So…
Life has a funny, or not so funny, way of getting in the way.
I finally needed to snap out of my own head, and I forced myself to reread the story so far, and I caught the bug again and wanted to get the next chapter out. And now I'm halfway through the next one!
aaaaaa
"Even though I look strong, even when I smile, there are many times when I'm alone." Kate sung the words to her favorite song as she went around the kitchen cleaning up and pulling pots and pans out of various cabinets and drawers. It was always amusing to see how much stuff was tucked away in the apartment. Niko had always said he showed up with nothing but the clothes on his back, and yet, here was this fully stocked place.
"I always have nothing to worry about, but I have a lot to say." The large cast iron skillet landed on the gas range, and she slightly danced her way over to the fridge to pull out the butter and milk she had spotted earlier.
"The moment I first saw you, I was so attracted. I couldn't measure this and that and said- The answer is you. My answer is youuuuu…" Kate belted the words out loud and lifted the large chef's knife out of the block as well as the sharpener.
Kate scraped the knife against the sharpener, knowing the kitchen set had probably never been resharpened. Her eyes glanced up to the television as the movie she had put on got to the climax. It was the same movie she had tuned in on when she first came to Niko's apartment. It was lighthearted, warming, and made her smile at the memories of seeing Niko keeping it on the TV when she showered. Maybe one day they both would be able to watch it together…
"I tried to show you all of me. You are my everything because I'm so sure. I'll be more careful. You'll love me more so that my heart doesn't get hurt." Kate hummed the words and shimmied her shoulders as she moved an onion over to the cutting board. Her eyes noticed the dirt on the said onion and went about cleaning it. But now that she had used the sharpener on the knife, it too would need to be washed and cleansed. No need to have metal shavings in the food.
"Like I'm going to stop breathing. It's my first time feeling like this. All I have in my head is thoughts of you. I can hear you smile. The answer is you. That is, you. My answer is you. Only you."
She shook her head and went back to cleaning the chef's knife and the onion that needed dicing. Georgi had clearly thought of every single type of breakfast as there were tons of vegetables, protein, and herbs to make several different dishes. She had settled on making a breakfast styled quiche. It would take the longest to make and give Niko time to warn the person in trouble. Her lips quirked up at the thought of him cornering the person and giving them a verbal warning.
She knew he was on edge, and she prayed that the person wouldn't push Niko's buttons too hard. The last thing she wanted Niko to endure was more scorn or problems. It was her idea for him to go warn this person. Her hands stilled as the thought of Niko possibly getting into a scuffle crossed her mind. Surely a heads up didn't warrant a physical fight… Right?
'He has Georgi and other armed men… He will be okay…'
Kate dried her hands on the kitchen towel and picked up the knife to start the process of peeling, cutting, and sorting out everything she needed to make the dish. It would keep her mind busy and away from spiraling down into dark thoughts and memories. She had not been prepared to know the names of her attackers. It made them too human for her liking. The nameless faces were enough for her to shudder in revulsion.
When the nightmares and uneasiness would leave her was a mystery to her. Was she always going to think about it and relive it at night? There had been a blissful week shortly before Christmas that gave her hope. Niko had been beyond caring and concerned for her. He took her out for lunch and dinner every single day. Went shopping with her for presents for her family and friends. Kept her busy, occupied, and focused on the holiday.
"I wonder about your day. That's all I do for my day. I'll wait for you. Open your heart to me. I can't help my heart either…"
Maybe it was just his way of giving her normalcy when they had been denied those things for so long. And if she was honest with herself, it had been the best week of her life. They laughed, joked, kissed, held hands- did everything she figured couples did when the holiday season magic took over. The annual Christmas market had been the highlight of the week. So many types of treats, goodies, and crafts lined the walkways of Middle Park. The twinkling lights. The crackling bonfire. Once more she got lost in the romance of it all and sighed happily.
"You are my everything. I'll be forever my love. Don't leave, just let me be by your side. No matter how much I think. It's you. It's you. Always you!" Kate finished the song and genuinely smiled as she peeled off the outer layers of the onion. She kicked open the trashcan and dropped the peels into the bin.
"This is a special news report! A scandal involving Bryce Dawkins is lighting up the internet and the streets this morning, as he has been caught cheating on his wife with a man! Can you believe that? The so called family values man is sleeping with another person! Makes his anti-gay rants more relevant. A tip came into the studio over night from an unknown source. What you are about to witness is salacious and shocking. Viewer discretion is advised." The Weazel New logo flashed across the screen before going dark to give parents and people time to either change the channel or not.
Kate snapped her attention to the television as the news reporter broke up the rom-com movie. Bryce's name had her full attention before the mention of 'the other male'. Her hands shook as she knew who the person was. Silently she rushed into the living room and picked up the remote, turning up the volume to ensure she heard every word perfectly.
"In this photo you can clearly see our Deputy Mayor kissing on another man. And he surely doesn't seem to be rejecting the embrace."
"Bernie… Oh my God!" Kate whispered as she immediately recognized the blonde hair and the frame of the apartment door she had been in two days ago. Her hands trembled as she yanked her cellphone loose from her back pocket. Bernie would undoubtably be torn up over the news…
"As you can see from the numerous images, Bryce has had this relationship ongoing for about a year or so. Never the same place. A hotel room here and there. Someone else's home or apartment. Gifts and bribes have been given to this man in order to keep his silence. It is clear that Bryce Dawkins is a liar, a hypocrite, and not fit for office. Mike Whitely, Weazel News." Image after image of the two of them seen in public splashed across the screen. The orange Infernus caught her attention in a couple of images.
Her fingers rapidly scrolled through her phone in order to get Bernie on the phone. There was a zero chance he had not heard the news…
'Unless Bryce has left him out to the wolves…'
"Pick up…. Pick up Bernie! Please!" Kate was starting to feel desperate. This was Bernie's greatest fear and here it was. Splashed across the TV screen and image after image scrolled by. So many random places, secret embraces, and loving glances were caught in grainy picture files. Clearly the person didn't have a very good camera. Even Bernie's face was hard to make out on some of the pixelated images. Unless you knew him… She swallowed thickly and sank down to the floor by the coffee table, phone pressed to her ear, desperately wishing this wasn't happening.
"Ugh it's too early Bryce… What is going on? Everything okay sweetheart?" Bernie answered the phone sounding hung over and spaced out.
"Bernie. It's Kate-"
"Do I need to come over?! Is everything okay?" Bernie sounded completely coherent now and scared, the hard edge of Florian's voice could be heard if one knew what to listen for.
"Bernie… Have you looked at your messages or seen the news?" Kate bit her lower lip and couldn't tear her eyes off the abundant pictures that had been taken from poor angles, horrific quality, and displayed the Deputy Mayor of infidelity and hypocrisy. The whole town was about to tear them apart…
"No, my love. I got home extremely late. Bryce wanted to meet up after I left your brother's place. He kept me preoccupied for hours. Why? What's going on?" Bernie's voice slurred slightly, and she could hear him throwing his bedsheets off of him over the call.
