THE HEALING HAND

chapter eight

"Wow! That is the highest score we have seen in a long time! Bull eyes again!"

The commentator said in a loud voice as the ladies in the building shouted again.

In front of them was a man with an athletic build. The man stood beneath the bright arena lights like he owned them, broad shoulders wrapped in a fitted black tactical shirt that clung to every hard line of his chest and arms.

His sleeves were rolled just enough to reveal strong forearms veined with tension as he gripped the gun with calm precision.

A sharp jawline, lightly shadowed with stubble, gave him a dangerously handsome edge, while his dark hair fell in effortless waves across his forehead.

Every breath carried confidence. When he lowered the gun after another perfect shot, a slow smirk curved his lips, and the sound of screaming women nearly drowned out the commentator.

He wasn’t just attractive. He was the kind of man fantasies were built around.

" Another bullseye for Mr Joe Linton!"

The commentator shouted again. Kael's gaze swept through the shooting ground and a petit young man who couldn't stop shouting from where he stood.

He had a megaphone close to his mouth and each time heade a comment once Joe shoots.

Marcus and Leo sat comfortably with their friends as they gist over each shot Joe made.

Joe turned to the ladies with his hands in the air.

Seraphina raised the glass cup in her hands into the air" That is my man! Don't you dare!" she shouted at her friends.

" And who dares to challenge him! Is there anyone in the building who dares to challenge Mr Linton!"

Kael smirked.

He was not only in the army when he died but he was the sniper man.

He had taken a shot of a long distance which was the furthest for any sniper man in the army.

So, they gave him the name, ' Gods hand.'

Joe's gaze caught the smirk on Kael's face. He removed his ear bud and walked out of the shooting ground.

The atmosphere was packed with tension the moment he walked past most of the men seated and walked towards Kael.

Leo laughed, "I think your Live-in-son-in-law is going to be disgraced yet again."

Seraphina laughed with her friends the moment they saw Joe walking towards him.

" Is something funny?" Joe asked, standing in front of Kael.

"Funny? Why? You think that is a clean shot?"

Joe’s smile vanished the moment Kael spoke.

The noisy arena, once filled with cheers and flirtatious screams, fell into a strange hush. Even the women who had been calling Joe’s name moments ago leaned forward in their seats.

Joe tilted his head slowly. “What did you say?”

Kael remained seated, one ankle resting over the other as though he were discussing the weather. “I said… you call that a clean shot?”

Gasps rippled across the room.

Marcus nearly spat out his drink. “This idiot has gone mad.”

Leo slapped his knee and laughed loudly. “No, let him continue. I want entertainment.”

Seraphina crossed her legs elegantly, a wicked smile dancing on her lips. “Kael, do you enjoy humiliation that much? Have you not suffered enough already?”

Kael did not even glance at her. His eyes remained on Joe.

Joe’s jaw tightened. “You insult my shot in front of everyone?”

“I insulted nothing,” Kael replied lazily. “I simply stated a fact. You hit the center, yes. But your wrist dipped before impact. Your breathing was off. If the target were farther… you would have missed it.”

The commentator nearly dropped his megaphone. “Ohhhh! Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves controversy!”

The crowd erupted again.

Joe stepped closer until he towered over Kael. “Then perhaps you should show me how it’s done.”

That made the hall explode with excitement.

“Challenge him!”

“Teach that bum a lesson!”

“Joe! Joe! Joe!”

Marcus grinned viciously. “Please accept, Kael. I haven’t laughed properly in weeks.”

Kael slowly rose to his feet. Though Joe had the broader frame, there was something about Kael’s stillness that made several men instinctively shift backward.

He dusted imaginary lint off his sleeve. “Fine.”

The commentator screamed into the megaphone. “UNBELIEVABLE! A challenger has stepped forward!”

He turned dramatically. “Sir, your name?”

“Kael.”

“Just Kael?”

Kael’s lips curved faintly. “That is enough.”

The women whispered among themselves.

“He’s handsome too…”

“Where did he come from?”

