A fortress, ready for war, stood deep within the forest that surrounded the city. The metal castle, outfitted with numerous battlements and soldiers, was hidden in a cave somewhere within its many kilometers of space, hiding amongst the green plants and sweet-smelling flowers. But despite its rugged outward appearance, its inside was the definition of luxury.

  The inner structure of the fortress was constructed of the finest marble. There were multiple crystal chandeliers adorning the different sections of the white-colored ceiling. And the scent of the most delicious foods, such as roasted turkey, wafted through the air. It was here that the Santini siblings called home.

  The three gathered in the dining hall, like they had done each morning, meeting around the meter-long table. As they took their seats, their servants swiftly came into the room. The servants methodically placed the trays and plates that carried the food on the table in front of their masters. And poured each one a glass of orange juice before leaving the room.

  Ophelia took a sip of her orange juice, releasing a moan of satisfaction. "Delicious."

  Marco took a bite of his turkey. "I agree."

  Another servant entered the room, carrying a folded Daily Saturn newspaper. He came over to Andrea as he was eating, placing it beside his master. Andrea unfolded it, readying to read the headline, as he used his other hand to carry his glass to his mouth. However, he crushed the glass into many small pieces as he finally saw the headline, getting his sibling's worried gazes.

  "Big brother, what is it?" Ophelia asked.

  "Take a look." Andrea gave the newspaper to his sister.

  As Ophelia took the newspaper from Andrea, she screamed. "What?" As she read the headline.

  Marco hurriedly looked from side to side at his brother and sister. "Can one of you tell me what's going on?"

  "It's the big man, little brother. His lapdogs attacked our operations in Thorne Village. We didn't hear about it until now because it happened sometime last night," Ophelia said.

  "What? He wouldn't dare. That part of town has been Santini territory for decades. Are you sure?"

  "The Daily Saturn's Delia Darkwood and Monica Monroe think so at least." Ophelia waved the newspaper in the air.

  Andrea cracked his knuckles. "This can't go unanswered."

  "I agree, but how can we retaliate?" Ophelia groaned. "The knight destroyed our doomsday pillar, and Dr. Hiro is working as painfully slow as usual."

  "This time around, I had a different solution in mind," Andrea said.

  "What kind of solution?" Marco asked.

  "In the beginning, I thought we could win this war with the best weapons, but I was wrong. This war is about more than weapons, or even strategy. Its about knowledge. And I know who we can get an unlimited supply from."

  Andrea reached into his pocket and took out a picture, placing it on the table. As Ophelia and Marco drew closer to look at the image, they witnessed that it was of someone they didn't know, Daniel Jones.

  Ophelia's eyes widened as she took the picture off the table, mesmerized. "Who is this?"

  "His name is Daniel Jones. He use to be one of the top enforcers for the Manheim gang before they were absorbed into Tyrant's organization."

  Marco scratched his head. "But, Andrea, why do you think he'll help us."

  "About six years ago, the gang took on this major operation. The job went as bad as one could go. In the end, they hung him out high and dry. My sources tell me he was only recently released from Waller's prison. So, I figured he would want some retribution as much as us.

  "I still don't know." Marco scratched his head again.

  "Ophelia, what do you think?"

  Ophelia finally turned her gaze away from the picture, looking at her brothers and sprouting a grin that stretched to the sides of her face.

  "I want him."

  As the morning went by, Daniel sat with Karen and Hope by the dining table in their apartment. The three gleefully consumed Karen's oatmeal with fried bacon and eggs after saying grace, as they had done for each meal since Hope returned to the two adult's care. Daniel and Hope swiftly devoured the food as each bite brought great joy to their mouths. Hope even loudly moaned and burpped in satisfaction.

  "Hope, what do we say when we do such things?" Karen asked.

  "Oh, sorry. Excuse me uncle Daniel, Karen," Hope said.

  "Such a smart girl." Karen playfully pinched Hope's cheek. "And quite beautiful, too."

  Daniel looked at his wrist watch. "Time for me to go, ladies."

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "You're going to go to work now, uncle Daniel?"

  "Yeah, kid."

  "May I come with you?" Hope puffed her cheeks. "When I ask daddy he always says no."

  "This time around, I'm afraid I have to side with chuck. My job isn't a place for kids."

  "He always says that, too. But I don't understand why."

  "Well, in my case, its a little hard to breathe there sometimes. There's a lot of c—" Daniel cleared his throat as he gazed at Hope's innocent face. "Work that you would get in the way of."

  "But—"

  "Hope, your uncle has been quite clear," Karen interrupted.

  Hope sighed, releasing the air in her cheeks. "Yes, Karen."

  Karen fired a jovial wink at Daniel.

  Later, Daniel prepared to leave the apartment for work with karen's lunch box.

  "Love, I was w—"

  Daniel kissed Karen with passion. "You didn't think I would forget your good morning kiss, did you?"

  Karen shot a raised eyebrow and smile at Daniel. "Admittedly, I had my suspicions."

  Hope giggled. "Uncle Daniel, you play kissy-face with Karen almost as much as daddy does with mommy."

  "Ain't that an interesting fact." Daniel let out a low whistle. "Well, I'm gone."

  Daniel playfully rubbed the top of Hope's head, tangling her hair before leaving. As he was finished, he at last went to the door, opening it to leave with his lunch box and briefcase.

  "Love, I almost forgot to mention something. Remember my family's coming to visit today," Karen said.

  Daniel slammed the door closed again as he opened it. "What?"

  "My family is free today, so they want to swing by."

  "Karen, they can't come here."

