Page 102 of Too Tempting

I’m approaching this in two ways: hit as many of the children on the opposing team as possible, but do so in a way that will make sure Emmett is my final target.

Here goes nothing.

Emmett

While Dom might be at an advantage when it comes to his experience in general stealthiness, what he lacks is creativity.

I huddle my team of little deviants and take out my wallet, handing them ten-dollar bills. “Anyone who knows any of those little fuckers on the red team who will turn coat gets paid, too.” The kids nod their heads. “You protect me from getting hit, and you let me get as many points as possible. You see the big guy? You aim on sight and be relentless. Remember the guy who said no bullying? Fuck that. Shoot him so many times he doesn’t have a chance to respawn.”

My little minions nod their heads. If there’s any way to get a pre-teen on your side, it’s with cash.

“First one to find the Rock gets all the tickets on my arcade card.”

This really gets the kids’ attention, as they all speculate how many tickets I could possibly have and what prize they could buy with the points.

Suddenly System of a Down blares through the speakers. Pretty woke for an arcade place. With my sacrificial barrier of children walking behind me and in front of me, we make our way through the maze.

When we come across our first team red, it appears he knows one of the kids on my team. “Jessie, this rich guy will pay you ten dollars to help us find the big ass dude on your team.”

“Bet? Follow me?” the red team kid says.

“Oh, and let him rack up points by letting him shoot you the whole time.” Smart kid.

“Money first,” the too smart for his own good traitor says. I hand him a ten. Money well spent. I hit him in the back every time he respawns for good measure.

I’m able to collect three more turn coats in the process of looking for Dom. With numbers in mind, he only has 3 more kids on his side and we still haven’t found him in the maze.

Suddenly all the kids turn to the left as Dom pops around the corner looking like fucking Rambo as he picks off each child one by one. I use one of the larger kids as a human shield, using his shoulder as a prop, as I finally get a hit on Dom.

After the sneak attack, it’s absolute bedlam. All the children scatter as Dom growls, scaring the ever living fuck out of all of them. I can barely stand straight at how fucking hard I’m laughing. I’m holding myself up against a wall. All of my enforcements have abandoned me.

“No one gets my arcade card, you scaredy cats!” I yell, not knowing who can hear me over the loud metal music. But just as I’m about to turn the corner, I run face first into Dom himself, who puts his laser gun dramatically against my chest.

He doesn’t shoot right away, and I use this to my advantage. “Did you just Lord of the Flies this fucking game to win?” he asks. I think he’s trying to look angry, but he really looks amused.

“Were there rules about not creating my own laser gang?”

“What did you bribe them with?” I smile widely at him and watch as his gaze looks down at my mouth.

I go to answer, but with his gaze distracted on my mouth, I sneakily lift my gun and shoot him in the chest before sprinting away.

No running my ass. How the fuck do you play laser tag and not run? “You sneaky little shit,” I hear behind me.

I’m able to hit a few more kids in my attempt to run away from Dom. I’m lucky when the final buzzer blares and the lights turn on, directing us to the exit.

I’m out of the laser maze before Dom and look at the score. Kicked his ass. I can’t stop the grin on my face as he walks out of the maze, giving all the children glares that have them shaking in fear.

“Well, looks like I won, Alpha.”

He glares at me and smiles. “So you did.”

I wound up giving my minions my arcade card, but before I do, I hold it above my head. “Treachery shouldn’t be rewarded, but since you helped me win, I will bestow my arcade card. Whoever catches it, wins.” I throw the card in the air and grab Dom’s hand and get the hell out of there.

“I hope you don’t pit our kids together like it’s the Thunderdome,” he says, and I can’t help the grin that takes over my face. My cheeks have hurt all night.

“Our kids are going to be absolute psychopaths or adorable sweethearts. There is no in between.”

Dom smiles back at me, his hand tight in mine.

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