Chapter 11: Return to the Family
Finn sat down next to Fang, putting some bandages on the child's arms and back. There were burns all over the skin of the five year old.
"Ya' did a brave thing back then, kid..." Finn spoke. Emily sat down next to the boy as she said, "Yes... He did...". "It's nothing. I just can't let any one of them die. They're all like family to me..." Fang stated. Emily began thanking him for the moment that she's there next to him. Finn stood up and walked towards the twins, who was being treated by Marceline. "Thank you. You and the Grey Lady had generously provided us with your aid..." Lana spoke. The Abadeer Underboss gave a warm smile at that. She also gave a playful but painful punch to Finn's right arm, saying, "Did ya' tell them to call me that?". "No, no! Honest!" he replied, rubbing his pained arm. The two little girls giggled cheekily before saying, "He said nothing about your nickname, Lady Marceline. We have our own ways of knowing...". "Speaking about knowing, did you two know who attacked the daycare centre?" Finn cut in, asking about the attackers. The twins looked at each other and began discussing in whispers. Afterwards, Lena spoke, "Who... had a grudge on Finn and managed to kill a lot of innocents in the latest heist before sending a few men to scorch our home?". As soon as her sister finished speaking, Lana pulled out a bunch of lettered dices and threw them in front of Finn. "What the-" he stuttered as he noticed the letters facing upwards spelling a name. A very familiar one. His face frowned in anger as his hands balled up into fists. He stood up and said, "Marcy, I'll be gone for a while. But please, take care of them while I'm gone... I gotta settle a debt". Marceline saw the name on the dices as well and with that, she nodded in agreement. Finn gave her a warm hug before leaving. She waved to him as he stepped out of the building, determined to make his target pay for destroying the daycare centre and ruining the home of these innocent children.
Finn couldn't think of anything else. He was so angry and the anger motivated him to achieve the goal in his mind. He stole a car and drove as fast as he could towards the Albatross Family Compound in Little Italy Heights. As soon as he reached the straight road leading to the Compound, he increased the speed and ended up drifting at the right turn into the courtyard. Leaving an intense skid line on the courtyard, he stepped out of the vehicle. All of the Albatross Family members that was in shock quickly pulled their gun out but nonetheless, he continued walking towards the two buildings. Everyone started crowding around him. "Get outta my face! I have a business with the Don..." he yelled as he tried to push through. Things were about to get rough and crazy but lucky for him, a familiar voice saved him. "Everyone, stop this! This young man has some business with Don Martin. Allow me to bring him in..." the voice came from another young man. Everyone stopped crowding them as he pulled Finn by his arm before bringing him into the Compound Building, where the Don's office was located at. "So, may I ask what EXACTLY are you doing here?!" the young man asked Finn. Finn gave no response to the question and simply hugged the guy. "It's good to see you again, Nelo..." Finn said while hugging. Nelo couldn't help but to smile and hug him back before replying, "Likewise, little brother...". "But really, what're you doin' here?" Nelo asked once he was released from the hug. "I'm setting things right... I'm returning to the Family, capiche?" he answered. Nelo nodded in agreement before escorting him to the Don's office. He opened the door and got in before saying, "Don Albatross, Finn is here to see you...". Don Albatross turned his seat around and said, "Who? Oh, it's you...". "Huh, whatever old man," Finn nonchalantly replied before taking a seat on the chair in front of the Don's desk. "So, tell me. What do ya' want? I'm a busy man, so make it quick," Martin asked. Finn sighed and said, "I want to give you what you wanted, Martin. I'm gonna rejoin the Family...". "Whoa, hold it. You want me to simply let you return and turn a blind eye to whatever trouble you've caused?" the elder cut in. The boy snickered before replying, "No, not at all. You don't need to forget anything that transpired between us. I just want to return to the Family...". Martin chuckled before saying, "You said it yourself a few days ago that if you return, you'll be begging for it!". "And here I am! The only problem is that I'm not going to beg, because I know that the Family needs ME more than I need the Family!" Finn bravely spoke in a raised voice. "So please, Don Albatross... I'm trying to help YOU here. I won't be makin' you beg for my return, so just let me return, sì?" Finn spoke with the most smug expression on his face. Martin flinched at that before saying, "What if I choose otherwise?". Finn nonchalantly raised both feet and landed them on the Don's desk before answering, "Then you will not get any help that you really required at this moment... The Family is falling apart, old man. So think this offer through". "After all, it's an offer you can't refuse..." Finn continued smugly. The head of the Albatross Family glared at his son, thinking of the right course of action at the moment.
