King of Hearts

Chapter 29 – A Life Lesson.

Don Pitch Robotnik's POV, Robotnik compound.

My head hurt from all the information Johan was throwing at me at once. From ranks, to people, places, businesses, money, guns, and everything in between. I was going to have a headache whenever he decided to give me a break for the night. It was now going on two and he was still talking somehow.

As time pressed on and Johan began to enter the world of politics, we both looked to the door to see Damien slowly make his way in.

Immediately I felt free from Johan as he came forward to stop in front of my desk.

"How did it go?" Wondered Johan as Damien ignored him and only looked to me for the command to speak.

With a concerned tone I asked.

"What happened?"

This time responding Damien replied.

"Just like you said would happen. The men followed me from the club thinking I was the owner and when I got them in the apartment me and my men had them tagged."

"Are they dead?" Questioned Johan as Damien again ignored him and only seemed to be focused on me.

Johan sensed Damien didn't wish to speak to him and in respect remained quiet as I got forward in my seat to ask.

"Did they give you anything on Don Skier?"

Nodding Damien replied.

"Only that he plans to attack our port to get to the owner. He's sending Reaver and a team of Capos and soldiers to support the raid. Its said to be going down sometime this Monday." Stated Damien as I said to myself.

"That's only three days from now."

Gently getting my attention with his hand, Damien urged.

"That's two days to handle Reaver sir. I suggest our next move be on him."

Nodding Johan replied to me.

"We need to find a way to get him alone somehow, though."

This time Damien found it appropriate to reply to him.

"The only thing I got from the Capo was that he goes out to drink in the afternoon, then comes back to the compound.

Looking to me, Johan urged.

"The place he goes to must be nearby the compound. I can't see Reaver entering our turf for a drink."

Nodding I asked Damien.

"Is that all we know?"

Nodding back he replied.

"Yes sir."

Letting my head lower to think I wondered to Johan.

"Can we have someone stake out the compound and tail Reaver to see where he goes? Maybe then we can send someone in to deal with him."

Giving me an approving smile Johan replied.

"I can set that up. We'll have a man watch Reaver tomorrow and when we know for sure where he is we'll send a team in to take him down."

Shaking my head I replied.

"No."

"Sir?" Questioned Damien in concern as I looked to Johan to say.

"I don't want this to look like a hit and run. It's bad for our family's reputation."

Giving me a confused look Johan then asked.

"So how do you want to go about this then Pitch?"

"It's sir to you Johan." Ordered Damien as we both looked to him to see he was mad.

Johan quickly defended himself to say.

"I can refer to him any way I choose to Damien. Now I suggest you leave."

Getting more mad Damien ordered.

"Make me you worm."

Johan stared at Damien with such anger as I quickly ordered.

"I want both of you to leave."

"But?" Questioned Johan as I shook my head.

"I need to rest Johan. We can continue this in the morning. For now go get some sleep." I ordered him as he nodded slowly to collect his things.

Damien began to calm himself down as Johan got up to say to me.

"Goodnight then Pitch."

Waving him off as he passed Damien who slowly growled, I asked.

"What's wrong Damien?"

Waiting till the door was shut and Johan was gone, Damien took his place in front of me to reply.

"That asshole doesn't deserve to call you by your real name. He's a snake and has always been a snake since the day he enrolled in this business."

"My father trusts him." I stated as Damien immediately replied.

"Shadow trusts him. Your real father and I never did."

"Why not?" I asked in a serious tone as he stared into my eyes.

"Cause we're not blind. Johan likes to think he knows everything about this business, but the truth is Pitch, that he doesn't know the half of it. The important half. The half that real men know. The half you only learn once a bullet flies by your head. He has no right to think he's better then all of us real family men. He earns his place by what? Talking and lying his way through his teeth? No Pitch. Listen to me when I tell you this." Ordered Damien as he got closer to me.

With a stern tone Damien said.

"You can only trust family. The real people that make this family what it is. I've never met a consigliere I could trust Pitch. Don't ever let them be the ones to make your decisions for you. Make them yourself. That's what I real man does. A real Don does. They follow their instincts, good or bad. Do what you feel is right and no matter where they lead us remember the real people of this family will always follow you. Never question you. Like a consigliere does."

Damien looked at me as if I was someone else, but as he gently backed up he said.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay." I replied as he shook his head.

"Your just very important to me is all."

"Cause my dad is your brother?" I asked in confusion as he nodded slightly.

"Your his son. His only legacy. I never was able to say goodbye to him before he died and I feel as if I was left here to do what he can't. And that's to make sure your always safe and you turn out to be what your capable of. Being a Don is just a start. And I can tell you right now he's proud of you for doing this. And I can tell that me being here now is a sign to him. A sign that I must enforce, and that is your rule Pitch. Your a Don, your a man, and your special. Not only to me, but to him. And It's my job now to make sure you get what your dad and I never had."

