A busy evening

"We headed back to the Rice Room, now?" you ask.

"No, not yet. We have some training to do now that we're done with that job. First things first, we're going to the shooting range. I have to make sure you know how to handle that weapon."

"Dmitri, was I supposed to learn anything back there at the warehouse?"

"Not really. You're my ride-along, Lev. You'll learn a lot just by being with me. We'll have you running things soon enough, don't worry."

You nod along with Dmitri, not knowing what else to do. The man is not particularly talkative.

"What kind of guns will we shoot?"

"Pistol. Rifle. AR-15, probably. The usual stuff."

You ride in silence back through the city. Half an hour later, the car comes to a stop outside of a worn-down-looking building. A sign out front reads "Bo's Shooting Range!" Classy.

Dmitri guides you inside. An old man sits behind a counter, weaponry arrayed behind him. **** rifles, SMGs, pistols of all kinds.

"Dmitri, who's this?" he asks, with a thick southern accent.

"This is Lev. We need some range time, today."

"Ok, need bullets?"

"Three boxes of nine, please. I'll probably come to grab an AR later, 'pending on how it goes."

The old man grabs a few boxes from a nearby shelf, sliding them across the counter.

"Alright, you know the drill. I'll add it to your tab."

Dmitri nods and motions towards the boxes of bullets. You grab them and turn to see him walking down a nearby hallway. You quickly walk to catch up, until Dmitri comes to a stop next to a window. A shooting range is on the other side - not particularly nice, with bullet holes everywhere, but it's there. You head inside and grab some ear muffs off of a nearby bench. Kind of gross, but whatever.

Dmitri then goes through the basics of handling a weapon. You grew up around them, so you're familiar, but it is refreshing. Always treat a weapon like it is loaded. Never point it at someone unless you intend to shoot them. You know, the basics of being a safety-first gun-toting mobster.

Then he explains how to handle a pistol. How to hold it. How to load it. Dislodge a jammed bullet. Peep the slide. You learn more than you ever cared to know about pistols, but soon you're working the metal like a professional - all without having shot a single bullet, yet.

He pins some targets to the range dolly before sending it out to ten yards. He draws his pistol, takes aim, and five swift shots later there are five bullet holes in the bulls-eye - all within half an inch of each other. Dmitri is a professional.

He motions for you to try. You take aim and shoot, but your shots go wide. You try again - better. A few boxes later, and you're hitting the bulls-eye more than not.

"Ready for the rifle, then?" he asks, as he pulls in the spent target.

"I guess."

He steps out of the range, returning minutes later with a standard AR-15, red dot sight. A stack of boxes of bullets is in his offhand. He pins another target to the range dolly, sends it out, and turns back to you. Again, he goes through the basics of dealing with the weapon. Shows you how to load it, rack it, and aim it. But you already understand a lot of it, from movies and from your own experience. It goes by quickly, and soon he is sending shots down range. Again, a tight circle of bullet holes.

He hands you the weapon, and you take your turn. The rifle feels natural in your hands. This time, your shots are immediately close to the bulls-eye. Almost as good as Dmitri's!

"Ah, a natural," he says, smiling. "Everyone has their preference."

"I'd rather be a natural with the pistol I think. This is a lot harder to conceal."

He shrugs, saying, "they both have their place, as you'll come to know. Don't fret over it."

You spend the evening practicing with Dmitri, running through countless boxes of bullets. By the time you leave, you feel as though you are a master shot; you know it isn't true, but it feels that way. Either way, you're definitely far more experienced than when you arrived. You wave at Bo on your way out.

He calls to you, "See you again soon, Lev! Dmitri."