If this was a video game, he’d be kicking ass. But all of his mental speed and manual dexterity was useless when he ran like a newborn colt who hadn’t gotten his legs under him yet. Out in the open, he’d be shot down in a matter of seconds.

Paint-stained casualties lined the sidelines, cheering on their teammates and heckling their opponents. In the distance, he could hear Curt and Andie hurling insults and paint pellets as they chased each other around obstacles. They both seemed to have forgotten that the point of the game was to capture the other team’s flag.

Luke gambled and sneaked a peek around the edge of his hay bale. Both flags were still in place, each surrounded by a contingent of guards. He considered the situation. The sooner someone nabbed one of those damn flags, the sooner this would be over. Maybe he should just go for it.

Best-case scenario, he would actually succeed in getting his hands on the flag. Worst case, he would go out in a blaze of glory. Either option was more heroic than hiding behind a pile of hay, and both options would end his misery.

The only drawback to this plan was Zach. The actor had stationed himself at the top of the red flag’s tower and was playing sniper. Figures the jackass had great aim. Luke grimaced. Knowing his luck, the moment he stood up, GQ G.I. Joe would nail him with a paintball right to the nuts. He would stay right where he was, thank you very much.

Luke moved to the other side of his hiding place and checked on his team. To his surprise, Julia had taken up a similar position as sniper on the blue flag’s tower. Even more surprising? She was good. Really good. The girl had skill. Over and over again, red players approached the tower, only to be knocked out with one blue shot. As far as he could tell, she hadn’t missed once.

A flurry of movement caught his attention and he shifted his gaze to her flank, where a group of red players was slowly inching up the west side of the blue tower. Kat was in the rear guard position and should have been protecting Julia, but her focus was across the field, on Zach.

Aw, hell. It looked like he was going to have to play hero after all. With a grunt of resignation, Luke jumped up, shouting a warning to Julia. “Behind you!”

She blinked, glancing his way.

“Behind you!” He pointed.

He had no idea if his warning helped or not, because a second later he was thrown to the ground from behind.

“Phew! That was a close one.” Harry exhaled, rolling off Luke.

Luke lifted his face, spitting out a clump of grass. Just to his left, two red players cursed as they were pelted with blue paint.