"I don't… Bernie," Kate sighed heavily as another image popped up on the screen. This time it was clear as day of who was kissing who, before another image of Bernie dragging Bryce into a hotel room showed up, "The cat is out of the bag… As the saying goes." She wasn't sure how else to tell him. She didn't want to be blunt, but how else does one break this kind of news?
A loud thud, followed by scurrying footsteps echoed over the line, "What channel?" Bernie asked in a high pitched, panicked sounding voice.
"At this point it doesn't matter. It's breaking news on every channel…" Kate whispered as she climbed up onto the couch and covered her mouth with her hand. Her fingers shook as she scrolled through all the news channels on the television. Each one had the images and demeaning rhetoric. Tears burned her eyes and she blinked rapidly.
"Fuck…"Bernie softly spoke in Serbian as he turned on the TV and saw the news report.
"Bernie? Do I need to come over? Or you can come over here? What do you need?" Kate whispered as she leaned heavily into the back of the couch, breakfast long forgotten by this point.
"I am… Well. Shit. I need to call Bryce if he will answer. I'll keep you posted." Bernie rushed his words before hanging up the phone. The silence felt louder than the noise from the TV.
Weakly Kate lifted up the remote and muted the nonsense the news reporter was spewing. They had no idea the complicated, complex, and wholesome person they were accusing Bryce of ruining his marriage with. Bernie was more than just some random booty call or distraction. She shook her head and closed her eyes at the picture of Bernie driving around town in the orange Infernus. Which was now parked down on the street outside their apartment.
"Shit." Kate huffed out and clamored over to the window to see if anyone had caught on to the fact that Bryce's car, once Bernie's, was now Niko's, and sitting outside for all to see. The miniature electronic device she had found inside the center console crossed her mind and she narrowed her eyes as she thought back about it. Her thumb brushed along the edge of her phone as a dangerous notion crossed her thoughts. Only a select few people knew of the device. Herself, Niko, and well-
"The IAA officer… What was it? ULP?" Kate spoke to no one in particular as she lifted her phone and scrolled down her contacts to find ULP, "Alright. It's been a few months…" Carefully she dialed the number and put the phone to her ear to listen to the dial tone.
"Emergency line answering. State your code for identification."
'ID code? Uhhh…'
"This is Kate. I was told this line would be answered night or day if I ran into a problem…?" Kate stumbled over her words and watched as the people down on the street paid no mind to the sports car parked just outside the apartment building.
"Kate? Katie? Shit what kind of trouble is Niko in? I can have an entire militia team on the ground in fifteen minutes. Tell me your location. And Niko's. Do not deviate from coordinates until I give the all clear." The man grew beyond serious and the sound of clicking of a keyboard sounded before Kate snapped out of it.
"No. Um. The device I gave you from Niko's car? Who does it trace back to? The news broke over Bernie and well… It will spill over into our lives too. I am worried…" Kate bit her lower lip and turned away from the large industrial window. Her mind was urging her to get back to making breakfast and ignoring things she had no control over.
"The trace went back to a Congressman. Thomas Stubbs the third I believe. Is everything okay Kate?" He sounded genuinely concerned and she scrubbed her hand over her face wishing she didn't feel the need to tell this man all her issues- but. Their situation had just gone extreme over the past twenty four hours or so.
"No… Is it safe to speak over this line?" Too many movies and warnings from her brothers and life experience told her to caution what was said out loud. This was someone within in IAA. Just how trustworthy was he? She didn't even know his name…
"This is my personal line and is about as secure as it can get. Has your phone been handled by anyone else since I gave it to you?" The man grew quiet, and she sat down on the bar stool Niko used all the time in the kitchen. The food sat across from her and she felt her excitement to cook leave her in a rush.
"No. The phone has always been on me or in the bedroom where I sleep. No one has had access to it. Maybe Niko has. But he wouldn't bug it. Unless you two have some kind of tracking thing on it?" She pulled the phone away from her ear and clicked on the speaker option in order to drop it to the counter. Angrily she swiped through her hair and yanked out her ponytail. So many things were going wrong, and the last thing she wanted was to be tracked by her boyfriend… Or someone within the government.
"Nothing like that. Tell me what's going on." He sounded so direct and authoritative that she felt compelled to just spill her guts.
"Look. I don't know you. All I know is Niko trusts you. Trusts you to keep me safe. To keep his family safe. So, with that promise in mind…" Kate sighed heavily and crossed her arms on the kitchen island and buried her face into them, "Niko has taken Kenny's place…"
"Kate… Is Kenny dead?" Bernard went completely silent over the line, and it caused her to lift her head up to make sure the line was still connected.
"No. But apparently, he asked Niko to take his place before he flatlined. I helped get him stable. But so much is going on. Niko took over, wears Kenny's ring. And now Bernie is about to be exposed for his relationship with Bryce. And the only thing that comes to mind is the device in the car that Bernie gave to Niko. If it had been bugged long before Niko got ahold of it, there is no telling what all has been heard or tracked-"
"Have you been around someone called Robert Welsh?" He cut her off, voice somewhat raised and with an edge to it.
"Yeah. He's dead…" Kate huffed and rolled her eyes. 'How does he know about…?' "Wait. How do you-?"
"Niko called me. He was in trouble. I got word this morning that he is part of a hit squad sent to LC. I have agents trying to tear down their group here in LS. They have, well had, ties to some nasty people overseas. Kate, you need to keep your guard up, eyes open, and head on swivel. I can have some agents I trust to scout the city. But it will be another day or so before they are on the ground."
"Can you help me with a person named Georgi?" Kate sat upright on the stool now worried about the people around Niko… She had sent him away from the apartment… With people she didn't know… Dread slid down her spine and she shoved up off the stool and started pacing. Her eyes darted around the room and landed on the sniper. Georgi had reassembled it. Was it put together correctly? Her thoughts began to spiral.
"Georgi? There a last name or known associates I can go off of? Kate are you in a safe place? Do I need to get you someplace else?" His voice was strong and forced her to move toward the table to look at the large rifle.
"I'm not sure. I'm at Niko's apartment. Georgi is Kenny's second. That's how Niko introduced me to him. Niko is out at the moment to warn the person who killed Ray Bulgarin that the new organization is out to get them." How was she supposed to know if the rifle was put together correctly? Her knowledge of guns was near nonexistent. Not to mention she had only recently learned how to fire a handgun.
"One second." She could hear the clicks of a keyboard over the line once more, "Only thing listed in our network about a Georgi is he is a loyalist to Kenny Petrovic. No arrest records, no known aliases, and a photo from the nineties. Kid is young to be that high up on the chain of command. If Kenny asked Niko to take over and no one has questioned it, then I wouldn't worry too much about his organization turning on Niko or you."
