Page 38
Someone slapped my face twice, and I groaned, sluggishly opening my eyes.
Arturo’s stupid smug face materialized before my vision, smiling down at me. “Looks like I was able to shut you up, after all.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Illayana De Luca
“Okay. We all have to work together to make sure Aleksandr and Drea don’t score in the next few games. If we can do that, Aleksandr doesn’t win another fucking year,” I said, looking around the circle.
The water bucket relay was the next game. It was pretty self-explanatory. At one end of the field were empty tubs, and at the other was the water. The goal was to fill our tub up with the most amount of water in the time allotted. Easy-peasy.
We were at the tail end of the games, and so far, Aleksandr and Drea were in the lead.
That wouldn’t be for much longer.
In a tight huddle was Nikolai, Tatiana, Lukyan, Lyla, Arturo, and myself. We were all determined to do whatever it took to stop Aleksandr from placing in this game, and luckily for us, it was a hands-on sanctioned game, meaning we could do whatever the fuck we wanted to stop the other teams.
It was about to get real fucking bloody.
“Here’s what I’m thinking,” I began, whispering softly to make sure the enemy didn’t hear me. “Aleksandr and Drea and Father and Autumn are in first and second place. If we can get one person from each of our teams to stop them from transferring their water, they won’t place, which means all of us will.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Except for Lukyan. My brother was doing nothing but scowling at Arturo.
I clicked my fingers in front of his face. “Oi. Pay attention.”
“I am paying attention,” my brother insisted, still glaring daggers at my husband.
Nikolai scoffed. “No, you’re not. You’re leering at Arturo because you’re salty you lost against him.”
Lukyan immediately got defensive. “I only lost because that motherfucker stole my move.”
“It wasn’t against the rules. Just like you hitting me in the nuts wasn’t.” Arturo taunted, a victorious smirk curled on his lips.
Lukyan aggressively stepped in his direction, and I threw my arm out, stopping him.
“We don’t have time for this,” I hissed. “Mikhail is going to call the game to start any minute. Do you want Aleksandr to win again?”
Lukyan exhaled heavily. “No,” he said petulantly.
“Then put your sulkiness away—because yes, you are sulking—and pay attention.”
Lukyan hmphed, folding his arms across his chest.
With everyone finally paying attention, we launched into a fast, hushed discussion, coming up with a solid plan.
“Lyla, you’re on Drea.”
“Gotcha, gotcha,” she said, giving me a two-finger salute.
I turned to my husband. “Baby, you’re on my father.”
“Ha.” Lukyan scoffed. “He’s going to pommel your ass.”
“What about Autumn?” Tati asked, eyeing the redhead a few paces away.
“We don’t have enough people to man everyone. With only one person on her team delivering water, she’ll be on the same playing field as the rest of us.”
