King of Hearts
Chapter 30 – A Sleepless Night.
Don Jeremiah Soul's POV, Soul compound, Boston, The next morning.
My head stared up at the ceiling as the only thing keeping me going was a large bottle of whiskey that rested halfway finished on the top of my desk.
Fifteenth hours I've been thinking. It has now come to the point where I'm all but awake and with barely anything to go for it. I can't wrap my mind around anything in this state. Shadow is just ether too far ahead of me or I'm thinking too much of it. Ether way, nothing that played around in my head seemed to fit.
As time continued to pass and sleep was starting to become my main focus, I took hold of my glass of whiskey and gently pressed it to my lips.
The burn was the only thing left that I seemed to feel. And it kept me above water.
As I calmly struggled to place the glass down on my counter, I looked up to find my office door opening.
My vision was blurred as I heard from across my desk.
"You okay sir?" It was one of my guards. He stood by the entrance as I gulped down my efforts to focus my eyes.
"I'm fine. Where's Hash?" I asked in need of him as he calmly replied.
"He's out."
"Doing what?" I questioned towards him as he shrugged to me in response.
Gently lowering my head, I could only guess what he's up to now. Ether way I was left to fend for myself.
"Do you want me to call him sir?" Wondered my guard as I shook my head and replied.
"No. Just help me to my room. I need to rest."
Quickly lowering his G36C, I roughly attempted to get up from my seat. My guard quickly approached as I began to tilt from the lack of energy in my system.
Quickly getting under my arm, my man began to balance me.
Keeping my eyes opened I ordered.
"Let's go."
Respecting my order, I began to head out of my office with my guard keeping me on my feet.
As we now began to cover the hall, I pushed off his body to shout.
"I can walk!"
Obeying the statement, my guard held a foot back just in case as we made it to my room.
Outside stood two more of my personal guards who were all armed and ready for me to get my much needed rest.
As I neared, the one closest to my door got it opened and stood back as I passed inside to head for my bed.
As my men began to shut it for me, I shouted.
"Hey!"
Immediately looking to me as I got down on the edge of my bed, I ordered.
"When Hash comes back make sure he gets here. I need to see him."
Nodding to my request, my guards got my door shut and locked as I gently pinned my body down on the king sized bed.
It didn't take more then an instant for me to pass out among my sheets.
Don Robert Skier's POV, Skier compound, New York.
My fingers tapped along my desk as Reaver stood before me in concern for my lack of rest.
"You should get some shuteye sir. It's not good to lead in your condition."
Nodding I replied.
"I plan to sleep once the kid is dealt with Reaver, but because of last night and my men going missing I can only assume they failed somehow and that runt managed to get the better of me."
"He's just made one right call sir. Don't beat yourself up over it." Urged Reaver as I looked up at him in confusion.
Reaver was my most trusted family man. And my only ace card for dealing with Pitch. A well maintained wolf with a thick coat of underlined green fur and glowing brown eyes. He was the best in my family and probably the best in New York. Sometimes I wonder if he'll ever fail me.
"I'm not Reaver. I'm just placed in a position now where I'm forced to think if this kid is able to combat me and my plans for this city."
"He's not that good sir. Don't give him credit where he hasn't earned it."
Nodding I then asked.
"What are you doing today?"
Quickly giving it some thought Reaver replied.
"I'm going to take a few boys over to some of their rackets and see if I can convince the owners to hand over profits."
Gently yawning to his response, I remained quiet as he then urged.
"Go get some rest sir. By the time you wake up we'll be back in the position to make moves rather then wait for them to make us."
Taking his advice, I got up from my desk to reply.
"Just make sure they know who they're messing with Reaver. No screw ups." I ordered him as he smiled and guided me out of my office.
As we entered the hall he replied.
"Don't worry about it sir. I'll be sure the message is given. You just catch up on some z's and be ready for the next move."
Smiling I replied.
"At godspeed Reaver."
Nodding, I watched as my Underboss made his way out for the entrance to the compound. As he left my sight, I made my way for my room.
As soon as I was set and ready for some rest, I said to myself.
"Pitch doesn't know who he's dealing with. I hope the kid is expecting a war, cause that's coming for him and his dying family."
Don Pitch Robotnik's POV, Robotnik compound.
The sun beamed me like I was an ant on the sidewalk from my window as I opened my eyes to the morning before me.
Gently raising from my bed, I let out a yawn and swung my legs over the side of my bed to see it was going on ten.
Slowly getting to my feet, I managed to glance to my nightstand to find some clothes waiting there for me with a note on top of them.
Carefully bringing them over to my side, I picked up the note to read.
"You gotta dress the part kid. Come meet me and Rover out back when you get up. Sincerely, Lace."
Smiling to the message, I took my care to look through the clothes she got me. It was a family suit. Neatly pressed and ready for me to fit in to. Black dress pants, dress shoes, a black suit jacket and a white dress shirt with a long black tie.