"Fine, you win! You want to return? Then, welcome back!" Martin declared. "Okay, then. But if you want my complete cooperation, you gotta allow my crew back together and our 'business' must be left alone by the whole Family, capiche?" Finn bargained. "But I can still assign you and your boys to jobs, sì?" Martin said back. The young man stood up and replied, "Depending on MY acceptance...". Don Martin Albatross stood up and offers a handshake as he said, "Bene, so I guess we've reached an agreement, son". Finn coldly glared at his hand before slapping it away, saying, "But this doesn't change ANYTHING between us!". With that, he left the room and another Family member went into the room. The guy stood next to the Don as he whispered, "Give him a living, status and reputation but never discuss the Family business with him...".
As for Finn, he was out onto the courtyard of the Albatross Compound where he was met by his older brother, Nelo. "Better watch the hell out! Finn Albatross is back with the Family!" he happily stated. His brother congratulated him for the feat and asked, "But what actually drove your mind into doing something crazy like this?". "It's a long story..." Finn stated. He and Nelo got into the back seat of a car, which had Donny in the driver's seat. "Welcome back, Finn. Now what's our first order of business?" Donny asked. "We'll get the crew back together first. So let's visit our old friend, Simon..." Finn replied and with that, Donny began driving towards the Candy Tavern on Mott Street. They reached the bar and pulled over in front of it, sounding the horn a few times. Though being in his 40's, Simon's hearing was still sharp. He left his work and apron behind as he walked to the car. He was indeed surprised at the sight of Finn in the car with Nelo and Donny. "Huh, it's you again. I knew it was you that had always been here with that girl, Finn..." he stated. Finn chuckled before saying, "Yeah, yeah. But now that I'm back with the Family, we can reform the crew!". "Sounds good, enough. Let's get to it, then..." Simon agreed before entering the car. However, he paused when Bonnibel started yelling, "Simon! Simon! Where do you think you're going?!". "Forgive me, my sweet Bubblegum... I have some important 'business' to take care of, but I'll see you later..." the older man replied in a teasing tone, before entering the front seat. She began swearing loudly in a German language as the car drove away. "Seems to me like you're still smooth with the ladies, huh?" Finn commented as he looked behind to see the yelling lady. Simon had a wide grin on his face as he said, "What can I say? The ladies are my specialty...". Soon they arrived at a warehouse on the far side of Little Italy Heights, which belongs to the Strife Family. They parked the car not too far from the entrance of the warehouse. "Why the fuck are we here?" Donny asked. "It's something personal... A matter of revenge," Finn replied. Everyone suddenly looked at him as if he had just said something dumb. "Look, I know I shouldn't involve personal things with Family business, but this thing is important!" he stated. As Donny and Simon looked at each other, Nelo asked, "How personal is it?".
"It involves the children from the daycare centre I worked at..." Finn spoke. "Oh, I've heard of that. The one in New Jersey, right?" Simon asked back. Finn nodded and said, "I believe that the person who sent those men to burn the daycare centre was... Ash Strife...". "The Strife Family Underboss?" Nelo asked. Finn replied with another nod. "This happened because of a street fight that happened between me and Ash last week. He destroyed the daycare centre for revenge, but he's so fuckin' stupid if he thought I ain't hitting him back..." he explained. "Now, I have a plan on taking down Ash along with his Family..." he continued. Afterwards, he asked them, "Are you guys with me or what?".