Vendetta Love

Man Down

Kara

A Few Days Later

So the heavy weight dropped. Not fully but it dropped.

I never would of thought that feeling I had. Meant not only for me to join my people. But to maybe save my father's life. At least give him a chance to spend one more day with me.

But no. I was selfish and wanted to wait until my time was up. If I'd just gonna up my chair, I'll would've done what was needed. Hell! I'll give my life over his. I would of offer myself as our enemy holds my father in their hands. I'll offer my life to the man who took it all away in one bullet.

One bullet.

I lean my head over my mom's shoulder as she holds my hand tightly. I had my other wrapped over a very strong arm that helps me stay strong in this time. His present here alone has helped in so many ways. He was able to level me out when I felt unease. Whenever I felt like crashing he would hold me.

And that's just him. He had such a way over me. I lose all function. No matter where we are at. I'm deactivated.

Dad.

Father.

Daddy.

Hearing the lost of my father was one thing over planning his burial. In a world we live the understanding of death is known early. Even my mom grieves softly as her tears flows down her face heavily. She was broken but she saves the agony part when she's alone.

Death wasn't our fear. It was how his death became. Because in our line of work the most spiteful way to go was when your family's rival enemy took your life. And what pissed me off over the news. Was supposedly the ID of my father's killer was still unknown.

I took every account I could to figure out. I knew the name of all the Barron's Mafia members. I knew the high ranks and the children that bares the name. I scatter all their men one by one. I was still not done but at one point I'll have a name and a throat to cut.

We had our people watch their people closely to see if the mark man that was describe as my father's killer was surfacing. But so far it seems the Barron's has be hiding his man.

Idiots. I'll have him regardless.

I spoke with every men on our team that night. I ran through the scale of what the plan was and how it went down. I pin pointed everyones places and every hit. I knew who was near and who had a chance to dispose.

So far every men out was a god damn imbecile. They're either just as stupid as the Barron's or they're hidding information from me because my brother ordered them to deflate their calls. And Marco keeps claiming there wasn't anyone near. That my father was off the rail when the gun was heard last.

Whether any of them are lying or withholding the truth. I see it in their eyes when we spoke. So the truth was still there when we talked. I knew it wasn't just anyone that got to my father. I knew it wasn't some easy hit. Yet, I will do what is needed to find the person who killed the Monroe Mafia Boss. I knew things that the others didn't.

"Kara? Kara? Kara!"

My head spins up when Cole called my name. A slight wave brought me to the sad reality that makes me want to kill every man in that Mafia so we can be done with this hate that lasted decades now.

"Yeah, Cole?"

"We're heading back. You got mom?" He asked.

"We got her, man. Do your thing." Declan responded as my words has been dry today.

"We're taking a round and then we'll meet up at the house. You remember the talk?" I watch as Cole spoke to me but his eyes didn't look at me. I was too bother by not having my father's killer. It was the only thing I can think of.

Him.

My brothers have been hostile toward others. And I warned Declan about them. He understood and took nothing personal. They even spoke privately at some points. Either way, I ignore their bullshit as mine will rise when Declan leaves my side.

As by father's body now rest under ground. Everyone has began to decend to their jobs. The news hit already about our family's death. And we may be targeted so we needed extra safety.

At that time as the grounds are parted. My job was to stay at mom's side. Last thing we needed was an ambush.

We make our way towards the cars. Declan borrow his father's car today which was blacked out. It felt more comforting at the moment. As we make our stop mom was saying bye to a few guest.

I cross my arms over my chest as I keep my eyes locked at father's burial plot. I just keep imagining how it all went down. At what moment was his last moment. When did he get so separated from everyone. How far was too far. How bad did he leave his opponent. I knew he must of been hurt bad if he was up against the head of the Monroe's. Which is why he wasn't seen out yet. But soon he will and I'll have a name if not a face. And at some point I'll have his blood.

"Baby, look at me."

My eyes rose to meet him. I was shut down but his present had a way.

"I'm fine. Let's just wait for mom." I tighten my grip and return my eyes to the plot.

Declan's hand took me in the thin space. I felt his chest rumble and it took my attention. "Don't do that. You don't have to be that person today. You can let it fall. You have the right to."

