Chapter 35 #2
Maia’s captain came forward and spoke to the referee. “There has been lots of play happening off the ball and trash talk.”
“I’m aware,” the referee said, waving his red card. “You made a dangerous tackle. Please leave the field, or I will call off the game.”
“But it’s not fair,” Amanda snapped.
“Amanda,” Jan said. “We can discuss this later with management and the coaches.”
Finally, Amanda left the field, but only after several of her team murmured to her. Maia longed for Henry’s shifter hearing to understand the conversation.
The last half an hour was fast and furious, with Maia’s team running in four tries and their kicker converting each one. At the game’s end, Maia was sore but still running freely, and for that, she was grateful.
Once the final whistle blew, Maia’s team lined up to thank the opposition, but many of the Dunedin players walked off without acknowledging them. It was poor sportsmanship, and Maia was glad she no longer had an association with them.
Their team went into a huddle.
“Well done, everyone. We kept our heads and didn’t let them needle us. We’re in the next round,” their captain ended gleefully. “This is our best result in three years. All we need to do is work hard, and the title is ours for the taking.”
“Uh-oh,” one of their team said in warning.
Maia glanced to the right to see an enraged Amanda stalking toward them. Henry and Gerard were also heading their way, and Maia relaxed. Amanda couldn’t do more than shout at her in public. It hadn’t been Maia’s fault Amanda had lost her temper, resulting in the referee sending her off the field.
“This is your fault,” Amanda shouted, spittle flying and red patches of temper on her cheeks. “You enjoy making me look stupid.”
“Think she’s doing that all on her own,” someone said.
Maia ignored the other woman. A red card meant a committee would look at Amanda’s case and decide on disciplinary action. It was nothing to do with Maia.
Maia grinned at Henry. Her man. The more time she spent with him, the more she tumbled in love with the man. She took half a step toward Henry.
“Watch out!” someone shouted. A teammate.
Maia jerked, feeling a presence beside her. She whirled and barely missed the punch Amanda threw at her.
“What’s going on?” It was a female reporter for the local paper.
“Nothing,” Maia said.
“She’s lying,” Amanda howled. “She stole my place on the team.”
“I play for Christchurch,” Maia said, hoping Amanda wouldn’t swing at her again.
“Duck!” Henry shouted without warning.
Maia dropped, and Amanda tripped over her, the force of the blow she’d aimed at Maia throwing her off balance.
“Doesn’t look like nothing to me,” the reporter said.
Maia scrambled away from Amanda and joined Gerard and Henry, trusting them to tell her if Amanda tried to strike her again. She relaxed when she spotted Amanda’s teammates and the assistant coach. Maia watched Amanda struggle to run after her, but Cameron manhandled her toward the changing rooms.
“What can you tell me about the bad blood between Maia and Amanda? Didn’t they used to play on the same team?” the reporter asked, shoving a microphone at Maia’s teammates.
“I have nothing to say,” one said.
“Time for a shower,” another said.
En masse, her team left without commenting. The reporter glanced at Maia but must’ve thought better of trying to get a soundbite from her.
“Do you need to do any promo stuff before you leave?” Henry asked.
“I’ll check with the coach,” Maia said. “I’ll introduce you.”
“Amanda is digging herself a deeper hole,” Gerard said, his green eyes full of concern. “Surely they’ll punish her this time.”
“She’ll get herself arrested again,” Maia said. “I refuse to accept her crap.”
“Maybe you should take out a restraining order, so she’s breaking the law if she comes near you,” Henry said. “Your teams won’t meet again, so she can’t say the restraining order would stop her from playing rugby.”
Gerard snorted. “She’s doing that by herself. What did she think she’d achieve by attacking you in public?”
“She wasn’t thinking,” Henry said. “The woman has a temper and sees red instead of commonsense.”
“Coach Riley?” Maia said on reaching their head coach. “This is my boyfriend Henry and his business partner Gerard. Is there anything I need to stay for?”
He shook hands with Henry and Gerard before turning to her.
“You did good, missy. Great game. Still can’t believe those idiots kicked you off their team roster.
Their loss. My gain,” he said, his broad grin revealing a missing eye tooth.
“We have the hospital visit next week. Other than that, it’s our usual training schedule.
Have some fun.” He waggled his finger at her.
“Not too much, though. I need you fighting fit for our next game. Things have become serious.”
“Yes, coach,” Maia said.
She, Henry, and Gerard wandered off to join their family and friends who’d come to see her game.
Levi sprinted over with his best friend.
Both boys gave her an enormous hug. Everyone was staying with Sam and Lisa before traveling to Dunedin.
Henry and Maia would remain with them until the season’s end.
“Amanda!” a man roared.
Everyone, including Maia, turned toward the shout.
“Whoa,” Maia said, staring at the gun Amanda aimed in their direction.
“Levi. Scott. Behind us now,” Jacey said. “Everyone else, back up slowly.”
Sam and Gerard melted into the background while Henry shoved her behind him.
“Henry,” Maia said, his name a soft protest.
“A bullet won’t hurt me as much.”
“You’ve taken everything from me!” Amanda screamed.
Where had she bought a gun? Guns weren’t a common commodity in New Zealand.
“Back up slowly,” Jacey instructed those behind them.
“Pay attention,” Amanda screamed. The gun fired, punctuating her order.
“What do you want?” Maia called, wincing as a thunk sounded behind her, followed by a metallic reverberation.
“For you to get the hell out of my life,” Amanda screeched.
Maia noticed the reporter sidling closer, intent on a story. Maia wanted no part of this drama.
“Amanda, put down the gun,” Cameron shouted. “This isn’t the way to solve your problems.”
“You’re right,” Amanda called. “I’ll shoot her, then she won’t be an issue.” Amanda prowled closer while everyone around Maia backed to safety.
Without warning, Amanda darted forward, but Gerard and Sam glided behind her. They exchanged hand signals before they tackled her. Amanda jerked, loosed a screech. The gun fired. A woman shrieked.
The reporter. She dropped to the ground, holding her arm and screaming hysterically.
“She shot me,” she howled.
Sam and Gerard pinned Amanda’s bucking body, Gerard taking the gun away.
Jacey spoke on his phone. “Yes, they’ve secured the woman. We need an ambulance and the police. A stray bullet hit a spectator.”
“You okay?” Henry asked.
“Yeah. I’m thinking Amanda won’t get bail. If she thinks I won’t press charges, she needs her head read,” Maia snapped, thankful for Henry’s friends. Her friends, too, now that her shock about shifters and learning most of her friends were dual-natured had dissipated.
“The cops have arrived,” Jacey said. “Plenty of witnesses. That will help.”
“Is the reporter okay?” Maia asked.
“The bullet nicked her arm,” Lisa said. “A doctor is with her.”
“Thank goodness,” Maia said. “This might truly be over now.”