Chapter 15 #2
When they arrived at the rec center, Rory pulled her hat lower to cover as much of her face as possible as they approached the field.
Dume met them halfway and handed Rory a glove. He was the most responsible of the group and always kept their equipment until they needed it.
“The team we’re playing seems tense,” he warned the two girls and Sam. “They aren’t speaking much and keep glaring at us.”
“Why?” Kordie wondered and peeked around Dume at the other team. “Have we played them before?”
“That’s the thing,” he replied, leading them to the dugout. “We have, and they were friendly.”
Sera waved with a broad smile when they approached the field and held up a travel cooler. “I brought you three drinks.”
“Thanks,” Rory said with a grateful smile.
Keith stepped forward and hooked his arm around Kordie’s waist, planting a loud kiss on her cheek. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show,” he teased.
“We’re batting first,” Sera said and clapped her hands together, rubbing them back and forth.
Rory chuckled at her enthusiasm. She liked her, but the thought of her with Rory’s friends while she was gone stung.
Sam sat on the bench, and Rory felt the tension radiating from him. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
He was staring at the other team. “Be careful when you’re out on the field.”
The other team glared at them, and he glared right back. “What is their problem?” she muttered.
Keith stood next to Sam and crossed his arms as he stared down the other team. “They know we’re going to beat them again.”
That wasn’t it, and they all knew it.
“Kordie, we need you to play today,” Keith said apologetically and handed her a glove.
She stared at it like it would bite her. “Why?”
He jerked his thumb toward the other team. “They said we’re playing five on five today. I think they thought we would forfeit since we told them we only had four when we set up the match. Assholes.”
“I’ll play,” Sam’s deep voice rumbled as he stood.
Everyone stared at him, and Keith whooped loudly. “Fuck yeah. They’re going to piss their pants when they see you.”
The bench shook as Kordie plopped down with relief.
“What position am I playing?” Sam asked, taking the glove from Keith.
As Keith, Dume, and Sam talked gameplay, Rory stared at the other team. She felt the animosity from across the field.
The men broke apart, and everyone ran to their positions near the players they were covering as Sera grabbed a bat and stood over the fifth plate.
When Rory reached her position, the girl near her looked at her and stumbled back. “What the fuck?” she shouted as she continued to back up. Her teammates moved closer as she pointed at Rory. “It’s The B-Butcher.”
Rory cursed under her breath and shook her head. “Aurora is my cousin, not to mention she’s in prison.” She walked forward and offered her hand. “I’m Lo.”
The other team looked uneasy, but they believed her. Why wouldn’t they? “The resemblance is scary,” the girl replied, tentatively taking her hand.
Rory put on her best act and laughed. “You should have seen her twin sister. It was impossible to tell them apart.” Lie. “Please don’t hold my cousin’s crimes against me. We were as shocked and hurt as everyone else.”
“They were her friends,” the other team’s pitcher accused, motioning to the rest of Rory’s friends. “We remember playing against her, and that one,” he said, turning to glare at Sera. “Holds rallies and praises her like a hero. You’re all sympathizers.” He spat on the ground. “Disgusting.”
Rory’s eyes caught movement behind him, and she watched Sera stalk across the field like a predator as she twirled her bat in her hand like a professional catch-shot player.
Dume realized what she was about to do and bolted toward her, and when she cocked the bat back with impressive form, he picked her up from behind.
The bat swung inches from the pitcher’s head, and he jumped back. “You crazy bitch!”
“Fuck you,” she shouted as she struggled to free herself from Dume’s hold.
Rory couldn’t help but double over with laughter at the fury on Sera’s face, the fear on the pitcher’s, and the annoyance on Dume’s.
“I will bash your fucking head in if you utter another word,” Sera vowed when Dume lowered her to the ground.
Rory, Keith, and Kordie joined Dume and Sera, and the pitcher folded his arms across his chest, ready to spew more insults, but he didn’t realize Sam was behind him. The Angel closed his massive hand around the pitcher’s neck and slammed him face-first onto the ground.
“I do not need a bat to kill you,” he snarled. “I suggest you and your friends go back to whatever filth you crawled out of.” The man on the ground screamed, and his team ran. “Your teammates are cowards. Leave.” He released the guy’s neck and backed away, watching him scurry after his friends.
Rory had yet to move when Keith approached her and slung an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t listen to them, and never insult yourself to avoid upsetting people. I’d die before I let anything happen to you.”
It was the same thing Dume said to her before she was arrested, back before they knew she was The Butcher. The knowledge that they still felt that way lightened a bit of the heaviness in her heart.
“I don’t deserve any of you,” she confessed, meaning every word.
“I will bash your head in, too, if I hear you put yourself down again,” Sera yelled across the field. Rory snickered, understanding why everyone liked the girl so much. She took no bullshit.
Still laughing, they made their way to the parking lot, recounting the fear on the other team’s faces when Sam went supermystic on the pitcher.
Rory peeked at him and swore she saw the faintest smile.