The Unwavering Heart That Broke (Nathalie and Lance) novel Chapter 549

"Got it."

Lance offered a short nod and headed toward the elevator. He keyed in the code for the sub-basement level. As the doors slid open, he made a beeline for the private shooting range. The moment he pushed the heavy door open, he was met with the deafening cracks of rapid gunfire.

He had dropped her off an hour ago. Had she been down here firing the entire time?

He watched her slender, rigid silhouette from the doorway. She stood with a flawless tactical stance, both hands gripping a 9mm pistol, heavy earmuffs blocking out the noise. Her clear eyes were locked onto a moving target with terrifying intensity, predicting its path before unleashing hell.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The magazine emptied. A cluster of shots had punched straight through the dead center of the target.

Lance watched the target cycle back. "You're progressing fast."

Nathalie lowered the firearm and reached for a bottle of water. Taking a long sip, she finally asked, "How's Jasper?"

Lance's deep eyes stayed fixed on her as his voice dropped to a low, steady hum. "He'll be hospitalized for a few days so the doctors can monitor his detox. Right now, it's a waiting game to see exactly how permanent the nerve damage is."

Nathalie's lashes fluttered. Her grip on the water bottle tightened until her knuckles turned white. "And what exactly are your plans for Felice?"

Felice was the architect of this entire nightmare. She had poisoned her own flesh and blood simply to secure a roof over her head. Letting her off the hook would be an absolute insult to justice.

"There's no rush," Lance replied smoothly. "I'll deal with her once Jasper is fully stabilized."

Nathalie gave a slow nod and walked past him toward the exit.

An hour straight of recoil had taken its toll on her arms. She just wanted to collapse in bed.

Suddenly, long fingers wrapped around her wrist, halting her in her tracks. She glanced down at his grip, tracing her gaze up his arm until it met his dark, unreadable eyes.

A heavy silence settled over the firing range. The seconds stretched out, and Lance's quiet hope began to fade. He finally looked away, preparing to drop the subject entirely, when she finally spoke.

"Fine," Nathalie said flatly. "Do whatever you want. We're just a transaction anyway. Once our deal is over, you can raise him yourself, and I'll go back to living my own life."

With that, she turned her back on him and headed for the door.

Lance's eyes snapped up. Closing the distance in two strides, he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist from behind, burying his face in her hair. "Thank you, Nathalie," he murmured thickly.

Nathalie squeezed her eyes shut. "My condition is that we cut our marital obligations down to five times a month."

Lance stalled.

That was a massive sacrifice on his end.