Page 43 of Defending Madison

DIXON

The following week, I’m leaning against the back wall near the locker room entrance, Madison’s spectacular game nears completion, and I’m so excited for her. The Dauntless was down by a goal in the second period as the Bobcats, her old team, looked like they were going to go up by two. The veteran wing of the Bobcats advanced the ball up the field, skillfully weaving through the Dauntless players with deft footwork. Madison’s expression revealed her focus as she positioned herself strategically, ready to intercept the opponent who was preparing for a decisive shot on goal. Suddenly, Madison executed a slide move where she insert her foot between the opponent and the ball, launching the ball toward her Dauntless teammate.Anticipating the play, her teammate raced down the field and scored the tying goal.

I’m hoarse from screaming. My woman is a soccer legend in the making. Now, it’s deep into the last period and both teams are scrambling to make the winning goal. Dauntless offenders charge up the field with Bobcat defenders trying to steal the ball. Madison runs interference with defenders in front of the path of her teammates. In the flick of a bird’s wing, Madison’s teammate loses the ball to a Bobcat. Madison shifts effortlessly and attacks the offender, rescuing the ball from her extended foot. In slow motion I watch Madison maneuver her body to pass the ball to an awaiting teammate. She runs alongside, waiting for the opponent’s attack. Her teammate boggles the ball, and it bounces to Madison. She’s twenty feet from the goal with a clear path. She drives her body and pretends to pass the ball, until the last moment, she kicks it into the far corner of the net. The buzzer sounds above the net as her teammates swarm her. She’s made the goal they need to win.

Madison’s arm shoots up into the air. This is the moment she’s been waiting for. Now she’s back to her previous playing ability. Professional success is within her reach. This win gives them an edge on the other teams.

I stand in earshot of the reporters wanting her attention. I’d rather grab her and pull her sweaty body into mine and show the world she belongs to me, but I know to wait.

Madison steps out of the locker room. Voices call out to her but she ignores them to find me. Her focus on my eyes makes my heart swell. She wants me just as much as I want her. She rushes to me, dropping her bag and throwing her arms around my neck, she claims my mouth. I hold her above the ground and kiss her hard. The kiss breaks earlier than I’d like but voices surround us.

“Were you watching?”

“The entire game, sweetheart. You were phenomenal. The Bobcats know they made the biggest mistake giving you away. They deserve that loss and all the others they are going to get.”

I set her down as she beams at me. “Feed me.”

“Your wish, my command.”

A few minutes later, we sit in my SUV waiting at the light, three turns before Madison’s favorite restaurant. Her stalker has been silent since the call. No letters, calls, or packages.

The light turns green as I pull the SUV into the intersection. Madison’s joy permeates the interior, and I want to soak up every second. “Your two plays are vying for supremacy on ESPN. The sportscasters can’t decide which reel is the number one sports accomplishment for the evening.”

“Right now, I just want to eat dinner with my man.”

I turn to answer her as a loud crash explodes, and a jolt hits my SUV. I instinctively throw out my arm to Madison. The SUV jolts as it skids across the intersection. My brain scrambles with what is happening as Madison screams. The SUV jerks to a stop. Airbags pop on my side of the SUV as pain radiates along my shoulder. Madison reaches for me with a scared tone that heightens my focus. We’ve been hit. I tap the alert button on the dash as Ella’s voice speaks out.

“What do you need?”

“Been hit. Ambulance. I’m injured. Send help. Fifth…”

“I know where you are Dixon. Is Madison with you?”

“I’m here.” Madison leans to open the door as I bark.

“Keep the door closed until someone from CPSP gets here.”

“You’re hurt.”

“Madison. This one time just fucking do as your told.”

“Yes, Dixon.”

Ella chuckles. “Madison, can you look around? What’s going on in the street?”

Madison’s head pivots as I disengage my seat belt. Pain burns around my shoulder. My left side aches. She gasps as I turn to see a man approaching the SUV.

“That’s Bobby.”

“Who the fuck is Bobby?” Stay conscious. I reach inside the center console for the fingerprint lock for my Glock 22.

“My high school boyfriend. The one I screwed my freshman year in college.”

“Seriously?” Why the fuck aren’t any emergency personnel or CPSP guys here yet? “He’s your stalker?”

Her head snaps to me. “Oh my God, that makes some kind of sense. He would call me Benny, he’d know my mom’s number, but why would he do this now? We broke up after you and I… at Christmas.”

“No idea why he would try to hurt you after all this time. I need you to move closer to me.”

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