King of Hearts
Chapter 52 – Address My Concerns.
Don Jeremiah Soul's POV, Soul Compound, Boston.
Jet lagged and hungry. Not two good things to be. Hash and Vexer were both feeling the same way but they had work to do. Following me to my office, I ordered Vexer to shut the door. Upon getting back behind my desk I said.
"Hash I know you have a million and a half questions to bother me with but you and Vexer need to get going."
In confusion, Hash brought up his hands to question.
"Go where? We just got back."
"And I don't care. Since you two fucked up and gave Morgue our contract, you need to go earn it back."
Hash immediately looked to the ceiling to groan.
"Ughhhhhh!"
Understanding his concern I said.
"Hey you get this done now and you can have the rest of the day off."
Looking back to me, Vexer then asked.
"What do you want us to do boss?"
Reaching into my desk I pulled up the folder given to me by one of my many contacts. Inside I pulled out a picture.
"The client has two things that needed doing. Kill the girl and then off the dead beat dad. Now the guy went missing a few years back. No one has heard of him since. But thanks to some favors I had I got a location. You two are to go find and kill him. Once that is out of the way I'll contact the client and get our money. Easy enough?" I asked as Hash and Vexer both nodded while taking the picture.
While they gave it a look I added.
"And another thing I want to discuss before you go. Vexer?"
Looking into my eyes I said.
"You wimp out on us again and Hash has permission to add you to the body count."
"Yes sir." Replied Vexer as I then looked to Hash to order.
"Don't you dare let Morgue get this one. If we're lucky the fat fuck hasn't even reached his compound yet. Which gives you some time before he sends some goons to tail you. But if for whatever reason Hash Morgue does claim another one of my kills...?"
Hash looked dead into my soul as I finished.
"I'll see to it that you never see the light of day. Understood?" I asked to be sure as he nodded.
"Yes Don Soul."
"Good. Now get it done. And Hash?"
Looking back to me I said.
"Leave a message to them."
Hash knew what I wanted now. He'll do what he does best and Morgue will understand not to fuck with me.
Making their way out of my office, I let out a long sigh and reached for the whiskey I kept under my desk. It didn't take long for a glass to get set and not even a second after was it down my throat. Sometimes the burn is all I need these days.
Relaxing my body to the chair, I spun around towards the wall to kick my feet up and think about something that has been bothering me ever since the meeting has ended.
Pitch Robotnik. That kid is hiding something. Him and Damien. I saw it between the two of them. But what? Something in my mind is pointing to Damien's brother Black Rose.
Hmmm? The way Damien talked about his family. The way Pitch talked. Something isn't right. Maybe I should look into Black Rose a little. Might give me a hint to what their hiding.
I knew finding information on Black Rose would be hard. It's not information that is freely seen and according to Shadow Robotnik; Black's file was destroyed years ago in some fire. Which leaves me with a lot of work to do. I might at the least be able to get a picture of the guy, but hard details most likely not. The only people who would know them would be Damien and maybe Pitch. Yet I won't risk a problem with that. My best bet would be to talk to Vexer when he gets back. He's pretty good at getting information I need. And I'm sure when I do get something on Black I'll be able to understand what Damien is hiding.
Focusing my attention back on my glass of whiskey. I then shifted to a darker matter. Shax.
That thing. That so called wolf is just as silent and cold looking as ever. His eyes hadn't changed a bit. And when we looked at one another I swear I could feel our past coming back in waves of blood and anger. One day I will kill him. He's only alive because of me and what do I get in return? I get who he is now. Once I understand what's going on with Robotnik I will focus my attention back on him. I should have killed him at birth. She would still be alive if I did.
Pounding down another glass, I turned back for my office door to shout.
"Guard!"
Coming through my door, the well armed hedgehog asked.
"What can I do for you Don Soul?"
Putting down my whiskey I replied.
"Two things. Get the cook working on dinner. Tell him I'll be bringing a guest tonight."
"And the second thing sir?" Wondered my guard as I ordered calmly.
"Did payment reach the port?"
Nodding he replied.
"Yes sir. We got some guys counting it right now and are preparing the convoy for the trip to the bank."
Looking at his rifle I then urged him to come over with my hand. Slowly he approached and watched as I reached for it. Letting me have it, I said as I turned it around.
"Hmmmm."
In confusion the guard asked.
"Something the matter sir?"
Looking back at him I replied.
"Nothing urgent. Just thinking. Here."
Handing him back the weapon, I then ordered.
