King of Hearts
Chapter 25 – Little Packages.
Twig's POV, Austin Care Depot, Los Angeles.
The sun rose slowly from the north as I stood my ground outside on top of the warehouse with a rifle one of Don Verno's men had gladly given me to provide cover fire once Don Cora's thugs arrive. Until then, I watched the road and got myself ready and in position for anything. After some time, the trucks carrying the meds had made the turn inside the warehouse.
No one but Don Verno's soldiers seemed to be around as they began to go ahead with the normal plan and begin unloading the shipment for the further distribution between smaller vans.
Everything seemed too good, till I caught a glimpse of a barrel sticking out from the side of a container due north of me and the men who were unaware to the threat.
Quickly zooming in with the rifle, I matched myself with a blue suited body as he aimed for my men with an AR-15.
Just as my finger was ready to pull the trigger however, I was interrupted by a gang of blue suits coming out from behind him.
My eyes widened as this soon went from one man, to an invading force of Don Cora's men all setting up positions to open fire on my unsuspecting friends.
In speed, I retook my aim and lined up with the first man in front of me.
Ears and guns all began to go off as the bullet made it's exit through my barrel and straight into the man's head, sending him back first onto the ground.
Quickly pulling back on the bolt for my next round to chamber, I heard from below me.
"Ambush! Get the van out of here!"
Swiftly firing off another round towards the attackers, I panicked as I was compromised and fired upon.
Immediately I ducked behind the warehouse sign that was set to my left and held my body close as the bullets pressed against my back.
As the bullets of near death continued to pile on my rear, I began to panic to the sounds of more of Don Verno's men dropping like flies.
In a break of the fire however, I managed to get back on my feet to fire off another round towards my suppressors.
"BANG!"
Blood blew out from the back of his torso as I made a run for the ladder I used to get up here; that was on my right a few feet from the fire.
Bullets nearly made contact with me as I got down onto the ladder's steps.
In speed, I slid my way down to the ground level to rush a container that was sitting just in front of the warehouse.
As I pinned my body alongside the metal, I got a chance to glimpse inside to find most of the men dead and only a few smart ones left who decided to take cover.
Quickly getting eyeballed by the Caporegime who led the defense inside the warehouse, I widened my eyes as he shouted.
"Flank them!"
As the words appeared to my ears, I was then slid a more suitable weapon from his position.
As I reached for it I was fired upon.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"
My fingers barely were able to pull the gun in as the rounds hit the ground beside it and my bare hands.
Getting the weapon into my body however was the least of my worries, cause the second I pinned my body back against the container, I panicked to the sighting of one of Don Cora's men making a flank on me.
His whole body popped out from the other side of my container, and in speed I jumped to the side clearing his rounds and quickly sending off my own into his chest.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"
Blood shot out from his body as I quickly got back on my feet to rush the angle of which he came from.
Seeing the flank now clear, I took my chance and ran for the enemy position.
As soon as I made it to the other end of the lot, I turned the corner to find four men all focusing fire on the Caporegime who was now alone.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! AGHHHHH!"
The poor fool went down as I took my opportunity to fight back on the unaware soldiers.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Click!"
The mag in my gun went dry before I was able to take out them all, and as the last two men reacted to my dropping of guard, I moved to the side to avoid their fire.
As fast as I could, I pulled out my handgun and pulled back on the corner to open fire on the men who went to reload.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
The one in front took a round to his throat as I got out fully from my cover to focus on the last man who got out his pistol to aim back.
We both fired off rounds, and as I connected one to his head, I also manged took one of his to my shoulder.
"Aghhh!" I shouted as I watched him hit the floor flat on his face.
With blood leaving my shoulder in speed, I quickly made my way to the warehouse and to the open van.
The keys were missing as I attempted to leave with the shipment.
"Twig!" I heard from my side.
Quickly looking to the floor I found the Caporegime still alive, but just enough to say.
"Take it to the compound."
"Where are the keys?" I asked him in a scared tone as I heard sirens coming.
Slowly pulling them out from his suit jacket he handed them to me and urged.
"Now get out before the cops get here."
Nodding, I got to the drivers side and popped in the keys to turn on the engine.
As I went to floor it, I looked out the window to watch as the Caporegime died among his last breath.
Clutching my fist, I hit the gas and pulled out of the warehouse and out the gate towards the road.
As I now drove, I found my shoulder didn't hurt any more, for some reason.
Slowly glancing to the hole, I applied pressure with my offhand and made my way back to the compound.
The gate was opened as I pulled into find some of Don Verno's men directing me to the drop off point in front of the compound garage.
As I gently got the van parked, I managed to step out to one of Verno's Caporegimes who was waiting for me.
He noticed my injury and asked.
"You all that made it?"
With a straight nod I watched as he replied.
"Get inside. I'll have someone look at that for you while my guys unload the meds."
Calmly walking off from the man, I made my way in to find Don Verno making his way out of his office with that hedgehog pal of his at his side.
They both widened eyes as I stopped by the entrance.
"Twig! Ha! I knew you wouldn't let me down!" Stated Verno as he neared my front with the hedgehog heading out the door to check on the shipment.
"You okay?" Asked Don Verno next as he placed his hand on my arm.
"Nothing I can't handle."
Giving me a chuckle Verno replied.
"Your damn good. Is the shipment all out there?"
Nodding as he turned me back outside to see, I replied.
"Your men managed to load it all before we were attacked."
"How many?" He wondered as I looked back into his eyes.
"Twelve I think."
"Are they all dead?" He asked next as I nodded.
"So are all yours too."
Don Verno took some guilt and lowered his head to reply.
"Real shame, but it's war. Everyone knows the risks when going to battle with another family. I'm glad you made it though."
