It’s Saturday today, so I might spend the whole day here at their training ground. Gio doesn’t know about this because we didn’t tell him. Gianna said she’d stop everything once it reaches Gio. It’s not that she doesn’t want me to learn; she probably just thinks it’s dangerous. I don’t know, but with Gianna’s help, no one is reporting anything to Gio.
“Today, you’re going to use a real gun.” She handed me a handgun. This would be what I’d use before handling the larger guns. I aimed it at the target. I was already geared up for firing.
Gianna corrected my posture and the angle of my hand. She also guided me on how to focus on the target so I could hit where I wanted to.
During the week I’ve spent with Gianna, I’ve realized that she’s very much like Gio in her behavior. They both speak bluntly because they don’t know how to filter what they say. While they don’t intend to offend anyone, that’s how it comes across to others, especially if you’re not familiar with their mannerisms.
“Fire!”
I quickly pulled the trigger several times. When the target approached me, although not hitting the center, most of my shots landed in different parts of the target. Some missed, but that’s not bad for a first-timer.
“Again,” I told Gianna.
She let me do as I pleased, and the training at the shooting range continued. I wasn’t satisfied until I hit the target’s bullseye.
Gianna also taught me some self-defense techniques, which would be our focus in the coming days. Right now, I really wanted to learn how to handle guns.
“One more time,” I said. I was just about to load bullets into my gun when everyone in the training ground unexpectedly stopped. I froze and dropped my jaw, looking at the unexpected person.
Gio had a stern look in his eyes. He was clenched and clearly holding back his anger, but it was about to erupt. Behind him was a man I didn’t recognize. The man accompanying Gio had a blank expression, as if I were a stranger to him, just as he was to me.
I let go of the gun I was holding, debating whether to approach Gio or not. I saw Gianna walking towards her brother, so I quickly joined them.
Gio’s gaze was piercing, as if he only had eyes for me. I was nervous, feeling like he was angry because we hid this from him. I was just thinking about what Gianna said about Gio possibly putting a stop to this. I didn’t want to stop; I wanted to learn everything.
“What the hell is this?” You’d think everyone in earshot had died when Gio spoke. He didn’t shout loudly, but you could feel the intense anger in his voice. I, too, felt like I had swallowed a rock.
“You have eyes, Gio. Don’t you know? Why do you have to ask?” I gave Gianna a sarcastic look. Gio turned his gaze towards her, his intense anger still present in his eyes. “Nice seeing you here, too.”
“Gia, what are you making my wife do?” Gio’s words were more emphasized, and it was clear that his patience was wearing thin, something everyone here, including myself, wanted to avoid.
“Training her. She was the one who approached me.” I felt a sudden chill, an invisible coldness that sent shivers down my spine. There was something about the twins that just made you feel cold when they were having a conversation.
“Why do you have to hide this from me?” Gio looked at me, and it felt like a child being scolded by my parents. “You should have told me! Is this why you’re exhausted every day? Gianna, are you torturing my wife?”
“Gio, it’s not like that.” Even though I knew Gio despised interruptions, I couldn’t help but speak up, fearing that he might falsely accuse his sister. “She’s just training me. I want to learn self-defense and how to use guns. Gianna was generous enough to teach me everything.”
“We need to talk, Gianna.” When Gio called her by her full name, it meant serious trouble.
Gianna didn’t seem to be affected by what Gio said; she simply followed her brother. I watched the two of them, and when they were together, it felt like a severe snowstorm, freezing everyone in their presence.
I shook my head at myself and followed them. They entered the building of the training facility, and I quickly caught up. I was halted when I overheard their conversation.
“Stop doing what you were doing, Gia.” Gio’s voice was firm, like a law that needed to be obeyed.
“She’s your wife now, Gioseffo, and your wife can’t be a weakling. Stop babying her.” Gianna’s voice was just as cold and firm as Gio’s. I found myself almost drooling as I watched the twins.
It felt like I was watching Gio argue with himself.
“I can protect my wife, stop meddling with my life, Gianna. You’re exposing her to more threats by training her.”
“You’re not with her all the time. What if you’re not by her side? Who will save her?” I noticed a raised eyebrow from Gianna. Gio fell silent. “Same words you gave to Kyrie, right? Why can’t you say that to your wife?”
I was taken aback. I remembered what Kyrie, Valerio’s girlfriend, told me when we were together.
“You know how much I was against your marriage, Gio. With anyone, even if it wasn’t Millie. I can’t even understand why you suddenly changed your mind about getting married. I want to know how worthy she is. If she can prove herself, maybe I can accept her. She’s willing to learn. Why don’t you let her?”
“I said no.”
My face soured at what I heard. This is the reason why we didn’t want to tell Gio about the training. We knew he would try to stop me, and that’s exactly what’s happening.
I spotted a large vase, situated between Gio and Gianna. I estimated the distance and thought it would be safe to proceed with my plan. I just wanted to get their attention and prove to Gio that I could handle this.
I raised the gun I was holding and pointed it at the vase. When I fired at the vase, the bullet passed right between Gianna and Gio. I shattered the vase, leaving the two of them speechless, probably from shock.
Gio stared at me intently, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. I lowered the gun and smiled at him.
“I can, Gio. I want to protect myself. I don’t want to be a burden to you, and if I want to remain your wife, let me learn. I don’t want to hide in your shadow forever. It’s time for me to learn what I need to know.”
Gio’s chest heaved rapidly, indicating his quickened breath. He didn’t break his gaze with me even as he addressed Gianna.
“Leave us, Gianna. I need to talk to my wife.”
Gianna didn’t complain. She just looked at me before she left, leaving Gio and me alone.
I took a deep breath, still deciding whether I should approach Gio or stay where I was. Gio, however, made the decision for me as he came closer. He took my hand and promptly took the gun from me. I looked at him while he placed the gun on a nearby table.
“Do you believe I can?” I asked Gio after a few moments of silence.