Chapter 9

I get up with a slow groan. White sunlight peeps in from my bedroom window, signaling it's still snowing outside. Damn, and I was hoping to go on a run. Oh well, maybe tomorrow. But regardless, the snow is still beautiful and refreshing. Maybe we can do some other snow activities today. I walk out of my bedroom and see Alexia is still sleeping on the couch, out cold. I smirk at seeing her face. That girl has been through a lot. It's as clear as day, if day had some sort of traumatizing experience that leads to the lack of trust, thus leading to let go of hate and pain through theft and murder for the sake of pleasing a mob boss.

Honestly, I'm just glad I can be someone she can trust. She's a great person full of life that has been shrouded by brutality and obedience. Me killing that boss unchained her from that life. And the chains weren't set by him either. She put those chains on herself for the sake of survival. She wouldn't have anywhere to go had she been living the way she wants. No one would want to be with her. No one would click. Now that I think about it, I'm kinda glad I went on that walk that day.

I start to make breakfast for us, since all that thought made me hungry. I decide to make pancakes, since it's Friday and it seems like a pancake day. As I pour the batter on the griddle, I hear rustling and groans from the couch. Alexia sits up, with her hair in a mess and a still drowsy look on her face. I yell from the kitchen, "Good morning sunshine!" She yawns, still unaware of where she is. The realization finally sets down on her and she starts to fix her hair and wipe the drowsiness from her eyes. I laugh at her attempts to fix her lion's mane, but she eventually gives up in disappointment. "Hey cheer up, it's not like I judge you on your hair." I say as I place down the stack of pancakes on the table. "Did you make those?" She asks. "Well yeah, gotta eat something other than soup right?" She smiles and sits at the table. I set down all the utensils and add-ons and get to chowing.

As we're eating, Alexia speaks up, "Hey, how do you pay for all this? I never see you go to work or anything." I swallow the bite I took and explain, "Well, work for three people really. I help out with the LSPD first of all." Her eyes widen, "You're a cop?!" "Well, yes and no. See I work in what they call the 'Rouge Division.' It's a segment of the LSPD that always turn a blind eye to how we get the job done. Specifically, I work on dismantling gang establishments by taking on their hierarchy head on, rather than infiltration. Lately, they have all been street racing gangs, smuggling drugs using street races and cars. LSPD says that if I win cars, they can let me keep the car and do whatever, but they have to inspect it first." She swallows another bite of pancake and continues, "So is that how you have that car in the garage?" I nod, "The Itali? Yeah, I used race money to buy that car to compete in a multi-lap super car race. She's a beauty I say."

"Well anyway, I work for a introverted hacker that has me working like a vigilante. Taking down gangs, sweeping corrupt political scandals, stealing from those who are undeserving. Basically, the whole Robin Hood deal. I also work for a guy that just has me steal drugs from other gangs or do hits on their members." She stares at me, "So you're literally a walking contradiction." I laugh, "Well I guess you're right." We continue eating and I ask her, "I have a job today, want to be my actual partner in crime?" She smiles and nods. We finish breakfast and start getting ready for it.

Later…

We pull up in a far less flashy car to a warehouse. I take a look at the guards surrounding the complex and I turn to Alexia. "Okay, so this is a contract from the LSPD. Basically, we are looking for drugs or other illicit merchandise. I made sure we keep anything that falls under that. Here." I hand her an LSPD badge. They give me this special badge that basically signifies me as my own division, so if I do anything stupid they won't be involved. She holds the badge in her hand and she starts to shudder. "Hey you okay?" She nods and sighs, "All my time here I've been running from the authorities. Now I've become one of them. I really have mixed feelings about his." I touch her shoulder to reassure her, "Hey remember, this is my division. I plan on doing things my way. A bit of sweet and sour if you insist. Using my powers for good." She smiles and nods. I nod back, "A second chance." She looks at me with reassured eyes. "Alright," I pull out an AP Pistol and pull back the slide, "Let's get to work."