"There is one less thing to worry about I guess…" She huffed out annoyed at not really getting much information. Her attention turned back to her phone when it buzzed on the counter.
"Is Niko really in charge?" There was a slight hesitation in the man's voice. Like he was skeptical about what she had told him.
"They basically bowed to him when we left the cemetery. It was downright creepy." An amused smile wanted to lift the corners of her lips, but the weight of Bernie's secret getting out was a hard one to shake. So many things were pulling her in different directions now.
A deep chuckle rolled from the phone, "I did warn him to stay out of trouble. What's the ETA on Kenny's return?"
"At this point it's a day to day thing. The doc has him in a coma to heal. He was in really bad shape when we found him. Not that we were intentionally looking for him. Long story, but I may or may not have sneaked out of the apartment to go find my brother who was MIA. I figured he was at Ma's gravesite. He was and when we were about to leave, we were ambushed by a bunch of men. Shoot out ensues- I nearly get myself killed again- Niko and Gerry's guys kill everyone. And then in the interest of finding out where these guys came from, we stumble upon a yacht which has none other than Kenny bleeding out inside of it." She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. When she listed it out it made her realize just how batshit crazy the last few days have been.
"You and Niko both I swear…" The man grumbled, "Okay. Look. Kenny has reach. Been doing a few poor decisions as of late. I've been looking into a few things over the past month. The threats against this country always change, but there have been a few that are consistent. I will need to speak with Niko and learn what he knows in order to determine if my intel is correct or not. This is only one side of your problem- well problems."
"Between Kenny, Robert, Francis nearly getting blown up, and now Bernie, it's hard to focus on any one thing." Kate lifted her phone off the counter a saw a new text message came in.
"Let's make sure Bernie is okay. Then have Niko call me. One step at a time." There was a softer tone to the way he was talking and made her eyes well with tears. It was nice to have someone in their corner who wanted to help sort it all out. And while she would never utter it out loud, she saw him as a father figure- in an unusual kind of way. A parental-like figure she was missing greatly now that her life was upside down and sideways.
She opened the message and saw it was from Mallorie,
'I know you and Niko have your hands full, but I'm in the park taking my walk. If you want, I could use the company. – Mal'
"Might have one more problem on our hands… Do you happen to know how to explain, in Russian, I need to leave the apartment?"
aaaaaa
"Was it really necessary to let him get a punch in?" Georgi whispered in Russian as he dabbed a wet washcloth to a small gash above Niko's eyebrow.
"He needed to know he could defend himself. That's why he is running himself ragged with all these underground fights. I can somewhat understand." Niko studied the Dominican across the table from him. The fight hadn't lasted very long. Niko dodged the sloppy and sluggish punches and kicks. It was far from a fair fight, and he could tell the desperation was setting in. Now the cagey look he was getting from Luis was concerning.
"Alright bro. I will be on the look out for whoever is pissed about me blowing up Ray." Luis removed the ice pack from his hand and inspected the swelling and bruising.
"Chances are there is already a small faction established within the city or in Alderney. If you'd like, we can contact you once we find their hiding place." Georgi dropped the washcloth to the table and picked up the clean butterfly bandage. It wasn't a deep cut, but Kate would have his hide if he didn't do his best to help him.
"Yeah. Yeah alright. So long as the heads up isn't literally a chopped off head in a box." Luis grumbled the last sentence and fought off the repulsive shudder the image of that severed head gave him. Slowly as to not startle all the other armed guards inside the room they occupied, he pulled his cellphone out from his jeans and slid it across the wobbly table to the man he now knew as Niko.
"Heads in boxes is not our style. Too much evidence can be left behind." Georgi figured he was just throwing out an insult, but the spaced out look that flickered across the young man's face told him otherwise.
"Bulgarin tended to go for shock value over practicality." Niko picked up the phone and entered his and Georgi's numbers, being sure to send a text to himself to have Luis' number.
"Yeah well, he got what was coming. And I guess these people want to get even? Or what?" Luis recovered his hand and tried to hide the wince when pain shot up his arm. The adrenaline was starting to wear off and his whole body was telling him he needs to rest.
"I am not sure what their plan is. But I killed several of their men and sent their bodies back. I don't think that will go over very well." Niko leaned out from behind Georgi's hands and waved him off. It was only a minor scratch and didn't need to be fussed over. If anyone needed medical attention it was Luis.
"And how are you involved in all this? Last time I checked you were just some gun for hire. Worked for Boccino or one of them mob bosses. Lot of trouble dealing with those diamonds for Tony." He shifted his weight into the table and relaxed his shoulders. Memories of various shootouts were replaying in his mind, and he could pick out Niko here and there. Namely the exchange for Gracie.
"A long time ago I worked for Bulgarin. He believed I betrayed him. I did not. But Petrovic pissed them off about territory. Still not clear on those details." Niko dropped back in the chair and crossed his arms, shooting a glance at Kenny's second. There was still so much that needed to be explained to him- if only so he could keep everyone safe.
"Now that you're… well. You know. It's a bigger problem?" Luis was putting the pieces together. For the most part anyway. The more and more he thought about it, he began to appreciate Niko dropping by. 'Probably could have done without the fight…'
"One second, I need to take this call." Georgi's eyebrows drew together at the sight of the name of the person he left in charge of watching the apartment building. He met Niko's gaze and quickly darted his eyes away. 'Best find out what's going on first.'
"You could say I have inherited a mess. One I will not let tear apart my newfound freedom and life." He didn't want to offend Luis, but his eyes watched Georgi pace back and forth along the far wall talking in a very rushed and hushed tone. The uneasy feeling from earlier wanted to drift over him and he shoved the itch away. For all he knew it could be anyone asking about money, drugs, day to day operations-
"Damn that sucks. Thanks for the warning. I uh- I'll keep my eyes open and let the bouncers know at the clubs that we should start paying more attention to newer faces. Might let us know what burrow they could be living in." Luis could tell something was happening with the way Niko's bodyguard was trying his best to not let his voice carry. So long as it wasn't the threat showing up now, he would welcome the time to heal and rest.
"Thank you. We have the harbors, airport, and LCPD on high alert too. Not that law enforcement really cares till it's too late." Niko's mind was trying to tell him it had something to do with Kate. She had a knack, as of late, of finding herself in more and more trouble. It was like she was cursed- or maybe he was? He forced himself to look back at Luis and ignore the way his gut twisted at the thought of her leaving the safety of their apartment.
"You got that right." Luis let the conversation die out and lifted an eyebrow at one of the other armed men. He didn't like having all the guns around. What did they really think he was going to do? He got laid out every time he tried to attack Niko. He got one lucky punch in before the bell went off to end the fight.
