cle Leo sat me down at the kitchen table. He looked older than

he started, his voice heavy.

t was a medical bill. A very large one. The

hest. "It' s not good, Maya. The do

the bill. It was staggerin

y voice barely a whisper. "The mo

y, kid. I got a bad tip. A friend... he swore it was a sure thing. I thought I

rk, all those hours staring

' re tired. I know you want a break. But I need you, Maya. Jus

e. How could I say no? This was my uncle, the man w

the betrayal, seemed distant and dreamlike c

oice flat. "Okay, Unc

before he masked it with a grateful sob. He pulled me int

rld. I poured over every piece of data, every injury report,

aw something no one else did: a new blocking scheme they' d practiced in secret, designed to spri

er and gave it to my uncle. "This is it,"

g this would be the last tim

tting account. I was going to place my ow

impulse made me open TikTo

od ran

earlier. He was leaning against a flas

' s a rookie running back nobody is talking about, but your king knows all

he exact s