Page 145 of Traitor

Bones

The empty terrain behind the clubhouse looks like a battlefield waiting for war. The trees loom in the distance, a natural border, while the barriers and obstacles we set up earlier create a maze of places to hide, ambush, and kill. Well, metaphorically speaking.

The air is charged, anticipation crackling between us as we load our paintball guns and split into teams. Me against her.

Temper stands across from me, adjusting her mask, her stance strong, determined. Fucking fierce. She's already in war mode, eyes locked on mine like she's measuring the distance between my heart and the paintball gun in her hand.

I want her to hit me. I also want to hunt her down until she's out of breath, pinned beneath me, cursing my name. I sigh. I need to control myself. This is for her. She needs to shoot me. Not anyone else. I know she does. It wouldn't work otherwise, it wouldn't bring down that fury always simmering under her skin.

Her team consists of Ria and a few younger prospects. She picked them strategically. The ones quick on their feet, with something to prove. She's smart. Always has been.

I smirk, tightening my grip on my gun. "You ready?"

She tilts her head, pretending to think. "To shoot you in the face? More than ready."

Ria cracks her knuckles beside her. "The real question here is — Areyouready, Baldilocks?" she grins, staring straight at Tank.

Tank mutters something under his breath, but I don't have time to listen.

We begin.

The game is on.

I take off into the maze of barriers, Fang and Domino at my back. I hear the fast-paced footsteps of the prospects on the other side, shifting through the terrain, the rustling of fabric against wood and plastic as everyone scatters to their positions.

And then, the first shot rings out.

"FUCK!" Tank's voice echoes, followed by Ria's gleeful cackle.

I bite back a laugh. She got him.

I press against one of the barriers, scanning the area. The younger prospects are moving fast, but they're sloppy. Temper, though? She's nowhere to be seen.

Another shot. Another curse. Hellbat is out.

What the fuck?

I hear Domino mutter, "She's fucking insane," right before he takes a hit and gets eliminated too.

Ria.

I peek around the corner and spot her stalking through the field like a true demon on a warpath. She's eliminating everyone.

Fang tries to take her by surprise from the left, but she's already expecting him. One shot. Dead. Out.

Holy shit. I can't help but grin.

Ria is a beast at paintball.

Temper is still hiding, hunting.

My blood thrums with adrenaline.

I make my way through the terrain, knowing she's close. The silence is too loud.

Then, I feel movement.

I spin just as she fires. I dodge, the paintball barely missing my shoulder.

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