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I smirk. “So was Rivera once.”

Brandt leans back, rubbing his chin. “You want to throw him in against the Sabercats?”

I nod. “Let him get a feel for the league. See if he can disrupt Rivera’s tempo. If we can control the breakdown, we control the game.”

Brandt studies me for a long moment, then huffs. “You might not know rugby like I do, but you’ve got good instincts.”

I smirk. “High praise.”

He snorts. “Don’t get used to it.”

I chuckle, leaning forward. “We need to shut down their rolling maul before it builds momentum. That’s where they break teams. If we let them dictate the tempo, we’re screwed.”

Brandt grunts. “Agreed.”

We spend the next hour breaking down film, running through lineups, and adjusting defensive strategies to counter Houston’s attack. When I finally push back from the table, the day has nearly disappeared.

Brandt rubs a hand over his jaw, shaking his head. “This isn’t going to be easy.”

I smirk. “Nothing worth winning ever is.”

By the time I make my way to the medical wing, most of the facility is quiet.

The halls are empty. The weight room’s lights are dimmed.

But Anastasia’s office light is still on.

I lean against the doorframe, watching her.

She’s tired. I can see it in the way she rubs at her temple, in the way her shoulders curve inward slightly as she scans the medical reports in front of her.

But she’s focused.

She cares about this team, about these players.

I knock lightly, and she looks up, surprised.

Then, just like that, her expression softens.

Something shifts in my chest.

“You’re still here,” I say.

She smirks. “So are you.”

I step inside, glancing at the reports on her desk. “What’s the verdict?”

She sighs, leaning back in her chair. “A few lingering injuries, but nothing that’ll keep anyone off the roster. Dominic’s knee is holding up, but I still don’t love the way it swells after contact.”

I nod. “Brandt’s keeping him on limited minutes. We need him for the full season, not just this game.”

She nods, looking up at me. “You ready for Houston?”

I exhale, dragging a hand through my hair. “As ready as we can be.”

Anastasia studies me. “You think we can win.”

I smirk. “I know we can.”