As each piece of clothing came on, I questioned my appearance every second. I've never worn anything this respectful since prom. I'm used to jeans and a tee. Guess I gotta grow up sometime. I told myself as I headed for my door.
Calmly opening it up, I widened my eyes to see a new guard waiting in solid position on the right side.
"Good morning Don Robotnik sir. How did you sleep?"
Still getting used to being called Don, I replied to the man.
"Not as good as I would have hoped for. I was up thinking most of the night."
Taking notice the guard replied.
"I can imagine. But don't worry. When everything becomes clear and your able to think for yourself I bet you'll have no problem sleeping."
Smiling I replied.
"I hope so."
Gently following me as I began my way down the hall, I asked in concern.
"Does this suit look dumb on me?"
Taking my appearance to his thoughts he replied.
"Not at all sir. Your just not used to it all. Give it a chance."
Nodding I replied.
"Another thing I'm not used too."
Going silent behind me, I began to head down the main stairwell to see the other guards taking notice and beginning greet me as I passed.
"Morning Don Robotnik."
"Good morning sir."
"Looking good sir."
Smiling from the kind words, I made my way outside to find everyone looking towards me. From the gate, to the perimeter, everyone was getting a good look of me in a suit; as I quickly made my way to the back to find Lace and Rover sitting on a bench talking to one another.
Rover laughed as I neared and quickly getting up from her seat next to him Lace shouted.
"Looks like I got it right! Looking good kid!"
Giving her a small blush Rover added.
"Now you look like you could be a real Don Pitch. How's it feel?"
Gently pulling on my jacket I replied.
"A little tight, but I may have just buttoned a bit more up then what was needed. What were you two laughing about?" I asked as Lace smiled to Rover who replied.
"We were just reminiscing is all. Sometimes it's nice to think back for a bit rather then think ahead."
Gently looking to Rover, he smiled at me as Lace got close to see my suit jacket.
Roughly pulling on it she urged.
"Let's get this unbuttoned a bit. Can't have you choking on yourself can we?" She said with a smile as I watched her undo some of the buttons on my wrists and the ones going down my chest.
As she soon finished, my jacket was now opened and the whole underneath was exposed to the world.
"Better?" She wondered as I nodded.
"Much."
Gently patting my arm, she then replied.
"Well good, cause Johan wanted you to be ready before he got back."
"Where is he anyway?" I asked in concern as Rover calmly replied.
"He went to the courthouse early this morning for a meeting with the chief of police. Your father didn't pay him before he left with your mom. Johan probably went to fix that. He should be back soon."
Nodding, I continued to look at Lace as she smiled widely at me.
As a few seconds went by, I was rushed from behind by Damien who carefully stated.
"We got a problem."
"What?" Asked Rover almost immediately as I turned to face my uncle who replied.
"That guy we have tailing Reaver just called reporting that he's taking a few soldiers to Micheal's pub. He must be trying to change business hands personally since yesterday's failed attempt."
Looking to me, I thought deeply as Rover wondered in concern.
"What's the word boss?"
Looking back to Damien I ordered.
"Take Rover and go deal with it. Try not to kill him, just run him off if you can. I don't want him having an excuse for not going out later before our man can tag where he's goes."
Nodding Damien replied.
"Yes sir. Let's go Rover!"
Rover quickly made his way after Damien and both Lace and I watched as they circled the compound to leave our view.
As I let out a breath of uncertainty to my command, Lace asked.
"You okay?"
Shaking my head I replied.
"No. I don't know if I'm making the right call on this."
"You never will till the end, kid. You just have to go with your gut and that's what you just did. So cheer up a little and rely on the fact that you have Damien and Rover on the case. Reaver or no Reaver they will get it done the way you asked."
Gently looking into her eyes, I nodded and replied.
"Okay."
Gently placing her hand on my back, she then urged.
"How about we pick up where we left off?"
"What about Reaver?" I questioned as she pushed off my jacket to reply.
"You got to focus on other things. Let the people you send worry about him. Just focus on bettering yourself."
Nodding to her words, I remained still as she then asked.
"You remember what we went over last time?"
Looking to her as she readied herself, I replied.
"Yeah."
"Good. Then that means we can go on to the next lesson. You ready?" She wondered in concern and aggression as I tried to focus on her rather then Damien and Rover.
Sensing my worry Lace urged.
"To be an effective leader kid, you have to be able to make calls and enforce them. With actions and in your mind. You already made your action, now take some effort to reinforce that in your mind and use that to calm yourself and focus on me. Got it?" She asked in concern as I nodded and quickly got myself ready to learn from her.
Smiling to my effort, Lace began her lesson, and as we went through piece by piece, I began to see she was right. I have Damien and Rover out there. I know together they can do anything. I made the right call. I just have to believe that and wait till they get back. If I'm right and everything goes well then I'll feel amazing, but if I fucked up and something bad happens, I don't know if I can get this down and be a Don the way my father sees me to be in his eyes. Both of their eyes.
There we go. Another chapter for you all to enjoy. Please review and I hope you keep on reading as this goes on.
mT Shadow.
