Tonis POV
We're 2 minutes away from our 8th global title.
"Alexis, just take knees okay? We'll fight off on defence,"
"Yes coach," she says through her mic
She does it and then the defence goes on and she comes and stands beside me.
"Great game Lexi,"
"Thanks mom,"
LJ makes a huge pick and there's one play left for Lexi to make.
"Do what you want sweetheart?"
"They want a fight Mama, I'm kneeling,"
"Good,"
She nods and the offence takes a knee and we win.
We're celebrating when someone grabs my shoulder and pulls me backwards.
"Rielly, you aren't allowed to be here," I say afraid of him "please,"
"You or the little one," he whispers "quietly let's go,"
I nod and he takes me down a hallway.
"They'll notice I'm gone, I'm supposed to be there with my kids,"
"Toni.. you have been afraid of me forever now, and you seem more afraid now than before why?"
"I have a good life and I can't let you take that away from me, I've left my kids once and I'm not doing that again,"
He kicks my fake leg out from under me and shoves me to the floor.
"Topaz, in 5 minutes they'll find you- and in 6 I'll be dead," he says getting close "but you gotta believe the next five will be the worst of your life,"
He cuts under my chin with a blade before I punch him and get up.
"Can't run bitch,"
"Watch me,"
"Your wife is worried, not so much for you though," he says with a slight chuckle
He opens a closet beside him and Mateo crawls out
"Matty, Matty, come here baby boy," I say starting to cry "come to mama,"
He starts crawling towards me and Rielly steps on his leg and he cries in pain.
"NO STOP!" I scream "STOP IT YOURE HURTING HIM,"
I get back up and shove him.
He cuts me again and then stomps on Mateos leg definitely breaking it, then stands on it
Mateo is bawling and so am I, but every time I get up he cuts me.
I'm no help dead.
"Had enough Toni? Want me to put him out of his misery?"
I get up and get in a position to tackle him.
We wrestle for the knife until he gets it and I hear people.
"Coach Topaz?" Trey says coming around the corner "they're... oh shit,"
"If you want your coach to live, you'll walk away now boy,"
"Trey grab Mateo, bring him to the doctor or Cheryl or something,"
"Leave the baby or she dies,"
"Trey get out of here,"
He runs away and he digs the knife deeper in my skin.
"Maybe I changed my mind Toni. Maybe you'll be dead after this,"
"Not likely,"
I manage to twist his arm and grab the knife. In the struggle
I.. stab him in the stomach
What did I just do? I'm going to jail.
Apparently he didn't die though and he tackles me and starts strangling me.
I can't lose consciousness
Mateos still crying.
All of a sudden someone gets him off me and I start coughing.
"Mama, mama, it's okay," TJ says hugging me "Matty is okay, mom has him,"
"Where Lexi? And Mia and KC?"
"Everyone's okay mom," he says
"Thank you TJ,"
"Don't thank me mom, I should've found you sooner,"
"I'm alright, I'll be okay,"
"Baby!" Cher says running over
"C!" I say as she bends down to hug me
"Baby are you okay? What happened?"
"I don't even know where to start, how did he get Mateo?"
"He was sitting on the chair beside me, one minute I stood up to cheer and when I looked back down he was gone. I'm so sorry Toni, I thought I had a close enough watch on him,"
"It's not your fault Cher,"
The police and paramedics are working on Rielly.
They give up CPR and announce that he's dead.
"Cher.. I just killed a man," I whisper
"It was self defence, they have cameras to prove that," she assures "you'll be okay,"
She helps me get my leg on and she says she'll follow the ambulance to the hospital.
I'm in the Same ambulance as Mateo who won't stop screaming.
"May I hold him?"
"Just be careful," she says
I nod and carefully pick him up
"Shh baby shh, it's okay. The scary man is gone I promise," I whisper kissing his temple "see Maté it's mama, it's me, you're okay,"
He starts settling down and I bounce him
"He looks a lot like you,"
I laugh and sigh
"That's just coincidence, we adopted him a few weeks ago," I say kissing his temple
"Congratulations then,"
"Thank you,"
She looks at my cuts until we get to the hospital and they let me keep holding him.
"Mama," he sniffles
"That's right baby, it's just me," I say "you're alright Mateo,"
A doctor comes in and starts speaking Spanish very fast
"hola no hablo mucho español, mi esposa lo hace si puede entrar. Soy de América," I say, explaining I don't speak spanish, but Cher does
"Oh I'm so sorry, I speak English as well- they did not tell me you were American," he chuckles "I am doctor Lopez, can I get both your names?"
"I'm Antoinette Topaz, and this is Mateo Topaz,"
"What part of America are you from?"
"Riverdale New York,"
"You're a football coach obviously then?"
"Yes, this is my 12th year,"
Mateo starts crying again and the doctor says that he needs surgery.
"You said your wife is here? I will get a nurse to find her,"
"Thank you," I hug Mateo and he stops screaming for a couple minutes
"I wan mama," he whispers
"She's coming baby boy,"
Cher walks in and kisses me right away.
"Are you okay T?"
"I'll be okay Cher, I promise okay?" I say "Mateo, look it's mommy, see? She's okay baby boy,"
He grabs for her and Cheryl holds him
"He has to have surgery on his leg," I say starting to cry again
"That's okay, he'll be okay," she says softly kissing his temple "right Mateo? You're going to be okay,"
The surgeon comes in and sighs.
"Ma'am's I would like to tell you myself that saving his leg is... a long shot. We will do what we can to save it, but in case of the blood flow ceasing- it will need to be amputated. Are you within moral, physical, mental, and economical means to care for a child with one leg?"
I chuckle a bit and nod
"I lost my leg in the army, so we'll be able to do it- right Cher?"
"Of course,"
We say goodbye to Mateo and Cher puts him on the bed they brought in for him.
"Bye fighter, I'll see you later okay?" I say kissing his head "mama loves you,"
They take him away and Cher shows me to the waiting room that everyone's in.
"Toni!" Reggie says hugging me
"I'm alright Reggie, I'll be okay,"
"Mama wheres Mateo?" Lexi asks scared
"He had to have surgery, he'll be okay," I say "can we talk in the hall Lexi?"
She nods and we go out to the hallway
"I'm really proud of you Lexi, and I'm sorry I didn't get to celebrate with you on the field,"
"It's okay Mama, and thank you,"
"I'm going to talk to mom and then I have to change at the hotel, you and TJ should go and celebrate,"
"Okay," she nods
"Mama?" TJ says from behind me
He hugs me really tight and I smile
"Tony, I'm okay," I laugh "your brothers in surgery, and I just needed some stitches and I'm going on medication and that's it okay?"
He nods against my chest and I sigh.
"It's okay TJ, I'm alright,"
"I know,"
I go in the room and sit next to Cher.
"Baby, I might bring the kids back to the hotel," I say "and change and then come back?"
"Good idea, I want to stay here though," she says
"Of course, text me any updates?"
She nods and RJ says he'll stay with her.
Reggie, Liz, Liv, and I bring everybody back to the hotel.
"Mama, Trey says all the guys are in the party room if you wanna say hi,"
I nod and we go to the room.
"Coach?" Trey says when Lex opens the door
"Hey guys," I say as they shut the music off "congratulations, today was a big win- best day of your career- I promise that,"
"How are you?"
"I'm good, don't worry?"
"Mateo?"
"Matty is fine," I say "he's in surgery on his leg, but he'll be okay,"
I talk with them for a few minutes before going to change and then catch up with Cher.
I hope my baby is going to be okay.