King of Hearts

Chapter 21 – Twig's First Step.

Twig's POV, Verno compound, Los Angeles.

I stood outside the huge mansion, contemplating my next move. But before I could make it I was approached by the gatekeeper. He was a tall fox, armed with an AR-15 and dressed in a fine orange suit.

"State your business." He ordered me up front as I calmly replied.

"I was hoping to speak to your boss."

"And who might you be? Don Verno wastes no time with strangers." Stated the fox as I replied.

"My name is Twig. I was hoping Don Verno may be able to aid me in a problem I seek to resolve."

The guard looked directly at me with a curious way as he went to a walkie-talkie he had clipped onto his pants belt.

"Hey Johnny? I got this guy at the gate wanting to speak to Verno. See if the boss man has time, will ya?" He asked as the man on the other line came back to reply.

"Give me a second."

"Copy." Replied the guard as he looked back to me.

I had to look like shit. The hospital only gave me a pair of jeans and a tee shirt before they discharged me. Plus the limp in my right leg wasn't helping.

"You okay?" He wondered as I calmly replied.

"Just got out of the hospital."

The man immediately opened his eyes wide to ask.

"You the dude who got shoot like six times?!"

"Eight." I corrected as he smiled wider.

"Damn! That had to suck. What happened?" He begged to know now as I replied.

"That's why I'm here. I need help finding the man who did it."

The guard nodded gently as the walkie-talkie went off.

"Let him through. Verno wants him directed to his office."

"Copy that." Replied the guard as he urged me to come in through the gate.

"Follow me. Don Verno is expecting you."

"Good." I replied as I began to follow.

"The compound was huge. Bigger then any bank I've robbed in my career. And guards were none the lacking. All armed to the teeth."

"Why all the men?" I asked the man as he continued to lead.

"If you haven't heard the family is at war with Don Cora."

"Don Cora?" I questioned as he got the door to the compound open for me.

"Rival family here in LA looking to see they get our turf. Tough guys. And their boss is unpredictable. Don Verno who you will meet here in a minutes is having trouble pinning him down to retaliate."

I took note of that as I was lead further into the compound till we came to a door that was guarded up tight by four armed guards.

They let us through, and the second we entered I found a large, dark red echidna sitting behind his desk with another fairly built hedgehog who both turned to face me as we entered.

"Here he is Don Verno sir." Stated the man as the echidna stared at me to reply.

"You may leave. Thank you for bringing him to me."

"Not a problem sir." Replied the guard as he left me be with the man I dared to ask for help.

As soon as the door was shut the echidna stated himself to me.

"My name is Brock Verno, but everyone who works for me refers to me as Don Verno. I'm head of this family and one of the most powerful and dangerous men based here in LA. I will give you credit for coming here alone on your own will, but I'm more curious to know why you are here?"

The hedgehog who sat next to him just continued to examine me as I stepped forward to the Don.

"Mr. Verno sir, my name is Twig. Or you may know me as one of the men who have robbed over twenty banks based here in Los Angeles over the past three weeks. I come here seeking help for a problem I have."

Don Verno and the hedgehog both stared at me now in awe as I waited for one of them to speak.

Don Verno came through to wonder.

"Your the one who just robbed that bank here yesterday, right? Made off with half a million dollars in federal funds?"

Nodding I replied.

"To be fair we could have stolen more, but we didn't bring enough bags."

A bit of laughter came through to the Don as I went on.

"Don Verno I come here because I seek revenge."

Verno went still with a dark stare into my eyes, and the hedgehog next to him asked.

"Revenge for what?"

Gently lifting up my shirt to show them both the stitches I replied.

"For my brothers Trent and Broth. Our team leader who goes by the name of Remp killed Trent and nearly I, and made off with the money my brother Broth died to get."

Don Verno stared into my eyes as the hedgehog stared at the wounds.

"I was shot eight times. Four times here in the chest and another four in the legs. Two to each."

They had already seen my limp coming in, and as I took a breathe Don Verno continued to stare at me.

"I was nearly burned alive in the apartment we fled to after the heist. I only survived because I forced myself to jumped out a two story window to the concrete below."

Everyone remained silent now as I approached the desk completely to look dead at Don Verno.

"Don Verno I seek the man who not only tried to kill me, but shamed my brothers in arms. He walks this country somewhere now with the money we fought to get from this government. I do not expect your aid but I do wish to beg. I will do whatever I must to see this man dies by my hands. I want revenge for my family, same as you would seek for your own if this had happened to you. Please Don Verno. I will do anything to make sure my brothers died in peace." I stated as Verno watched a small tear come out from my eyes.

I continued to stare at the man till he suddenly stood up from his desk to match my height.

Slowly he came around to me and said.

"I do admire your love and care for your family. I can abide by that. You come here after being faced with death more then any man should at one time, and still managed to beg for my support in your mission to avenge your fallen comrades."

We both locked eyes as he went on to say.

"Not many have what you have and I can see that in you. But as you know I'm faced with my own problems at the moment. Don Cora."

I nodded as he continued.

"He kills my men same as I kill his. It is an issue we both face, yet you choose to come to me for support. Why should I give it to you? He questioned as I replied.

"Because I've heard better about your family then Cora's. I hear Don Cora is a manic. A kid on too much sugar. He would not take me half as serious as you would and I can see it in your face that your men respect you as a leader. They do not fear, they respect. That's a true leader and a man that can go places. I need that more then anything if I am to avenge them. I need your family Don Verno. Will you help me?" I wondered with deep care as he stared at me directly.

Slowly his hand came to me. Open and offering.

Gently I took it.

"I will help you. But you must help me as well."

"Anything you need done Don Verno I can do. I'm not scared of risk. Or dying. I will do what has to be done to reach my goals. And if my goal is help you through this and whatever problems you face today, tomorrow, and next year. I will do whatever I have too, to make sure your goals become reality."

Don Verno smiled as I now shook his hand.

"Then welcome to the family Twig." He said with a kind and soft voice as I smiled and replied.

"Thank you sir."

As we both released hands after a few more seconds of firm shaking, Don Verno said.

"This business is war Twig. Are you ready for war?" He wondered as I nodded.

"I am."

"Are you ready to kill for a new family to end your own?"

Nodding I replied.

"Yes sir I am."

With another long smile, the man replied.

"Then let's get started. I have a job for you."

My face stood cold as he went back behind his desk.

"Please take a seat." He urged me as I sat down before him.

As both of us measured up, and time began to grow slow. I sat in confidence that with his help I would find Remp. And once I find him...I would kill him. Kill him for my family, my brothers, and most of all.

Me.