Book excerpt: A global spectacle of triumph and anguish. A grand pageant of violence and drama. America's game has become the world's favorite pastime, and she is not just the WFFL's latest superstar but the future of humanity! In a world secretly ruled by the Octagonal, an organized crime pyramid with mystical powers, and while a legend who harbors a dark secret strives for one last shot at glory in the twilight of his career, crime lord Gigi Salerno is the sinister hand casting the ultimate fate of victory or defeat. And, he will utilize any means necessary to ensure the Octagonal remains in control of the world's most popular game! But when a brilliant team doctor envisions future WFFL rosters filled with AI, Salerno's masters decide he's expendable. Now threatened by the intrepid ambitions of a young sports columnist determined to expose the Octagonal, and faced with the covert maneuvering of a once trustworthy lieutenant, Salerno is confronted with a dilemma: he may have to befriend his enemies to survive.