Chapter 5 - CHANGE OF PLAN
Brett forced another awkward, dry laugh, gesturing back toward the wooden staging bench near the bay doors where his rented gear was laid out.
"Look, Gunny, I think there's a misunderstanding," Brett explained, waving a dismissive hand through the air. "I brought my sister-in-law here for a beginner lesson today. Just trying to show her the ropes, get her comfortable with basic handling before we do anything serious."
Castellin turned his head slowly, his gaze drifting away from Brett to examine the wooden staging bench ten feet away.
His sharp eyes scanned the setup: the cheap plastic safety glasses, the foam earplugs, the tiny box of target rounds, and the lightweight, beginner rifle resting on the bench.
Castellin’s weathered mouth twitched slightly. A slow, deeply amused smirk spread across his face, creasing the tanned skin around his eyes. He looked back at Grace, whose expression remained completely impassive, like a quiet shadow standing in the morning sun.
Castellin let out a low, breathless chuckle, shaking his gray head in quiet disbelief.
"A beginner lesson," Castellin repeated, his voice laced with rich, dry irony.
He looked back at Brett, the smirk still playing on his lips, his voice dropping into a tone that was equal parts amused and dead serious.
"Son," Castellin said smoothly, "that’s going to require a serious change of plan."
Brett’s forced smile vanished instantly. His jaw locked, a flush of deep embarrassment creeping up his neck as he realized he was being openly mocked by the range owner in front of his sister-in-law.
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"What does that mean?" Brett snapped, taking a half-step forward. "I'm a certified officer. I know how to run a firing line."
Castellin didn't bother arguing with him. He simply turned back toward the counter, reaching down beneath the display cabinet to pull out a set of master keys.
