She wondered what had happened to Birgetta. Why she had suddenly gone quiet. Had she gone searching for Cooper, her parents or Marcus? She stood, ready to return, feeling fine until a stretcher rolled into the room and Andrew was bundled on. He was conscious and annoying and only Dani knew it was bravado, that her brother was scared too.
Cooper flew into the room, pale, his eyes wide until he found her sitting up and he sagged, hissing in relief before sitting beside her, touching her face.
Seeing Cooper’s distress, she said, “I’m fine, it’s just a gash. She was miles away when she shot me.”
The doctor annoyingly cut in, “It may have nicked a bone. We need to get you to hospital to check.”
Cooper groaned and ran his fingers through his hair, his eyes pooling.
“Great game.” Dani enthused to divert his worry.
“Great punch.” A player said.
Several players agreed, “Awesome punch coach.”
Eyes closing, Dani said “Please tell me you didn’t go for Birgetta.”
Cooper gazed at the men hovering protectively nearby. “In the showers, all of you!” They grudgingly left just as Jacob and Trisha entered, faces ashen, Trisha shaking while Jacob’s mean scowl was positively evil.
“I’m fine.” Dani repeated as Trisha started crying
Jacob yelling. “What the fuck happened?” He touched Dani’s forehead as the doctor explained that Andrew needed the hospital now and Cooper reassured both her parents that he wouldn’t leave Dani’s side.
The team doctor tightly bound her leg and bundled her into another stretcher. In the ambulance Cooper silently held her hand. At the hospital she endured the procedures without complaint, unsurprised to find the bullet had only cut through muscle. Her adrenaline was gone now and it hurt.
Nobody could answer her questions about Andrew, each nurse promising to find out but never returning. Finally, unable to stand it she begged Cooper to go and ask, his returning demeanor much improved.
“He’s fine, Dani. The bullet barely got through the thugs abs. I’ll accept thanks for that. He’s recovering. Your mother’s been sedated, Jacob’s watching her. They’ll be up soon.” He was still anxious.
“You’ll have to look after me while I recover. I hope that won’t be a bother?”
He smiled for the first time and Dani felt better. He kissed her lips. “That won’t be a problem at all.”
“What will happen to Birgetta?” Dani was concerned that the woman would get off or get bail and come for them again.
Cooper shrugged, “She’s in a world of trouble.” He was on the same line of thought as Dani. “Christ, I don’t want to have to worry about her forever.”
Jacob half carried Trisha into the room and Cooper moved to allow her to collapse into his chair. Jacob leaned over his daughter and kissed her face several times. Fat tears of relief rolling down his cheeks.
“Andrew’s fine too.” He eventually said. “He’s out for the rest of the season.”
Dani snorted at the absurdity of the statement at such a time. “Dad, you just about lost both your kids and you’re worried about the rest of the season?”
Jacob returned to his standard scowl which was a relief. “Are you trying to say I care more about rugby than my own kids?”
Smiling brightly, Dani said, “Is Mum alright?”
Jacob pointed at his wife who was slumped in her chair, giggling. “Look at her! Why the hell did you leap onto the field like that?”
Dani had to think about this. Why had she gone on the field? It was suicidal with someone shooting and she had been the only person running toward Andrew and not away. That was probably the best reason she could come up with.
“I didn’t want him to die alone.”
Incredulous, Jacob bellowed, “So you thought you’d go with him! That’s the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever heard! Look at your mother!” Trisha snorted something X-rated and Jacob wailed in despair. “She’s going to need therapy after this.” He then pointed at Cooper who was still suspiciously quiet. “And look at that big ball-sack.” Cooper rolled his eyes on a resigned sigh. “He tried to leap through the glass when you ran onto that field.”
Dani suddenly didn’t find the situation so amusing, “I’m sorry. I only wanted to get to Andrew.”
“I want to say it’s okay, that I understand,” Cooper said, “But it’s not okay and if you ever do anything like that again you can’t shift in with me.”
