The Debt 11 (Club Alpha) Read Online Free PDF Page B

one suitcase down and grabbed the key from his pocket.
    “Hey, Winters ,”
a gravelly voice called from down the hall.
    Chase and Faith turned to look, and there
was a short, round figure approaching.   He was dressed in ill-fitting slacks and a sweater with the New England
logo embossed on the front of it, and his potbelly protruded down below.
    “Hey Coach,” Chase greeted the man.
    As he got closer, Faith realized it was
the head coach of the team, William Hugo.   William “Willie” Hugo had coached the team for the last couple of years,
and was now under intense pressure to rebuild the team or be fired.   All of the news media constantly
speculated on whether or not he’d be replaced if the team didn’t make the
playoffs this season.
    “Everyone’s going to be eating in the
hotel restaurant in about an hour,” Coach Hugo said, his trademark gravelly
voice sounding even lower and more intimidating in person.
    He didn’t even look at Faith.
    “I was thinking that I might just hang in
the room, focus on the game,” Chase said.
    Coach Hugo’s furry brows dipped and his jowls
shook a bit.   “This isn’t the time
to hole up in your cave,” he growled.   “The team needs to be like a family.   We eat together the night before a game.   I made that clear last week.”
    “Yeah, I know,” Chase muttered.   “I’ll think about it.”
    “You’ll damn well do it,” the diminutive
coach barked.   For a moment, his
cheeks were purple and a vein pulsed in his neck, and then, just like
that—he gave a quick grin.   “See you in half an hour with your beautiful young lady friend.”   He turned and walked away.
    Chase opened the door to the hotel suite
and let them in.
    The room was gorgeous and state of the
art, with a wonderful view of the stadium nearby.  
    But Chase wasn’t interested in the
beautiful room or the view from its window.   He threw his suitcase halfway across the
room, where it collided with a small footstool.
    “Fucking asshole,” he swore.
    Faith drew in a breath.   Even when it wasn’t directed at her,
Chase’s intense physicality and anger were frightening.  
    “He just wants you to eat with the team,”
she offered.
    Chase nodded.   “Sure.   Just eat with the team like a good
monkey.”
    “It’s his job,” she said.   “Isn’t it?   To make you guys into a tight unit?”
    Chase laughed at that.   “They like to spout that line, about us
all being a family.   They try and
play it up, act like we’re all in this together.   But the truth is, it’s a bunch of
professional athletes fighting to survive.   Some of us are in direct competition with each other.   Some of us even hate each other.   Next year, half of us might be playing
for totally different teams.   This
‘aint Pee Wee football, Faith.”
    She knew he was right.   He was living this life and she’d only
just been introduced to his problems.   “Sorry,” she said.   “I have
no right to judge what’s going on.   I was just trying to help.”
    He smiled at her, his dark eyes
softening.   He put his hands on his
hips and sighed.   “It might be a
bunch of crap, but you’re right that it’s still Coach’s job to get us to act
like we give a fuck about each other.   So I suppose I should go down and eat with the team.”
    “I’ll stay here and make myself
comfortable,” she said, walking over to the soft couch and sitting down, her
butt sinking into the material.
    “Hell fucking no,” Chase chuckled.   “You’re not getting off that easy,
girl.   If I have to go, so do you.”
    “Wait,” she said, nervously.   “Your whole team’s going to be
there.   This is for you guys, I’m
not invited.”
    “You didn’t hear Coach specifically say
he’d see you there?” Chase prodded, walking closer to her.
    “Well, he was being nice…”
    “No, he was serious.   All the guys who are married or engaged
or have girlfriends bring them to the pre-game dinner.”   He