King of Hearts

Chapter 31 – Contract To Run.

Rover's POV, Micheal's Pub.

The place had been evacuated, and as Damien and I entered we found one of Skier's boys having a drink behind the bar.

He took notice to our suits and immediately sent a bottle at us nearly hitting me in the head.

"Smash!"

As the bottle broke along the wooden door, Damien ordered the man.

"Come out here coward!"

Looking to Damien as he made his way behind the bar to flush him out, I positioned myself in front of it to watch as the soldier attempted to jump his way over the counter and by me.

In force though, I caught him by the neck and held him for Damien who came up to send a huge hook.

"Bash!"

The force of the blow sent the kid into a deep sleep. And in force, I pushed him down to the ground to continue my tracks behind Damien who stood by the manager's office.

As we neared, the door opened with another one of Don Skier's soldiers making his way out with an M9 in his hand.

Immediately pointing it at me, I jumped to the side and watched as Damien cut off his trigger by smacking his wrist with such force the gun itself lost his grip and went across the room.

Quickly getting up to my feet, I approached to see Damien take hold of his neck from the side.

As his mitts gripped the rims of his throat, I widened my eyes to watch as Damien sent his head into the wall next to them.

"BASH!"

Blood splashed the wallpaper like a popped cherry. And in speed, Damien released the man to watch as he fell back on the ground with a broken nose and teeth.

"Guns up." He ordered as we both then went for our sidearms.

Taking out my G17, I alined the door with Damien and moved in the second he kicked in the door.

Almost instantly we caught a glimpse of Reaver making his way out the back. But before he could leave, he fired off a few rounds that came so close to hitting Damien in the chest.

In reaction, Damien stumbled and ordered.

"Go after him Rover!"

The only issue that faced my pursuit was that one last made-man held the ground behind the desk of the pub owner.

In force, I charge forward and seeing as he was clearly outmatched, the kid attempted to make his way out after Reaver.

Too bad the kid wasn't fast enough, cause before he could even get out the backdoor, I already had my hand on his arm.

In fear, the guy stopped and attempted to send a hook at me.

Quickly ducking, I sent my knee into his gut and sent my elbow down into the back of his head forcing him out-cold below my feet.

Damien got control of the owner who was scared, and still obeying his order; I ran out the back to find Reaver already a good distance away and making it to his car that was parked in the alley.

Quickly raising my weapon, I aimed for the back glass of the car to fire.

"BANG! BANG! BANG!"

The glass shattered as he pulled out onto the road and that was all that was needed to get him to speed off. I wasn't aiming to hurt him, just looking to put some fear in him.

Looking back into the office, I found Damien getting the owner back on his feet.

"You okay?" He asked in concern as he nodded.

"I'm fine! Those assholes wanted me to hand over the business Damien! I would never!" Stated the owner as Damien nodded.

"I know. Just make sure the cops know Skier was the one to do this to your bar. Don't say a word about us being here. Just tell them it was a bar fight gone wrong, got it?" He urged the man as he nodded in his arms.

"I got it Damien. Now go! Get outta of here before they arrive!"

Agreeing with the man, Damien looked to me order.

"Let's go Rover."

Nodding, I followed Damien back to the car to get in on my side.

As Damien stepped in at the driver's seat, I began to hear sirens coming from the south. Looking to him I shouted.

"Let's go! Get us out of here already!"

With a turn of the key, we got off and on our way away from the crime scene as fast and as legitimately as possible. As Damien continued to drive I asked.

"You think Reaver will hit something else?"

Shaking his head in disapproval Damien replied.

"I doubt it. Losing three made-men to the cops and getting cut off by us probably sent him back to Skier with his tail between his legs. And once Skier gets told this is on the news and the cops are coming to him for answers, I bet he'll teach Reaver a lesson or two and he'll be restricted to the port job that's meant to go down Monday."

Taking his words to my own thoughts of the situation, I then asked him.

"You think Don Skier will just fold on his plan to take the port if Reaver is somehow killed? Cause in my mind I would just send the next in line out there to handle it." I stated as Damien made a turn.

After setting the car back in the right lane he replied.

"I've seen it happen before. When a Don loses his best he'll fall back and try to rethink his war. Same thing happened when me and my brother left the Marxist family years ago. The only difference was that we weren't killed. The Don needs time to think things over and come up with a new game plan. Skier will do the same when Reaver is killed."

"You think Pitch can take advantage of it?" Looking to me Damien replied.

"He's been right so far on his calls and I can see it in him that he wants to be a good Don just like Shadow. He'll make the right moves to deal with Skier. I know he will. Just give it time and let the kid think. What's the point in giving orders if you can't think about them first?" He asked in concern as I nodded and remained silent for the rest of the trip back to the compound.

As soon as we pulled in, Damien urged while getting out of the car for us to find Pitch. It didn't take long for that ether. We found him with Lace still in the back working on his guard. Lace stopped throwing punches the second she got us into her sight.

Nudging Pitch to turn around towards us, Damien took the lead to say.

"It's done. Reaver ran off and a few of his boys will be in jail by tonight. I'm sure Don Skier will be scrambling around before you know it."