“She’s not shifting in with you.” Jacob automatically snapped, pacing the room, hands on hips.
“Yes, she is.” Cooper firmly replied, “It’s the only way to keep her safe.”
“Safe with you? Are you kidding? She’d be safer with a pack of human eating wolves.”
Cooper and Jacob scowled at each other. There was little menace in it, had become a habit at every practice session. This was more a joint growl of relief.
Dani said, "Dad, I’m shifting in with Cooper.”
Jacob wailed, “What did I do to deserve all this. Leave an old man with some hope for his future.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cooper asked, never once backing down to Dani’s stubborn father, he took Jacob head-on. Dani liked that Cooper was the only person she had ever introduced to her father that wasn’t intimidated.
“I don’t want my grandkids looking like you, all out of proportion and ugly.”
“You think I’m ugly? Have you looked in the mirror? Your grandkids were doomed long before I arrived on the scene.” Dani could see the glimmer of delight in her father’s eyes. He really did like Cooper.
Marcus ran into the room, eyes wide, quickly surveying the scene. “Christ, Jacob, I didn’t even have to ask which room Dani was in, your voice could wake the dead. I’ve got bad news. It’s Birgetta, the cops didn’t lock a door or something and the old hag just walked away.”
Dani covered her eyes, “This is never going to end. I suppose Michelle isn’t dead either?”
“Oh, she’s dead alright.”
“How do you find these things out, Marcus?” Cooper asked, suspicious.
Without a care, Marcus said, “Police scanners.” When everyone groaned, he barked, “It’s common practice for a journalist. I thought you would rather hear from me, the police are coming. I suggest Dani and Cooper get out of here, somewhere far away. Don’t tell anyone where, just go.”
Cooper studied Dani intently, thinking hard before pushing the buzzer for the nurse. When one trotted in, he said, “How long before Dani can go?”
“A specialist will need to check the x-ray and her stitches, and if it’s okay she can go.”
“I’m sure you know what happened?” The nurse nodded. “The nutter who did this has escaped and is probably coming for us.” He thought for a moment then pointed to Marcus, “And him for sure. It would be great if we could hurry this along.”
The nurse blanched and as Detective Franks entered the room with an armed policeman she ran to find the specialist. The detective apologized for Birgetta’s escape but could offer no explaination. Not finding his advice particularly comforting Dani was grateful to kiss her parent’s goodbye, knowing Andrew was still recovering from surgery, making them promise to call her mobile as soon as he woke.
Jacob held his daughter for a long time.
Dani refused a wheelchair, instead hobbling with Cooper’s help to a cab and heading for his apartment. In the car he wrapped an arm around her, finally saying what he thought without worrying who was listening.
“You are the stupidest woman I’ve ever known.”
“Thanks.” Dani was exhausted and her thigh was hurting. She had pills and a prescription to fill later.
“I thought I had lost you.” He rested his chin on the top of her head. “Would you even care?”
She burrowed into his chest, yawning, eyelids drooping. “Of course I care.”
“But you didn’t think of me. I've lost enough.”
“Andrew needed me.
”
“And I don’t?”
“He’s my brother, he was hurt.” Dani pulled back to stare up at him, “Are you really angry at me?” When he glared out the window she conceded, “I’m sorry. I will never leap onto a rugby field when my brother gets shot again. Better?”
“Not in the slightest. We’re home. I’ll get my car, the keys are inside.”
He ferreted in Dani’s pocket, coming up with her single key. “You were supposed to be home before me.”
A police car sat outside. Cooper paid the cab driver before helping Dani to the policeman.
“Has anyone been snooping around?"
The middle aged, lone officer studied Dani with concern. “I haven’t been here long but lights are on.”
“I left them on.” Dani said, wishing she could see through the walls.
The officer nodded with relief, “I would have noticed any movement inside.” He was smiling, confident and Dani knew he was a rugby fan.
“I just need my car.” Cooper was distracted. “Can Dani stay out here with you while I race in?” Dani tried to argue but Cooper held a finger up to stop her.
