Jason saw me coming and paused his target practice, but at the same time, Lucas emerged from the garage’s side door with another paintball gun in his hands. I couldn’t read his expression as he looked at me; only that it looked pained.

What was his problem? He was always stand-offish, but he was looking at me like I was a grenade that could go off at any second. As if he wasn’t sure how safe it was to have me close by.

Whatever. I wasn’t going to let him ruin my mood.

“What’s all this for?” I said, looking around at the various items they had set up around the yard. Besides the rusted car door, there were also several tin cans on cinder blocks, and another metal panel propped against one of the trees.

“Target practice,” Jason said, propping his gun against his shoulder. Lucas had already looked away from me, focusing his attention as he took aim. He fired, the paintballs whizzing across the yard and knocking down three of the cans.

“Next target is Alex’s Hellcat,” Lucas said, squeezing the trigger again. Another paintball struck the glass in the rusted door, but this one didn’t splat. It hit the glass with a sharp sound, cracks spreading from its point of impact.

“Woah…” My eyes widened slightly. “Can I try?”

Lucas handed over the gun. I’d shot my grandpa’s BB gun when I was little, but didn’t have much experience otherwise. I didn’t think a paintball gun would be too different as I took aim at the door, firing off several shots.

I was pleased to see all but two of them hit their target.

“Nice shooting,” Jason said, sounding impressed.

Lucas grunted, his eyes narrowed as if he didn’t believe I’d done it. “Not bad,” he said, taking back the gun. “Looks like you’re already prepared for this Saturday, then.”

“Saturday?” I said. “Is that when the revenge mission is?”

Jason laughed. “The revenge mission, right. I see you’ve already talked to Vincent about it.”

“Don’t sound so excited about it, fucktoy,” Lucas said. “What we’re going to do is far from legal, but you’ve never had a problem with that, have you?”

“Not when it’s for a good cause,” I said easily, getting Jason to smile again and Lucas to look even grouchier. “What’s the plan?”

The two of them exchanged a look that spoke of nothing but trouble. Lucas stepped toward me, the strap of his paintball gun over his shoulder. He looked at me like he was sizing me up, and I automatically straightened my shoulders and stood up a little taller.

He noticed me do it, and his nostrils flared.