Fuck.
“Concussion?” I asked the AT.
The athletic trainer nodded. “That would be my guess. Let’s get you to the sideline. You’re not playing anymore today.”
I gritted my teeth and got her up, helping her toward the sideline with the AT’s help.
The ref, having waited until he got her off the field, turned around and held up a red card to the goalie, who pitched a huge fit.
Her coach pitched one as well, going up to the ref and getting into her face.
Which only pissed me off, because it was more than obvious that the reason he was doing that to her was because he thought he could intimidate her.
The fans on the other team yelled and booed.
The ref threw the coach out, too.
That’s when it went sideways.
Everyone was so focused on the goalie, the coach, and their issues that no one watched a random man come from the stands and storm across the field.
The female ref was flanked by both of her female linesmen, and didn’t see this man coming up until he was already on top of her.
“Nettie,” I called out, cautious. “Get the girls off the field and into the locker room. Now. Lock all the doors.”
I could see this getting out of hand.
The male parent, apparently the dad of the goalie, was pushing the ref and getting into her face.
My team left quietly, leaving all of their belongings behind.
“Natalia,” I said to the AT. “Get into the AT room and close and lock the door.”
I said this so quietly that no one besides us could hear.
She gave a quick glance toward the chaos on the other team’s sidelines and nodded.
The ref blew her whistle to signal the end of the game.
Seconds later, she gestured toward the other team and said, “You forfeit!”
Fuck.
My entire sideline was empty of my players and coaching staff.
The only one left was me.
Which I thanked God for when the parent pulled out a gun and leveled it at the ref. Who was standing in line with me.
Everyone froze.
The few fans that had braved the weather took off, too. The kids on the other team ran toward the parking lot, and I selfishly thought “good” because the whole situation with them was scary and I wasn’t sure that I wanted them around my kids.
Thank freakin’ God I’d already sent the junior varsity home for the day along with their parents.
Instead of staying, Bossy had gone with one of the girls on the team to Hopps, where Weaver was going to pick her up after they ate.
I backed away toward the tunnel, hoping beyond hope that everyone could get away.