The officer defused the situation by saying, “You do look a bit woozy, love. Have a seat here with me.”
For once Dani did as she was told and as Cooper disappeared inside she closed her eyes, coming awake with a start.
“How long has he been?” She asked, her tongue feeling smeared in chalk.
The officer was anxious. “Too long.” He muttered.
Dani stepped from the car before she could be stopped when something smashed inside the apartment. Forgetting her leg she ran, throwing Cooper’s door wide, his bellow of outrage a relief. He was alive.
Going against every instinct she possessed Dani ducked low and crawled inside. She didn’t have time to process what she saw before a gun was pressed behind her right ear.
“Welcome to the party.”
“Birgetta, you reek.”
Birgetta hit her with the gun and all thought dissolved into pain. When Dani gazed up she realized Stacey was handcuffed to a kitchen chair, a tea towel wedged in her mouth. Her eyes were red but she was smart enough to know it would be suicide to cry, a snotty nose would clog up her only means of survival. The new mother was enraged, the wet front of her shirt showing she had been away from her baby for too long.
“Where are the kids, Birgetta?” Dani hissed, her teeth hurting from where Birgetta had hit her, adding to her thigh and aching head.
“Don’t worry about those disgusting, noisy things, I left them right where I found them.” She cackled with amusement.
“You left babies alone?”
“No, I killed them.” Stacey shook her head to say Birgetta was lying.
Cooper was handcuffed to the support beam holding up the overhead kitchen cupboards. As strong as he was there was little hope of pulling free. Touching her cheek, Dani found blood oozing from a cut. She was surprised she didn’t feel sick. If she lived long enough it would come or perhaps she was past such sensibilities.
“What do you want, Birgetta? Cops are outside.”
“Did you really think I’d go out without a fuss? I’m Birgetta Growler and I’m going to be the biggest story of the year. I’ve got the bitch that started this all.” She pointed to Dani, “I’ve got the wife of the bastard that ruined me in the media.” She moved a finger to point at Stacey. “And I’ve got the man that didn’t know how to stay down. This is going global.” Her voice had taken on an ethereal edge, like she was seeing her name in lights. Coldly, she added, “Now move to the kitchen table.”
With a gun to her head, Dani sat, finally turning to Birgetta. “Jesus, what the hell happened to you?”
Birgetta touched her cheek as if Dani had slapped her, “This is all your fault.”
Dani continued, “Are you sure you want the world to see you like this? Think of all your enemies, they will love seeing you in this state at the end.”
“Enemies?” She spat, “All my enemies are here.”
“There are queues of people waiting to talk about how you drugged them, took photos and blackmailed them onto Michelle’s shows. Your lies are coming to bite you, Birgetta. You’ll be remembered as a crazy woman who killed a young mother for more notoriety.”
“I’m a mother!” Birgetta screamed. “This was all because of my daughter.”
After a stunned pause, Dani said, “I didn’t know you had a daughter. What happened?”
“Michelle got some dirty fucking pictures and a video when she was on holiday. She wanted an up and coming American for her show and she picked my daughter. When I came to sort it out Michelle promised to hand them back if I did a job. One job turned into two years of this shit.” She wept then, bitter tears and Dani felt sorry for her. What mother wouldn’t do anything for their child.
“I didn’t want to ruin all those people but my daughter, she’s so talented and now she’s getting better jobs and I know that Michelle was just waiting for the time when she could release that dirty smut and ruin her life. It’s what Michelle does, she ruins lives. Things are changing for my baby and I need to go home.”
“Michelle’s dead, Birgetta. You ran her down.”
“It was an accident. I got the file from her office safe but she had taken the contents. Not just my daughter, there are so many other people that she was trying to ruin. I wanted to stop her from getting in her car with all that information. I wanted to burn it all for everyone. When she ran I knew I couldn’t catch her so I thought I’d stop her with my car. I didn’t expect her to hit her head like that.”