  Karen shot another raised eyebrow at her lover. "And why not?"

  "Because they'll find out we're together again." Daniel ran back over to Karen, gently shaking her. "You know how your pop and brother will react. And your ma will probably have a stroke."

  "You seem to have forgotten we've discussed this already."

  "No I haven't. I'm holding firm to what I said before."

  "Then so will I." Karen stomped her foot. "Daniel, I'm tired of concealing the truth from them."

  "But I—"

  "I won't be ashamed of loving you, Daniel Jones," Karen interrupted.

  Daniel let go of Karen, choosing to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I just can't, angel."

  "Love, I'm not saying its going to be easy, but we must rip the bandage off at some point."

  "Can't we pretty please just say we're close friends and leave it at that for now?"

  "You're going to lie?" Hope gasped. "Uncle Daniel, isn't lying bad."

  "Well, uncle Daniel, isn't lying bad?" Karen fired a deathstare with her piercing ruby eyes at Daniel.

  Daniel slowly looked between Karen and Hope's faces and sighed. "Fine. Lets just get it over with."

  "You're at last talking sense, love." Karen kissed Daniel on the cheek.

  Daniel and his collegues and friends, Micheal and Miyamoto, jogged from the Dynamo Comics building as the afternoon drew closer. The three men hurried across a intersection that, as usual for midday in the city, was filled with people shouting angrily, the honking of various vehicle horns and most of all the scent of gasoline as the many individuals struggled to get where they wanted to go. And Daniel and the others were no different, pushing through the crowd.

  "Micheal, where are we going?" Daniel asked.

  "There's this little place closeby that I like to visit during lunchtime. You've got to try their stuff, Danny," Micheal said.

  "Karen, already gave me a lunch box." Daniel pointed at Micheal. "And didn't your wife pack you something, too?"

  "We're not going there for food. We're going there for beer."

  "Beer? Well, aces. Now you're talking." Daniel rubbed his chin. "But wait. Who's paying?"

  "Fear not, the drinks are on me." Miyamoto jokingly tapped Daniel on his shoulder. "But let's be clear. We're only getting one drink each and they shall be small glasses."

  Daniel chuckled. "I see you're the life of the party, Miyamoto."

  Daniel and the others continued walking across the intersection, pushing through the crowd. But as the three men finally arrived on the sidewalk on the other side, Daniel, in his hurry to get the beer and consume Karen's food for lunch, accidently stepped on a woman's foot, making her scream.

  "Sorry, lady," Daniel said.

  "Say sorry to this." the woman splashed a cup of water in Daniel's face.

  As the woman hit Daniel, she quickly walked away with a scowl on her face. And Micheal and Miyamoto ran over to their friend's aid.

  "Daniel, are you okay?" Miyamoto asked.

  "I'll live."

  Micheal shot a glare at the woman as she left. "That foul-tempered b—"

  "Micheal, can we please just go get the beer? Or do you want to go back to work on an empty stomach?" Daniel wiped his face into his shirt sleave.

  "But we c—" Micheal groaned. "Fine."

  The three men finally arrived at the resturant some minutes later. As they entered the building they swiftly drew the eyes of the other over a hundred customers, chatting across its space. The group each had an unique scowl on their faces from their sour experience from earlier, captivating their fellow customers. It was captivation similar to the kind one would expierance watching the after math of a horrific car crash.

  Daniel and the others at last arrived at the bar that held the delicious beer they desired, each taking a seat.

  "Three glasses of your finest beer," Micheal shouted.

  "And make it quick. Our lunch hour is almost up," Daniel said.

  "Please," Miyamoto added.

  A waitress hastily came over to the three men.

  "I'm sorry, boys, but you have to wait a l—" The waitress looked closer at Daniel, fear pulsing through her eyes as she staggered back and screamed.

  "Miss is there something wrong," Miyamoto asked.

  "Yes. Him." The waitress pointed at Daniel.

  "Me?" Daniel got up from his seat, moving closer to the waitress. "What did I do to you, lady?"

  "You're with the Manheim gang, aren't you? I use to work in a store house on the east side. The night you people showed up I hid somewhere as you ripped the place apart."

  Daniel swallowed. "G—Grayson storehouse?"

  The waitress fearfully nodded yes as tears flowed from her eyes.

  "Oh no."

  "Daniel, does your reaction mean she's telling the truth?" Miyamoto asked.

  Daniel's face grimaced. "Yes."

  The other customers rapidly fleed the resturant as they heard Daniel's confirmation. The Manheim gang had a reputation for being especially sadistic to their victims that only worsened as they were absorbed into the big man's organization. So, naturally none wanted to be around someone who was affliated with them.

  The manager ran over to the group, watching his customers run away in droves. His face turned pale white as he witnessed his business become as quiet as a grave with only the three men and his employees left inside. Still, he swiftly directed a glare at Daniel.

  The manager pointed at Daniel."Out."

  Daniel started to leave, but Micheal anchored him to the spot, grabbing his shoulder.

  "Now wait a second, this isn't fair. Yeah, our friend did the things she said. But he paid his debt to society in full with six years in the grey bar hotel. And he hasn't done one bad thing since," Micheal protested.

  "Its true," Miyamoto added.

  "I don't care. Leave now or I'll call the coppers," The manager shouted.

  Micheal opened his mouth to say something else, but Daniel stopped him.

  "Micheal, please stop. Our lunch hour must be finished now, and I'm not worth losing our jobs over."

  Micheal exhaled heavily. "Fine."

  The three men swiftly left the resturant with new scowls on their faces, no beer, and empty stomachs.