Page 112 of Heartbreaker
“Spencer knew he had to do something,” Jude says. “If she landed that blow, this match was over!”
The crowd gasps as Savvy falls to the apron and then to the ground. She clutches her back as Brooks drops from his spot and rushes to her side.
“This is awesome!” The crowd chants as the four wrestlers try to regain their bearings.
“They are right, this is awesome!” Scott exclaims.
“These men need to get the women on their feet so they can tag in and finish the match, though. Neither one is the legal man right now,” Jude says.
Spencer drags Viviana to their corner to do just that. Now the legal man, he dives through the ropes straight into Brooks and Savvy. The impact sends all three of them into the barricade, and the crowd erupts.
“Suicide dive by Austin! There are bodies everywhere, Jude!” Scott yells at the sight of the three wrestlers sprawled on the floor.
“Austin knew he had to do something to change the course of this match,” Jude says. “But he took a good hit to the head with that dive, and it looks like Brooks will be the first to his feet. He needs to get Skye back into the ring and make the tag.”
Brooks Taylor helps his partner back into the ring before he returns to their corner, where he climbs out of the ropes, planting both feet on the apron. Holding the tag rope attached to the turn buckle, he extends his hand out to Savvy, who quickly slaps it, rolling out of the way.
“Tag!” The referee shouts.
Spencer Austin returns to the ring, locking eyes with Taylor. Each man sprints, meeting in the center and striking one another with hard punches.
Brooks ducks to avoid a final punch, stepping behind his opponent. He wraps his arm around Spencer’s waist and lifts him off his feet.
“German suplex!” Jude calls.
Spencer rolls through, but Taylor nails him with a running knee to the jaw. The crowd cheers as Spencer falls to the mat and Brooks goes for the Legacy Lock.
Locking in the submission hold, Spencer cries out in pain, too far from the rope, but not too far from the ladder. He musters up enough resolve to roll forward, twisting free from the hold and sending Taylor into the ropes. Spencer scrambles to his feet and up the ladder, perching himself at the top.
“What’s he doing up there?” Scott questions no one in particular. “Is he gonna do what I think he’s gonna do?”
“I sure hope not. There’s no way he can do it without injuring himself,” Jude says.
Spencer watches Brooks regain his bearings, waiting until the very last moment to jump off the top of the ladder. He somersaults through the air in his signature four-fifty splash. Brooks shifts out of the way, and Spencer’s landing misses. He lands awkwardly on his already sore ankle, and a sickening crunch echoes through the ring. Spencer screams out in pain.
“That’s the same ankle Brooks Taylor has been targeting all night. This could be a game changer,” Jude says. “I think it might be seriously injured.”
Brooks takes advantage of his opponent’s newest injury, rolling him up for the pin. The referee slams his hand down on the mat.
1…2…3…
Spencercries out in pain when I secure the Legacy Lock, struggling against my hold in an attempt to free himself, but the rope is too far. His gaze flounders from the rope to Viviana to the ladder, and it seems he’s made a decision when it remains on the weapon in the center of the ring. He bounces on the ball of his free foot a few times before rolling forward, twisting his ankle free from the hold, and the momentum shoots me into the ropes. It gives Spencer the chance to climb the ladder and find his perch on top.
I stumble a little when I stand, and when our eyes lock, I get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. There isn’t enough room for him to do what I know he’s about to do. If he goes for the four-fifty splash from that angle, someone is going to get hurt.
Spencersomersaults through the air in his signature four-fifty splash but misses his mark when I step out of the way. First, I hear the pop, and then the crunch of bone when he lands, followed by a cry of pain.
Holy fuck.
My opponent clutches his left ankle, which is facing the opposite direction it should be. I glance at Mike, the referee, and he’s seeing the same thing I am. With a subtle nod, I slide into a quick pin, hooking Spencer’s good knee, and force his shoulders down to the mat.
“Stay the fuck down,” I say, and I’m shocked when he listens.
1…2…3…
The roar of the crowd mixes with the sound of my theme music, but I can barely hear it over the drumming in my ears. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Austin wasn’t supposed to get on the ladder. He was supposed to throw me into the ropes and go for the four-fifty off the turnbuckle. There wasn’t enough room for him to execute that properly off the ladder, and now…now his ankle is hanging on by a fucking thread.
Despite the reason, I’m sure Amos will have a few choice words for me when we get backstage, but I don’t care. I didn’t have a choice. I had to end the match. There was no way we could continue. The medics pull Austin under the bottom rope, and he fights them when they try to coax him onto the gurney.Stubborn ass, I think, but it does make me feel a little better to see him walk out. A round of applause fills the air as the medics help him limp to the back.
