CHAPTER 68: DETHRONED BY SEVERAL INCHES

Everybody’s eyes stuck to Nash as he sauntered off the court, one could practically feel the confusion in the air.

His teammates were all giving each other surprised looks, then staring hard at Nash.

"What the hell, man? Game’s not over. Why’d you screw it all up?!" one of the guys blurted, way too loud.

Nash didn’t even give a full turn. Just that lazy glance over his shoulder, one look, that’s all it took to shut the guy up. Made him shrink down like he suddenly remembered Nash could eat him for breakfast.

The message was crystal clear: I did all the job. You don’t get to question me.

Then Nash finally turned.

"Score didn’t matter. I had a point to prove. Did it. That’s it."

Over by the middle line, Jinzo was still shaking, hands flat on the hardwood like he could glue himself to the floor. His pride was absolutely shattered. Not even hiding it.

Nash threw out this wicked little grin, half bored, half savage.

"Well, now you’ve got a story, right? This’ll be the first time you ’beat’ me. Burn it into your brain. Congrats, or whatever."

Jinzo was grinding his teeth so hard you could’ve sworn someone was chewing gravel.

Then Victoria’s voice just cut the tension.

"Enough."

Everyone snapped straight, like she’d hit a button. Victoria only had to move half a step forward and it was like someone killed the sound in the whole hangar.

"Nash is your ace now. Not up for debate. Don’t even think about whining." She looked at Jinzo, and, if looks could kill, he would probably be done for. "You’ve got two options, Jinzo. Adapt, or get out."

Jinzo’s jaw did a wild twitch. He shoved himself up and stomped off, pissed and humiliated all at once.

"Tch... screw this."

"Jinzo, wait!" Jaz yelled, torn up, chasing after him. Her sneakers slapped the floor as she ran out behind him, leaving behind a dead silence.

Victoria didn’t miss a beat.

"Nash is also captain now. He’s gonna be calling shots for us. From this moment on, he’s holding this team’s fate. Y’all better get in line."

Almost on cue, Nia threw herself onto Nash’s left arm, like she was worried someone might steal him.

And maybe it wasn’t wrong, Amara slid in on the right, practically latching on, both of them already bickering and flirting, but Nash barely reacted to this.

The subs just stared, after the confusion, the amazement took the lead. This monster was their teammates now. whispering like they’d seen a ghost.

"He’s... really with us? How did madam sign him?" one murmured.

"If he’s on our side... maybe we can win." another added.

Nash heard every word, but didn’t react. Could they really win? That was still up in the air. But with the system backing him, he knew one thing: he’d only get better.

Everything was in his hands now. Even the chance to face old teammates, sooner or later.

The match was now over, and with it, the meeting.

Victoria announced that the team would meet everyday from 9 am to 3 pm, starting the following day.

Most of them left right away, while others stayed around to play or wait.

Outside, Jinzo stomped through the gravel, hands crammed so deep in his pockets it looked like he might punch a hole straight through.

Jaz scrambled after him, legs all over the place, doing that slouchy thing like she thought shrinking would make it better to comfort him.

"Jinzo, hey, wait up!" She was practically jogging. He didn’t even blink.

She finally darted ahead and blocked him, her massive chest heaving like she’d just run a marathon.

"Please, just stop, okay? One second."

His glare could’ve cracked concrete.

"Why should I? He took everything. And you just stood there. Victoria, the team, the whole damn spotlight... gone. All his now. What do you want from me, huh?"

Jaz flinched, but she wasn’t backing off. Not today. She stared him down, even if her voice shook.

"That’s not true. You didn’t lose everything. You still... you still..."

She was totally stalling and he could see it. He just waited, letting her stew in those awkward seconds.

Then, because why not, she just blurted it out.

"Um... me?" Her voice cracked. "We, uh... we still have each other, right?"

Jinzo actually stopped. For a second, he looked like he forgot how to be pissed. He just looked at her with big eyes, then his eyes lit up again, something different now.

"Yeah... yeah, you’re right. I do still have you."

Jaz blinked. Did that actually work? She started fiddling with her shirt, nervous as a lioness in a kennel.

"Yeah... like... you’re not alone, okay? I don’t want you to quit."

Not that Jinzo cared about the pep talk. He was already somewhere else in his head.

That anger flipped into something... a little unhinged. He started to grin, slow and sharp, like he’d just cooked up something deliciously evil.

"Then let’s show him," he muttered.

Jaz cocked her head.

"Show who?"