I sneak up to a guard and quickly knock him out. I quietly advance further into the complex. I hate the fact that this mission is in broad daylight, but the contract said they were moving tonight so I couldn't wait. I peek from behind a box and I notice two guards talking to each other. I raise my left hand and I point my thumb towards me. I raise three fingers, drop one, drop two, drop three. Once my hand has no fingers standing, I quickly move it on the grip and drop the right guard, meanwhile a bullet whizzes by me and hits the left guard in the back of the head. I give a thumbs up and keep moving.

"Outside seems clear from my end. You see anything?" I look to a neighboring building. "Nope," I hear on my coms, "all clear from here." "Alright, come down, lets hurry and breach the building." Shortly, she meets up with me at a door. I gave her a PDW to help with this last part. We breach the warehouse and we see no one in the main area. We quickly climb the stairs to the offices. Sure enough, there were more guards in the hallways. We quickly drop them and make our way to the main office. I kick open the door with supreme force, "LSPD! Get your hands up!" A man gets up quickly and puts his hands up. "Cops, I should've known." He hissed. He looks at Alexia, "I remember you. You were involved with that head boss right? You were his best soldier. He loved you like a daughter. And now after his death you turn around the join the police?" Alexia scoffed, "My ass he did. He almost put a bullet in my head. This is my life now. Far more comfortable in all honesty." "Traitor! Liar! Free loader! I hope you burn in he-!" With the pull of my trigger, he slumps down on the floor, blood seeping from the wound in his head. "God, that guy certainly had the mouth on him huh?" I turn to her, but she's staring at his corpse.

"All of what he said, I'm not sure if he's wrong." I put my hand on her head. "Even if he was right, it doesn't add up to why he used you as a shield. Back then you were constantly worried about yourself and whether or not you would have a bullet in your back because he no longer needed you. I don't want you thinking that now. This is your life now and I hope to make it the opposite of what you were living." She wipes her eyes with her sleeves and nods. "Now let's look through these boxes. If we find any drugs, we'll let the LSPD handle it."

As I was opening yet another box of cocaine, I hear Alexia from upstairs, "Uh, Eli, you might wanna come see this." I head up and see her staring at a room in awe. "Now what could be so awesome that your jaw hits the…" I look inside the room, "ground?" Inside the room was a large stash of cash. $100 bills strapped together in collections of 100 at least. I toss her the keys to our car. "Bring the car around, we got some collecting to do.

She brings the car around to the door we entered and we start loading up the back seat and trunk with cash. The stack was so huge that we took as much as we can. Lucky for us we took a Baller here so we had a lot of room to work with. Once the cash was completely moved from that room to the truck, I call up Barstow and tell him his payment won't be necessary. I made my voice sound vengeful so he thinks I saw and killed an old rival. He agrees and I let him know of the amount of drugs in the warehouse. I drive the Baller home and park inside the garage. We both get to work in stashing the cash in different places, hidden from plain view. In total, we collected about 1 billion dollars, in cash. With his, I wouldn't need to work in my life. But being the smart guy I am I know I'm gonna keep working so none of my employers get suspicious. Also, I love my job. But maybe I can afford those high rise mansions or apartments in Vinewood. I'll decide what happens with the cash later.

To celebrate, I made a run to the grocery store and bought some steaks and a couple of bottles of wine. So for dinner, Alexia and I had steak with vegetables with wine. We talked and laughed throughout our meal. I could tell that we were both happy with today's outcome. Eventually, today's activities and the alcohol got to us and we decided to call it a night. I helped set up her bed on the couch and she quickly knocked out. I took off her glasses and set them on the coffee table so she wouldn't break them in her sleep. I curl up on my bed and let the alcohol and exhaustion slowly put me to sleep.

AN: School School School. I'm finishing up all of my finals and summer is literally a week away for me. I will try to keep updating and not make false promises. Thanks to those who stuck around during my hiatus!