"Pakhan? I think we should head out soon…" Georgi swallowed thickly at the dark look he received, "The sooner the better."
"It seems the day is getting started rather early. I'll be in touch." Niko stood from his chair, trying to not react to how everyone else adjusted their weapons and got prepared to head out, and moved to Luis' side, extending out the cellphone, "Take care, and watch your back. Bulgarin was not very forgiving, and I doubt whoever took over is ready for a clean slate."
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?" Luis nearly laughed at the words Bulgarin had given him incorrectly at the club. But he got the meaning clearly. He accepted his cellphone back and nodded his consent. They would watch out for each other and partner up when needed. Which he hoped never needed to happen, but with the year he'd had, he almost expected someone to kick down the door to the fight club and open fire.
"He had that tattooed on his back with the phrase worded wrong. The idiot insisted on it being said backwards and the poor artist did as told. We found his hands hanging from the window of Bulgarin's bedroom the next week when someone explained it to him." Niko got a far off look for a second before waving to let everyone know it was time to leave.
"Fucking hell…" Luis turned in the chair slightly to watch as they closed ranks and opened the dilapidated door. Two of the men lifted their rifles and fanned out, checking corners and hiding spots. 'All this drama for one dude… And I thought Tony was full of himself.'
Once he exited the room, he grabbed Georgi's elbow and jerked him close, making sure to keep heading toward the main exit, "You have five seconds. What did she do this time?" There was no way it didn't have something to do with Kate.
"Well. Uh?" He stuttered over his words and tried to think of the best way to explain what they were about to walk into.
"One."
"She can be very convincing." He shrank in on himself and felt the color drain from his face.
"Kate you are going to be the death of me…" Niko released his arm and sighed heavily, following Kenny's men up the staircase. He tilted his head to the side and felt extremely tired all of a sudden. He nodded at Georgi to continue, making sure he didn't look as hostile as he felt.
"You're cousin? She is out walking in Middle Park and Kate was very determined to take the team with her to join her on this walk…?" Georgi lifted his rifle and moved ahead of him as they exited back into the sunny and chilly winter weather. He turned the opposite way of his men and checked the alley. Threat assessment done; he jerked his head to the side to let Niko know he could exit the building. He nearly collided with him when he turned back. Clearly Niko wasn't going to follow their protection detail anymore.
"Damnit Mal. Come on. I know where they will be." He hurried his pace down the alley not bothering to adhere to the plan. If Mal was out in the open, that meant Kate was too. And while he wanted to trust Kenny's men to do the right thing, he didn't know them personally, and this wasn't something he felt comfortable leaving to someone else to do.
aaaaaa
"Doesn't this feel…" Mal squeezed down on their linked arms, "Intrusive?" She whispered the last word toward Kate and couldn't help but openly stare at the five armed men that, under ordinary circumstances appeared normal and just out for a walk, but she knew they were sticking close by and were searching for enemies.
"This is the only way I could join you. And honestly! With the phone call this morning, do you not worry about your own safety?" Kate forced herself to look anywhere but at the back of the head of one of her bodyguards. The term gave her goosebumps.
It had taken a good amount of willpower to exit the elevator at the apartment and figure out just who was part of Kenny's men and not. The front desk attendant and Tom the doorman looked uneasy with all the strange people loitering around in the lobby. She had smiled at them and picked who she assumed was in charge. Besides nearly forgetting everything the IAA officer told her to say, she thought she did a pretty good job at getting them to go with her to the park.
"Why would anyone come after me? I just answer phones at a cab depot." Mallorie rolled her eyes and managed to look to her friend at her side.
"You are related to someone that's kind of a high priority target. Literally anyone who wants to hurt him would find out easily about Roman and you. The last name is kind of a dead giveaway." Kate tried to not shiver at the breeze from the semi frozen lake. Her mind was absolutely reeling with the news about Bernie and here was Mallorie putting herself in potential danger.
"Kate. I am five months pregnant, easily angered, and feel like I could throw a car- ain't no one going to harm me. Trust me on that. Plus, what idiot goes after… Nevermind. Roman was kidnapped at one point. Well. Twice." She sheepishly smiled at Kate when she saw her eyebrow raise, "Okay. Okay! Point taken. But now that I have you out here, we need to figure out how to help Bernie. He hasn't answered any of my calls or texts. The news is just being awful about him and Bryce." Mal slowed down her pace and wanted to snicker at the way the men around them adjusted almost instantly.
"Don't be mean…" Kate knew what she was doing. They had sped up and slowed down so many times and it was probably only amusing the first couple of times. Now it was just getting on her nerves, "I called him this morning to let him know what was going on, but I haven't heard from him since." It was concerning that Bernie had all but gone quiet on them. She didn't want to think of the worse case scenario, but this had to rank fairly high on the freak out scale.
"I think it's cute. It's like a tiny army just for little 'ol you." Mallorie relented to going back to their more leisurely pace. Her hips were starting to ache a touch with the constant change. Her hand shifted from her baby bump to massage at where the pain was coming from, "I've always known him to be such a happy person all the time. He loved him very much. I don't know how I would react if Roman cheated on me now. Our relationship is stronger than before, and we have so much more to look forward to."
'Yeah, sure, tiny army… She'd flip if she knew this was only half of the guys back at the apartment…' She let Mallorie's words wash over her and tried to think of a way to cheer him up. Maybe have him over? Watch a bunch of chick flicks and eat their weight in ice cream? Her nose scrunched at the thought. While that may work for her, or would work in the past, it felt too impersonal. With a deep sigh she started to study their surroundings and let her thoughts take her where they wanted.
"Pretty sure Roman is too scared to cheat on you. I'd be scared to anger you." Kate laughed when Mallorie pinched her side, "Throw a car really?
"Yes! I feel like a superhuman when I get mad now a days. It's like I gain all this energy and could do anything. I think it's just a perk of the pregnancy." She dropped her head to Kate's shoulder and tried to think of happier thoughts. Bernie didn't deserve to be thrown under the bus.
"How have you been feeling? Any more of the morning sickness?" Kate let her friend take comfort in their side cuddle walk. If there was one thing Mallorie became during the pregnancy, it was her need to be close to everyone. And if she was being honest, it was helping her feel better too.
"Nonexistent. Thank the heavens. That sucked so much." The morning routine of dashing out of bed to make it to the toilet in time was not something she ever wanted to experience again. Even if they wanted more kids.
"I can imagine…" Kate let the smile bloom across her face as she remembered Mallorie nearly running into Karen at Jerkov's.
"I can basically hear you laughing inside about me at the rehearsal dinner. Still can't believe everyone is on good terms now with her. I mean she nearly got Niko thrown in jail, and then sent him on dangerous jobs." Mallorie lifted off of Kate's shoulder and returned the smile she was seeing from her friend.