Staring deeply into his eyes, I listened carefully as he finished.

"A life. One worth waking up to."

Slowly Damien made his way for the door.

Before he reached it however, he stopped and looked back at me to say.

"He's loves you Pitch. Your dad and I both love you. And I'm not going to let that get forgotten again."

After a few seconds of silence passed, I watched as Damien left my office.

Gently lowering back into my chair, I let out a breath of confusion as many thoughts raced through my head.

I never met my real father, but Damien is my only other relative besides my mother. I can see why he's thinking what he's thinking, but I don't think I understand who he really is to me. I don't think I know who anyone really is to me. In the end you could say they are all my family, but I feel now that I never really had one to call my own. And that's something I regret to not comprehend.

As my door remained slightly open, I was broken from my trance when Lace made her way in to see me behind my desk in loss for words.

"You okay kid?" She asked in concern as I looked into her eyes to question.

"Why are you still here Lace?"

Giving me a tilt of her head she replied.

"I had to cover for Damien until he got back. Figured before I get going I would check in and see how your doing. Johan treating you good?" She wondered as I nodded and leaned back in my seat to reply.

"He just doesn't know when to stop talking is all. He must think I'm a sponge cause he's swamping me with so much information at once he assumes I'll absorb it all."

"What's not sticking?" She wondered as she sat down on the edge of my desk.

My eyes noticed the curves in her body as she looked down into my eyes, waiting for the response.

Calmly refocusing I replied.

"The ranking system we use and family law."

Nodding very slow, Lace then wondered.

"Do you want me to explain it to you? I'm a bit easier then Johan to understand at this sort of thing."

Gently shaking my head I replied.

"I was actually about to get heading to bed."

Taking notice Lace replied.

"Then we'll walk and talk till your back to your room. And consider me your guard until then, okay?" She urged as I slightly smiled and got myself up from my seat.

Gently she got up off my desk and as I got to the door, she approached my side to say.

"Every family is broken into the same ranking system. From bottom to top. The most simple form of rank in any family is an associate." She stated as we got through the door and back out into the hall where only one guard waited.

As we got out to see him standing there, I urged.

"You can get some rest now. I'm heading to bed."

Shaking his head as Lace stopped with me he replied.

"Sorry sir, but I have a few hours till I'm allowed to switch. It's my job now to watch and make sure no one enters your room while your sleeping."

"So when do you rest?" I questioned as he looked to me in understanding for my confusion of his role.

"Every eight hours the guards take turns protecting your position from anyone unknown to the family. When my time is up I will be replaced by one of the other guards who will protect you for another eight hours. This is my time-slot, so every night I will be stationed here sir."

Nodding, Lace asked the man.

"What's your name?"

Looking to her as she stayed close to my side he replied.

"Nick."

Nodding to his name I then stated.

"Well I'm heading over to my room now. Will you come?"

Nodding he replied.

"I come wherever you go. Be it your office, bedroom, or bathroom Don Robotnik sir you can be at ease knowing someone is always making sure your safe from all threats."

Smiling, I offered him my hand to say.

"Thank you Nick."

Taking my hand and kindly grinning back he replied.

"I'm just doing my job sir. Shall we get going to your room?" He wondered as I nodded and looked back to Lace.

"Yes."

Gently urging me forward, Lace continued.

"As I was saying. Associates are the entry rank for all families. They are not made-men until they prove to a Capo or Underboss that they are ready to be made. But until that point they are assigned smaller jobs within the ladder. Some can be as simple and demeaning as getting groceries for their commanding officer, or to as big and dangerous as taking out another family associate."

"But they don't move up till they get word from an Underboss?" I questioned as Lace nodded and added.

"Or a Caporegime. Usually it's their job to promote when they think their ready to advance up the chain."

Nodding as she lined herself up to me perfectly, we approached my dad's room where Lace stopped to say.

"Here we are."

Shaking my head I replied.

"I'd prefer my room."

"Why?" She wondered in confusion as I replied.

"I don't like sleeping in a bed where I know my parents had sex a lot."

Smiling she then replied.

"Gotcha. Well let's head to your room then."

Nodding as my guard held a few feet back, I continued to listen as she went on calmly about the next rank.

"After an associate gets promoted however, they become a made-man. Or a soldier. A soldier works directly for a Caporegime. As a soldier now, the job and responsibility rises. They can be used now to guard businesses from rival families, take over new ones with a commanding Capo, or can be used to take out another fellow made-man within another crime family."

Taking our time to reach my door, Lace asked.

