Chapter 117 Checkmate 2
Melissa’s POV
“That’s why they looked so sluggish in the third period,” Jake said, his voice tight with rage. “We were drugged.”
“How?” I asked. “How did Sterling drug them?”
“The water bottles,” Dr. Patterson said. “We’ve traced it back to the bottles that were provided to our team bench. They were contaminated.”
“But Sterling uses the same water bottles,” one of the coaches protested.
Richard’s expression turned grim. “That’s the insidious part. They do use the same bottles. But Sterling’s team had been taking a counteragent…a stimulant that would negate the effects of the sedatives…for the past week. We found it in their system too. They essentially poisoned themselves along with your team, but they had the antidote.”
My blood ran cold. “They poisoned both teams?”
“To avoid suspicion,” Richard confirmed. “If only the Titans had tested positive, it would have been obvious sabotage. But by contaminating all the water bottles and secretly dosing their own players with a counteracting substance, they made it look like a facility-wide issue.”
“Except they didn’t count on us doing emergency blood work,” Dr. Patterson added. “If the players had just gone home feeling tired, and attributed it to a tough game, this would never have been caught.”
“But it was caught,” Gavin said. His voice was terrifyingly calm. “And now Sterling has a problem.”
Richard nodded. “We’ve already contacted federal authorities. This goes beyond league violations. This is criminal assault. Potentially attempted murder, given that these substances could have caused cardiac arrest in players with underlying conditions.”
“The game?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.
“Invalidated immediately,” Richard said. “Sterling is disqualified. The Titans win by default. But more than that…Sterling’s entire organization is being shut down pending criminal investigation. Every staff member and player, everyone who had access to those water bottles is being questioned.”
My knees felt weak.
Gavin’s hand found the small of my back, steadying me.
“The trophy presentation will happen in thirty minutes,” Richard said. “I wanted to inform you first, Mr. Cross. Your team deserves to know they won fairly…that they would have won regardless, but this… interference prevented them from showing their true capability.”
“Thank you, Richard,” Gavin said. “My team and I appreciate your swift action.”
Richard and the other officials filed out, leaving just our team, the coaches, and Marcus.
The moment the door closed, Jake let out a string of curses that would have made a sailor blush.
“They drugged us,” he said, disbelief and fury warring in his voice. “They actually fucking drugged us.”
“Are the guys going to be okay?” one of the coaches asked Dr. Patterson.
“They’ll be fine,” the doctor assured him. “The doses were calculated to impair performance, not cause lasting damage. Everyone should be back to normal within 24 hours.”
“We need to tell the rest of the team,” Jake said. “They’re in the locker room blaming themselves for the loss.”
“Go,” Gavin said.
Jake nodded and left with the coaches.
Then it was just Gavin, Marcus, and me.
“The girl in the hallway,” Gavin said.. “That was Tasha, from the bar?”
“Yes.”
“She also works for Sterling’s media team.”
“Yes.”
Gavin’s jaw tightened. “What did she say to you?”
I told him. Everything. Her gloating about taking my job, my man, my trophy. Her research into Gavin and my mother. I didn’t hide any information.
By the time I finished, Gavin’s expression had gone completely blank. That dangerous blankness that meant someone was about to be destroyed.
“Marcus,” he said quietly.
“Already done, sir,” Marcus replied.
I squinted, not understanding this exchange. What was already done? Should I even ask?
Marcus cleared his throat. “The team is gathering for the trophy presentation. We should go.”
Gavin offered me his hand.I took it.
We walked back toward the arena together. I could already hear the confused murmuring of the crowd as officials made announcements.
When we reached the tunnel, our team was there. Still in their gear. Looking exhausted but happier.
Jake saw us and grinned. “Ready to win a championship?”
“Hell yes,” I said.
Richard voice boomed over the loudspeaker:
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have an important announcement regarding tonight’s championship game. Following an emergency investigation into serious health and safety violations, the Sterling Sharks organization has been found guilty of deliberately contaminating player hydration supplies with performance-altering substances.”
The arena went dead silent.
“This constitutes criminal assault and fraud. The game result is invalidated. Sterling Sharks are disqualified from all league play pending criminal prosecution. The New York Titans are hereby declared the rightful champions.”
For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
Then our section exploded.
The team on the ice looked stunned. Then Jake started screaming. Then they all were.
“Get out there,” Gavin said, pushing me gently toward the ice. “I know you want to capture this.”
I ran.
Camera in hand, I burst onto the ice just as the trophy was being brought out.
The team saw me and surrounded me, pulling me into their celebration.
“We did beat them!” Jake shouted. “We’re champions!”
He grabbed the trophy. Lifted it high.The arena shook with cheers. A lot of people headed to the ring to celebrate with the boys. The fans threw stuffed toys and candies into the ring showing their happiness.
I captured it all every moment. Every face. Every second of pure, hard-earned joy.
And across the ice, in the Sterling section, I saw Tasha.
She was being escorted out by security. She looked over at me one last time. Confusion and fear replacing her earlier triumph.
I lowered my camera from my face.
Met her eyes directly.
And smiled.
The most genuine smile I’d felt all night.
Then Gavin was beside me on the ice. He pulled me close, his lips finding my ear.
“She’s finished,” he murmured. “I promise you, piccola. She will never hurt you again.”
I believed him.
Because Gavin Cross didn’t make promises he couldn’t keep.
And Tasha Sterling was about to learn what happened to people who tried to take things from people he loved.