"Yeah, I know. But she did give it her all to help my brother. Both of them. She saved Packie's life and busted Gerry out. I think she saw it as a way to repay Niko for all the trouble she caused. I haven't heard from her in a while. I should email her to check in." Her thoughts drifted back to the conversations she had with Karen and what Niko told her about.
"Ew. You two are pen pals or something?" Mallorie laughed when Kate elbowed her gently. They rounded the curve of the pond and came to a familiar section of the park.
The slight hill where Bernie held his classes crossed Kate's line of sight and she stopped moving, "Hey isn't that…?"
Mallorie huffed at the abrupt stop and twisted her neck around Kate to see what had caught her attention. A lone figure sat on the closest bench to Bernie's outdoor classroom. They were huddled in on themselves and appeared to be crying. She had to squint her eyes to make out the person more clearly and felt the shock slam through her once she recognized who it was.
"What is Brianna Dawkins doing out here?" Mallorie whispered and turned her attention back to Kate.
"I don't know, but she looks distressed. Should we say hi? Is that even appropriate?" Kate looked over her shoulder and beckoned one of the guys who looked more approachable than the others and was who she cornered in the apartment lobby in order to get outside. He didn't hesitate to move closer and keep a respectable amount of space between them.
"Ma'am?" He tucked his hands into his winter coat and nodded at the lead person to hold up for a minute.
She wanted to groan with the title but shoved the emotion away, "There is someone we know sitting on the bench over there. How much of a headache is it going to be to keep everyone back to allow us to have a private conversation?" She lifted her eyebrow hoping she was giving the signature McReary stare. But the cold, the way the morning had been playing out, it probably came off less meaningful and more pathetic in nature.
"No trouble. We do this for the Mrs. all the time." He jerked his head to the side and had two of the other guys move in the direction of the bench, "Let us know when you are done, and we can move out." He pretended to get a phone call and walked down the narrow sidewalk to get up to an advantage point.
The two women stared at how casually they moved around the park to get a perimeter set up. The silent signals would be easily overlooked to the normal passerby citizen. Even Brianna didn't seem to notice she was partially surrounded by Russian hitmen.
"You know. I think from now on I am going to be a little more careful about where I go… This is just…" Mallorie whispered and darted her eyes between the men and felt extremely uncomfortable with how easy it would be for one of them to just kill a person and blend into the crowd.
"I'm telling you… The things I have been learning from Niko and now Kenny's men, it is utterly amazing I haven't been killed or kidnapped when I was younger, when my Pa was in power. That man had most of the city in fear and hating my family. And if these guys are this good, I can't even fathom what could have been." Kate felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and jerked it out to see if Bernie was calling.
"You want me to answer?" Mallorie laughed at seeing Niko's name flashing on the caller id.
"I think I will take the scolding after we see about Brianna…" She silenced the call and tucked her phone back into her pocket, "Come on. Before it becomes obvious we are just watching her have a breakdown from afar like some kind of creepy stalkers."
"This is so awkward… She's like Bernie's ex's kid…" Mallorie let Kate pull her along the sidewalk and toward the sobbing woman on the park bench.
"And she is probably hurting and confused." Kate lowered her voice and glanced up to the lead protection detail guy. He ever so gently nodded to her to let her know the coast was clear and there was no present danger. His hand drifted into his jacket to where she knew he had a pistol. The move caused her to nearly trip over her feet.
"Still… Remember we are team Bernie all the way. Don't let your soft heart get us in trouble." Mallorie squeezed her friend's arm as a sign to let her know it wasn't said with malice. Kate tended to be friendly and too forgiving to everyone, and after the whole Bobby situation? She was determined to keep Kate from repeating mistakes.
"I just want to check in. Maybe she knows something we don't…" She unhooked her arm from Mallorie as they approached and dug deep to not let things slip. For all she knew Bernie never mentioned dating during his classes, and most certainly kept Bryce's name from ever coming up. 'Okay Kate… Here we go.'
"Hey… Brianna?" Kate kept her tone soft, calm, and welcoming. With one last glance at the man watching over her, she stopped in front of Bryce's daughter.
"Oh! Um! Bernie's friends… Kate? Mallorie?" Brianna wiped furiously at her face and sat up on the bench. The embarrassment was clear to see, and Kate nodded with the correct names.
"We were taking our normal morning walk when we saw you over here by yourself. We just wanted to say hi, and see how you were doing?" Kate waved Mallorie forward so the poor girl wouldn't have to crane her neck to see both of them.
"I got some really bad news this morning and wanted to just get away for a minute and use Bernie's class as a way to not think about it. But I guess he is sick or something. Several of the other students waited around for a few minutes before leaving. Is he okay?" She continued to try and straighten out her frazzled hair and remove the evidence that she had been crying.
"He said he caught a stomach bug or something this morning when I called him." Mallorie effortlessly lied and pointed at the bench asking permission to sit down.
"It's been going around the city. Flu season is always hard at school too." Brianna scooted over and let Mallorie join her.
"Well, we don't mean to intrude on your quiet time…?" Kate pulled on her jacket and gave Brianna an out if she truly wanted to be left alone.
"Oh! No! You two are fine. My dad did something terrible and hurt our family. He's being admitted to a rehab facility of some kind. He had to quit… More like forced to step down. Mom is demanding I move back to Vinewood with her to be with my brother. But I have friends! A life here! I can't just leave. Mom refused to let me get on the computer this morning and threw out the TV boxes so we couldn't see the news. Whatever happened it was bad enough to have mom throwing his things out the second story window. Ridiculous… She doesn't even love him anymore." She scoffed and swiped at fresh tears that tumbled down her cheeks.
"Wow… I'm so sorry! Families can be difficult and tough to navigate. I can't imagine what it's like to have one in the spotlight all the time." Kate shifted her weight from foot to foot. She had some idea- different spotlight, but same mechanics she assumed.
"They slept in different rooms for as long as I can remember. So clearly it has damaged her public reputation for her to be acting this way. Whatever." Brianna tucked her hair behind her ears and looked off toward the edge of the water, "You two know about the suspected serial killer? He or she targets people who work out or like to go on runs. Might want to invest in a taser if you plan on walking super early or late." She changed the subject to avoid talking about her family problems. It was already awkward that she had been seen crying out in public.
Kate and Mal exchanged a startled look at the statement, "No, that's news to me." Kate glanced over her shoulder to see if she could spot more of the security team.
"Yeah, some chick was found cut up in a bunch of pieces. Turns out it was a fitness instructor that has a gym in Middle Park West. So, I probably won't be taking Bernie's classes for a time. Plus, with the possible upcoming move, I may never see him again."
"I think I might be sick." Mallorie waved her hand in front of her face and took some deep breaths.
