A Man of Honor.

Chapter 55: Act III: My brother, the Don.

"It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles." ~ Niccolo Machiavelli.

"Hold up!" Saphron said, holding out her hand for her brother to stop.

Jaune blinked and looked at her, then over to Cardin followed by Neo before looking back to her. "Is there a problem?"

"You're shitting me right?" Saphron asked him. "I mean... you coming to this city and becoming a gangster is one thing. It's fucking crazy, but I've been playing along for now. But do you really expect me to believe that you became... what? King of the gangsters?"

Jaune and Cardin laughed at her, Neo covered her mouth as she gave that strange silent giggle she had. She could see why Jaune found her laugh amusing as he had described, it was interesting to look at. She could even call it cute.

She certainly felt silly listening to her brother have a laugh at her expense, but he had to understand how ridiculous it sounded. Even after taking into account everything he had told her.

"I'm not the king of the gangsters Saph, and I never was." Jaune assured her. "First of all I was only made acting Don, I was only allowed to hold that seat for Roman until he got back. Believe me it isn't close to the real thing."

"Damn right." Cardin agreed. "This would have been a lot easier if Jaune was given half the fear and respect Roman did."

Saphron raised her eyebrow at her brother. "So you're telling me that you aren't currently the Don?"

"Acting Don." Jaune held up a finger as he corrected her.

"Acting Don." Saphron said with a roll of her eyes. There didn't seem much difference to her, if other gangsters were getting on their knees and kissing his hand and calling him Don it seemed to her that he really was king of the gangsters. "So you're not longer the acting Don?"

"No I'm not." Jaune told her with a shake of his head and a smile.

"So you got Roman back?" She asked him.

"It's... complicated." Jaune explained to her.

"What do you mean it's complicated?" Saphron asked her.

"I mean there's still more to the story and I'll get to that." Jaune explained to her.

Staphron nodded and stood up to stretch herself out. Jaune's story was making the hours fly by but she was starting to feel fatigued. "How about I get some fresh air? And some more coffee?"

"Good idea." Jaune told her with a nod. He stood up with Neo as did Cardin who turned his head to both sides, popping his neck.

"I'll get the coffee." Cardin said, turning towards the kitchen as Jaune and Neo moved to the door for the balcony.

A small delicate cough sounded up the stairs and they stopped and turned silent for a second.

"Anna?" Jaune asked. "Is that you sweetie?"

Anna? Saphron wondered. The little girl from Jaune's story? Had she really been here the whole time? Why was she here?

The soft sound of footsteps could be heard from the top of the stairs. A little blonde girl stepped out draped in a blanket and rubbing her eyes clutching a small stuffed lion by its paw. "Am I interrupting something?" She asked tentatively in a raspy voice.

"Are you alright?" Jaune assured her. "Do you need anything? More cough medicine?"

She squinted her eyes and nodded, stepping halfway down the stairs giving Saphron a look. "Who is this?"

"This is my older sister Saphron." Jaune told her, stepping towards the stairs and stopping at the bottom. "I haven't seen her in awhile so we were just catching up."