What Will It Take, Victor Zsasz?

Torment.

Carmine had spent the past two days in his office, he would not answer the door to anyone but Victor. He too knew that Gerald and his men would be breaking down the door any hour of any day.

However foolish it would be to storm a place they knew nothing about, a Don's house no less, Victor and Falcone both understood that vengeance often blinded even the most intelligent of men.

"Zsasz.. Victor.. Oi, are you even listening?" The shrill voice of an old assosiate cut into Victor's ears. He never usually would have called on Tom for help, he was a coward and good for little but he had a good shot with a sniper rifle.

"Yes. No. Repeat?" Victor rubbed his temples, his disguise had been forgotten in the days prior. No longer needed now that he was known in the south.

His head had been pounding, it was all over the place since yesterday. Janice had called with bad news, good news and heart breaking news. Just another reason that he now had to hurry this up and go home.

Cara, she was awake.

Awake but lost, the bleed had damaged her whole body. She was struggling to walk, shaking when trying to feed herself or drink. Her words came out slurred, stuttered. And just when he believed he had heard the worst Janice spoke again, the words now all but burned into his mind.

"She.. She doesn't remember. The last three years, it's like non of it ever happened. I'm so sorry Victor... The doctor isn't sure if she will ever regain her body function, if she will ever remember."

Victor's world had crumbled even more, she was alive but she was gone. Everything they had done together, everything they had been through. Wiped away like chalk on a board.

Flashes of her kept entering his mind, how she would hold her head high no matter the circumstance; that messy blonde hair always out of place. Her blue ocean like orbs that would keep him awake at night, always twinkling under the stars. The nights they had stayed awake longer than they should have talking about their future, a life they dreamed of.

"We could have made it anywhere else. You could have been someone, could have been great.. What if we had a house wih a big garden, a black gate at the front to let people know that we value our privacy. What if you were pregnant, we'd have twins on the way while our little two year old boy played by the apple tree out back; You'd sit by the fire with your feet up, I'd run around just trying to keep the house clean and the laundry at bay. How we could laugh freely, go where we wanted hand in hand. What if..."

"We could never have any of that here."

The same memory came again, taunting him. He knew then, just as he knew now that she would never have the life she deserved.

"One day... one day we will have it all. I promise."

It was a lie, he knew it now.

The promises he had made had been empty, all things he wanted to do but knew he wouldn't.

Cara would have been safe, she would have been fine if he had just left her alone that night. If he had just walked away.

Victor scrunched his hands into fists, feeling the ever burning rage heat up. His eyes stayed closed as he rocked lightly on the bench he had been sat on for hours. Waiting for someone to show up, someone to kill.

"So, that's my idea. Just think it would go down smoother if they attack, what do you think?" That stupid voice sent a shiver down his spine. He had been trying to listen but all he heard were his own words.

"No. We stick to the plan I set down. Don't come here trying to change anything I say ever again, clear?" Victor snarled, opening his eyes and glaring at the little pug faced man.

"Fine but if I die it's on your head." The whining voice shot through the cool air again, the man standing.

Victor stood too, taking a firm grip of Tom's throat and slamming him into the wall with a tremendous thud.

"If you die, it will be by my hand. Follow the plan!" A growl escaped him as Tom gulped, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead, still he stared Victor in the eyes.

Victor let go, allowing the man to crumble to the floor before he watched him scurry away.

The plan could not fail, not now. He couldn't allow it to fail, failure meant Falcone's head.

At least one hundred men would be coming, while they still only had fifty two. Silenced snipers had been placed on the roof, watching the drive way; While others had been hidden in trees to watch the property lines. Gunmen were stationed at every window, the exception being Falcone's office where military grade shutters had been installed.

In the lobby, dinning room and kitchen were basic assassins all lying in wait for the attack. Victor being the one to personally guard Carmine and ensure Gerald was brought to him alive.

A sharp pain shot through his head as he glanced down the empty silent corridor, another flash of Cara's face. Though there was hope in her eyes this time, she was smiling as she stared up at him from her position on his chest. For a moment he had believed that he could feel the warmth of her body on his own.

"I love you, Victor Zsasz."