Nick pulled up outside his regular pub, the Drunken Dog. It was raining so heavily that by the time he made the few steps to the entrance his dark hair was already soaked and plastered to his forehead. He stepped inside to the familiar smell of smoke and beer.

Nick stood in the doorway, wiping the rain from his face. A few people turned to look at him. He was tall, a big guy and was an imposing figure. He caught the eye of one man at the bar who looked away quickly. Most of the patrons, knowing him from his regular visits, paid him no attention. A young woman in the corner continued looking at him. He smiled at her and she smiled back. She looked at him with obvious interest. Nick was used to female interest and appreciated it but at the moment he just wanted a drink. He paid her no further attention and made his way to the bar.

"Hey man, bitch of a day" his drinking buddy Leo greeted him.

"Too right" he answered. "Two pints of Stella" he said to the barmaid. He watched the girl as she filled the glasses.

The Drunken Dog had been his regular haunt when he was young, before he became part of the Forelli organisation. After joining the organisation he visited here less often, preferring the mobs places in Portland. Nowdays he stayed as far away from the Forellis as possible. What was left of the Forelli gang was being destroyed by the Leones. Nick had distanced himself from them, not wanting to go down the road of loyalty and certain death. Despite that the last few days had proved to him he could not stay in Liberty. He knew there was a price on his head. In the last few days he had avoided two potential hits only by his quick-thinking and skill with a weapon. He felt he had been foolish to try to stay in Liberty so long. Though not a leader of the organisation he was well known and respected for his skill as a hitman and as someone who could get things done. He had killed far too many Leones for them to leave him alone.

The barmaid set the glasses down in front of him. Nick picked up the glass but paused before drinking, deep in thought, contemplating his home. Nick had grown up here and lived in Liberty all of his life, excluding a short spell working in San Andreas. He loved Liberty City, enjoyed the hectic and dark atmosphere the city had. He didn't appreciate being run out of his home town, but he knew he had no choice. He couldn't be on red alert twenty-four hours a day. If he stayed he would be dead within the week.

"Been thinking of heading south" he said to Leo.

"Taking a holiday with your family?"

"No man, on my own" he took a drink from the glass, "probably not coming back. So more like a permanent holiday from my family."

"Right" said Leo, distaste obvious in his voice. Leo had often listened to Nick talk about his wife and kid as if they were nothing. It annoyed him. He often felt guilty about the lack of time he spent with his own young children.

"What?" asked Nick, not liking the tone of his friends voice.

"You're going to leave your wife here to bring up your kid alone?"

"Fuck 'em" Nick answered angrily. Who was this guy to question his business? Some drunk in a bar who had never done anything with his life. "Who made you fucking moral guardian."

"Just not something I can agree with" said Leo, taking a drink of his beer and turning away to signal the end of the conversation.

Nick stood up and downed his beer in one go, his party trick. He would freely admit that he was a terrible husband and father so he wasn't really angry, more irritated that this guy thought he could judge him. "You remember, while your stuck here in this shithole, working your ass off for your ungrateful brats, I will be a free man in Florida, sitting on a beach, surrounded by naked women." He got no reaction from Leo. "Hey asshole! Are you listening to me!" he shouted. He kicked against Leo's bar stool, hard enough to make it fall. Leo jumped off before it hit the ground, just managing to stay on his feet.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!". Leo walked towards Nick. He swung a punch which Nick easily avoided. Nick calculated that he had all the advantages in this fight, though Leo matched him in height and weight Nick was fitter and a more skilled fighter. And Leo would most likely have been in the bar drinking all day.

People around them scattered as the two squared up for a fight. Those further away moved closer, eager to see the violence.

Leo flew at Nick but he evaded him with ease. Nick struck back, hitting him hard in the face. He felt something break under his fist. A line of blood appeared at the corner of Leo's mouth.

They backed away from each other slightly. Nick stood and waited for Leo to move. The adrenalin was pumping now and it was hard to stop himself going in guns blazing. He knew from previous experience that the way to stay on top in combat situations was to keep his cool.

Leo aimed a punch at Nicks face. Nick managed to move away in time so the fist scraped past the side of his head. Leo was left off balance by the force of his strike. Immediately Nick hit him hard in the stomach. Leo staggered back. Nick drove forward with another punch to the face. Leo fell to the floor with a thud. Nick was about to go in for the kill but was restrained by spectators who had gathered round to watch the fight.

"Alright, break it up". A heavily built man Nick recognised as the bars owner emerged from behind the bar. "You, get out of here" he pointed at Nick. He looked down at Leo who was lying on the floor in a pool of blood. "Sheila, Phone an ambulance" he looked at the floor, "and bring a mop."

Nick pushed back through the crowd of spectators. He walked out of the door and into the rain. He stopped and looked around him. It was night. Liberty's scum was beginning to pour out into the streets. His adrenalin was up and he could use to work off some aggression. An idea struck him and he smiled.

Nick got in his Kuruma and started the engine. He would leave tomorrow, after he had taken care of some business.