24
Vinnie
I wipe awaythe sweat from my face as I listen to the voicemail left by the doorman at our building.The team workout went longer than I had anticipated, and I couldn’t wait to get back to the locker room to see if they’d found anything.
“Mr.Gallo, we were able to pull the footage from the garage.It’s not as clear as we’d like, but it should help in finding the person responsible for the damage to Ms.Hernandez’s car.I’m texting it to you now.Please let us know what else we can do to help.”
“That’s some scary shit right there,” Clarence says as he sits on the bench next to me, untying his cleats.
I tap the screen, going to my messages before the voice mail ends.Anger builds inside me as the photo loads.I know the hair and facial profile immediately.
“Fuck,” I hiss, clutching the phone so tightly, I’m surprised the glass doesn’t shatter in my palm.
“You know them?”Clarence asks.
I look down at Clarence, my body shaking with anger as I turn the screen so he can see her too.
“Oh fuck.I told you that bitch was insane.”
Tracie is on an entirely different level from anyone else I know.It’s one thing to bother me, following me around like a puppy dog, but it takes a truly sick person to do what she did.Coming after me is bad, but going after my girl or her property is a level of insanity I can’t deal with and won’t accept.
“That’s it.I’m done playing games.I don’t care who she is.I won’t allow this to go without consequences.”
Clarence shakes his head.“I don’t envy you, man.She’s done some fucked-up shit while I’ve been here, but never anything like this.”
I take a deep breath, trying to rein in my anger before I knock someone’s lights out.“Either they handle it, or I want off the team.”
“Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
I level Clarence with my glare.“Should I just wait around with my thumb up my ass for her to hurt Bianca?What if she’d done this to Marquita?”
“I don’t know, man.I don’t know.”
“Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow, but this shit is stopping now.”
I don’t wait for him to reply before I stalk toward the coach’s office with the photo still on my screen.
“Gallo,” he says before I’m more than two feet inside his office.
“Coach.We have to talk,” I tell him as I clench my fists at my sides, trying to center my almost uncontrollable anger.“I want to be traded.”
His head snaps back.“What?”
“You heard me.Trade me.I’ll go anywhere.”
“Absolutely not.”He shakes his head and walks toward me, waving his hands in the air like I’m off my rocker.“You’re going to be the starter this season.We’re building this entire team around you.”
I shove my phone in his face with the photo of Tracie holding a can of spray paint as she fucks up Bianca’s car.“Tracie’s gone too far this time.You keep promising me she’s going to be taken care of, but nothing has changed.She’s worse now than she was before.I can’t work like this.Iwon’twork like this.I can’t have Bianca’s life in danger because Tracie’s allowed to do whatever she wants.”My voice is shaking as my anger over the entire situation builds.“Either trade me, or I’ll quit.”
“Now, son,” he says as he places a hand on my shoulder.“Don’t do anything hasty.We’ll handle this.”
“I’ve heard that bullshit promise before, Coach.”
“Rudy!”he yells and peers over my shoulder.
“What’s up?”Rudy, the defensive line coach, asks from the hallway.
“Tell Mr.Turner I want to see him immediately.”
