Double Cross (Hard Target Book 1) by Silver James

prevented the movement.
    “Keep your head still. Any movement?”
    “Not yet.”
    “Close your eyes again and breathe. In. Out. In, out. Open your eyes. Still the same view.”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. You’ve acquired the natural target. Wait for Cudjo to move into it. We’re close enough you don’t have to recalculate the shot. Remember, you’re aiming for center of mass. Once he enters the edge of the target area, you’ll squeeze the trigger.”
    His breath tickled the back of her neck, and she did her best to ignore the sensations dancing along her spine to the Argentine tango rhythm of her heart.
    “You aren’t breathing, Cory.”
    He shifted again, lying almost completely on top of her, his leg scissored between hers. His erection rubbed against her bottom, and she almost swallowed her tongue. Movement caught her attention.
    “The door is opening.”
    “Breathe. This is it, princess.”
    She swallowed a whimper, but he recognized her distress. She tensed, inhaled, exhaled. Her finger twitched on the trigger.
    Duke did his best not to worry. They were closer to the target than he liked, but since he had no way to judge wind, heat, or anything else that could affect trajectory, he had to rely strictly on Cory’s untrained observations. He couldn’t take a chance. One shot. And then they’d have to run like hell. Where was a fucking drone when you needed it? Oh, wait. One of those suckers had blown his team to hell and back.
    Her finger tightened on the trigger. He wrapped his body around her slighter frame, wishing he could absorb the shock and recoil for her.
    “He’s almost in the crosshair.” Her breath whispered across his arm, raising the fine hairs.
    “Breathe. Hold it. Sight. Release. And—” She followed his directions, but with the practice of a hundred kills, he slid his finger through the guard again and tightened it on hers, pulling the trigger as he instructed, “Squeeze.”
    The sniper rifle bucked, and Cory whimpered.
    “Ow.”
    “I’m sorry, baby. Had to do it this way.” His breathing hitched as he added in a cold voice, “Check the scope. Confirm!”
    Her body tensed beneath his, and he listened to her panting. He brushed his cheek against hers, felt wet skin. She was crying. Fuck. He’d taken the shot, but she’d watched it through the scope. She didn’t need to check the scene. Her finger was still on the trigger beneath his, and it shook as her hand trembled. He eased her finger out of the trigger guard and clicked on the safety.
    “What is it you say? Target down?” Her voice broke, and shattered his heart. “H-he’s dead. I..” She swallowed hard. “I killed a man.”
    “You’re sure?”
    A little sob escaped before she could swallow it. “I saw the back of his head explode. I’m sure.”
    “What’s happening?” He’d had her aim for center of mass—the torso, but she pulled off a head shot. Pretty damn impressive.
    Cory inhaled and tried to stop shaking so she could focus on the scope. Having Duke draped around her helped. With him anchoring her to the ground, she didn’t feel like she was going to spin off into space. “The villagers are scattering. His men…they’re all sort of just standing there looking stunned. There’s a woman on her knees beside Cudjo. I think she’s…”
    Sounds of a woman’s wails drifted over them. It wouldn’t be long before Cudjo’s second in command took charge and came looking for the shooter. “We need to get out of here.” Duke didn’t want to roll away from Cory. But they’d be caught if they stayed. He hadn’t come this far to end up a prisoner—or worse—now. “We gotta go.”
    He sat up and felt woozy, but kept his head low—hopefully below the screen of bushes. “Keep an eye out while I break down the rifle.” Duke could do this in his sleep, luckily. He didn’t need his eyesight to field strip and stow his weapon. He bit back the anger. His blindness wasn’t really Cory’s fault, despite his