“Did you get all the information, Birgetta?” The older woman’s dirty, multicolored hair was falling in her eyes, her tattooed makeup strange and outlandish. It was like staring at a deranged clown.
Birgetta was confused. “I think so.”
“Then let’s burn it and you can get on a plane and go home to your daughter. Everything you wanted.” Dani knew this was impossible but she needed to make a connection, give Birgetta an option that didn’t include killing more people.
“I ripped it all up and threw it in the Thames. I knew after my second job for Michelle that my life was ruined. I expected to quietly kill myself but if I make this big, like global, my daughter will be famous and get more auditions.”
This was about fame. Dani wanted to cry. “By this time next week no one will even remember your name.”
Furious, Birgetta lifted the gun, shrieking with outrage when Dani dropped to the ground, pulling the older woman’s legs out from under her. They were sprawled awkwardly, fighting for the gun. With a sound like the roof was collapsing they fell apart. Thinking the police were making their way inside Birgetta clambered to her feet and pressed her back against the nearest wall, the gun clutched to her chest.
Even with her energy gone from being shot and hit, Dani rugby tackled the older woman, gratified when she again fell to the ground, laying on her side wheezing while Dani rose to her hands and knees shaking with exhaustion.
Cooper had pulled the entire top section of the kitchen from the roof by his handcuffs but the support beam wouldn’t budge leaving him hopelessly trapped.
Sighing with the joy of looking at him, Dani was unable to summon a smile.
“I’m still stuck.” He pulled at the bonds again with no luck, his face haunted.
Dani stood to tug the gag from Stacey’s mouth and to get the gun. At any other time she could have snapped Birgetta in two but she had been shot, beaten and was full of drugs. As she reached for the weapon Birgetta kicked out and Dani fell to her knees, doubtful she could get up again. On a surge of energy Birgetta moved behind her, the gun pressed to Dani’s head for the final time.
At Cooper’s cry of anguish Dani managed to smile, she wasn’t afraid.
“I love you.” She said, trying to get the words out before Birgetta finished her job. “Cooper, you were all mine.” She quietly finished. “Thank you for that, Birgetta.”
“
Thank me?”
“Without you he would be married to some bimbo with twenty kids by now. Instead he was waiting just for me.”
Stacey wasn’t so forgiving, “Let me go and I’ll rip your fucking throat out with my teeth.”
“She’s lactating.” Dani said dryly.
Birgetta turned to Cooper on an evil grin. “Don’t disappoint me. I helped ruin your life fair and square.”
“My life was a fucking joke.” Cooper said, “As I’ve told Dani, every painful second was worthwhile to get her in the end.”
A bullhorn outside caused everyone to jump. Birgetta was panting, clutching her throat as if unable to get a decent breath. Dani had seen this before, Birgetta was having a panic attack. Cooper was watching on with wide eyed disbelief while Stacey eyeballed Birgetta’s jugular like a hungry baboon.
“This is over, Birgetta. Your daughter wants her mother back more than she wants to be famous.”
“She won’t talk to me. I called her agent who said she's giving up acting. She met some guy who wants kids. Her career ruined by some loser. I should have been there. I should have been keeping an eye on her, instead I let Michelle trap me here. What have I done?”
“Don’t you want to be a grandmother?”
The gun at Dani’s head weakened. “I never thought about it. Who would want me as a grandmother after everything I’ve done?”
“You have family, Birgetta. Do the right thing.”
With that Birgetta began to cry, huge tears of long held emotion. With a final surge of energy Dani snatched the gun as Birgetta lifted it to her own head, tucking it under the couch and collapsing sideways, her pain and exhaustion overwhelming her. It was only Cooper’s voice that kept her conscious.
“Dani? Honey, you have to stay awake. You have to let the police know it’s safe to come in.”
“On it.” She mumbled, rising to her hands and knees and crawling, standing slowly to drag the door wide. Within moments police in black were swarming Cooper’s apartment. Dani slid down the door, her knees pulled up to rest her aching head.
Rules of her Game: A Contemporary Sports Romance Page 24