"I can let him know? Next time I talk to him- if you want?" Kate moved to Mallorie's side and started to soothingly rub her upper back, "Deep breaths, happy thoughts." Even she felt queasy with the image her mind conjured of a cut up person.
"If you wouldn't mind… Shit." Brianna spotted her own bodyguard running down the sidewalk, "That's my cue to leave. Had to ditch him this morning just to get some fresh air. Thanks for the talk. See you around." Quickly she jumped up from the bench and started powerwalking toward the southern exit to get away from the constant reminder that her father did something unspeakable.
Before the man in a finely tailored suit could get within five feet of them, one of Kenny's men stepped into his path and immediately put him in a hold on the ground, gun trained and pointed at his face.
"It's okay!" Kate nearly shouted and rushed over to the man, putting her hand on his shoulder, "He is our friend's bodyguard."
All the guy did was grunt and shove off of the Dawkins' private security, not bothering to help the man up, and tucked his gun back into his jacket. Once more he slowly started to move back down the sidewalk to change positions with someone else now that his cover had been blown.
"Whose family do you belong too. Geez." The man rolled over and shakily stood up. He had been sorely unprepared for an attack of that nature and was brushing the snow off of his dress suit jacket.
"None of your business. Move along." Niko spoke up from behind Kate and caused her to jump horribly and spin around to stare at him.
The bodyguard gave Niko a slow once over, "Understood. The private sector tends to avoid that division of protection." Giving Niko a wide berth the man took off in the direction Brianna had run off in.
"Oh, hi Niko! So good of you to join us." Mallorie struggled to pull herself up from the bench and had to plop back down before trying again, "I swear my center of balance changes daily!"
Niko took a deep breath and looked up to the sky for patience, "Let me help." He turned away from Kate and walked the short distance to the bench to help his cousin in law stand up.
"Why thank you!" She smiled merrily and accepted his outstretched hand, letting him pull her upright, "Now I've told your cousin so many times to really pay attention to when I need help around the house. And for the most part? That idiota fails at seeing the signs. But not you! Nope. Kate you are going to be so spoiled when you two get pregnant." She ignored the open mouth stare from Niko and simply tucked her arm around his and started to guide him back to the wider path around the pond.
"Yep! I'm telling you girl. Once the belly starts to change what you can wear, and your shoes stop fitting, the extra umph needed to get up off the couch or out of the car shows up- And Roman does his best, don't get me wrong, but I need like twenty four seven help now. It's so annoying!" She rolled her eyes and patted Niko's arm, "But you won't leave Kate to fend for herself."
"Oooh! Baby kicks! Want to feel?" Mallorie abruptly stopped close to where Kate was standing covering her face in complete mortification. Without missing a beat, she grabbed Niko's other wrist and placed his hand to her growing baby bump. "Right there…" She looked down to where Niko's hand had gone stiff with the movement and covered his with her own, showing him how to feel the movement.
All thoughts of danger, wanting to ask Kate what she was thinking, Kenny's men that had joined up with the other team, everything went out the window with a few soft, solid kicks from the life growing inside of his cousin's wife. With an encouraging pat from Mallorie's hand, he relaxed some and let his fingers conform to her rounded belly.
"See? This right here is what brings wonder and joy into the world…" Mallorie smiled at the sheer softness that overtook Niko's features. She glanced up as someone approached the group and felt herself shift just enough to put Niko between her and the new person. She didn't recognize them, and the sight of the rifle threw her heart into overdrive.
"If that was one of the celebrity guard dogs, the media circus won't be too far behind. This isn't a good look." Georgi swiftly closed the space between him and his boss, indicating the gun that was slung around his body. His eyes were trained on Niko to see what his orders were and was working on a way to get them all out of there without causing a scene.
"Give the rifles to the other team and get them back to the apartment. We won't be staying out here for much longer. The cold isn't good for my cousin's condition. Georgi, I'd like you to meet troublemaker 2.0." Niko felt one last kick before directing his attention back to Georgi and their surroundings. It was surreal how just a simple gesture had him nearly dropping to a knee to feel more kicks or punches or listen to see if he could hear anything. Never in his life did he image there would be another generation in his family. The Bellic line was going to die with him and Roman…
"That's not true and you know it!" Mallorie slapped Niko's arm, putting some force behind it, trying to negate her own fear and worry and mask it with her usual bubbly nature.
"It's a pleasure ma'am." Georgi lifted one of his hands and held up his thumb, index finger, and middle finger. The team that had gone with Niko to the fight club hurriedly walked in their direction, pulling their rifles off and handing them to a few of the guys that had escorted Kate to the park. In synchronized fashion the weapons were exchanged, and a new team was formed without drawing notice from any of the civilians roaming around Middle Park.
"So, like… Do you carry a dog whistle too?" Mallorie had gripped onto Niko's arm tightly with how many men just came a went, taking up new positions, heading off out of the park, how everyone else around just simply ignored them. It was going to take a lot of getting used to before it wouldn't startle her.
"More like a sailor's call to arms whistle…" He tried to hide his smile but failed once Kate mumbled under her breath about having them practice this in some abandoned building.
"You I'm going to get to like. You're gonna have to watch out with this one Niko. There's a playfulness to him. It's going to be interesting to see how long it takes for me to get it out of him." She smiled at his horrible attempt to hide his joke. It put her at ease, and she could see the way Kate relaxed around him. If she felt safe around this man, she could too.
"He grows on you." Kate moved closer to Georgi to lightly smack his arm when her eyes landed on Niko's face and the angry red line under a butterfly bandage. The scowl formed instantly, and she turned to yell at Georgi for letting Niko get hurt.
"Kate. It's not his fault. I had to fight with the man I was giving the warning to, Luis Lopez." He sent a stern glare to her. He did not want to get into all this out in the open, but he saw the hurt, anger, and pain flash across her face when she looked to him.
"Wait, wait, wait! Luis Fernando Lopez? The guy who used to run with Willy and those Dominican Drug Dealers? He's like a legend somewhat with my cousins in the Spanish Lords. I bet you I've met him at some point in my younger days." Mallorie turned to address Niko with skepticism and astonishment. She hadn't heard that name in years.
"I don't know about all that. I just kind of re-met the guy." Niko gave her a questioning glance before looking back to Kenny's second to see if he knew this knowledge. The almost impeccably small negative shake let him know that was not known to Kenny's organization.
"I don't even want to know…" She huffed and started to rub at her hip again, "Niko I'm getting tired, and hungry…" She pouted slightly and gave him her best puppy dog eyes.
"Kate was going to make breakfast…" He ignored her tactics at getting Roman to comply with whatever she said and waited for Kate to take her eyes off the ground.
