January 5 – Kingston National ArenaThe gym was hot.
The kind of heat that sticks to your lungs. That turns hardwood into a war zone and sweat into steam.
Jamaica U17 National Team – Opening Game of the Caribbean Regional Tournament.
Kyle stood in the tunnel.
Jersey tucked.
Eyes locked forward.
There were scouts in the crowd.
ESPN Caribbean. Local press. Even whispers of a EuroLeague junior scout in the bleachers.
But Kyle didn't care.
He wasn't playing for exposure.
Not anymore.
"Mi playing for Mama."
Pregame – The OpponentJamaica vs. Trinidad & Tobago.
They were fast. Gritty. Physical. Their big man, Darnel Scott, was 6'9", 240 pounds of raw muscle with no smile and a reputation for throwing elbows.
Coach Whitmore paced the locker room.
"Play with pride. Play with poise. And if any of them test you—remind them whose house they in."
Kyle didn't say a word.
He didn't need to.
His presence filled the room.
Tip-Off – The Fire Starts FastFirst possession: Kyle caught a lob and hammered it down with both hands. Screamed into the air. The crowd erupted.
Second possession: He stole a lazy entry pass, took it coast-to-coast, and finished through contact.
Third possession: Chased down Darnel Scott on a fast break, pinned his shot to the glass, and stared him down.
It was 3 minutes in, and Kyle already had:
6 points
2 rebounds
1 block
Full control of the court
Flashbulbs and FumesBy halftime, Kyle had 14 points and 8 rebounds.
Commentators were calling him:
"The anchor of the island."
"A true two-way demon."
"The heart of this new era."
But not everyone was cheering.
In the upper bleachers?
A man with a black cap and dark sunglasses leaned forward, watching Kyle's every move.
His phone buzzed.
[MESSAGE: "He's making too much noise. Word is he put a bounty on Chino."]
[RESPONSE: "Then maybe he need to go quiet too."]
The Streets RememberOutside the stadium, in the shadows of Kingston, Chino's crew wasn't dead. Not all of them.
Some still believed Kyle had something to do with Chino's sudden arrest.
And worse?
They thought he was next.
Whispers ran through back alleys:
"That baller? He a dead man walking."
But Kyle had no idea.
All he knew was basketball.
And grief.
And the heat in his chest that hadn't cooled since the day his mother's casket hit red dirt.
Second Half – The GrindTrinidad came out swinging.
They double-teamed Kyle. Denied him entry passes. Pushed him on box outs.
Darnel Scott finally got under his skin in the third.
"Yuh soft. All hype. You ain't no killer."
Kyle snapped.
Backed him down on the block.
Spun baseline.
BOOM. Dunked right on his head.
The crowd exploded.
But Kyle didn't celebrate.
He just stared.
Eyes cold.
Dead.
Like he was somewhere else entirely.
Final Minutes – DominanceScore: 68–66. Two minutes left.
Jamaica ran a high screen. Kyle slipped early. Caught the bounce.
One dribble.
Two steps.
He rose through three defenders and thundered a dunk so loud the arena shook.
Next play: blocked Darnel again.
Final possession: Kyle iced the game with a midrange turnaround.
Final Statline26 points
14 rebounds
3 blocks
2 steals
1 assist
Statement made
Postgame – Cameras, Reporters, and SilenceReporters swarmed the tunnel.
"How does it feel to win one for your country, Kyle?"
"What's motivating you this tournament?"
"Any thoughts on the NBA scouts in attendance?"
He said nothing.
Just wiped sweat from his neck and kept walking.
Langston, watching from the U.S. on stream, shook his head.
"He's playing like there's a gun in his back."
Back at the Hotel – Shadows LingerThat night, Kyle lay in bed.
Eyes open.
AC buzzing.
Knees iced.
He turned to the nightstand.
A message was waiting.
Unknown Number:
"You think this done? Chino got brothers. And Kingston got memories."
Kyle stared.
Then deleted it.
Nichola's VoiceFor a moment, he closed his eyes.
He heard her laugh again.
Felt her hand on his cheek.
"Don't fight demons with fire, baby. You fight them by surviving."
He opened his eyes.
Stared at the ceiling.
Whispered:
"Mi still here."
Next Game – AntiguaComing up in two days.
But now?
Kyle had a target on his back.
Not just from defenders.
But from the ghosts he left behind.
And in Jamaica?
Ghosts don't stay dead for long.