Sawyer rubs her hands together and blows on them. “There’s only a minute left in the game.”

It’s adorable how into this she is, despite lucky number seven—aka Cole—being a douche canoe.

The excitement throughout the stands is infectious as we watch the Knights get into formation. Over the fan noise, Cole’s voice is barely audible as he calls the play, sending both teams into motion. He pulls back and launches the ball down the field, bringing the crowd to their feet.

I’m focused on the player catching the ball when I hear Sawyer scream Cole’s name. My gaze snaps back just in time to see him picked up off his feet from behind and slammed down onto the turf. Dread floods my stomach as his head bounces off the ground at an abnormal angle, and he lands on his neck and shoulder.

“What the hell just happened?” Oakley yells.

“He hit him so late. Cole never saw it coming,” Sawyer says, her voice wobbly.

A combination of anger and shock fills me when I realize who’s responsible for it. “It was Tommy.”

The refs run in, throwing yellow flags as number sixteen climbs off Cole and throws his hands up in the air, acting as though he made a great play.

The asshole is celebrating...while Cole’s lying there...lifeless.

“Oh my God. He’s not moving,” Sawyer croaks out as her hands fly to her face. “Cole’s not moving.”

Beside me, Oakley goes rigid. “What the actual fuck? Cole already threw the ball, there was no reason for Tommy to touch him!”

I don’t know the mechanics of the game, or who’s not supposed to do what, but I do know that hit was beyond brutal. Opponent or not, Tommy shouldn’t be happy about it.

Not unless he did it on purpose like Oakley’s implying.

I clutch my stomach as I watch the medics rush onto the field.

“Is he gonna be…”

My heart’s in my throat as Jace jumps over the chain-link fence faster than lightning.

“Shit.” Oakley flies down the stairs and I follow after him as fast as my feet will carry me.

People in the stands start shouting as Jace makes a beeline for Tommy, but I tune them out.

Oakley and I pick up our pace, rushing through the gate, but it’s too late. Tommy’s already on the ground and Jace is hovering over him, twisting his leg at an odd angle. Tommy struggles to get away, but Jace’s grip is iron-clad.

We’re barely on the field when I hear the snap of bone and Tommy screaming in agony.

Seconds later, a bunch of men in Viking’s uniforms swarm around them, blocking our view, but not before Tommy howls again.

“You two, off the field,” someone barks at us as they take Cole away in an ambulance.

“Let me go,” Jace roars at the players restraining him.

He’s practically foaming at the mouth like a vicious animal. His dark orbs are locked on Tommy who’s writhing on the grass, shouting something incoherent about his leg and wrist.

“I’m not finished with him.”

The sadistic look in his eyes sends a chill up my spine.

“The police will take it from here,” someone states before the medics rush over to Tommy.

As if on cue, I hear the sirens looming in the distance.

“Shit.” Oakley pulls out his phone as someone official escorts us off the field.

“Who are you calling?”

My heart is beating a mile a minute. All I want to do is run out there and protect Jace, but two officers are slapping cuffs on him and dragging him away.

“Hey, Dad,” Oakley says into his phone. “I’m gonna need you to meet me at the police station, pronto.”

Chapter 37

Dylan

I’m gazing out the window of a Greyhound when my phone vibrates.

I pick up on the first ring, silently praying for good news. The last update Oakley gave me was that they were keeping Cole overnight.

When I asked how bad his injuries were, he said he didn’t know. They were still running tests.

“Hey,” I answer. “Any news?”

“Yeah,” Oakley says. “Concussion…a bad one. But they’re discharging him later today.”

I breathe a sigh of relief and make a mental note to text Sawyer the latest update as soon as we hang up. Poor girl has been up half the night praying.

“Thank God.”

“I know.” He snickers. “Can’t say the same for the asshole, though. Rumor has it Jace fucked him up so bad he’ll be in the hospital for a couple weeks…at least.”

“He deserves it,” I utter before a horrifying thought hits me.

After Jace beat the living shit out of Tommy for hurting his brother, he was dragged off the field in cuffs.

Surely the severity of Tommy’s injuries would mean worse charges for Jace.

“What about Jace?”

“I told you,” Oakley starts. “My dad took care of it. He’s a dick sometimes, but he’s legit the best defense attorney in the state. Jace was released late last night. He’s at the hospital if you want to swing by and see him.”

“I can’t,” I say as the bus pulls up to the station. “I…uh. I have a thing.”

“What kind of thing?”

“It’s not important. I’ll fill you in later tonight.”

“Um…okay,” Oakley says uneasily. “If you need me, call me.”

“I will. Thanks for the update on Cole. I’m really glad he’s okay.”

“Me too,” he says. “Scared the shit out of me. It’s safe to say I’m never going to another game of his again.”

“It wasn’t your fault. It was Tommy’s.”

He didn’t just cross a line last night, he bulldozed over it. I’m ashamed I was ever into him.

“Yeah, well. There’s a good reason I never liked that motherfucking assface douchebag,” Oakley spits before he clears his throat. “Oh, shit. Gotta go. The nurses are giving me dirty looks and asking if I’m family.”

I shoulder my purse and walk off the bus. “Talk to you later.”

“Yo chill, lady. Cole’s my brother from another mother,” I hear Oakley shout before hanging up.

I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans as the door opens and the bailiff brings my father out.

All things considered, he doesn’t look too terrible. There are bags under his eyes, his lean frame is a little thinner, and the orange jumpsuit looks all wrong on him, but his eyes sparkle with optimism when he sees me.

I offer him a rueful smile as he takes a seat on his side of the plexiglass and reaches for the phone.

I pick up the one on my side. “You look good.”

His smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I was gonna say the same thing to you.” He points to his head. “What happened to the blue?”

“It’s against RHA’s dress code, so I had to get rid of it.”

He nods in understanding. “How are things? Crystal told me you’re still getting straight A’s, and you met a friend.”

“Sawyer,” I inform him. “And yeah, she’s amazing. I’m lucky to have her.”