A bright smile came to Pitch as I smiled and felt the accomplishment he must have been feeling in his heart. Must feel like a huge weight just got lifted from his shoulders knowing he made the right call and we came back safe.

"Was there any trouble?" He asked in concern for the answer as Damien looked to me.

Giving him a small smile I replied.

"They didn't lay a hand on us. Aside from a few rounds Reaver popped off at a wall, we're both fine sir."

Pitch clearly looked relived as Lace came to his side to say.

"See? I told you. You listen to your gut and you'll be right nine times out ten."

Smiling wide Pitch replied.

"I'm just not used to it yet. It feels great to know I made the right move, but I guess it will get better with time."

Nodding Damien added.

"Just keep focused on what you have to do and we'll do what we have to do to make it happen."

Giving another small smile Pitch looked passed us as Johan could be seen coming from the front of the compound.

Slowly making his way to Pitch's side he urged.

"Let's get heading inside Pitch. We have things to discuss."

Damien immediately replied to the man.

"Your not his father Johan. Let him do what he wants to do. Business isn't as important as teaching him how to defend himself."

Quickly getting his body towards Damien, the old Johan replied.

"He's not going to be some grunt Damien. He's going to be a Don. I see no point in letting him learn these things. And as his father's Consigliere I get to decide that. Pitch will not need these lessons, from you or them." Stated Johan as he referred to Lace and myself.

Everything went south from that statement, and in rage Lace shouted.

"You can't do that!"

Looking towards her Johan replied.

"I'm afraid I can missy. Now if you'll excuse us, Pitch and I have things to attend to."

Damien stood his ground as Johan grabbed Pitch by the arm to drag him away.

Seeing though that Damien was not going to move, Johan ordered.

"Step aside."

With his fist clutched he ordered back.

"Let him go. Right now."

"Or what?" Questioned Johan as Damien began to growl.

Lace and I stood behind in anger as Johan somehow found the guts to say.

"You try a thing Damien and you'll end up just like your brother."

Damien's growl grew furious as Johan strictly ordered again.

"Now move."

In utter rage, Damien stood there. Some guards began to take notice from around the compound and began to watch from their positions as Damien growled.

"You don't talk about him ever!"

Johan quickly got in his face to reply with a smile.

"I can do whatever I want. You have no power here. Now move aside."

In anger, Damien forced his legs to move to the left.

Johan still glared at him as he dragged Pitch away and back towards the compound.

All three of us were near our breaking points as Damien said.

"He has no right."

In force Lace added.

"There is no way he can do that to him! He's the Don, inexperienced or not! He has no right to just drag him off and tell us we can't teach him how to be safe in case of an emergency."

Nodding my head, I then said to them both.

"He's the consigliere ether way. We have to obey him, like it or not."

Looking to me Lace questioned.

"So your just going to let that happen?!"

Shaking my head immediately I replied.

"What else can we do?!"

As Lace went to respond Damien replied.

"We do what's right for him ourselves. Consigliere or not, he's not getting away with this."

Lace agreed as I questioned to him

"We can't just kill him Damien."

Looking to me Damien replied.

"Sure we can. He may think he's untouchable, but give me some time. I'll get to him."

"What will you tell Shadow?" I questioned as he calmly replied.

"Shadow isn't here. And he's no longer Don. Pitch is. We don't answer to him anymore."

"I don't like this." I stated as Lace asked in concern.

"I don't like this ether Rover, but we all know what's best for him. Pitch needs to learn these things. Even if he never uses them. When Shadow and Zarra get back we can all tell them together. But just like Damien said, Shadow no longer is acting Don. So long as Pitch agrees to the hit we have all means at pulling this off with no consequences. "

Turning my body away to think, Damien then asked.

"Will you think twice if Pitch is killed tomorrow because he doesn't know how to use guns in means of defending his life? Will you stand here now and tell me it wouldn't be your fault for not teaching him? You know this is right Rover. We all do. Our job is protect our Don. No matter the cost. Johan just happens to be that cost." He stated as I shut my eyes.

Gently taking hold of my shoulder Lace asked.

"What if he was your boy?"

Everything went still as I was disturbed by the question and the shock of reality.

"What if he was your kid Rover and Johan did this to him? What if he dies tomorrow because we didn't act now? Will you still think it wasn't your fault?" Wondered Damien as I turned back to look at them.

Lace stared into my eyes with sadness to my new form of feelings, and with a nod I replied.

"Okay. I'm just not used to my target being a fellow family man."

Looking deep into my eyes Damien replied.

"Johan isn't family. He only seeks his own path in life. He's as crooked as any other snake. You'll be doing a favor for Pitch and Shadow. I'm sure even he knows Johan is reaching his limit in this business. It was just a matter of time till someone decided to put him down."

Nodding, I then asked.

"Do you even have a plan for this?"

Looking to Lace, then back to me he replied.

"I always have a plan. It's just a matter of time and if god is at our side."

Both Lace and I remained there, in silence and in concern for his plan. Because for all we know, Johan may be a step ahead of us already.

Things are getting good. Let me know what you think though.

mT Shadow.