King of Hearts

Chapter 41 – Who's Family Means More?

Don Brock Verno's POV, Verno Compound.

The bank delayed my fucking transfer! Their saying it will be at least another day before the funds are transferred to Ross! And worse yet he's not answering his fucking phone! I swear if he lays a finger on Claire I'll hunt him down till the end of the world!

Jin stayed with me in case I lost control over the situation. Which I have! My baby is out there all alone with that fucker and all I can do is sit here!

Of course my growls and grunts of rage could be heard over everything else in the room as my utter sadness fell in behind to take a hold. Jin watched from the door as I lowered my head down onto my desk.

As I was about to cry again from the lack of being a father, I heard my door open.

"Don Verno sir?"

Upon looking up I found another one of my many capos now standing before me.

"What is it?" I asked in near tears as he had the face of a disappointed man written on him already.

"Don Cora is on line two."

Jin stood straight as I mumbled.

"Great. Just what I need."

Slowly taking a hold of my office phone, I hit line two and answered.

"What do you want Cora?"

Hearing my current tone he replied.

"I called cause I wanted to talk to you about some business."

In rage I questioned.

"We're at war and you want to talk about business with me?"

Giving a second to cough, Cora replied.

"It will be quick I promise you Verno."

Going silent to him, Cora took his chance to continue.

"A lot of my men got killed at the depot yesterday. And same goes for you."

"Get to the point Cora." I ordered him as he went on.

"The cops came busting down my door demanding answers. After a few pay offs and some favors I'm home free. But what gets me about all this is that one of my men happened to survive the fighting. He told me before he died that you had some sort of hitman or assassin watching your guys from afar. I want to know who. Give me a name."

"Not going to happen." I replied as he then stated.

"I'll find out one way or another. If your going to involve non-family into this war Verno I'll be sure to do the same. And you won't like who I call."

In anger I replied.

"Thing is Cora, the guy who did kill all your men? That guy is part of my family. Now I suggest you stop accusing me of false actions. Cause unlike you, I don't need anyone other then my family to send you six feet under with all your men."

Cora went silent as I finished.

"Now I suggest you leave me the FUCK alone!"

Slamming the phone down, the call ended and I refocused on my desk with my head lowered to Jin and the capo who only watched my broken state.

Twig's POV.

With Claire still sleeping in the back, I pulled up to the compound gate to see the guards approaching in speed and force. Their guns were up as I questioned why to myself.

With my jacket now holding my face together, one approached the window as I ordered.

"Let me in."

Seeing that I was clearly hurt and physically out of it, the guard asked.

"What happened?"

With my skin on fire, I looked back into his eyes to slowly lower the jacket from the right side of my face.

The man nearly jumped out of his skin as I replied.

"I was set up. Now are you going to let me in or not?"

In shock for words from my face, the guard muttered.

"Go...go through."

Putting up the window as he got the gate, I pulled to the side of the compound where all the other cars rested, to slowly turn off the engine and look up into the mirror.

Anger coursed through my veins as I looked back to see Claire shuffling in her sleep.

Let my anger pull back into my heart, I undid the lock and opened the door leading outside.

No one around seemed to be concerned with one car pulling in, but as I opened the back seat to take Claire out, everyone seemed to take notice and look my way.

With her on my shoulder and in my arms, and my jacket pinned along my face. I hid the wounds and made my way slowly for the entrance to the compound, with my legs struggling to move forward and my body screaming from the after-burns of hell's flames.

Fellow soldiers and Caporegimes cautiously came behind, but kept a good ten feet away as I made haste for Verno's office with his daughter in hand.

Don Brock Verno's POV.

Keeping my head down and my soul shut. I let out soft tears of pain as I heard the door to my office open once again.

This time, I heard a gasp from Jin and the Capo, and it got my immediate attention to look up towards the door.

It was an instant. My sadness, anger, and despair all vanished as my eyes rested on Twig who stood between the door frame with my baby girl on his shoulder.

Jin was lost for words as I questioned.

"Twig?"

Half his face was covered by his suit jacket, and almost all the rest of him looked like hell. His chest had blood coming through his dress shirt and the rest of his clothes look soaked. But through it all he gave me a smile to reply.

"I think she belongs to you."

Getting up from my seat in near shell shock, I quickly approached to see my daughter was out-cold.

"Where did you find her?"

With his left eye locked to me, he replied.

"Ross had her. Down at the Venus dockyard. It was only after I killed the men who attacked me that I managed to get to her in time."

Sensing some anger in his voice I immediately replied.

"Twig, I swear I had no idea Ross would do this. I swear on my life I didn't know."

Nodding very slowly, he went silent. I felt as if he was mad at me.

"I thought you were dead. Ross set both of us up Twig."

Looking back at me he replied.

"I was waiting for you this morning. I hoped you would give me something in return for my hard work about Remp. But Ross told me you wanted to me to go get you some money instead. I should have known it was a lie."

Keeping my eyes locked to his, I grew worried as blood began to drip out from under his jacket.

"Are you hurt?" I asked as he seemed to ignore the question and offer me Claire instead.

"Here." He urged me as I took her into my arms.

Looking at my baby's soft face, I felt my heart jump as I saw she was bleeding too. Noticing my concern Twig said.

"Ross shot her with a dud round. It's swelling but she'll be fine."

Looking back to see he was clearly hurting, I questioned.

"Twig?"

Pushing away, I watched with my fellow family as he stumbled out my door and into the nearby wall.

Handing my baby over to Jin, I rushed Twig to watch as he fell to his hands and knees.

Keeping his jacket on his face, I got down to ask.

"What's wrong?!"

I was more then serious for him. I owe him everything now that he brought back Claire.

Slowly starting to growl in agony, I reached for the hand that held his jacket to order.

"Let me see!"

Unable to fight, Twig lowered both his hand and his blood covered jacket to the ground.

I sensed something completely wrong as he slowly looked to me.

Everyone around us, especially me. We all widened our eyes and took a pace back, as half of his face was missing. The whole right side was nothing but ether crust of what used to be his skin, or bare bone. His cheek bone was the worst. The bone itself could be seen and his chin under was visible as well. Along his forehead was dark black crust and around his mouth and eye was missing skin and tendon. And through it all, I showed fear as his right eye was also gone.

Giving me half a smile, Twig fell to the floor and passed out.

That's it for Twig. He's done now. Please leave a love and a hug as always and I will have more on soon for you.

mT Shadow.