I shook my head. "Not now. I. I can't now. Not when.." I breathe out hard. I couldn't yet reveal myself to Declan yet.

His hand flew to the side my neck and landed on the edge of my face. His grasp was hard when he saw the water works trying to stream down. And biting down with his touch was too hard.

"f**k these people. f**k everyone, baby. You have me over all these crowds. I see you, Kara. I see you.." His eyes trapped me. "You're too tough on yourself, baby and there's a time you have to let it go to keep going. You give that s**t to me. That violence in your eyes is clear and it may scare everyone else around here but it brings the beautiful shine in your eyes. I love that look, baby. But I won't lose you over a god damn thing. I'm always at your side. In this world or any other world I'm yours and I'm f*****g here. So you cry and be the girl who just lost her father and not herself. I love you so f*****g much, Kara. All that darkness you are holding give it me. Okay. Just give it to me." He said so firm and tender it pierce my heart in a way I needed. From all people I needed to hear that from him.

But did he mean what he said? It almost seem like he knew in a way, but how. Could it be true? If my dark coil world turns to flame would Declan stay at my side or will he run off?

"You, Kara. You are your father's daughter and he loved you very much. You hear me. He was proud and he loved you." His eyes darken at his words. And I fell at that moment.

"I miss him, Declan. I miss him so much." The tears fell and he took me in his heaven brace.

"I know, baby. I know."

I completely fell apart in an hidden embrace. He tucked me in so hard, not a sound was heard. My arms wrapped over his large body and held him as if I'll disappear without his hold.

Declan sooth me for so long I didn't know when the tears had stop and I just cuddle in to his warmth. His hands had switch. One held over my waist and the other hidden in my hair. He sooth me in a way only he was able to calm me down.

I know there had to be eyes on us. I knew the men around must be gawking at the scene. I already knew the gossip that hit when I had my boyfriend who has no clue of the truth was coming. I knew all the side-eyes that will radiated from my comfort with a non-mafia man at my side. I knew what this clasher will seem to some of these men. And normally I would kick each one of them for staring. But instead I kept my eyes anywhere but those men.

I stayed in Declan warmth. His warmth brought our fantasy high over the reality. And it felt so good to have that.

In most times it was reality over fantasy but not today. Not when I have him. Not when I have Declan Bloom to love me over all.

The drive was silence as it was there too. In small pauses Declan will reach over to kiss my cheek. Saying reassuring words. And I would grip his hand when a heavy hit gets to me.

We settle near the entrance as we welcomed each guest through the house. Mom was on my left and Declan was on my right. He kept a hand over my low back to sooth any tension that builds up.

One by one, more guest came. And soon the rounds had ended and our men return back. I met Marco's eyes and he nods to signal we were in an all clear zone.

I sent a silence thank you for the pause of moments.

"Babe? Can we talk?"

"Mm? Yeah. Whats up?" I flutter out and Declan moves us to the side a bit.

"You know I would never leave your side and.."

His phone ring. As it has for a while now. "Times like this and I only ever.."

"It's your dad, Declan. Answer. It's fine." I smiled assure him.

He grabs his phone annoyingly. His jaw tick more than normal and I lay my hand over his jaw line. I can feel it jumping against my skin.

"Thank you, Declan. You where here for the most important part of today. But don't put your duties on hold for me. I'll be okay."

He grips my hand with both of his. His eyes were a soft blue now. A bit saddness. "I'm sorry. I wouldn't if I didn't have to."

"I know." He wondered if I was certain. And I was. The hard part of today was over thanks to him. "I'm on mom duty. So I'm more than fine."

"My phone won't leave my side. I'll check in, okay." He kisses my hand in a seal promise.

"Thank you so much. I know this week wasn't as we planned. And meeting my father was the quite opposite. But thank you."

"I'm always here for you. For you. Call and I'm there in a heartbeat. You are my world. I'll fix what's broken. For us, I'll make it better. I will return every healing you have done for me. I'll fix the broken in every way I could, for as long as I live I'll fix it all. Every single one."

My heart clench to this offer. I had no words as they spit out. I knew what he meant and the promise to healing the ache. And I believe him because it was him.

