FOOLS AND GENIUSES | ✓

CHAPTER 40

Samuel above (not my daddy issues making an appearance as I thirst over a man well into his fifties).

arcane

(adj.) understood only by a few

Keeping low to the ground and crawling to hide in the shelter of a lone dilapidated building, Kiara efficiently reloaded her gun and checked to ensure she still had plenty of spare ammunition before quietly dodging Vijay's line of sight as she snuck up behind him. Only noticing her presence a few seconds before she leaped, he could do nothing but surrender as she shot him up with so many bullets that he flew back into the wall behind him with the impact. Shades of red, yellow, green and blue obscured his goggles as her bullets imploded all around him but by the time the dust settled, the only trace that remained of her was the fading sound of her mischievous laughter. 

Kiara stealthily camouflaged behind a pile of scrap metal, smothering the urge to laugh as Karan and Samuel neared unbeknownst to each other. He whirled around upon hearing the scrape of his father's shoe against the gravel, suddenly turning trigger-happy as he released a bellowing war cry and blindly waved his gun every which way. With uncannily assassin-like skills that could give Aelin Galathynius a run for her money, Samuel tucked and rolled behind the nearest solid structure as he pulled out the two handguns strapped across his back. If people thought he was formidable dressed in suits before a courtroom, they hadn't yet seen her father in action. 

Salt and pepper hair casually tousled from a brawl, Samuel handled weapons with the trained accuracy of a mercenary as he counted the remaining rounds of bullets in his guns. Preparing to attack, he inhaled deeply then sprung out from his hiding spot with both guns tactfully aimed at blind spots. Barrel facing Karan's unprotected left side, he sent two precise shots to the exposed areas of his son's flank and leg. He inhaled sharply as each bullet met it's mark perfectly but before he could retaliate, Samuel was already ducking behind the crumbling walls of another worn down building.

Marvelling at the sheer agility her father exhibited, Kiara quickly shoved back against the pile of scrap metal and decided going after Chris would be an easier option– a fact she would never admit aloud for fear of inflating her father's ego at the cost of her boyfriend's. Making quick work of scouting the area, she found him awkwardly crouching in the shadows of a towering sculpture as he lay in wait for an easy target. Stalking over to where he sat hidden, she gently kicked her foot out and startled him out of his focused state as he flipped over and pointed his gun at her.

She laughed at the sheer panic on his face, leaning forward to pinch his cheek and swipe his chin, "How is it possible for someone to be so adorable and so intimidating at the same time?"

"Come a little closer and I'll tell you," he immediately gripped her wrist and tugged her towards him as she lost her balance and fell on top of him.

Running his hand down her arms as he trailed across her waist and stopped at her hip, Chris slanted his mouth against Kiara's and pulled her impossibly close. She playfully nipped at his lower lip, surprising him enough to deepen the kiss as he got lost in the feel of her and flipped them over. Fingers digging into the soft curve of her hip, he passionately reciprocated her enthusiasm and slowly forgot the purpose of their paintball match. He flinched upon feeling something cool and firm suddenly press against his lower stomach.