Shamrock: Part Four

Johnny Klebitz rode into the alleyway on his motorcycle, his fists gripping the handlebars firmly before he laid eyes on Niko Bellic and Packie McReary. Johnny's leather trousers scraped the paint job without scratching it, his eyes transfixed on the clouds seeping sunlight on to Liberty City. Niko greeted Johnny with a handshake and quick embrace, despite initial wariness, the two developed a bond not unlike what Niko had with Roman. It was refreshing to Packie that Niko could bond with people so easily, regardless of those people being murders, drug dealers or otherwise. Packie stayed in the backseat of the car Niko jacked after the killings. He opened a small, plastic bag and unsealed it, pouring the white powder into his hand. Packie's nostrils inhaled hard as he took the intoxicating substance into his body, he lay back relaxed as Niko drove off and Johnny rode alongside them.

Traffic on the highway was dense, the amount of cars was obscene, expletives coming from all side, horns sounding out to drivers who'd made a wrong turn, skipped a light, or just generally induced road rage in others. The group were stuck in a pile of metal and noise. Niko put the window down, raising his arm to support his chin, he was about to make a joke, when he realised Packie was asleep yet again.

"Ah...Packie, what a day," Niko's mind wandered as Johnny pulled up alongside once more.

"Hey, Niko. Some time this is taking, the sun's about gone down for good, you sure you wanna confront them?"

"Johnny, this is for Packie to decided, not me. He wants revenge and I can relate to that. Life deals us with shitty choices and ordeals most of the time. As you say here, shit happens."

"First off, we haven't said 'shit happens' since 1998, second, I don't have nearly enough firepower to withstand an ongoing barrage of dickheads and cocksuckers."

Niko sighed and rolled the car forward, the sun was dying down, encouraging everyone to shut up and watch the day pass and never return. Niko thought of Roman and Mallorie with the baby, that little girl was going to be brought up well, not like he had, Roman had or what life Mallorie presumably had. Vlad flashed into his mind, the sweat and body odour that plagued the Comrades Bar booth. The stench of desperation as Niko confronted an overweight, middle-aged, pomposity of a man; the death of Vlad was so instant, so prominent in Niko's mind it made him angry. Vlad was nothing, yet Mallorie slept with him, could the baby be his? Roman presumed that it wasn't. If it had been, would it be worth Roman staying with Mallorie?

Darkness rolled on to Liberty City tenfold, it was near pitch black when they pulled into the industrial site. Packie woke once more, as Niko stared at Bulgarin, Bulgarin ignored him, and looked in Johnny's direction.

The three men approached Bulgarin cautiously with weapons drawn. Niko and Packie carried a Beretta and a glock respectively as Johnny had a sawn-off in his palms.

"Well, well," came the Russian's voice, "what do we have here? A peasant, a junkie and a...bikers bitch!"

All three silently scolded Bulgarin, wishing his death would come to him and his guards.

"I must say, I expected Francis, however, I heard on the news that he is recently deceased, an anonymous phone call to the police. How tragic...both immunity and money for me."

Packie could see the corruption coming from Bulgarin, "You're nothing but a bully and a coward."

Bulgarin looked in surprise to Packie's blunt statement, "Now then my Irish companion, you don't honestly believe I'm a coward do you? A bully yes, but a coward, far from it."

Bulgarin revealed a Desert Eagle and shot Johnny in the shoulder forcing him to the floor. Niko opened fire with the Beretta, taking out two bodyguards in the process. Bulgarin took cover behind an iron railing with reinforced steel, the panelling made it hard to see him.

Niko called to Packie, "He's on his own," before directing a comment to Bulgarin, "Nowhere to run now you Russian mudak."

Johnny picked himself off the stones, firing at Bulgarin before catching a glimpse of a sniper on a factory roof. His gravelly voice alerted Packie and Niko.

"Guys, look out," as he fired his last loaded shell towards him, "Shit!" the spray missed the sniper and hit a window, the sniper fired at Johnny twice, hitting Niko in the shin and Johnny in the forehead.

