0040 - Shooting Range

Maria's POV 

I didn’t ask where he was taking me. I didn’t really care. I just let Liam drive.

The drive was quiet. He had some music playing low, but neither of us talked. I didn’t mind the silence. In fact, it was kind of peaceful.

I just looked out the window, letting my mind drift. My chest still felt heavy, like I had swallowed a stone. But at least I wasn’t crying. That's good for me.

When Liam entered into a small parking lot beside a dark building, I frowned a little and turned to him.

“A shooting range?” I asked.

Liam gave a small smile, unbuckling his seatbelt. “Trust me. You’ll like it.”

I didn’t answer right away. I looked up at the sign again. Part of me wanted to say no. I wasn’t exactly in the mood to play games. 

But something about the way he looked at me—like he actually wanted to help, not just distract me—made it hard to say no.

So I followed him inside.

The place smelled like oil and metal. A man behind the counter gave us safety glasses and headsets, and Liam walked over to the glass case with the smaller guns.

“We’ll start simple,” he said. “This one’s light. Easy to control.”

But my eyes weren’t on that gun. My gaze drifted to the long one on the wall behind the case. I didn’t even think before pointing to it.

“That one,” I said.

Liam blinked at me. “Sure? It’s a bit more difficult though.”

“I can handle it.”

He looked at me again like he wasn’t sure if I was joking or not, but he nodded slowly and asked the man for it. When the man handed it over, I felt the weight in my hands and I knew it felt familiar.

It was the kind of gun Alex had given me when we were about to go launch an attack on Alejandro.

I didn’t say anything to Liam. Just stepped up, set my stance, and fired.

The sound rang loud even through the headset. The dummy target jerked backward, a clean shot. Right in the center.

When I turned back, Liam was staring.

“Remind me not to get on your bad side,” he said with a lopsided smile.

I smiled a little.

The next hour passed faster than I thought. We took turns shooting. I helped him adjust his grip once, which was funny because he thought he was the one bringing me here to relax.

Liam kept trying to beat my shots, but he didn’t say it out loud. I knew, though. I could tell he was trying to show he was better than me. 

We laughed. Like real laughter. It didn’t feel forced. At one point he tried to copy my stance exactly and nearly fell. I couldn’t hold back my laugh. Neither could he.

It was strange how light I felt for a while.

When we finally left, the sun was starting to dip. The sky was orange and soft. I could still hear the ringing in my ears from the shooting, but it wasn’t unpleasant. Just reminded me I’d actually done something today.

We found a small diner not far away. The kind with booths and laminated menus that stuck to the table a little. Liam said the burgers were good, so we ordered two. Nothing fancy.

We talked. About stupid things. Things that didn’t matter.

Liam told me about a case he once had where the suspect got stuck in a doggy door trying to escape. I couldn’t stop laughing. I didn’t want to.

I don’t know when it happened, but the sadness in my chest started to shift. Not disappear… just fade a little. Like it had been pushed into the background.

And Liam—he looked different tonight. Not just because of the lighting or the way he leaned in closer when I laughed. But because he was being himself. No serious mask. Just him. And for a second, I forgot about Luca. I forgot about everything else.

He walked me to his car after we ate. The evening air was cooler now. Still quiet and soft.

We stood by the passenger door for a moment.

His eyes met mine. They didn’t move.

There was a pause. Like something could happen.

His hand brushed mine, just barely, but enough that I felt it. He didn’t rush. He didn’t say anything. He just waited.

And for a brief moment… I wanted to kiss him.

I really wanted to.

I wanted to let my walls down. Let myself feel this moment. Let someone care for me without fear that he's thinking about someone else.

But I couldn’t.

Luca’s face bumped into my mind like cold water. The thought of what he could do. I thought of the way he looked at me like he owned me. And worse—the way he would look at Liam if he knew.

I stepped back.

“I should go,” I said quickly, avoiding his eyes.

Liam blinked. “Maria…”

“I just really need to go. I’m sorry.”

Before he could say anything else, I pulled away from the car, holding onto my purse as I turned.

I didn’t wait. I didn’t explain.

I just walked.