“The cops know you did it, Booker. They’ve already nailed you. All of you.”

“Did what exactly?”

“You know goddamn well what. You murdered my entire team.”

Booker frowned. “Oh, you mean that bus accident? Yeah, me and Manny were just reading about that in the paper. Damn shame that was. We were just discussing that very thing, weren’t we, Manny?”

Manny made it upright, but kept his distance.

“They have you, Booker. They’ve got footprints, and they’ve got a make on the pickup.”

“Fuck you, Logan. I don’t even know what you’re talking about. I was at Dougie Scagnetti’s playing Xbox.”

“Nintendo,” Manny sputtered.

“Yeah, right. Nintendo is what I meant to say.”

“Why’d you do it, asshole? Why’d you have to go after the whole team? It wasn’t enough that you cut off my fingers? You had to kill the whole team, too?”

“I told you, I didn’t do shit.”

Cole stepped closer. “You were too chickenshit to try and beat us on the field, so you had to stop us off it, right? You’re a goddamn cheat!”

“I’m no cheat!”

“That why you got on steroids?” Savannah said.

Booker’s lips tightened. “Shut up, bitch!”

“Made you a big strong man, didn’t it?” she said. “Daddy must be proud.”

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” Booker’s face flushed red; his fingers coiled into fists.

Cole moved Savannah around behind him, shielding her. “You’re going to pay for what you did to my team, Booker. Before the cops nail you, I’m going to get you worse. Count on it.”

Booker spat a stream of blood at Cole’s feet. “We’ll just see about that, won’t we?”

Savannah tugged Cole’s jacket. “Let’s just go.”

Cole stepped backward to the Honda and opened the passenger door.

“You know, Logan, I just placed your girlfriend,” Booker said. “I knew I had seen her somewhere. Coach’s daughter, right?”

Savannah shook her head. “Just leave it, Cole . . .”

“Tell me something, Logan. Is she easy? ’Cause I’m guessing she is. I always heard that guys go after girls that remind them of their mothers. Does she remind you of your mama, Logan? I hear she’s the town whore. I hear that since your old man ran out on y’all, she’ll open her legs for just about anyone.”

“Cole, let it go . . .”

The blade was already back in Cole’s hand, but he knew that if he drew it now, he wouldn’t be able to stop until he’d killed Booker. And while it was a tempting prospect, he already had a better plan in mind. He got into the car and shut the door.

Savannah slid in behind the wheel.