Chapter 1 - Abduction

Niko Bellic wasn't a paranoid man. Well, at least not any more paranoid than a war veteran who used to be constantly chased by mobsters would be. So, maybe he was. Maybe he was really paranoid. But paranoia hadn't affected him since he gave up his life of crime to live a normal one. Why he was sitting up at 3 AM in cold sweat in his apartment, he had no idea. He felt something terrible getting closer and closer to him. Following him, threatening him. Maybe he had too much to drink, though Niko quickly decided that was not the factor in his recent terror. He had never, in his million drunken stupors, became a terrified wreck. Still dressed in his tracksuit, he lifted himself off the bed and turned to look around the large apartment. He still used it, despite Ray giving him the smaller safe-house on the other island. He liked it here better. It was comfy, and big. He had his own kitchen and laptop, an actual sofa. It was certainly a big change from the previous two Roman had owned.

Deciding a small walk in the chilly air of Liberty City would calm him down, he slipped into his jeans and sweater, pulling a tan jacket over his torso. He put on his tennis shoes and called the elevator. It soon made it's way to him. He stepped in, pressing the button labeled "Lobby." He walked out of the lobby of the apartments and glanced at the orange Infernus Florian had given him not too long ago. He stuck with the plan of going for a walk. It would be nice to get some exercise instead of just sitting lazily in the silence of his car. He walked along the street, starting his journey. It was empty and silent. No one would be out at this time of the night, and Niko couldn't decide whether he was comfortable or not with it. Being alone would give him a peaceful time out, but at the same time, it was dangerous. He could get mugged, or killed without people around to witness it. Despite his growing fear, he continued on, instead focusing on the sea that his apartment sat by.

He hadn't realized how long he had been out until he checked his watch. It was 3:45, to which Niko let out a silent curse in his native language. Dammit! He would need to be wide awake at 5, which was when Roman's taxi business would open for the day. Since giving up his life of crime, Niko simply lived off of taking fares, which payed well. He also took on small jobs from Brucie, or even Packie, as long as they were inside the law. Niko would be tired unless he got his full night's sleep. Yes, an hour does matter. Even to an adult like him. He turned the street corner and walked speedily toward the penthouse. His heart almost skipped a beat when he heard a car creeping up the road behind him. Deciding it must be some bored husband coming back from the bar or some other shit, he kept walking. The car came to a slow stop beside Niko, causing the Slavic to halt as well. The window rolled down until the man was fully revealed. The man was large, black, curly hair covering his head. He had dark eyes, half-lidded in a drowsy look. The man didn't look all that friendly, but Niko learned that looks never mattered. Not in this city.

"Hey man, I'm needin' somethin' to eat. I'm on a business trip and I've been driving all night. Can you direct me to the nearest cafe or restaurant?" The man asked, his voice scratchy and rough. Niko guessed he was a heavy smoker. Sympathetic, he thought for a moment, deciding that the closest thing would be the Superstar Cafe.

"Sure. We're on Columbus street right now, so keep going straight and take a right onto Quartz-" Niko didn't get to finish his sentence, he felt something collide with the back of his head. A white flash interrupted his vision as he fell forward onto the pavement, vision blurred from the impact. His mind felt cloudy and heavy, and he had trouble focusing, as hard as he tried. He let out a small groan, quickly trying to lift his head and turn to his assailant. He felt another hit to the back of his head again, causing even more numbing pain. He struggled through his blurred vision to see the faint outline of the man that was in the car along with several other figures. The last thing he felt was his arms being grabbed and pulled upwards before everything fell silent and black.

It was 6 o' clock. No Niko in sight. Roman became increasingly frustrated at his cousin's no show. Business was fast today, and he needed Niko more than ever. He glanced at Mallorie sitting next to him at the desk, her beautiful, comforting face taking the edge off of him for a moment. He shook his head, frowning once more as both anxiety and frustration took over again.

"Sweetie, are you sure he hasn't called you? He didn't text?" Roman tiredly asked. Mallorie looked up from the computer, eyes dull from the sleepless nights due to her being eight months pregnant. She frequently woke up, aching, vomiting, craving something ridiculous which Roman would inevitably have to go to the store to grab.

"No, you idiota. I've checked and I've called everyone he knows, even Michelle. They haven't heard anything from him. I checked the LCPD website and he isn't in the recent arrests." She paused from her exasperated response to take in her husband's worried face before scooting over to hug him. "I'm sure he'll show up. Maybe he had to go do something. He's unpredictable sometimes, you know that."

"I just can't help feeling something's wrong..." Roman answered tiredly. He was worried within good reason. Ever since Kate had gotten shot at his wedding, and despite his cousin's retirement from crime, Niko was emotionally unstable. Roman recommended counseling countless times but to that Niko refused. He worried that Niko might have done something stupid. For all he knew, his cousin could be lying dead in a ditch somewhere. Roman pulled away from Mallorie, standing up and grabbing his jacket.

"I'm going to the penthouse, alright? I'm checking it out." He quickly muttered. "Take care of the business for me, will you?"

"Sure, whatever." Mallorie responded, her lips pulling into a tight frown as Roman exited the room.

Roman climbed out of his taxi cab and winced at the heavy downpour that greeted him. With a surge of hope, he saw his cousin's car parked outside the lobby. He hurried inside and to the elevator near the back. Once he was lifted to the apartment, he stepped into the living room and called out.

"Niko! You here?!"

