For a long, terrifying moment, Leon's brain simply ceased to function.
He just stood there, outside the restaurant, the happy sounds of his celebrating teammates a distant echo from another universe.
The only reality was the cold, quiet, and utterly sincere threat that had just been delivered by his coach, his manager, and, most terrifyingly, his potential future father-in-law.
You break her heart, I break your legs.
Leon swallowed hard, his throat suddenly as dry as the Sahara.
He tried to formulate a response, to say something, anything, that wouldn't result in a "tragic training ground accident."
He looked Coach Chivu directly in the eye, and with a sincerity born of pure, undiluted terror, he said, "Coach, I... I would never dream of hurting her. She's... she's incredible. And even if you weren't you, I would still be terrified of her, because she is way, way smarter than I am."
The stone-faced mask of Cristian Chivu remained for a second longer
