Page 122 of Knot That Serious

“I can’t see anything—” Another bang, a stifled laugh. “Don’t laugh at me,” Beckett hissed. “My knees will never recover.”

“You’ll be fine, grandpa,” Jack retorted, and Eli grinned in Raj’s direction, but knew he couldn’t see it. Their steps were growing closer, and Eli poked her gun at Raj.

“On three,” she said softly, and tapped him three times.

Their vests sang in unison and went out at the same time.

“Dammit, that was them,” Jack cursed, and their footsteps raced past.

“Not so fast,” Beckett begged, and then another bang, followed by a whimper.

Eli buried her head in Raj’s shoulder, muffling her laughter. Poor Beckett. Raj cupped her head to silence his own chuckle.

“You’ll have to make this up to him,” Raj warned.

Clearing her throat, Eli shrugged. “Or his boyfriend can.”

“Right,” Raj drawled. He was having so much fun with this little ragtag group, he’d forgotten there was still the whole… unrequited love thing going on.

They waited until the lights came back on, and then they stealthily made their way to the gazebo-looking area.

“They’re both in there,” Raj reported, peering over the fence and spying both alphas in the hut with the base.

“We need a distraction,” Eli said softly, peeking through a hole in the wood.

“Can you go around the back?” Raj asked.

Eli nodded, and a plan started to form in his mind. “Do that,” he said, and then took off in the direction of the gazebo. With a look over his shoulder, he confirmed Eli was making her way toward the back exit.

He waited just on the other side of the obstacle in front of the gazebo and counted to ten, giving Eli plenty of time to hide.

A quick glance proved that Jack was standing in front of the doorway, and Beckett was standing right beside him. They were facing one another; Jack wasn’t even facing the doorway.

Raj aimed his gun and shot Jack, who whirled around at the song from his vest.

“Dammit!” he cried. “I’m not moving.”

“I can wait this out all night,” Raj called out.

Beckett was standing by the home base, protecting it with Jack, but he hadn’t spotted Eli yet.

“If you want it, you’ll have to go through m—” Jack was interrupted by the singing on Beckett’s vest, lights going red as Eli pulled the trigger.

She stomped into the gazebo past Beckett with a victory grin as she shot the blue sensor, turning it red.

“Purple team victory!” a voice rang out over the intercom system.

Jack’s mouth dropped open, and he spun back around. “No!” he cried out.

Eli stood from her spot by the sensor. “Yes!”

Becket was shaking his head, a smile plain on his face. “That was sneaky,” he said.

“Raj made a great distraction,” she said, chuckling as he joined them.

“Good job! How’s your knee?” Raj asked, glancing over at Beckett.

If they weren’t glowing blue from the paint in the little hut, he would almost guess Beckett was blushing.

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