King of Hearts

Chapter 61 – Let's Have a Sit Down.

Hash's POV, The Hancock building, Boston.

"Hey tough guy? Time to wake up."

Feeling the cold rush of a bucket of water splashing up into my face, I opened up my bloody eyes to let out a thick and painful cough. But as I tried to look straight, I felt the rough hand of an echidna come in to grab my shoulder.

"Your time is up big man. Boss is done playing around with your sorry ass. Lucky for you though I don't get to do the honors. Man...killing Hash? The Underboss to the Soul family? I would be famous. I might even get a medal. But whatever. I'm paid to listen. Nothing more. And since that is my job I want you to listen too okay? The boss will be here any minute to see to your death personally. And while he's doing that make sure to smile okay? Cause we'll be taping this for the world to see."

Releasing my shoulder, I lowered back down my blood stained white quills and broken jaw to hear the echidna make his way a few feet in front of me.

"Looks like the camera is good to go. Great picture might I add. I swear I can see the thin look of regret in your eyes Hash."

Slowly looking back up to the echidna, I replied to his smart-ass attitude.

"Just wait asshole. You'll be seeing more then that once I get out of this chair."

Giving me a small smile. The echidna quickly made his way back over to me to send a hook my way. This I was used to by now from him.

"Bash!"

With blood sailing out from under my broken teeth, I coughed up a glob onto the floor as the door behind him opened up.

"Gentle now Dean. I want to be sure the guy doesn't die before I can say what I have to say to him."

Backing off and flipping the blood off his hand, the echidna replied.

"Of course sir. I was just having a little fun is all."

"You had all night." I was out of energy. Unable to see the man who signed his own death warrant, I continued to listen to his voice as he asked the echidna.

"Did he beg yet?"

Immediately I began to chuckle.

"Hehehehehe...ow."

Keeping my head down, the man looked to me to ask.

"What's so funny Hash? I don't see the joke in this."

It took almost all I had to bring my head up to face him for the first time. Our eyes locked as I saw the bitch like structure this wolf was built with. He stood with that fancy rich kid attitude and under that was his thin black fur and green eyes. He wore a fancy blue suit. But you could tell he wasn't from Cora's family. It was clear he wasn't native to this mob ring here in the states.

"Hehe...the joke is you think I'll beg to a punk like you."

Gently nodding, the wolf stood by his friend Dean to question.

"But don't you feel pain?"

Looking back down to my feet, I replied slowly.

"Oh I feel it. But all this? It's nothing compared to what I plan on doing to you. And that's the best part about this kid. You have no idea who I am."

Letting out another small chuckle, I continued to feel the small drips of blood leave my mouth as the wolf suddenly stated.

"Hash Bauer. Age 27. Gratitude of Liberty high school. Ran drugs for a local gang in jersey at age ten. Eventually got your mother killed because of it in her sleep." My anger was growing to a point which it never met before. Slowly staring into the hedgehog's eyes, I continued to listen and growl as he went on.

"Ran here to Boston with your alcoholic father who found out that you were the one to ruin his life. He began to beat you every night, drunk or not. Soon enough you got tired of being his bitch and hung him in your attic."

Gently getting in front of me, the kid got down on his knees to look me right in the eyes.

"Now let me know if this one is right. After that you were on the streets for the next year or so. When suddenly Don Jeremiah Soul who was out one day for a conference with the chief of police. You decided to rob him. I believe you stole his phone, about two hundred dollars, and a picture of his wife Ava all in a matter of bumping into him for a few seconds."

Keeping my cool, I tried to get loose of the ropes around my hands to hear from the punk in front of me.

"When he found out you robbed him he sent a Caporegime after you. You ran into an alley and you managed to beat him to death with a trashcan lid and a two by four."

Unable to break free from my restraints, I was forced to keep listening as he went on.

"Now through the shock that an eleven year old killed a top made man in the city's most powerful crime family, Don Soul took the chance to approach you himself and convince you to give him back his belongings. I believe his exact words were something like this."

Watching as the kid stood back up, I continued to growl viciously as he said.

Flashback, Don Jeremiah Soul's POV, Sixteen years ago.

My best man was dead. Laying in the center of the alley with a two by four lodged in his skull and a bloody trashcan lid stuck in his neck. My hands were down to my sides as a small white hedgehog hid himself behind a dumpster towards the back of the alleyway. He was scared and crying, but he kept his eyes on me as I slowly approached to say.

"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."

Pinning himself all the way in the corner, I could clearly see that this kid was homeless. He had to have been out here for a long time just by the smell and color of his ripped clothes.

"I just wanted the picture in my wallet. It's the money you want right? You can keep it all. Just let me have the picture please." I begged as I was only a few feet away from him now.

Looking to the wallet he kept near his chest. I stood still as he slowly opened it to look at the picture.

