King of Hearts

Chapter 82 – War Will Come.

Twig's POV, Soul Compound, Later that night.

Vexer was the only one allowed in with Don Soul. Suppose I shouldn't be surprised. If he's anything like Vexer himself then I assume he doesn't trust me one bit. As I sat outside his office with his men watching me in awe, I looked to one to wonder.

"What?"

Lowering his rifle he replied.

"You're Don Verno's Underboss right?"

Nodding to the young guy I replied.

"Yeah. What of it?"

Looking me over he wondered.

"You look like shit. No offense meant by that. But how do you keep going?"

Letting out a sigh I replied.

"I focus on my goals. When I need to get something done to get closer to them? I drop everything else and get to work. Sleep I can worry about later."

Nodding he then asked the famous question I've been getting the past few days.

"What happened to your face?"

Chuckling I replied.

"Personal story kid. Let's just say what happened is the cause for my goal."

I was being too vague. But as I was about to give him a better answer, the door to Soul's office opened with Vexer behind it to look at me and order.

"Get in here."

Nodding I stood up and walked pass the guard and into the office. Don Soul looked like shit himself. But as he looked up at me, he stood out from behind his desk to offer his hand.

"Thank you for getting my man back safe and sound Twig. I can see why Verno looks to you to get things done." Taking his grip, we shook. And after we retracted from one another did I reply.

"Don't worry about it Don Soul. I'm just here to make sure this got done right. Both of our families are in need of the info. I hope you take Vexer's word for it. Don Morgue is surely a madman thinking he can take down everyone."

Nodding as he got back behind his desk, Don Soul replied in uncertainty.

"Morgue has a lot of manpower. I won't lie to you Twig. You've been straight with me so far so it's about time I put in my two cents here. If Morgue wanted too, he could easily move in on LA. Not saying your family or Cora's is weak by any means. But Don Morgue will not have too much to worry about when handling one or the other."

Looking him in the eyes, I replied.

"As long as I'm alive; Don Verno and his family will survive anything Morgue or anyone else throws at us. That is my word and like most things in my life that I have left, it is the one thing I can believe and count on as a man."

Vexer and Soul both stared at me as I went on to say.

"I don't know the terms the Verno and Soul family stand on. But I know for a fact who I can trust. I'm going to hope you Don Soul can be one of them. Just like me it looks like your going through a lot right now too. And I'll be straight with you for a moment. Even despite my word, I see The Verno family in a lot of trouble if Morgue pushes us. And I'm one to know that a single man can't stop and army. So I'm going to speak for Don Verno on this."

Caught off guard, Don Soul questioned.

"Your going to speak for your Don?"

Nodding I replied.

"Your damn right. Right now things are very...very hard. For my family and for yours. The only way I see us being able to pull through is to work together on this problem we face with Morgue. I want to stand right here, right now, and ask the question. What do I have to do to earn the Soul family's trust and support?"

Vexer was lost by the sudden offer. He seemed shocked even as I had the balls to confront Don Soul about this during such a bad time.

As I stood there now in silence, Don Soul who was indeed entranced by me soon looked up into my one good eye to reply.

"You are one hell of an Underboss."

I kept a straight face. Don Soul knew I was serious and I liked that. With our eyes locked on to one another he went on to state.

"Your asking for something astronomical. So I have to ask. Are you serious?"

Nodding I replied.

"My duty as Don Verno's Underboss is to protect him and his daughter. You not taking me seriously isn't an option."

Don Soul then asked.

"Why should I take you seriously Twig? You're speaking for Verno. I assume he didn't even tell you to do this right now. Your going the extra mile. Hell it's a mile that could get you killed. The danger I pose is not something to take lightly."

Feeling my anger spike to his words, I grabbed the side of my bandages. Vexer and Don Soul widened their eyes as I slowly undid them to state.

Don Jeremiah Soul's POV.

"The last thing I'm doing is taking this lightly." Stated Twig as I stared in loss for words at his face. Vexer almost couldn't stand it and had to look away as I stared on to hear from Twig.

"I am not here to fuck around with you! I lost so much protecting my family. I lost all this! I lost part of myself just to get to where I am now. And I haven't even finished my own goals in life yet. I'm here as an Underboss, as a friend, as a man! I'm not joking. I can't protect Verno forever. I just can't. But with your help I can Don Soul."

All I felt right now was his emotion. I haven't ever seen a man in his condition before. He looks like he's already dead under those bandages. Staring into the socket that once held one of his eyes. I stood out of my seat the second I saw what he was doing next.

"Please." He begged as he knelt in front of my desk.

"I'll do whatever you want. Just name it. But in return I beg of you Don Soul. Help me. Help my family. Help me protect the people I love and I swear to god to you I will repay you ten fold once I have accomplished my goals."

I was now lost in utter shock. It takes one hell of a man to do what he's doing right now. Surely he knows I'm not to be trusted. He knows I could end his family so easily if I was to help. Why still do this? Why beg? I asked myself as he mumbled.

"Please."

Vexer stood right beside me. He was witnessing all this just as I was.

With Twig looking towards the ground now, I let out a calm breath. Not soon after did I reply to the wolf I admired.

"Okay."

Twig's eyes slowly looked up to me as Vexer questioned.

"Sir?"

Ignoring him I looked directly at Twig to state.

"I'll help you. But in return I need something from you."

Standing up from his slump Twig replied.

"Anything. Name it."

With our eyes locked and Vexer staring at me in confusion, I ordered Twig.

"Find my Underboss. Find Hash. Find him and bring him home."

Instantly Vexer lost his shit to shout.

"Don Soul?! You can't be serious right now!"

Nodding I replied.

