Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Dan laughed. "Do as I say, not as I do, rookie."
"Kevin Day," a booming voice said, and all the Ravens turned to look.
Neil followed their stares to the man now standing at the apex of their triangle. The chill that shivered down his spine made all the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
Coach Tetsuji Moriyama was unarguably the most powerful man in Exy—as he should be, considering he and Kevin's mother, Kayleigh Day, were the two to invent the sport thirty years ago. He'd handpicked Edgar Allan to be home of the first NCAA Exy stadium and had been coaching the Ravens ever since. He was the founder of the Exy Rules and Regulations Committee, a consultant for the international committee, and owner of two professional teams. He was a legend.
He was also a demon: Riko's abusive uncle and the younger brother of the Moriyama yakuza boss.
"Master," Kevin said, voice catching with fear. "It's been a while."
Moriyama motioned to the Ravens, and they broke formation at last. They filled in the gaps between the Foxes, a wall of black suits and cold faces. Neil lost sight of Matt and Dan when the strikers bodily shifted him out of the way. He barely noticed, more intent on watching Moriyama and Kevin. Moriyama held out his hand, and Kevin obediently set his left hand in it. Moriyama lifted it to inspect Kevin's ragged white scars.
"Butcher," a quiet voice called in French.
Neil looked over his shoulder. Jean had come around the circle at some point and was standing a short space away. He tilted his head in an order and Neil followed his stare to see Riko stepping off the court. Neil didn't look back to see if any of his teammates noticed his exit and kept a casual pace on his way to the door. He stepped into the inner court in time to see Riko disappearing into the home locker room. Neil took a breath to steel his nerves and followed.
Riko was checking the locker room for unwanted company when Neil entered. Neil waited just inside the door, arms folded over his chest, for Riko to finish. It didn't take Riko long, and he beckoned imperiously for Neil to join him in the front room. The room was almost big enough to fit the Foxes' entire locker room and was crowded with matching couches. Throw rugs with Blackwell's Jackrabbit mascot covered the empty gaps on the floor and photos lined the walls. Riko considered a couple pictures before giving a derisive snort.
He turned on his heel to face Neil, and they eyed each other across the room. Finally Riko smiled. It was a horrible expression, but not nearly as bad as the words that followed it.
"Nathaniel, it has been so long."
Neil's fear was hot and thick in his chest. He could barely breathe around it. He prayed his expression didn't give him away even as he knew it was too late. "My name is Neil."
"Do not lie to me again. You will not enjoy the consequences." Riko gave Neil a beat to respond. "Imagine my surprise when the results came back. Your fingerprints," he elaborated, with a mocking twitch to his smile. "Kathy gave me your glass as a souvenir. All it took was a smile and a kiss. It seems she is growing up to be quite the cougar."
Neil's stomach knotted up inside him. He'd accepted a cup of water at the start of Kathy Ferdinand's talk show and hadn't thought twice about leaving it behind afterward. He'd assumed Kathy's crew would see to it. His mother would beat him half to death if she were still alive. All that time and money spent covering their tracks—destroyed by a simple batch of nerves.
"Explain something to me." Riko started across the room on slow steps. "Jean says Kevin did not know who you are. After seeing Kevin's reaction I am inclined to believe him. Perhaps I can understand, as I know how blind Kevin can be when it comes to Exy. I might even forgive him for sheltering you from me. But you must know who you are, so I am very, very curious to know what you think you are doing."
"I'm just trying to get by," Neil said, squeezing his arms so tight across his chest he thought he'd crush his own lungs. "If I'd known our families were business partners I wouldn't have signed the contract."
Riko stopped so close to him they were touching, and it took all Neil had in him to not lean away. Neil hadn't realized before that they were almost the same height. Riko's Japanese genes had betrayed him just as Neil's tiny mother had betrayed Neil. Riko might be short, but he radiated power and lethal malevolence. The two inches between the strikers felt like twenty.
"You're lying," Riko said.
"I am not." Neil hated the thread of desperation that worked its way into his voice. "I don't want to cause any trouble for your family. I don't want you to cause any trouble for mine. I'm just here for a year and then I'm gone again, I promise."
"You don't want to cause any trouble for my family," Riko echoed, as if hearing them a second time would make them easier to understand. "You have already cost my family a sizable fortune and eight years of trouble."
"How?" Neil asked. "The money I took was my father's."
"If you think acting stupid will save you, you are sadly mistaken."
"I'm not acting," Neil said, finally giving in and taking a step back. "My mother said it was my father's money. She never even told me about you. If I'd known the money was yours—"
"Nothing your father owned was his!" Riko snapped.
Neil's words died in his throat. He stared blankly at Riko. Riko stared back at him, looking for deceit on his face. Whatever he found only served to infuriate him further. Riko grabbed Neil by his shoulders and slammed him into the wall. Neil's head hit hard enough to rattle his teeth.