"Get to it. Come find me when your done."
Nodding as he put the rifle back around his body, he replied.
"Yes sir."
Slowly exiting my office, I retook my bottle and took one last long swig.
"Auhhh." Groaning with the burn running down my throat, I tossed the bottle in the trash and went for my door. Finding the guard gone as I instructed, I proceeded towards my front door. The sun was up for once and as the warmth rested along my fur I looked to the gate. My kingdom was impenetrable. Yet it wasn't perfect. If I was going to survive I would need better. Better everything.
My men watched in fear as I went to the back of my compound to rest my eyes on my pool. It was a huge thing my wife used to love. Stopping before the water, I looked down and pictured her.
Flashback, Seven years ago.
"Come in honey. It's nice and warm." My love stated as she swam to me.
My smile was burning bright as she watched me continue my sunbathing.
"You have to be hot. Come join me."
Taking off my sunglasses and looking over into her beautiful red eyes I replied.
"You know I don't like swimming."
Splashing up onto my lounge chair, she shouted.
"And I don't care! Your wife is telling you to come swim with her. Now get your butt over here or I'll drag you in."
Her smile was bright like the sun. She always knew how to get me to react. Slowly getting up from my seat I ordered.
"No dunking me. I have a meeting to go to in a few hours."
Sending another wave of fresh water up at me, she urged.
"If you don't come in now I just might have too. Now get in."
Upon taking off my glasses, I fixed my trunks and looked around the compound. My men were enjoying the summer. The heat and the freedom to have fun. If it were up to me I would have them working, but she says otherwise. Her reason being that everyone needs to enjoy the time they have in life. Some part of me agrees, but I don't like taking chances. It keeps us safe.
"Okay. Here I come." I stated as I sat over the edge of the pool to put my legs in first slowly.
Letting out a sigh, my wife took a strong hold of my hand and pulled; forcing me off the edge and into her wet body. My whole head was sent under thanks to the depth of the pool. And upon getting up through the water, I took a hold of her waist to drag her into me. Our eyes locked together and noses pressed, as laughter swam all around us.
My wife was an independent young woman. One of the strongest I have ever fell in love with in my short life. A matching height, five foot eight, black wolf with the prettiest red crimson eyes. Her perfect wet body was all I needed though. She was just the perfect companion for me, and in the end I couldn't imagine anyone else to take her place. She was my friend, my wife...my true love.
Ava Soul. My everything.
As we continued to smile and laugh, it took me by surprise to see who was heading our way from the front of the compound.
Ava was even caught off guard as our combined offspring decided to join us.
Approaching the pool with his trunks on, I kept silent as his god given crimson eyes looked right at me with a small smile.
"Well look who decided to come and join us! Your father took some convincing, please don't make me have to come get you too Shaxy!"
My only child. My pure genetics in one well built seventeen year old black wolf. Meant to be everything to me. But somewhere along the way our relationship had began to crumble. Even to this day I still don't understand why. But at the least I knew he still loved me as a father. And that is enough for me to be happy.
Stopping to see me staring, Shax asked.
"Is it warm?"
Ava looked to me as I nodded with a small smile to reply.
"Yeah. Come on in."
Shax wasn't the most emotional kid. Hell I barely ever seen him smile. But this time he did. Giving me a gentle gesture with his sharp white teeth, Shax ran towards the edge to land right in front of us. The water drenched me and Ava as he soon resurfaced with a smile.
Letting her go, Ava took her son in her arms and I watched from the center of the pool as they both went down under the water.
Feeling that my life was near perfect, I stared directly at him as he turned with Ava in his arms. Our eyes were one of a kind. But somewhere in his I saw an evil. A hatred for me.
End of flashback.
My eyes rested on the apparition of my family leaving me. Leaving me alone. Something I wonder if I could have prevented so many years ago.
With the memory gone and a horrid sadness exiting from my heart. I took off my shirt and rested my phone down along the lounge chair behind me. The past was hard to live with. To see what was and realize it isn't anymore but what it is called. A memory. The past. Forever forgotten by those you lived it with.
Slowly turning back to the pool, my men watched from afar as I jumped in. I don't even know why I was. Maybe I wanted to go back and experience everything once more. Or maybe I was trying to embrace the memories of who I once was. Ether way they stood by and watched as I resurfaced with wet fur. The good thing about all this water was that no one could see me crying. Crying for my wife. My son. What happened?
Please let me know what you think and be ready for the next chapter to come.
mT Shadow.
