NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 29- UNDESERVING

"What do you mean? That's where the Alvarin Mansion is. Isn't it?" Russo asked, confused.

               It had to be. He had visited Warner twice before in the past and he was sure of the location. One of the most magnificent buildings he had ever seen and built on the very heart of the Estate itself. Diane pressed her lips together, forcing herself to let the words put.

"It used to be." She answered, her voice dropping to a low tone.
"Used to be? What happened?"
The Fedorcenkos happened.

              Diane thought with spite. The memory suddenly making the car ride very uncomfortable making her wish she hadn't gotten into the same space with him.

"After my father got very ill," She started, noticing he was listening with rapt attention. "We spent so much money on his health just for him to get better but he only got worse and worse." She stopped to let out a sigh before continuing. "So we had no choice but to sell off properties but even that didn't help, did it?"

             Diane let out a pained smile as she turned to Russo to read his expression. His gaze was once again on the road but his hand was tensely clenched on the steering wheel. Not giving her a response.

"Take a right turn at the next stop." She simply said as she leaned back into the car seat. The memory of her father's unjust death was an old wound torn open. All the more reason why the Man in this car didn't deserve her forgiveness.

"Stop here. This is it." Diane said, pointing to the clapboard bungalow in the small neighborhood that served as her home.
"Here?" Russo asked, bewildered.
"Mhmm." Came her reply as she got the door open and came down.

               He equally followed suit and began scanning the house along with the surroundings. He hadn't realized that the Alvarins had crumbled down to this. Right now all he could feel was....guilt.

"Sir....."
"Yes?"
"We were having a different conversation earlier, remember? About my father's health?"
"How much has been spent to revive him?"
"Everything we have, sir. We have nothing left. Please, we really need your assistance."
"And has he been getting better or worse so far?"
"Worse, sir."
"There you have it, Major."
"What?"
"The Man's time is up and honestly even if I give up all I also have, his case is a lost one."
"W-hat?"
"See your way out, Major Alvarin, I'll be expecting you back in gear, by tomorrow or there will be consequences."

                  Guilt wasn't the word enough to use as he watched her search through the flower vase for the house key. What he felt was far worse as he watched the daughter to his father's right hand man in filthy inmate clothes as she tried to unlock the door. One who was supposed to be the heir to a mighty empire and to have lost all that just because he had to be a fuckhead at the very moment she needed him.

                      The door was opened and by the time she looked back, he was standing right behind her causing her to flinch as she wasn't expecting him to be there.

"Are we going to go in?" Russo asked.
"We?"
"Yes, we."
"I—you can't..." _Why hadn't he left yet?_
"Is there a problem?" He asked, tilting his head to the right.
"You probably have somewhere important to be right now."
"Not at all."
"Well, the inside is messy."
"Don't worry. I know how to clean up."

               With her jaw slightly dropped, she was left with no more words to say. Diane opened the door and let him in. The inside was anything but messy. He noticed. She had been lying. Three couches, a medium sized table and a Tv. He noted, looking around.

              Then, the kitchen counter, separating the living room from the dinning. He turned back to her. She was still standing and waiting for him to leave. Well, sorry to disappoint her but that wasn't going to happen any time soon.