"Can I come in? I'd hate to have to stop this lesson halfway in."

I wasn't about to say no to her.

"Sure, it's not a problem. Please, come in."

My guard then made himself comfortable outside my door and as I got it shut, I looked back to see Lace getting on my bed.

My whole body wanted to make a move on her, but I knew it wasn't right. My dad said not to get close to her, but fuck if she isn't hot and making me wild.

Staring at me she asked.

"You gonna sit?"

Nodding I replied.

"Yeah. Sorry, I was just thinking is all."

Taking note she replied.

"Don't worry about it. You must be doing a lot of that now."

Still bobbing my head to her, I waited as she then asked.

"You ready for the next rank?"

Gently looking into her eyes I replied.

"Yes ma'am."

Chuckling she replied.

"Okay then. Next up is a Caporegime. These are your most trusted made-men and go-to guys for just about anything in the family. They control smaller groups of soldiers that they can use to go accomplish a certain task and can be headed as a choice for an Underboss."

Gently yawning, I looked back into her eyes.

"What's an Underboss?"

Smiling slightly she replied.

"An Underboss is the right hand of any family. They are basically as powerful as the Don and can be used for everything and anything. Most Underbosses work solely for the Don and only the Don. They do not question and always get the job done. A lot of these men are very dangerous and have a background many would call demonic. If your an Underboss it means your a man to be feared."

Nodding to the response I then asked.

"Who's my Underboss then?"

Shaking her head she replied.

"You don't have one. An Underboss is usually only assigned during times of war between another family. Back in the day there was always one within a family, but after the original five families died your father made it a rule to only involve a Underboss if the time of major conflict arises."

In confusion I then questioned.

"So how come Don Skier and Don Soul have one?"

"Cause Don Skier is about to go to war with us. He's a smart man. As for Don Soul, Hash is needed on a daily basis."

"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion as she cleared it up quickly with.

"Don Soul is the leading family Don. He's in every Don's mind a target. A target they all wish to take out. If Don Soul is killed then that family who killed him claims his kingdom for their own. So as your father allowed, Don Soul was allowed to maintain his Underboss at the risk of his safety. Hash is always on the clock and as you probably already heard, he's a walking genocide."

Nodding my head very slowly, I looked to my floor as she went on.

"The last rank kid, belongs to only one guy and that's Johan's rank as Consigliere. Or in simpler terms, the family lawyer. His job is to offer advice and guide you through the decision making process. As for other aspects of his role in the family, he's used to free or shorten jail terms for men in our family who have been taken in or stung by another family. He's also technically next in line for Don of the family if your ether killed or arrested. Same goes for an Underboss if we had one."

Still looking to the floor, I shut my eyes as she then asked with a smile.

"You get all that?"

Nodding once I replied.

"Sounds easier then what Johan put it to be."

Placing her hand on my back, I looked to her with my right eye as she continued to grin and stare at me.

Giving her a smile, I got my back straight and asked.

"What's your job in the family?"

Giving me a small grin she replied.

"I'm the head of your Caporegimes. I run the day to day operations and control all movements of the made-men within the family as a whole."

"I thought Damien did that?" I stated as she shook her head.

"Hell no. Damien is the head of your security. His job is to make sure everything goes smoothly from the compound to each business we own."

"Your jobs sound similar." I stated as she placed her hand on my leg.

Looking to her with a red face growing, she replied.

"Damien is in charge of security. Like that soldier outside your door. He makes sure all the Caporegimes and soldiers placed at our businesses, ports, and compounds are following orders. If one steps out of place he is liable and in most cases has to deal with the issue himself."

Staring into her eyes, I continued to listen with a hot face as she went on.

"My job is carry out all your commands and to make sure they are accomplished. If you want a business, I go get it. If you want a guy killed, I get them killed. If you want anything, I make it happen.

In an instant I asked her.

"What if I want you?"

Immediately her eyes widened to the question as I just realized what I said.

Quickly I looked away. I was too embarrassed to look at her now.

As my sense of stupidity continued to fill my head, I widened my eyes to feel her hand touch my face.

With a gentle tug she forced me back to her.

With a red face I stared at her. She smiled slightly and with a gentle chuckle she replied.

"You'd have to earn that."

Feeling a little sense of hope that I didn't completely fuck up my chances, I widened my eyes as she placed her lips to mine.

It was quick, but enough to make me feel better as she retracted and got up from my bed.

"You get some sleep now. Your a Don. And a Don needs his rest."

Giving me a soft smile and gentle turn of her body. I watched as she made her way out of my room.

As the door shut, I fell back on my bed to mutter to myself.

"Your so fucking stupid Pitch!"

This was a fun chapter in my opinion. Please review and tell me what you think is going on so far.

mT Shadow.