Part 5 (2/2)

Pretty cool stuff, actually. Excited now, she headed out after the demon she'd shot at, tracking him east of their location. Her headset was filled with chatter from the other partic.i.p.ants, Derek's feedback on whether they'd hit or missed, and location information. Gina tuned it all out, focusing only on the demon she was tracking.

's.h.i.+t, he marked me. Sonofab.i.t.c.h came out of nowhere.'

Trace's voice. Gina winced, knowing it could have easily been her. She started moving in circles, looking from side to side and turning around to make sure no one was behind her. The white s.h.i.+rts the compet.i.tors wore were easy to spot with the night-vision goggles, so she didn't confuse them with demons.

d.a.m.n, these guys playing demons were good. But not that good, because there he was! She took off on a fast run and fired at his back, hitting him square on. He kept running, but she wasn't about to let him get away this time. Despite the night and the goggles, she could see just fine, leaping over the obstacles in her path. She circled around a copse of trees directly ahead, figuring he was going to have to go either right or left around them, and hoping he'd go left.

He did, and ran straight into her. She hit him square in the chest.

'Kill points, Gina,' Derek said.

Resisting the urge to whoop for joy, she took off and headed back, on the hunt for more. She found one on Olivia's tail, snuck up on him, and got him, too.

By the time the event was over and Derek called them back to camp, Gina had killed four demons. She was ecstatic and ready to burst with energy.

'How'd you do?' she asked Shay.

'One kill. One d.a.m.n near got me, too, but I skirted away just in time.'

'I had two kills,' Olivia said. 'And then one marked me after that, dammit. Didn't even see him coming.'

'Two kills,' Ryder said, tossing his gun on the table.

'None,' Jake said, frowning.

So Gina had scored high points on the practice run. She resisted the urge to grin, but d.a.m.n, it had felt good out there.

Derek clapped Ryder on the back as he walked by, and told Jake he'd do better tomorrow. He nodded to Olivia and Shay who were huddled together and said, 'Nice job.'

Not a d.a.m.n word to her. Nothing. What the h.e.l.l? She'd scored the highest points out there and he hadn't even looked in her direction.

'Okay, everyone,' Louis said. 'Some of you did well, some of you need a little more practice. Get ready, because the real game begins tomorrow night. Think about your mistakes and make any adjustments necessary, because tomorrow they could result in your elimination. Have a good night.'

Gina turned in her gear and started to head to her bungalow, but this thing with Derek bothered her. She walked over to Derek, who stood alone repacking the gear.

'Well?' she asked.

Derek looked up, knowing exactly why Gina was there. The last thing he wanted was for her to get c.o.c.ky and overconfident.

She was good. d.a.m.n good, in fact. But was it beginner's luck, or did she really have the natural skills? Pus.h.i.+ng her a little harder would tell. Rewarding her with lots of attagirls wouldn't.

Firelight danced in the highlights of her hair, making it look alive, like golden snakes s.h.i.+mmered through it. Not that he noticed stuff like that or anything. 'Well what?'

'What do you think?'

'About?'

She rolled her eyes. 'I want your opinion about tonight.'

He knew what she was fis.h.i.+ng for. 'It was okay.'

'I scored high points.'

'Uh-huh. You got in some lucky shots. You still have a lot to work on.' He stepped around her and headed for his bungalow. He was tired, needed a shower and a drink.

After spending some time reviewing the schedule for tomorrow, he stripped and turned on the shower, groaning as the warm spray hit his sore muscles. The years were starting to take a toll on his body. He never used to ache like this, but after several days of pounding the sand and skirmis.h.i.+ng with Gina and the rest of them, he felt every muscle and creaky joint screaming at him. He'd been pus.h.i.+ng them, and himself, harder than he'd ever pushed before.

Despite the desire to linger for about an hour under the hot water, he washed, rinsed, and with a reluctant sigh, turned off the shower. Grabbing a towel, he wrapped it around his waist and decided a gla.s.s of whiskey was in order. Nothing like a good, old-fas.h.i.+oned painkiller.

When he stepped into the bedroom, he sucked in a breath of shock.

Gina was there, leaning casually against the partially open front door. Now this this he didn't need. He was wet, naked under his towel, and his c.o.c.k lurched to life at the sight of her. Obviously he didn't need. He was wet, naked under his towel, and his c.o.c.k lurched to life at the sight of her. Obviously that that part of his body wasn't aging as rapidly as the rest of him. part of his body wasn't aging as rapidly as the rest of him.

Her hair was unbound, still damp from her own shower and hugging her shoulders and b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She wore a skimpy little orange-flowered sundress that clung to her curves and did achy things to his b.a.l.l.s. Not good. He really could use that drink about now.

'I didn't hear you knock.'

'That's because I didn't.' She shut the door behind her and advanced into the room.

'Unless you're here to throw me down on the bed and have your way with me, get out.'

She paused for a second and looked at his bed. Was she considering it? And what would he do if she was?

'Believe me, that's the last thing I'd want to do with you.'

'Too bad. And here I am all clean and almost naked.'

She took a quick glance at his crotch before returning to his face. Okay, maybe not such a quick glance. More of a lingering one. One that made his d.i.c.k notice how she was noticing.

'Derek, I've worked my b.u.t.t off since the day I got here, but for some reason you've made it a point to dismiss everything I've accomplished. I'm sensing some lurking animosity here. Do you hate women in general or is it just me? Never mind. I already know the answer. What I want to know is why.'

If she had any idea what was going on under his towel she wouldn't be asking that question. Thinking complex math calculations, he crossed to the nightstand and poured himself a half gla.s.s of whiskey, determined to ignore her. Downing the contents in one gulp, he turned and said, 'I don't hate women and I don't hate you. Conversation over. Good night.'

Ignoring his dismissal, she pressed on. 'I've decided you have some kind of Gina-hating chip on your shoulder that prevents you from telling me I did a good job, because you sure as h.e.l.l don't seem to have that problem with anyone else around here.'

What part of his good night didn't she hear? He perched on the edge of the bed and poured another half gla.s.s. Anger dissipated erections, right? 'You're one of those feminists, aren't you?'

'What?'

'One of those all men hate women' kind of women.'

'That's ridiculous. And thanks. I'd love a drink. How kind of you to offer.' She walked over, took the gla.s.s from his hand, and downed it in one gulp, handing it back to him and resuming her pacing. 'It's clear that a capable woman threatens your masculinity.'

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