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“What? Why?” he cries.
“For being such a fucking pussy,” Kaiden says with a laugh, even though I get the feeling he’s deadly serious.
“So the rules are simple,” Harry says, taking over once more. “Hunt The Doe before the time runs out. You’re all divided into teams by the colour of your paintballs so we can easily see which team does best. The winning team, the team with the most shots on target, will get the most points going forward into the next task and can have dinner with The Doe next week. If you manage to actually capture The Doe you get to keep her for the weekend one-on-one to get to know her better and —”
“What if I make it without being caught?” I interrupt. There’s a stunned silence and then someone snorts. I raise my chin defiantly and pin my shoulders back.
“I doubt that’ll happen,” someone shouts. I throw a withering glare in the general direction the voice came from. “I’m assuming I get a head start, right?”
“Of course,” Harry replies. “You have an hour, and the challenge lasts for a further six. If you’re able to go all six hours without being captured…” he tails off uselessly. “What do you want?”
“Out of this bullshit?”
“That’s not happening,” Axel says low in my ear, making me jump. “Pick something else.”
“I want to be left alone.”
“Fine. Twenty-four hours alone time.”
“A week.”
“No.”
“Fine. Two days then.”
“Twenty-four hours.”
“But—”
“But if you also manage to avoid being shot by a single bullet, I’ll give you your week of peace.”
“Really?”
“Really, little doe. You have my word.”
Axel’s word doesn’t mean shit, but I’m not about to point that out to him and risk him taking the deal off the table so I hastily agree. I thrust my hand under his nose and, even though he gives me an amused smirk, he shakes my hand.
I ignore the tingles his touch sends through me. It’s just familiarity. And loathing.
“So if I make it back uncaptured and unmarked, I get a week to myself not being bothered by any of you?”
“Those were the terms.”
“And I have an hour head start?” I check.
“Yes.”
“And you have no way of tracking me?”
Axel hesitates. “I won’t if you leave your phone and watch behind.”
I grin, pleased that I managed to get him to confess to tracking me with my phone. I should probably be grateful he didn’t have me microchipped like a damn dog.
“Can I grab my backpack out of the car?”
“Sure. Your time is about to start so don’t hang around.”
I don’t wait to be told twice, diving into the back of the Jeep and snatching my black bag from the back seat. I’m just glad I thought to pack some supplies, despite not really knowing what to expect. At least I’m dressed head to toe in black which will help me hide in the darkness of the forest. I toss my phone and watch onto the seat, noting that it’s a minute to midnight.