"Just like him, I'm being serious. You want my support? You bring me back my boy. Do you understand Twig?"

Nodding Twig replied.

"I understand Don Soul. I'll find him. You have my word."

Reaching into my desk to pull out a picture I was given not too long ago, I tossed it on my desk in front of Twig to state.

"I have friends in the FBI. Not soon after you and Vexer went to Morgue's compound did I get a call from one of them. I'm not the smartest man Twig, but that is my Underboss."

Twig's POV.

Looking towards the picture, I saw what appeared to be a cop. But looking closer I saw him. Hash was making his way onto a plane. With Vexer taking the photo away to look for himself, I asked Don Soul.

"Where is heading?"

With a straight face he replied.

"Columbia. He left quite a trail behind him.

Instantly my heart sank.

"I have feeling I know why he went there. What Hash plans on doing is something we can not afford. I have the connections to get you to and from that drug ridden country. I will outfit you with the best. I'll even offer some of my best men to help you find him. But I can't wait much longer. Don Morgue will strike me soon. In a matter of days I could be dead. This has to be done now."

"I...I...?" Don Soul cut me off to add.

"I'm not asking for you to work for me. I'm asking you to help me."

With my mind at a loss, I widened my eyes in shock as Don Soul now got on his knees to me.

"Go get my boy back. Bring him home safely. Please Twig."

I was speechless. Vexer was too. As Don Soul begged before me, I saw a tear hit the floor under him. Looking back up to me he stated.

"He means the world to me. Not because he's my Underboss. But because I truly love him as a son. You pull this off and I'll personally sign a truce between our families. You have my word on that. Everything in my head was bobbling around like a bad flue. So much was on the line for me now that I got myself into this. Don Verno...how to I tell him this?" I wondered as Don Soul waited for my answer.

With my answer soon to come I stated to the kneeling don.

"I'm all that stands between Verno and his daughter getting killed. If I go I need someone to take my place."

Slowly standing back up, Don Soul looked to Vexer to reply.

"Vexer will be more then glad to do it."

I knew Vexer was going to question that and in reaction I stated strongly.

"No."

Don Soul who now looked back at me slowly got on his feet to question.

"Then who?"

Thinking to myself I replied.

"I have an idea. It's someone I trust. They will be more then happy to take up the job."

Somewhat trusting me, Don Soul then asked.

"When will you be ready to go?"

I was still at a loss for that answer. I had to inform Verno. I knew he would feel like I betrayed him, but I had no other choice now. Understanding my situation I looked to Soul to reply.

"Tomorrow morning. Can you charter the plane to meet me in LA?"

Nodding Don Soul replied.

"Of course I can. What about gear? People?"

"Keep them." I replied as I went on to state.

"I wana do this by myself."

"Are you sure?" Questioned Vexer as I nodded to myself.

Going silent as time now passed, Don Soul approached me to put his hand on my shoulder. Looking back into his red eyes he stated in a calm tone.

"I'll have everything set for you. You go find my boy and bring him back. You do this for me Twig and I promise I will be the one in your debt."

"And Verno?" I wondered as he was clearly aware of the risk I was taking.

"He'll understand. It's for the greater of our two families. While your gone I'll try my best to keep him calm and collected."

Now focused on one last thing, I went on to say.

"There is one more thing."

Looking to me in confusion, Don Soul wondered.

"What is it?"

My mind went still as I replied.

"No one but Verno knows my past. What I did before joining this business. If I'm going to do this you must know I have a debt to collect."

"From who?" Asked Soul as I replied in force.

"A man named Remp. He was my friend before all this."

"What happened?" Wondered Vexer as they both listened with eager ears.

"Before joining the mob I was a bank robber. A good one might I add. You might have heard of our last heist. Stole a half a million from the Los Angeles First National Bank."

"I heard of that job. You pulled that off?" Wondered Vexer as I nodded.

"Yeah. It was easy. But one of my best friends died during the robbery. Shot in the head so it was at least quick. But when we got to safety back at our safe house with the money, Remp decided we were no longer useful. He gunned my remaining brother down and myself. Then he ran with the money my friends died for. He got away with it too. But little does he know I survived and I know where he ran too."

"Where?" Wondered Don Soul as I replied with a solid reply.

"Columbia. Ironic isn't it?" I asked as Don Soul began to understand.

"I planned to got there and kill him. But Don Verno forbids me from leaving his side till Cora is dead. But now it appears I have no choice. With your permission Don Soul, if and when I find Hash. If and when we get some time to ourselves. I want to avenge my brothers in arms. My family he took from me. I want him to pay for what he has done."

Don Soul sensed my aggression and my emotion towards this now. With a glance back to my eyes he replied.

"Once my Underboss is safe, I will allow you to extract your vengeance. But only after he is safe."

"You have my word."

"Then it's a deal then. You can feel free to leave anytime. I'll call you in the morning with the details of your flight. And Twig?" He said as I was about ready to commit myself. Looking back at him he said with a smile.

"Thank you. Come back safe."

"I could care less Don Soul if I come back safe. As long as my family is avenged and Don Verno and his daughter are safe, will I gladly die. My goals will have been met."

"Still." Replied Don Soul as I made my way for the door leading out of his office.

"Your special."

Shutting my eyes to those words, I left his office without another word. I had bigger worries now. First was getting back to LA. Second was talking to Verno. I knew how he would react. And it's quite possible he'll try to hold me back by force. Unfortunately for him I can not allow that to happen. This needs to be done. I need to secure this peace. Not just for Don Verno and Claire, but for me and my brothers. That's the only thing that mattered.

Heading for the exit to the compound, I looked up at the stars above to see my fate written in their light.

mT Shadow.