"That's my wife. Her name is Ava Soul." I stated.

Taking my chance to get closer. I took a step forward to watch as he looked back into my eyes with a calmer presence behind them. And to my greatest surprise, I was caught off guard as he slowly handed me back everything he took. The wallet, the money, and my phone. He held them out for me to take and as I nodded; I got down to my knees to gently reach out.

His hands were cold as I pulled my belongings back to me.

"My name is Jeremiah Soul. What's your name?"

Carefully sitting up in the corner, the small hedgehog replied in a cut voice.

"Hash. Hash Bauer."

Giving him a small smile, I replied.

"Well it's nice to meet you Hash. How old are you? And why are you out here all alone?"

"I'm eleven. And I live here."

"Where are your parents?" I questioned as he gulped.

"Dead."

I knew the feeling and nodded slowly as he looked back to my Caporegime who began to generate a pool of blood.

Inside I felt sorry for the kid. Out here all alone with no one to care for him. Spending everyday on the verge of death from hunger and thirst. I knew what he had to be feeling. Or at least I had a good idea after losing my own son and wife.

Looking back to the dead capo, I gently nodded to myself to look back at Hash who was clearly afraid he was going to jail now for murder.

"You know what kid? This is your lucky day. How would you like to come live with me?"

I swear I saw his eyes explode with shock as he stared at me to question.

"But what about him?"

Offering my hand, I replied.

"I have connections. It will be as if he never existed. But only if you say yes will you be able to keep living. It's better then having me walk away and you go to prison. Now what do you say about getting out of the cold?"

I knew what I was doing by giving him the chance to change. It was ether going to be something I would regret or look back on and smile about. And just maybe I could start over with him. Fix what I did wrong.

Slowly taking my hand, I helped him up to urge.

"Let's get to the car before anyone else gets here."

Holding onto me tight. I smiled as we got back to the car to find my driver waiting and ready to go. After helping the kid in, I ordered.

"Take us home."

Nodding as I got on my seat belt. The driver pulled us onto the street and back into traffic. Now with the drive ahead, I looked on to Hash who was itching his small hedgehog ears.

I knew he wasn't my boy. Or my problem. But I felt like Ava would have wanted this.

End of flashback, Hash's POV.

"Your his bitch Hash. Nothing more. You were a bitch then and your still a bitch now. The only difference is you were saved by a man. A real man. But I'm sorry to say he'll never truly care about you. He's just trying to make up for his own failure as a father."

With every piece of anger coming out from me, I questioned.

"What are you talking about?"

With confused eyes, the kid questioned himself.

"You mean you don't know? Hmmm? Well I guess it makes sense. Figure after all he's been through he wouldn't tell his reclamation he's only using him to make up for the failure of his own son."

With blood leaving my mouth still from the hook I ate, I stated.

"He doesn't have a son."

With a chuckle, the wolf replied.

"Oh yeah he does Hash. He just never told you. Hell I'm surprised you couldn't figure it out yourself. They look almost alike."

My mind was trying to think of who he was talking about, but as I drew only a blank; he said while turning on the camera.

"He works for the Morgue family west of here. I believe his name is Shax."

With my eyes open in complete confusion, I went silent as the kid finished.

"Yeah...poor old Don Soul. Couldn't be a father if he tried. Lost his wife by his boy's hands. But the worst of it all is that he only saved you that cold day because he saw you as a chance to start over. To make up for all the mistakes he made raising Shax. To make it up for his wife's death."

All my feelings were thrown off. Was I really just a second chance to him? Am I just a hollow form of Shax?

"Well I guess that is how the world works these days huh Hash? You think you have it all set up for you when you learn the truth. The shocking truth he didn't have the guts to tell you himself. But hey? Think of it this way. After we're done here you can be assured he'll pay. Cause after I kill you I'm going to that compound of his and ending what Shax started. But deep down I want you to know I feel sorry for you. And I'm sorry it couldn't have been different. But that still doesn't make up for all the things you've done in this world."

Looking forward as he aimed the camera down at me, I glanced to Dean as he held a desert eagle in his hand.

Slowly putting up his hand, the wolf took the hand cannon and turned back to me to say.

"I promise I'll make it quick for you."

Pulling back on the desert eagle, the kid went to aim at me. In a need to know; I shouted.

"Wait!"

Lowering the gun, the kid asked.

"What?"

Coughing up more blood I replied.

"You still haven't told me who you are?"

Giving me a smile, the kid got close to put his hand on my head. Lifting my view up, he replied.

"Zeno Linux Jr. Nice to meet you."

With widened eyes, I stared into the kid as he pulled up the gun and placed it on my forehead.

Let me know what you think as always and I'll have a chapter up tomorrow.

mT Shadow.