No man has ever hurt me in such way. I give little to none because my pain was my doing not another's. The last time someone hurt me was the reason I left the reality and after that it was the look my father gave me most days.

"I'll say my goodbyes."

Declan returns me back to mom. And as he tries to say goodbyes it was like he was unsure to touch the widow. But she took the break and hugged him.

Mom was always kind. She tried to get my father to favorite him over his many suitors. She knew Declan from day one and knew it all.

"Miss Cast, I'm completely sorry for.."

She shhs him quick. "No don't. None of that right now." She pats his face, his eyes widen. "I'm glad to see you well, Declan. I wish he was here to see it too. It'd of been nice to see you both a side each other." She removes her hand and take one look at me. I smile before she returns to Declan. "Your visit was highly respected. Thank you for coming."

"Of course."

Mom walks around him and headed down the hall. I assume she needed a moment to herself. She was holding so much in for so long. A moment of peace should do her good.

The remainder of the time went by. And as the fellow guest had left. It was time to resume back to work.

I grabbed a few men and Marco.

We met in father's office and went over the patrol. Things seem fine. But I can't help but feel this itch. Something was up.

"Someone please give me some kind of lead." I lean over the desk as I await for someone to have good news.

"Well, word has it the Barron's are making moves but it's know as unactive." Which means it's not business.

"Useless." I flagged. "Hows the web hack going? Anything?"

A few men look over. And then Cole runs in. Saying the one thing I just ask. "Yeah, I got one lead. Come look."

I move over as he plugs a drive in. Clicking a few things and pop a video shows a man, shielding his identiy. You see him with a man we are aware who works for the Barron's. And Cole pops over more images of this man.

"Name?"

He shook his head. "I think he's black listed. Maybe red."

Blacked Listed was common. Just hidden information that hasn't quite made its surface yet. It can be many different things for many different reasons.

Red Listed was something else. It meant that the person itself was formally active in such Mafia but no longer for such reason. Or that the person was brought out from the outside to work with such Mafia to get a job done.

That would mean more than one Mafia hit us.

Some Red Listers can be paid off for killings. They're more assassins in a way. But I doubted that. No bond was on father's head beside his rank of being a Head Boss.

"Anything you got from this guy? Are you sure it's him and not some.."

"We can be 100% sure until we got him ourselves but I got a good feeling. I've been following him myself and I'm one of the few who saw him that night." Cole explain.

"Does he have any marks? Any ties? Routines? Anything that's better than a photo to stare at?"

Cole straighten his back to me and sat on the desk. I frown to him. "Well speak! Otherwise you're just as useless as the others."

He rolls his eyes. "You're so impatient, sis."

"Bite me!"

"Marco?" He calls and I glare to him now.

It's like these motherfuckers have been talking more lately. And it's pissing me off. If there's information about this guy. I already ordered all status right away.

Why the hell are they being sketchy.

"I had some men follow him just in case." Marco started.

"Okay."

"He may know he's being follow or expects he may. He's everywhere and nowhere. Yet, we found two routine spots." My eyes widen in joyce. "He goes to the bakery often and grabs the same things. Not too busy but public for him. Next, we found him between two streets. He hides in the alley but never comes out until dark. He must of walked into one of the stores backdoors but we never caught which one. Some days he pops out the left and others he pops out the right."

"So, in a way we can use one to track him. And the other we can use to trap him if you dumb f***s get off your ass and follow him in the alley!" I slowly yelled at the end.

They all flinch to my remark but it just pissed me off. It's like they're not even trying.

"We have. But he's already inside. We don't want to make ourselves out in case he's not the guy." Marco said in an apology type of way.

I take deep breaths and closed my eyes before responding back.

"And the Space? We can make a.."

"We can't!" Cole shook.

Marco gave me a look and I deepen mine. I bite my cheek waiting for his words. "Space is neutral ground." I grunt annoyingly to him.

Space is kinda like a safe heaven for our people. Everyone mainly just use Space to catch a break and grab a drink. But in that said there's no killing on the ground. It's the one rule and everyone applies to it.

