Movement ahead got his attention, then a voice called out. “Jake! It’s me. Don’t shoot.”

Anastacia? She should know better than to shout out like that—there could be half a dozen Yellow players in their vicinity—but she wasn’t an operative. Rand had told him last night that she wasn’t trained for covert work. Her role with FMV was primarily as a researcher and teaching assistant.

He slowly approached her, well aware that if she was a trafficker, she’d shoot him the moment she spotted the artifact he’d recovered.

But if she wasn’t a trafficker, she could help clear the field for him to bring the artifact to Red HQ.

She grinned when he drew near enough to see her face. She’d raised her face shield, which probably wasn’t wise, but again, she wasn’t trained in this. “I’m so glad it’s you. I got lost for a bit. Then my rifle jammed. I found a blind to hide out in and have been hoping to find someone from Red team to help me.”

Wow. She really wasn’t trained for this. It was amazing she’d lasted as long as she had. Not a speck of paint on her.

“I left my rifle in the blind. Maybe you can fix it?” She turned her back to him and set off between the trees.

He wanted to point out that paintball guns didn’t have rifling, but she might think that was pedantic, and he wanted her to like him. “I need to get this artifact to HQ.”

“If I have my weapon, I can help with that. It’s not far. I promise.” She glanced back over her shoulder and gave him a wicked smile. “I’ll make helping me worth your while. Promise.”

There was a slight lilt to her voice, and he was intrigued enough to want to fall for whatever she was planning.

he dropped to her knees and crawled through a small opening. He was impressed she’d found the blind; it was well concealed. The opening was only visible at ground level.

Plenty of light shone through the leaves and branches. The blind was small. Barely big enough for two people. At the back was Anastacia’s weapon, just like she’d said. She pulled off her headgear and turned, blocking his path forward as she sat back, her weight resting on her elbows. “Welcome to my hidey hole.”

“I uh, can’t move forward with you blocking the way.”

She grinned and said in a breathy voice, “Yes, you can.” She reached out and flipped up his face shield, then tugged off his helmet.

He was absolutely suspicious about her change in tune, but damn if he wouldn’t see how far she was willing to go. He crawled forward until his knees were between her spread thighs and his fists held him above her, planted on either side of her narrow waist. His face was just above hers.

“Is this where you want me?” he asked.

“Almost. Come in a little deeper.”

“You’re killing me.”

She cupped his face, running the pad of her thumbs over his cheekbones while her palms stroked his stubbled jaw. “Maybe eventually, but right now, I just want this...”

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