"I um… Right! Yes. I am more than happy to cook a nice, big breakfast." The injury to his face was gnawing away at her. She had sent him off into danger. She had asked… More like begged him to warn this Luis guy. And now he was sporting yet another injury caused by her actions. She had seen the bruise on his side from the near miss when she fired the gun and-
Her body went stiff, and she gave Georgi a side eye, asking for forgiveness, and felt her shoulders start to lower with the weight of what she kept doing to Niko.
"I do still have a challenge to win…" He didn't understand her sudden change in demeanor, and he nervously looked back to his boss for some kind of hint as to what to do.
"Then it's settled. Come on Kate, lead the way! Do I need to give out some kind of number to have our escorts follow?" Mallorie released Niko's arm and nearly skipped over to Kate, once more taking her arm into her own. Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she stared at the new person in their personal circle.
Georgi turned somewhat red in the face and opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before just shaking his head no.
"Great. Meet you at the top of the hill." She reached out and patted his face before somewhat forcing Kate to get moving out of the park. Something else was going on with her friends that she didn't know about. Kate looked pale and strangely out of it now and it worried her. Not to mention they still were no where near figuring out what to do about Bernie's situation.
Niko watched as the two females in his life took off toward the exit in the direction of his apartment- their shadows of Russian men following along while giving them the appearance of privacy. It was rather impressive to say the least. Even if his heart skipped a beat knowing those same guys were once probably hunting him down in the city for killing Lenny.
"So… is everyone I am going to at some point meet, make me this- this?!" Georgi flung one of his hands out in front of him with the loss of words.
"Like I said. Good luck on their spa day. It wouldn't surprise me if they force you to join in." Niko snatched the outstretched hand and acted like he was inspecting his nails, "I'm sure Mallorie will have a color picked out and everything."
"No…" Georgi yanked his hand free and terrifyingly turned to watch as Mallorie smirked over her shoulder at him, sending him a wink that scared him more than any word in Russian from Kenny could do.
"But hey! Enjoy it while it lasts right…" Niko sighed and decided he didn't want to let them get too far ahead of him and potentially have them in danger and out of his line of sight.
"How…? May I speak freely?" Georgi took a couple of hurried steps to catch back up to his boss once the shock wore off.
"In Russian. That way they can't understand us." Niko didn't even attempt to look back at Kenny's second in command. His eyes were trained on Kate who appeared to be shrinking in on herself. Just what was said or done? He didn't think she was hurt about anything. Besides maybe the cut above his eyebrow?
"Just how upset is she going to be with me for the cut to your face?" Georgi didn't want to upset her anymore than she already seemed. He knew he was growing too attached to this group of people. Once Kenny woke and took back over, he would most likely never speak to any of them again. It was a bittersweet feeling that chipped away at his chest.
"I don't think it is you she is upset with. We are working through some things that happened right before we met you. Can you promise not to say anything?" Niko debated telling him what had happened at the McReary house. It was somewhat personal, but it could also give Georgi some insight as to everyone's current mood and situation.
"My tongue could be cut out and I still wouldn't say a word." Georgi matched Niko's pace and adjusted his jacket to be able to draw his pistol better should he need to.
"The man I shot in the cemetery- the one who killed the interrogation team. He was also someone who tried to hurt Kate. He knew some very dangerous things. He had cornered Kate in her bedroom while she was changing clothes, proceeded to take liberties, and once she figured out who had zipped up her dress, she pointed a gun at him. Actually fired it." Niko felt his heart squeeze at the memory of her standing there pointing his gun at Robert.
"Does she have experience firing weapons?" Georgi grew quiet and somber at his new boss' side. 'If she had never fired a gun…'
"No. That was her first time. Her second time was when I tried to take the gun away from her. She almost shot me point blank in the chest." Niko took a few more steps before realizing Georgi wasn't by his side anymore. He turned around to see what the problem was, only to be greeted by an aghast and clearly upset man. His mouth was open, and his eyes rounded as he fixated his sight on the redheaded female at the exit of the park.
"She… Is she okay?! Are you okay?!" He snapped himself out of his disbelief and studied his new boss closely trying to see or find an injury. He was completely floored that she had nearly killed Niko on accident. He couldn't wrap his mind around it or picture how that played out.
"Call it dumb luck but she asked me to wear a bullet proof vest to the table meeting that night. It just barely missed my side." Niko shoved his hands in his pockets and tried to hide his own uneasiness with the conversation now. It felt partially wrong to be telling him about it.
"Wait. This happened before the meeting?! I don't remember any shooting." Georgi's face drew down in a quizzical manner as he tried to remember every detail of that night. He remembered staying a foot away from Kenny till they took their places at the table, then stood guard on the other side of the wall in the living room. He did his best not to listen in to the conversation, but part of his job was to protect Kenny from every form of danger. When Niko had emerged from the staircase, he had felt this weird sense of knowing come over him.
"Right before Kenny got to the home. We were dealing with Robert when everyone showed up. She is still really shaken by it all." Niko shrugged at the utter shock that crossed over Georgi's face.
"I will be more careful around her… I am- I am sorry for everything you two have been through. I don't know the details since Kenny never spoke of them. He came into the dining room one night cursing the world away. All we understood was that Natalya had crossed the line and that he needed us to take him to the hospital." Georgi noticed one of the other men giving him the trouble signal and he switched back into focus.
"What is it?" Niko looked over his shoulder to where Kate and Mallorie were waiting for them and frowned seeing Weazel News trying to talk to them, "Great…"
"I can cause a distraction that would make the news team leave them be." Georgi's voice dropped and he grew angry. What did they want with them anyway?
"Do what you have to. You have my permission." Niko started to stalk up the path to listen in on the questions that were being hurled their direction. He could pick up Bernie's name a couple of times as well as Bryce, and his stomach dropped.
"Look we have no idea what you are talking about, or why you are asking us these questions! Can't a woman just go out for a walk and be left alone?!" Mallorie nearly shouted at the field reporter that had a cameraman at his side filming the exchange.
"You aren't denying you know about the affair between Ex Deputy Mayor Bryce Dawkins and his gay lover Bernie Crane. So you must know something." The man shoved a microphone in Kate's direction, "You were seen with Mr. Crane just the other day. You're telling me you had no idea?"
Gunfire erupted at the end of the street, and everyone ducked down. People started screaming and running for cover. The field reporter shoved the camera in the direction of the shooting and started shouting at his partner to get going. Kate grabbed Mallorie's hand and went to head back into the park before Niko placed his hands on both of their shoulders directing them to cross the street in the direction of his apartment. The Weazel News team took off toward the two men firing their guns up in the air.
"Come on, Georgi is giving us an out." Niko tried to keep his voice even as he ushered them down the windy street. Several of Kenny's men joined their sides to make sure no one else would bother them.
"There isn't a drive by happening?" Mallorie pressed her hands to her chest to try and calm her breathing down. The whiplash from anger at the reporter to bone chilling fear was causing her to feel lightheaded and nauseous. Her vision had spots forming and she sucked in air to stave off a panic attack.
