Five: On

crashing against stone, drums beating in time with racing hearts. Floodlights cut through the evenin

board bli

inutes

ind sharp despite the pressure. The match had been brutal...tackles hard, passes tight, tempe

the back of his wrist a

es and thi

s shaking as she shouted with the rest of the cheerleaders. Her blue hair

ON, XA

t starte

SAVAGE!

he scandal had not stopped her from working. It couldn't. Rent still needed paying. Food

r, finger poised. The ball was passed

a sharp turn. The defenders were a s

er s

, kissing the inside of the net just as the

ere was silence. Then

ALL

to her eyes as she jumped and laughed. The cheerleader

s my b

houting his name. He staggered under their weight, breathl

the moment pe

ng free...an

ed at his sides.

wing the shots when the noise moved from cheering to angry shouting. She looked up. Polic

going f

bbed Frey

ed. "Wait...what

need to co

nging wildly as panic surged through

. Booing erupted from the s

IA

EA

TION S

struggled instinctively, but the officers were

cried. "Please

ace away, jaw tigh

er sobs swallowed by the noise. Something twisted in his chest.

d toward the tunnel but

anager said urg

to..." h

y. "Cameras are everywhe

s clenched. H

for autographs. He forced a smile onto his face, moving mechanically, s

*

est, arms wrapped around herself as tears fell freely. Her head throbbed

teps approached. She l

ars, immaculate as ever. Beside her was Watz, ho

s hear

the cell and escort

throat. "Miss Woods, we're pr

ared pa

ntinued, "there

istened

zing to Xander Savage, the Savage fam

eath c

culating are false," the lawyer went on calmly. "

nds tr

r to speak publicly or privately abo

e stre

her head s

sharpened. "Th

hoarsely. "I won't destr

"Then we have nothi

to the cell. The

officer. "Let me know w

ut without l

*

heel. Courtney sat in the passenger seat, gaze forwar

r said final

y didn'

erve this," he s

Courtney re

. "She's jus

So was I when I learned what

d at her.

let a small girl ruin the legacy my

ent. The road s