Smiling slightly I replied.
"Thank you sir."
Patting my side I watched as Don Verno made his way to the back of the van to check with his Capo.
As I watched with blood still leaving my shoulder, I felt a hand tap on my leg.
In confusion I looked down to my side to find a small echidna girl staring up at me.
"Hi." She greeted as I stared at her red coat of fur and small brown eyes.
"Ahhhh...?" I was by far lost by here presence as she cut me off with her name.
"My name is Claire. Who are you?" She asked in interest as I tried my best to cover up my wound from her with my offhand.
Gently getting my body around to her I replied.
"Twig."
"Twig?" She questioned as I nodded.
"Yeah." I replied as she asked.
"Like a stick?"
Letting off a smile I replied.
"Just like a stick."
Smiling wide with joy she replied.
"Cool."
In confusion still I managed to ask.
"Where's your parents?"
Just as she went to reply I heard from behind me.
"Claire!"
Quickly looking back I watched as Don Verno rushed over to ask.
"What are you doing outside? You should be in your room." He stated as she quickly replied.
"I got bored."
Don Verno laid off another smile as he looked to me.
"Twig this is my daughter Claire."
"We met." Stated Claire as Don Verno replied.
"I can tell. Now how about you go to room and wait for me to come see you?"
Claire frowned slightly as that hedgehog came up from behind us to say.
"It's all there. Good work Twig."
Don Verno and myself looked to him as he finally noticed the little girl before us.
Gaining a smile he said.
"Oh! Hi there Claire. Shouldn't you be in your room?"
Don Verno nodded and replied.
"She should, but she came all the way out here to meet Twig."
With my head starting to feel light, I watched as she continued to smile at me and her father.
"I like him." She stated as Don Verno looked to me.
"I like him too. Now come on you little rascal. Let's get you back to your room."
With a gentle pull, me and the hedgehog watched as Don Verno pulled his daughter up to his shoulders to head for the door. Before he made it to the frame however, he looked back to us to order.
"Get him patched up, will ya?"
The hedgehog nodded as we watched them both disappear into the compound together.
"Cute isn't she?" He wondered as I looked back to him in confusion.
This man was a decently tall fellow, but beyond that he looked harmless as to anything else around here. He glowed, even in the light with his golden coat of quills and green eyes, as he stared directly at me awaiting the answer.
"I don't think we properly met." I stated as he widened his eyes to smile.
"Oh! I'm sorry. My name is Ross. I'm Don Verno's current Underboss and leading Consigliere. I run the day to day operations and keep all of the people in check around here."
Nodding I then questioned.
"You know how to fix a bullet wound?"
Giving me a smile Ross replied.
"Lucky for you I do. Let's get inside and I'll get that cleaned up for you."
"Sounds like a plan." I replied as we made our way inside.
Ross quickly led the way to a supply room of some sort. It was hidden in the back of the compound. I watched in curiousness as he got an emergency kit from one of the shelves.
Gently setting it down he urged.
"Take a seat."
Looking behind me, I found a folding chair and carefully placed myself in it as Ross got a hold of my shoulder.
"Looks like it went through. That's good for you."
Without a word said from me anymore, I waited in a calm position as he began to apply some stitches.
As he slowly dragged each one through, he looked up at me to say.
"Thank you for getting the meds here by the way. It will aid a lot of people in need. Including a lot of our own who have it worse then you."
Keeping my eyes on him I replied.
"It was nothing."
Shaking his head Ross replied.
"No it was something. Don Verno won't admit it because of the situation, but I will. We need all the help we can get, and with Don Cora pushing in on us ever since yesterday it's become even more important that we get these small things done before we push back ourselves."
"What's the plan on retaliation?" I asked in concern as he hesitated the answer.
Gently finishing the first side of my shoulder, he went behind me to reply.
"Don Verno wants to hit Cora at his heart."
"The compound?" I questioned as he nodded.
"Yeah, but we can't risk the men or the police catching on. A full assault on the Cora compound would be costly in not only our numbers but the public blast-back of all that comes with the hidden war. We fail and Cora will have all means of kicking our doors in, and even if we win by the small chance; we would still lose so much and gain so little. I try to tell him it's not the course we should take, but he disagrees."
Remaining still I replied.
"It sounds stupid. Wouldn't it be smarter to target more of his drug rings and have the cops throw on the gas while we take advantage over all the smaller circuits he owns?"
Ross smiled and replied.
"It would be, but then we still have to worry about the setbacks Don Cora would throw at us in return for fucking with his business. And we got lucky just on today's run because of you. If you weren't there we would have lost the meds and the cops would be knocking on our doors for answers. We can't chance anything yet until stones have been placed to walk on, if you catch my drift."
"I do." I replied as he finished the last stitch.
"Good. Now I'm sure Don Verno will have you do something risky next despite my warnings and advice, but be sure on whatever it is he sends you on, make sure you get it done and come back alive. He may not always make the best calls, but for once he's right. The family could use someone like you."
Taking the advice with care I replied.
"I just need help finding Remp. I'll do whatever I have too, to make sure he's found."
Gently getting up, I looked back into Ross's eyes to have him reply.
"I'll do what I can. Same goes with Don Verno. You just stay alive in this war long enough and I'll be sure I find him for you."
Nodding I replied.
"You have a deal."
Smiling, I watched as Ross made his exit to say.
"I would go see Don Verno. If you need me Twig I'll be out with the meds."
Remaining in my place, I watched as Ross left from my sight.
Gently rubbing my shoulder, I put back on my orange suit jacket to say to myself.
"Wherever you are Remp I'm going to find you. And when I do I'll make sure you suffer like Trent and Broth did. Ether way your going to die by my hand. Count your time, cause I'm coming."