"Johnny!" Niko fired at the sniper, taking him out after emptying a clip. Johnny's dead body was coldly used by Packie as a shield, Niko continued to fire on Bulgarin, exchanging shots. Packie was determined to flank the murderer of his family. Bulgarin called a helicopter in, it was an Annihilator, spreading bullets thick and fast. Niko watched helplessly as it shot at him, spraying Bulgarin's car with powerful shrapnel. Packie eventually caught up to Bulgarin, dropping Johnny's corpse, and laid him with multiple shots. Only one pierced him, making him throw his weapon aside before diving for his PMP 600. The helicopter's turrets had wounded the car as he took an RPG from it, stunning the two others by shooting his own men down in an attempt to kill Niko. Fire surrounded the industrial area, igniting a gas tanker causing a larger explosion, shattering the buildings around it. Police sirens sounded as the fire licked the paintwork on their speeding cars. Policemen died inside their metal coffins as further eruptions made ear shattering music in Niko's ears. His eyes fixed on a grenade Packie dropped, he ran for it, blood draining his cheek, sprinting to a hasty Bulgarin. The PMP accelerated but Bulgarin stalled the car, angrily and frantically trying to correct his error. Niko had reached the goal as Packie shot at the windscreen. Bulgarin was both flinching and unflinching; he was flinching from the shots but not from getting his feet to hit the pedals, jetting off as Niko grabbed the car door handle, pulling his arm out of its socket but still managing to release it. Niko got in the car as Packie shouted 'Coward' once more, still calm.

Niko was in the passenger seat, punching Bulgarin hard in his face. Bleeding came from a cut to his eye, as he attempted to drive around the concrete buildings that littered the estate. In the corner of the Russian's eye, Niko produced the grenade Packie had released unintentionally.

"Bad news, fucker," Niko hit Bulgarin with the grenade, its cold exterior hiding a fantastic release.

"No...peasant, bad news for you!" Bulgarin swerved the vehicle, narrowly dodging a forklift truck.

"I may share the same fate as you," Niko uttered as they continued to assault each other in the confined space, "but in the process, I shall help a new generation, letting my cousin lead the life he wishes with his new family..."

Niko pulled the pin out of the grenade, before hearing cries from the back of the PMP.

"No you won't."

Bulgarin laughed as the car imploded, Packie watching as that familiar orange burnt five people in under a second. The car flew forward, crashing into an office before producing small booms afterward.

Niko...

Roman...

Mallorie...

The baby...

Packie's mind raced with thoughts of a family barely started in Liberty City, getting the wish he, Niko and Johnny had desired.

He, Johnny and Niko had killed Bulgarin but at the worst price available. Either Francis or Bulgarin had kidnapped Niko's family, and three innocents were killed because of their actions in one day.

Packie had murdered his former best friend, Gordon.

He was betrayed by his ally Niko, only to be saved by him.

The McReary's were all dead; Maureen, Derrick, Gerald, Katie...Francis.

Niko and his family died together at the hands of a common enemy.

Johnny Klebitz, whilst seen briefly, had been shot dead by a nameless thug.

All of this happened in one long, meaningful day.

Police cars eventually escaped through the fire, encountering Packie who stood motionless with his glock.

"Freeze! Put the gun down! You've caused enough problems today pal."

Pigs...Packie thought to himself.

He ripped his shirt open, exposing a green t-shirt. It had a shamrock emblazoned on it. Packie had another thought.

Shamrocks, they ain't so lucky...

The policeman warned him to put his handgun down again. Packie simply ignored him and raised the firearm; he pulled back the hammer and heard the satisfying clicking sound.

Packie put the barrel to his temple and committed suicide in front of 14 police officers.

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A.N. I would just like to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this Grand Theft Auto story for you avid readers. Thank you for all of your support over the past two months or so it's kept me writing. Any reviews given would be much appreciated depending on if they are constructive and not damning. Thanks again.