Chapter 7

Juliette stood perfectly still.

Her body was angled sideways, her spine straight as a steel rod. She looked like a marble statue carved specifically for destruction.

The mocking laughter in the bay died down. People shifted uncomfortably, sensing the sudden, heavy shift in the atmosphere.

Blair felt a cold prickle of unease on the back of her neck. She crossed her arms tighter. "Posing doesn't get you points," she muttered, though her voice lacked its earlier confidence.

Juliette didn't hear her.

Her breathing slowed down until it was barely visible. Her eyes locked onto the microscopic center of the target ten meters away.

Her index finger rested lightly against the trigger. The cold metal felt like an old friend. Years of muscle memory, buried deep beneath soil and trauma, violently woke up.

Bang.

The sharp crack of the pistol echoed off the concrete walls.

Every head in the room snapped up to look at the electronic display screen hanging above the lane.

The digital numbers scrambled wildly for a second before locking into place.

A bright, glaring red number illuminated the bay.

10.9. Dead center. The maximum possible score, a shot of near-divine perfection.

The silence in the room was absolute. It was so quiet you could hear the hum of the air conditioning vents.

Gregory's jaw went slack. The energy drink slipped from his fingers and crashed onto the floor, spilling sticky liquid everywhere. He didn't even blink.

Phoebe grabbed the stranger standing next to her and shook his arm. "Did you see that? Tell me you saw that!"

Adrian stood a few feet behind Juliette. He stared at the glowing 10.9. A slow, incredibly proud smile spread across his face. He knew it.

Juliette slowly lowered the gun. She let out a long, controlled exhale. The tight knot in her chest finally unraveled. Her eyes returned to their normal, calm state.

The color completely drained from Blair's face. She lunged toward the counter, pointing a shaking finger at the screen.

"No!" Blair shrieked. "That's impossible! The machine is broken!"

The range officer quickly stepped forward and tapped the control panel. He looked at Blair with a flat expression. "Sensors are functioning perfectly, miss. The score is valid."

Blair looked like she was going to be sick. "It's a fluke! A lucky shot! She closed her eyes and pulled the trigger!"

Sierra immediately jumped in, desperate to save her friend. "Wait! The referee never called 'start'! That shot doesn't count!"

Juliette turned her head. She looked at the two panicked girls and let out a soft, genuine laugh.

She placed the gun down on the table. "You're right," Juliette said, her voice light and completely unbothered. "I was just taking a practice shot. Trying to find the feel of the grip."

The crowd gasped again.

A practice shot? She casually threw a perfect 10.9 just to feel the gun? It was the ultimate insult.

Blair seized the excuse like a drowning woman grabbing a life preserver. "Exactly! Practice shots don't count! The match starts right now!"

Gregory snapped out of his shock and yelled, "Are you kidding me, Blair? You're pathetic! Take the loss!"

Blair glared at Gregory, her chest heaving. "Rules are rules! She has to shoot again!"

The crowd started arguing, half calling Blair a sore loser, the other half whispering that maybe it really was just insane luck.

Juliette ignored them all. She turned around and looked directly at Adrian.

She raised an eyebrow, silently asking if the fertilizer deal was still secure.

Adrian met her gaze. His eyes were dark, filled with absolute indulgence. He gave a single, slow nod.

He mouthed two words to her: Keep going.

Juliette turned back to the table. She picked up the gun. With a fluid, lightning-fast motion, she ejected the empty magazine and slammed a fresh one into the grip.

The movement was so smooth, so violently professional, it made the hair on the back of Gregory's neck stand up.

Juliette looked at Blair. The innocent facade was gone. Her eyes were filled with the absolute, crushing arrogance of a champion.

"Fine," Juliette said, her voice dropping to a freezing register. "Keep your eyes open for this one."