Page 60 of King of Violence

Of course he did. Of course my dad put a fucking spy on my football team to get dirt on me.

I shake my head and go back to my cleats. “Yeah, well, it’s over.”

Cole claps a hand on my shoulder, and his grip lingers just a little too long. “Good. Honestly, you should’ve seen it sooner. He was a distraction. You don’t need someone like that dragging you down. And hey, you won’t have to worry about him being a problem anymore.”

The words make me freeze. Slowly, I look up at him, my stomach twisting. “What are you talking about?”

Cole shrugs, his grin faltering slightly under my glare. “Nothing, man. Just...I figured you’d want someone to take care of it. So I did.”

I stand, towering over him now, the tension between us snapping taut. “Take care ofwhat, Cole?”

He hesitates, the cocky confidence in his eyes flickering. “Look, don’t freak out. It’s not a big deal.”

I grab his jersey and shove him back against the lockers with a loudclang. The room goes quiet, all eyes suddenly on us, but I don’t care.

“What the hell did you do?” I demand, my voice low and dangerous.

Cole glares at me and tries to push me off, but I pin him in place. “I just gave his name to the Vitales, okay?” he spits out, his voice sharp with frustration. “It’s not like they’re gonna kill him or anything. I just?—”

“Youwhat?” I slam him back harder, my knuckles whitening as I grip his jersey. My heart is racing, and it feels like the floor just dropped out from under me.

“I knew he was a snitch, Julian!” Cole shouts, his voice cracking. “He was gonna screw everything up for you—for us. He wasn’t good enough for you, and you know it! I mean, come on, youreallythink someone like him gets you? He doesn’t even belong in your world. But I do.”

His words hit like a punch to the gut, but he doesn’t stop there.

“I’ve always been here, Julian,” Cole says, his voice lower now, more desperate. “I’ve got your back. I understand you. I’m not some charity case you feel sorry for. I’m the one who’s been here for you, who’s?—”

“Shut up.” My voice is ice-cold, but my blood is boiling. “You had no right.”

“He was holding you back!” Cole snaps, his eyes burning with something dark and twisted. “You think I’d just sit by and let him ruin you? Ifixedit, Julian. Now he’s their problem, not ours.”

My vision tunnels. I don’t think, I just act. My fist connects with his jaw, and the satisfying crack of bone echoes through the room. Cole stumbles, clutching his face, blood already dripping from his nose.

“You idiot!” I yell, my voice shaking. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Who did you talk to? Who’s your contact?”

The other players start calling for the coach, so I need Cole to start talking fast.

Cole stares up at me, his bravado shattered. “I-I didn’t know it would go this far. They were just supposed to scare him off!”

I grab him by the front of his jersey again and drag him closer. “Who. Did. You. Talk. To?”

His lips tremble, and for the first time, he looks genuinely afraid. “Dante,” he whispers. “Dante Vitale.”

My chest heaves as I let go of him, shoving him back against the lockers. My hands are shaking, and I ball them into fists to steady them.

“You’ve screwed everything up, Cole,” I growl, my voice low. “If anything happens to Felix, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Cole doesn’t answer, just stares at me with wide eyes, blood smeared across his face.

I turn and storm out of the locker room, my mind racing.

“Greco, where the hell do you think you’re going?” Coach calls after me, but I’m already out the door.

I need to find Felix.Now. Before it’s too late.

???

The warehouse reeks of gasoline and damp concrete, the kind of place you’d expect for a meeting that ends with blood on the floor. My blood, their blood—it doesn’t matter. I move like a ghost through the shadows, my gun heavy in my hands.

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