"Nash," Jinzo spat, like the name tasted sour. "He thinks he’s king of everything. The game, Victoria, Nia, that girl always buzzing around him. But he doesn’t have you, and you’re fae superior to them. And I’m gonna make damn sure he can’t ignore that."

Before Jaz could even get a word out, he snatched her wrist and yanked her along. Jaz almost tripped, voice all squeaky.

"Jinzo, where are we—?"

"Locker room," he snapped. No room for questions. "Everyone heads there after a match, including him. We’re gonna make a scene. You’re the proof, okay? Proof he can’t buy his way into everything. I’ve still got something he never will."

Jaz’s eyes went wide, caught between hell-no and maybe-yes. She opened her mouth, but he just held tighter and marched on, smirk growing by the second.

Let Nash play at alpha, Jinzo thought. He was about to show the bastard what a real one looked like.

In the locker room, water hissed and bounced off the tiles, echoes everywhere.

The whole place looked like one giant, industrial shower, all these little stalls side by side, each with its own faucet.

Nash stood under his, letting the water pummel his shoulders. Didn’t do much for his nerves. His head was spinning a mile a minute.

He was in. Finally, actually, in. Part of the team, no take-backs.

The league was about to kick off, regular season finally on sight. And, yeah, that meant he’d have to face them: Saya. Roam. The whole crew.

He could already see their stupid faces, probably picturing him washed up, lost somewhere, maybe shivering under a bridge or whatever.

He grit his teeth.

If only they knew... nah, forget if. They’ll know. Soon enough.

Every team had to face every other. He squeezed his fists.

Then the door creaked. Nash snapped his eyes up.

Alicia walked in, shutting the door behind her. She was completely naked, her skin pale, flushed a bit pink from the steam, little freckles scattered across her shoulders and collarbones.

Her breasts were perfect. Not huge, but they sat up high, moving as she breathed, pink nipples just barely perking in the heat.

Her waist was nice and tight, hips soft, this gentle curve that the lights made look... damn, almost glossy.

Her red hair was loose, hanging straight down to just above her bouncy ass.

Nash straightened up, pretending he wasn’t caught off guard.

"...Uh, what’re you doing?"

She came closer, grinning, her gaze sliding down his body. Her fingers skimmed his abs, light at first, then pressing a little harder as her eyes dropped, hanging there on his dick.

She wrapped her hand around it, confident, each stroke slow and steady, making his whole body jolt with heat.

Pressure? Yeah, he felt it. Her palm sliding on the whole length, awakening every nerve.

She leaned in, steam curling off her skin, her lips parting as she watched his face.

Then she caught his look of shock.

"...What? Not into it?"

Nash gulped but let her do her work. For once, Nash hadn’t had to make the first move. It was the first time someone came to him like this... or maybe the second.

Still, it was a foreign land. He’d always been the one using the trigger to get this outcome, but Alicia spared him the work.

She wanted him, and she wasn’t about to play games pretending otherwise.

She looked casual, like it was normal. Like it would be weird for him to reject her now.

And maybe she wasn’t wrong. In breakball, these things happened. It was part of the world, players proving loyalty, respect, recognition of who led the pack.

And Alicia was making it clear: she saw him as that leader. She wanted to be on his side and get his favor. It was the smart move.

His gaze traveled over her body. She was cute and sexy, no question. Her freckles, the gentle curve of her breasts, her pale skin flushed from the heat, the way her hips caught the light.

And the setting was perfect. A shower, steam, no one around. His chest tightened. A shower fuck... yeah, that sounded more than tempting.

Then her breath caught, soft, sudden. Her eyes had dropped lower. Nash glanced down too, realizing why.

His body had answered his thoughts without asking. His cock had hardened fully, heavy and defiant, its size leaving Alicia blinking.

"Wow...It’s... that big?" she murmured, hesitant, cheeks pink despite the steam.

Her voice wavered between awe and nerves, like she wasn’t sure if it was a good idea now.

Nash smirked, leaning in slightly, his shadow casting over her.

"Hm? What? But more than you could chew?" he teased.

Her lips pressed together, then her eyes narrowed.

"Idiot...! Don’t get cocky. I’m just saying it’s bigger than normal, you damn horse. I can totally take it."

She dropped to her knees, her body close enough that the steam clung to both of them.

Her hand kept stroking him, slower and firmer now, her lips parting slightly. She leaned in, ready to take him into her mouth, her breath brushing his skin.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Jinzo and Jaz reached the locker room.

Spotting Nash’s shoes in the changing area, Jinzo dragged Jaz toward the showers, already grinning.

He wanted to make a show, to prove something, and now the greatest show was about to begin.