Do you remember the man who attacked the horses? Well, turns out she's the one who attacked them and gave Arthur that."

Ada's expression was a mix of laughter and confusion, opening her mouth to say something before closing it again. "Did you find her Arthur and she fought you off?"

"No, Tommy hasn't told you yet," John began, chewing on his toothpick as he looked to her. "We hired her. She gave that to Arthur as a demonstration of what she can do."

"Despite what's she's done I like her already."

"I wouldn't be so quick to say that." John shook his head. "She knows about us, she knows more than what is comfortable."

"How much does she know?" Slight panic in Ada's voice, her eyes wide.

"About John's kids for starters. She knows names, such as Katie's-"

"Shut up." John barked at Arthur. "She also knows how to get to our weapons to. Isn't that right, Arthur?"

"Shut the hell up." Tommy said, growing tired of their bickering. "You'll meet her soon enough Ada."