Sighing heavily my nails dig in, "Is he out now? Do we have eyes on him or is every Made Men asleep?" I asked as nicely as I could. I was on the edge of slapping someone.

"We put Associates. Made sense at the time." Cole said.

As my eyes cut through Cole. Marco answer my question. "Yes, we have eyes."

I stood to my feet quick. "Find then let's get him. I need two Capos and-"

"Nah-huh, sis. We're going, Marco and I are leading this one."

My fist curl deeper a d ai see everyone back away. "The hell you are! This is my call! I order his blood!" I wanted my hands on him. Not these idiots.

"It's one guy. Two leads and we're watching for now. If we see a clear we'll hit and notify you." Marco lays a hand on my shoulder but I shrug him off.

These guys are getting on my last nerves. "f**k you guys. You can't push me back on this."

"We must for now. At least for this. I'm sorry." Marco said and he meant his words. His lips curl down when his eyes showed sympathy.

Cole on the other hand had a snarky grin on. "Plus, you're on mom duty. So you got to stay." I hear a slight chuckle pass his lips.

I said nothing as they all pack up and leave. I hated the fact that when I got myself back in, I was still an outsider to my men. It's been years and I'm just jumping back in. I guess I should give them time to..

No, f**k them! They're little d***s! They are just trying get the hit themselves.

"Ugh! I'm going!"

I push off the desk and found one of father's guns. I grab the most handy one and left his office. And as I make my way down the halls. I can hear Marco and Cole take their cars and leave.

"Asshole! They're not in charge here."

"Kara!"

Fuck!

Right when I get near my exist mom calls to me. An ache hits as I can hear her pain.

"Kara dear! Come upstairs, please." She shouted.

My fist curled up as I debate whether to leave and get this guy, or do I do the thing father would rather me do at this time.

My mind swims with the cons. I had to hold my head to just things straight.

"Kara!"

"I'm coming!"

No matter how badly I wanted to go. My mom needed me at her side. I didn't take this task because I'm her daughter or anything. I did it because I knew father would feel good to know I'm with her at her lost. It was something mom and I had. A slight comfort we can bring to another. But lately as I got older I had winged off from that feminine side of me.

Too emotionally f****d up to deal with.

As I make my way. I see a woman seated at a bench in the foyer. Her gaze watch over the banister until my footsteps made their announcements.

"You called?"

She nods to me. No words spoke as I take a seat with her. She pats my hand next to her side and the air felt very feign. I didn't know what it meant.

I took the silents and lean my head on her, we enjoyed a moment of silence as I know she thinks of father. This was their spot. Even when this is meant as a cross over and rest. This was where they held their peace for a pause. I seen it many times. I'm unsure if they knew but I had saw them pause from the reality and embrace in themselves.

I envy what they had. It brought such joy and hope in me that I, myself wanted to be greedy and steal moments like this with someone so special. It was foreign in a way to see them gaze in love at another and fall in heaven. The spark in a man's eyes who spike such vile. That a woman with only soften delight can disarm this man with no flinch. It was markable and I wanted that so badly for myself.

My phone buzz quick and I read the text. I look up and nudge at my widow mom. "Mrs. Bloom sends her sorrows. She has been trying to contact you."

Mom's face never change. As it's been the same for days now. "I'll return her messages soon."

As she says the words it felt as if it were a lie. And even though I wanted to ask why. To ask for her to open up to me, to allow me to help her feel some kind of ease. I decided to let her heal from this pain I know nothing about.

My love was still alive. I still have Declan.

The sky grew darker and I knew she needed to rest. But she seems to grew energy at such an odd time. I help her to her room and tuck her in. I stay at her bedside and allow her to talk. She spoke of her and father's past. Things she never spoke of before. And it was nice to see her smile with tears than frown with tears.

I engage little as she talked away. Didn't take long when she snuggle in with her hand over father's side as if he was there holding her hand. But her eyes flitter close and I kiss her cheek goodnight.

I softly walked out and as I do. I get a call. I move farther away to insure to not awaken the widow from her now peace.

Marco calls to inform me that there were no lead. They had tried to go after the man like I instructed. But he wasn't alone at the time. They had wasted time and lost a fellow Capo in the making.

I may have to do everything. Men are useless in my world.