"Niko- stop!" Kate dug her heels down and pulled Mallorie to the side of a building, "Breathe Mal. It's okay." Kate's hands shook with her own fear at hearing the gunfire, but with what Niko had told them she was doing a better job at ignoring the fight or flight feelings.
"I think- I think I need to sit down…" Mallorie's legs buckled under her, and she grabbed on to Kate as she sank down to the ground. Niko helped lower her down gently and took her wrist to feel her heartrate.
"You need to calm down. There is no danger." He shut his mouth at the glare she sent him.
"No danger? NO DANGER?! You have a damn group of hitmen following everyone around! Bernie is going to have to go underground for months now because someone told the assholes in the news that he and Bryce were a thing. You are literally the most powerful man in all of LC and you tell me there is no danger?!" Mal began to hyperventilate and shake. Her hands protectively sought out to shield her baby bump.
"I can call for an ambulance?" Georgi jogged up to them from the opposite end of the small alley they had moved in to.
"This is just insane…" Mallorie whispered as she leaned into Kate's shoulder and closed her eyes.
"Please. She is starting to shiver." Kate hugged her to her and looked up desperately at Georgi. The last thing she wanted was for something to happen to her friend or the baby.
"On it." Georgi immediately pulled out his cellphone and dialed 911. He backed up a couple of feet to give them some space and to not crowd his boss' cousin.
"Breathe Mal. Just breathe. Everything is going to be okay…" Kate squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face on the top of Mallorie's head, lightly rocking her to calm her down.
"Call Roman- He will need to meet us there." Mal weakly spoke in Niko's direction and went back to focusing on deep, slow breaths.
"I will once I know you are being taken care of and on the way to the hospital." Niko glanced up when Georgi joined them again, "Ambulance is on the way?"
"Yes. I am on the phone with dispatch still until they get here- Yes. Yes, she is still conscious." He went back to speaking to whoever was on the other side of the phone call. The telltale wail of a siren blared loudly from a couple streets over.
"I feel like I'm going to throw up." Mallorie gagged slightly and was helped to sit more upright by Kate.
"Just a couple more minutes." Georgi moved out of the alley to flag down the EMTs. He also spoke a couple of words in Russian to one of his men and made sure some of them followed them to the hospital. He still needed to protect Niko and his friends and family.
"See? Help is here." Kate brushed some of Mallorie's hair in a soothing way and tried to get her to spot the man and woman in uniform that were running in their direction.
"Okay ma'am can you tell us what's going on?" The man knelt down in front of Mallorie and dropped a heavy bag next to him. The woman lowered down on Mallorie's other side after asking Niko to give her room to work. Silently Niko helped Kate stand up and move away from the attending medical team. Another couple of men emerged from the back of the ambulance pulling a stretcher with them.
"What is this about Bernie?" Niko asked softly when he gently guided Kate out to the sidewalk, being sure to keep an eye on his cousin's wife.
"The news broke the story of their relationship this morning shortly after you left the apartment. I was about to start breakfast when it became breaking news on like every channel." Kate sighed heavily and tried to take relief in the fact that the medical team didn't look worried or rushed to load Mallorie onto the stretcher. Flashbacks to Packie laying out on the apartment lobby floor crawled their way to the surface and she bit her lip. This was not that scenario.
"Have you talked to him?" Niko frowned and felt the urge to pull his cellphone out and call him. With everything they had all been through this was going to be the last straw that broke Bernie's resolve. Their conversation shortly after the near miss with the landmine replayed on repeat in his mind. There was too much pain and suffering lurking under the surface in his friend.
"I called him the second I found out. He had no idea… He told me he was going to call Bryce, but I haven't heard from him since. Um…" Kate hesitated to tell him about the phone call to the IAA. They were standing on a public street with onlookers around trying to see what was happening. Georgi stood a couple feet away surveying the gathering crowd. 'We should probably stop talking about Bernie too now that the media knows his name… Oh my God what if they are camping outside his apartment building?!'
"And I'm guessing once Mal asked to go for a walk you convinced Kenny's men to, what? Join you?" The anger wanted to resurface in him at her constantly going against his better judgement. He didn't like having to show up in random places tracking her down. The fear that crept along his skin during the shootout in the cemetery freaked him out. He was never shaken when having to fire a weapon. But seeing her taking cover with Packie and Gordon had rattled a nerve in him.
'Does she not understand that she needs to stay safe?'
"What would you have me do? Hm? Just leave her out here?" Kate spun on her heel and crossed her arms. She was getting tired of continually feeling like she was in trouble for something, "You yourself know how dangerous it is for her to be out in the open. I think I followed protocol pretty damn well." She had forced, which really, they would have just followed her anyway, the team of armed men to go with her to find Mallorie. She had made sure she would be as safe as she could be. Was she scared? Maybe a little. But her need to make sure her friend was okay far outweighed the pit in her stomach.
'And now she is having a panic attack… Maybe I shouldn't have joined her…'
Fear, anger, pain- it all wanted to take center stage in her heart, and she did her best to convey it in her eyes toward Niko.
'Can't we just have one quiet and normal day…?'
"We can talk about this later Kate." Niko matched her odd looking glare and didn't like the way Georgi was squirming uncomfortably in the corner of his eye.
"Maybe." Kate huffed and went over to Mallorie's side when the EMTs stood her up and helped lay her down on the stretcher.
"We are going to take her to Holland Hospital as a precaution, would you like to ride along with her?" One of the male medics asked once they started to move Mallorie toward the ambulance.
Kate narrowed her eyes at Niko with the way he was shaking his head…
"Yes."
And without missing a beat Kate climbed into the back of the ambulance once Mallorie was loaded inside and locked eyes with her boyfriend as the heavy metal doors slammed shut.
aaaaaa
I had to double check when it was I last posted, and it was in May. Here is it almost October. Without giving too much away about where I live, there was a school shooting that happened soon after I posted the last chapter. And it was about the closest near miss my family-in-laws has ever been around. It got me so depressed, angry, and I had trouble writing about violence and guns. Then Ukraine was invaded, and I've helped some of my immediate family seek asylum here in the states. It's been difficult to get back on track, and I actually wrote a oneshot on the long drive down to visit family in Uvalde. Might post it if I can revisit it and fix it up to my standards.
Thank you to everyone who has commented and sent me messages to encourage me and check in. It really did mean so much to me and it was the initial driving force to get me back to the story and moving it along. I apologize if the styling and narrative is off and disconnected with the first half of the story. Like I said, it's been rough diving into the subject material with what's happened in my life this year. But the announcement of GTA VI caught my eye and I know there is zero chance I won't be buying it and playing.
I won't keep everyone waiting as long as this last stretch. Promise!
One Love!