Page 1 of Scored

PROLOGUE

Vee

The ending of SACKED

Iheard Pratt’s call and didn’t understand why he’d take the risk. Houston was out of time-outs. With a minute twenty on the clock, we just needed to eat up more time.

The Coopers lined up in I formation.

Our center snapped the ball to Fin. He stepped back. I scanned the players downfield. JD was open and it appeared that Kylon Lewis was too.

“Throw the ball, Fin,” I said, barely audible. “Throw it,” I said louder.

He was looking to his right. His arm reared back.

He’s throwing to JD.

From Fin’s blind side, a Houston defensive tackle made it around the offensive line. As the ball left his hand, I gasped. Fin was plowed to the ground. My heart squeezed in my chest.

Sacked.

Whistles blew and flags flew.

I looked up at the screen for a replay and clenched my teeth at the hit. It might be clean or it could be targeting. That call would be up to the officials. My first thought was that Fin didn’t see the tackle coming; he wasn’t prepared for the hit. My attention went back to the field, expecting to see Fin standing and adjusting his shoulder pads.

He wasn’t.

My heart thundered against my breastbone, the thumping loud in my ears.

Fin was still on the ground.

No.

No.

Tears filled my eyes as Tilson and Pratt ran onto the field with the medical team.

Tremors convulsed my body as tears coated my cheeks. “Fin, please get up. Please. I made my decision. It’s yes. Please get up.”

CHAPTER 1

Fin

Ablinding white flare flashed behind my closed eyes. Air escaped my lungs as I was caught in a high-impact collision. Ringing in my ears added to my confusion. My brain searched for clues to where I was.

In a car crash.

Hit by a bus.

The world lurched and tilted.

The game.

It wasn’t a high-speed crash—yet it was.

I was sandwiched between a 250-pound player and the hard turf of NRG Stadium. Gasping for breath, I groaned as some of the pressure eased. As I tried to move, I instinctively clenched my teeth when a sickening pop erupted from my left shoulder.

Forcing my eyes open, my vision was blurred as I stared upward at the bright lights. JD was in my face, his lips moving and his words inaudible over the clamoring of static. Trying to push myself up, my left arm collapsed, sending nausea through me as with each beat of my heart, a fresh surge of agony radiated from my shoulder to my left arm.