“Having fun?” he asked breathlessly.
“Surprisingly, yes.”
Nathan grinned and yanked me into a one-armed hug. “I knew we’d convert you. Duck and cover, boys.”
A torrent of teenagers flooded down the raised walkway and we sprinted from our position, Leo getting knocked out of the running first. He raised his gun and arms into the air. “I’m out.”
That hardly seemed fair. I dipped around him and took out two of the teens, their chorus of laments letting me know I’d been successful.
“Nice shot.”
I soaked up Nathan’s praise like a sponge. I wasn’t particularly good at this, but I liked to believe I wasn’t so hopeless that I was miserable to play with.
The remains of the bachelor party took me out, the lights on my gear turning dark.
Jude cursed a moment later, the same happening to him. Nathan narrowed his eyes behind his protective goggles and leapt behind a pillar before our assailant got him, too.
Hopped up on adrenaline, I laid my hand on Nathan’s arm as we navigated our way to the exit. “Avenge us.”
All three of my pack burst out laughing.
“Were you a theater kid?” Leo asked.
“I may have been on stage a time or two. I think I brought a particular nobility to Sky Masterson.”
Jude laughed. “I feel like I’m revealing myself as a nerd if I know that’s fromGuys and Dolls.”
“I think we all know I’mstilla theater kid.” Leo grinned. “I get to do that every night.”
We watched Nathan eliminate the rest of the bachelor party before someone who looked about ten years old was finally the end of him.
He joined us, eyes bright, his smile shining. “I guess I’m a little rusty. Another round?”
“I think my heart needs some time to rest, but I wouldn’t be opposed to doing this again in the future.”
“Fuck, yeah.”
A loud gasp sounded next to us. “You said a bad word!”
We all turned to a little boy, probably no more than eight or nine.
“Oh, f?—”
I clapped my hand over Nathan’s mouth to avoid a repeat offense.
We hustled to return our gear and get out of there, my spirit light.
“Lunch?” I offered. “My treat.”
“Fancy or fast?” Nathan asked.
“I’ll let you all decide that.”
“Matinee at Night of Knights!” Jude swung his arm around Leo’s shoulders.
“We’re not doing matinees right now,” Leo explained. “Too many knights off work for it to be feasible.”
“You should train us up.” Nathan slung his arm on top of Jude’s. “We could be knights.”