There was no answer. Considering the fact his cousin was the lightest sleeper he knew, Roman was sure he would have woken up. He went over to check the bed anyway, and unsurprisingly it was empty. The sheets were messed up and one blanket was even tossed to the floor on the left of the bed as if whoever occupied it had tossed and turned quite a bit. His anxiety growing more and more, Roman rushed over to the laptop still sitting on the counter, opening the internet browser. Niko always remained logged in to his email, a bad habit he never shook. Roman almost always took this as an opportunity to send out false emails to shock whoever received them, though he always payed for it later on. Roman suddenly remembered the bruise he still had on the back of his head from being tackled to the ground by his cousin. Roman shook his head as his mind wandered, checking the e-mails. None of them indicated a meeting or anything that would require Niko to be somewhere.

Roman logged off of the computer and turned around, eyes running over the room before he noticed the phone on the dining table. He walked over, picking it up and scrolling through the messages. There were several from Patrick asking where the hell Niko was, even Mallorie expressing her concern. He didn't need to read his own, Roman already knew what they said. All 12 of them. Roman wanted to throw the phone out the window out of anger, but restricted himself to placing it into the pocket of his jacket. He wasn't finding anything that would assist him. Letting out a sigh to calm his nerves, he made his way back to the elevator.

The man standing at the desk at the back center of the lobby was suddenly face to face with a man demanding for him to tell the man if he saw anybody leave the apartments last night. The man, looking rather young, his slim build and overall preppy nature seemed to suggest he was used to something finer than some European yelling frantically in his face.

"Sir, please calm down." The man eventually responded, straightening up once more. "Your cousin left around 3:00 this morning."

"Did you see anybody fucking pick him up?!"

"No, sir."

"Well, did he ever come back?!" Roman practically yelled in the man's face. The attendant shrank back slightly, his response coming in a frightened stutter.

"N-No, now please leave, you're disturbing the other residents." Roman let out a growl, infuriated. He turned around quickly, stomping out the door, not even flinching as the rain hit him once more. He climbed into his car, slamming the driver's door shut before flooring it, the car shooting forward as Roman pulled out Niko's phone, selecting one of the contacts and holding the phone to his ear.

"What the fuck? Niko, where the hell have you been? Everyone's fuckin' worried!" Patrick's voice blared through as soon as the call connected. Roman flinched at the volume of Niko's friend before responding, his anxiety showing clearly in his voice.

"Patrick, I think... I think Niko's gone missing."

"No shit he's missing. You were just fuckin' callin' about that. You sure he ain't just passed out at his apartment with some hooker or some shit?"

"I just got done checking you fuck!" Roman spat back. Patrick always annoyed him with his attitude, always mouthing off or making some stupid joke. "His car's parked outside. I checked his e-mails, texts, everything. He didn't seem to be meeting with anyone, and the guy at the desk told me he left at like 3:00 this morning. Nobody picked him up." A long pause followed his answer. Roman rolled his eyes, finally Patrick was taking him seriously. He heard faintly a door opening before closing almost immediately.

"Alright, I'm headin' over to your place, 'kay?" Patrick's arrogance was gone, replaced by a voice of concern as he realized the severity of the situation. Roman let out a sigh before muttering a 'thank you' and hanging up.

Patrick paced in front of the dining table, arms crossed against his chest as Roman blurted out possible explanations for Niko not responding.

"Maybe he just took a walk and hasn't gotten back yet?"

"You're so dumb. Why would someone take an eight hour walk? I know you're fuckin' retarded but c'mon." Patrick answered, raising an eyebrow at such a stupid suggestion. He felt fucking bad for a prince like Niko to have to deal with such a retard of a cousin. Maybe he left because he got sick of Roman and his bullshit.

"Hey, fuck you. I'm just trying to figure this out, okay? I wish Kate was here so I could talk to a sensible person instead of her junkie of a brother." Roman retaliated, crossing his arms in irritation.

A brief flash entered Packie's mind of Kate's limp body on the sidewalk outside the church with Niko crouched over and cradling her, listening for a heartbeat as her blood pooled around her. Packie's vision faded into red as anger overcame him. He felt all of that anger, bubbling, searing anger, direct toward Roman. He wanted to shoot him in the head for bringing his sister into this. His sweet, innocent Kate...

"I'll kill you if you ever mention her like that again. I don't give a shit if you hate me, but leave Kate's memory out of it, you fuck." No longer holding a taunting voice, his bright green eyes stared into Roman's. Roman felt the adrenaline rush through him as he prepared to brawl with the Irishman, but Packie's blood-thirsty gaze remained locked onto Roman's frightened one. Roman decided to end the hostile silence by replying.

"Sorry, I'm just worried, okay? Ever since my wedding, Niko hasn't been the same... I worry I will see a headline on the news about some immigrant committing suicide. I worry he may return to the gangs and the violence or just do something stupid." Packie rolled his eyes. He didn't have time for emotional moments like these. They were for little girls.

"Roman, don't be a little bitch, alright? He ain't gonna kill himself because he's too badass for that, and he wouldn't return to his old life all of a sudden, 'kay? It's obvious someone took him and either killed him, or is just holding him for ransom. I don't fuckin' know. Let's just stick with the idea he's alive because I ain't ready to see the Prince of Liberty City die yet. So we gotta figure out who the fuck did it, why, and where they are. We're either getting him out of there or we're getting revenge."

Roman blinked, not sure whether he was relieved to hear this or not. On one hand, Niko was lying dead somewhere in the city. On the other hand, he was being held captive by someone, though he had no idea who. Neither had positive outcomes in his mind, and Roman found himself feeling alone, like he had just lost his best friend. He did, and it felt like the world was falling apart. He glanced up at Packie, desperate for answers.

"Any idea who might have taken him?" He muttered tiredly.

"I got a few..."