“Seraphina’s husband, isn’t he?”

" I heard he is a nobody."

One of the ladies smiled, " A nobody that knows how to shoot, I like that."

Seraphina’s smile faded. She hated the sudden interest in him.

Joe rolled his shoulders and motioned toward the lanes. “Ten rounds. Closest to center wins.”

Kael shook his head. “Too ordinary.”

Joe frowned. “Then what?”

Kael pointed toward the far end of the arena where the advanced moving targets were kept.

Metal discs that swung, rotated, and shifted direction without warning. They were rarely used because even professionals struggled with them.

“Those.”

The room went silent.

Marcus blinked. “He wants the moving range?”

Leo’s grin faltered. “Is he serious?”

Even Joe hesitated for half a second before scoffing. “Trying to lose with style?”

Kael stepped onto the lane. “Or trying to expose fraud with elegance.”

The insult landed like a slap.

Joe’s face hardened. “Load the targets.”

Technicians scrambled into action. Screens lit up. Rotating discs began spinning at impossible speeds.

The commentator could barely contain himself. “Ladies and gentlemen! This has never happened in Linton Arena history!”

Joe took position first. He inhaled, raised the pistol, and fired.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Five shots in rapid succession. Sparks burst from the moving discs. Four direct center hits. One clipped edge.

The crowd roared so loudly the ground trembled.

Joe lowered the gun with a smirk and turned to Kael. “Your turn.”

Seraphina stood and clapped slowly. “End this joke already.”

Kael walked forward. He picked up the pistol, weighing it once in his palm.

Then he frowned. “This balance is terrible.”

The entire arena erupted in outrage.

“That gun costs a fortune!”

“Who does he think he is?”

Joe laughed coldly. “Excuses before losing?”

Kael ignored him. He adjusted the grip, rolled his shoulders once, then stood sideways.

And suddenly… something changed. His playful laziness disappeared.

The air around him became sharp. Even Joe noticed it.

Kael’s breathing slowed. His eyes narrowed. The noisy arena seemed to vanish from his world.

For one strange second, it looked less like a rich man’s game… and more like a battlefield.

Bang.

Before the crowd could react, he fired.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

Four more shots followed like thunder. The targets stopped moving.

No one spoke.

The technicians rushed to the monitors. Their mouths fell open.

The commentator snatched the tablet from one of them, stared, then nearly screamed himself hoarse.

“FIVE PERFECT CENTERS!”

The ground erupted into chaos.

Women shrieked while the men leapt from their seats. Drinks spilled everywhere.

Marcus shot to his feet. “Impossible!”

Leo’s face turned pale. “He… he tied Joe?”

Joe’s expression darkened. “Lucky run. That is what it is."

Kael handed back the gun. “No. Warm-up run.”

The insult was worse than the first. Joe threw his jacket aside.

“One more round.”

Kael smiled faintly. “Now you’re talking.”

Seraphina gripped her glass so tightly it cracked in her hand. While her friend stared at the supposed man Seraphina had humiliated.

Blood trickled across her fingers, but she did not notice. Her eyes were fixed on Kael.

Who was this man?

The weak, disposable husband she mocked… or someone she had never truly known?

The commentator jumped onto a chair, trembling with excitement.

“FINAL ROUND! Sudden death! Long-range precision target!”

Technicians wheeled out a target so far away it looked no larger than a coin.

The crowd gasped.

Even professionals rarely attempted it indoors. Joe grabbed a sniper and loaded it himself.

Kael’s eyes glinted the moment he saw the weapon.

A sniper.

Now he was home.

Joe fired first.

The bullet sliced through the air and the monitor flashed.

0.2 millimeters from dead center.

The arena exploded.

Joe raised both arms triumphantly. “Beat that.”

Kael slowly stepped forward and touched the rifle. His fingers ran across it like greeting an old friend.

Then he lifted it… and a strange smile appeared on his face.

A smile that made Joe’s confidence waver for the first time.

Kael looked through the scope. The room held its breath as his finger tightened on the trigger ready to pull.