Alright! So magically someone can get covid for the third time AND flu a and b... At the same time! I am as loopy and sick as it comes. So I apologize if this chapter is somewhat off. Lots of nice moments in this chapter, as well as some key points within the overall plot of the story.

Enjoy!

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"NB?" Roman looked up at the tall pillars of The Bank of Liberty and let out a chuckle.

"Yes cousin?" Niko put the Infernus in park and undid his seat belt.

"Bet it feels pretty weird getting to walk into the bank and not be here to rob it." Roman laughed and twisted around to poke Niko's shoulder. He had been wanting to crack a joke since the moment his cousin had asked him to run errands with him. Of course, convincing Mallorie to let him go was more of a challenge than he thought it was going to be.

"Ha, ha. Very funny. I did bring a gun so if you're up to it, we could rob it again?" Niko shook his head and climbed out of his car. It had been in the back of his mind as he drove them over to the bank- would anyone recognize his voice?

"A spot of bank robbing sounds lovely cousin." Roman rolled his eyes as he hauled himself out of the car, "So why are we here? You were pretty secretive in front of Mal. And you know I am going to be grilled senselessly when I get back to her."

"You will see." Niko pulled his phone from his pocket and read the instructions Georgi had sent him for getting into the other more private vaults. Apparently, a man named Rami Yalon was going to be waiting for him at the banker's door. He was to show him his identification and then be escorted down below into the sublevels of the bank. 'Would've been nice to have known there was another escape path…'

"Well hurry it up! Damn freezing out here." Roman zipped his jacket up more and headed toward the large, open oak doors. Together the cousins entered the warm interior of the fancy bank. People waited in a long queue wanting to make deposits or withdrawals. There was a soft murmuring as people held unmeaningful conversations about the weather or the local sports team losing once more in epic fashion.

Niko spotted a man in a three-piece suit watching him carefully. Their eyes met and he figured this was the man he was supposed to approach. He suddenly felt very underdressed in his environment and self-consciously readjusted his brown leather jacket. He wasn't used to high class functions and definitely wasn't as in line with how he supposed Kenny carried himself.

"Uh, Rami Yalon?" He kept a small bit of space between the intimidating looking man and his cousin. A quick assessment told him he was armed and not looking to broadcast it.

"Identification." Rami studied the man who had taken over for his boss and reached out to halt his movements when it looked like Niko was going to pull out his wallet, "The ring."

Niko turned his right hand over and let Rami get a closer look, "This really all you need?"

"A forgery can never be made as Kenny refuses to take it off. And only a handful of people know about the inside inscription. May I?" He held his hand out to look at Kenny's ring and verify it was the exact ring Petrovic had commissioned when he forced the Jewish Mob to join forces.

'There is no…'

"As Kenny has never removed it from his hand, I will not be letting you see it." Niko tucked his hands into his jacket pocket and felt for the gun he had stashed there, slowly, silently taking the safety off. Last thing he was expecting was to be ambushed and set up by Georgi.

"You've passed. This way." Rami nodded once, his eyes darting down to where he assumed Niko was armed and turned on his heel to type in the passcode for the locked door.

"Cousin if you get me killed before I get to hold my child, I will not be held responsible for my ghost coming back to haunt you till the end of time!" Roman hissed as he trailed after his cousin and couldn't help but feel a slight trepidation slip down his spine. How many times had they both found themselves in a bad situation that progressively became worse?

Niko tried to stop it, but the flinch twitched his face and caused his hands to ball into fists.

"NB?"

"When we are in the vault. Alone." He glared at the back of the head of the man leading them over to another locked door.

"You will be given all the time you need and can take anything you like. Georgi was very clear in his instruction." Rami opened the door with several different keys and proceeded to take the marble steps down into a side basement.

Silently the trio descended into a dimly lit hallway, heavy metal doors lined each side- some with spindle wheel locks, others with handprint scanners. Each had a name or unit number etched into golden plates by their entrances. Politicians, Mob bosses, the wealthy and elite, anyone who was someone possessed a vault below Liberty City. Niko's eye caught Bulgarin's name and he scowled.

"Kenny has cleaned it out. Probably why I have been overseas eliminating a couple of threats for him. I got on the first flight out of Serbia when I heard the news of a leadership change. May I introduce myself properly Pakhan?" Rami came to a stop in front of what looked like a bomb shelter door, sealed and airtight, locked and waiting for its master.

Niko nodded but focused on the intricate metal work and numerous keyholes and one that was round in shape and nothing like what a traditional key would be inserted to.

"I am Rami Yalon. Hitman hired by Kenny for his overseas operations. I speak seven languages, can blend in, and have never once failed an assignment. My loyalty only lies with whoever wears that ring and mantel. What are your orders?" He bowed his head and placed his right fist over his heart.

"Be glad it wasn't him coming after us after you killed Lenny…" Roman whispered from behind Niko completely awed by where he found himself with his cousin.

"I was given the assignment, but it is hard to travel between countries when you are a wanted felon here in the states." Rami barely lifted his head to let his boss know that he had been his target at one point in time and once IAA started sniffing around, he had to postpone getting into Liberty.

"Maybe one day you and I can have that… spar. But right now, I have ordered the hit on Alexi Mikhailov. If you are available to take a trip around LC for me, find him, and either capture him for me to kill, or you feel it necessary to take him out, do so. No civilian casualties. I'd prefer this to be silent." Niko thumbed the ring around his finger trying to ignore the pit in his stomach every time he had to give out orders. But it was him or them, and he was done with this life.

"As you have asked it, so it will be done." Rami bowed more and acknowledged his new assignment, "Now to other business. Place the insignia of Kenny's ring in the center lock, and I will turn my key at the same time." He turned back to the vault and mimicked making a fist, placing it against the lock, and turning it clockwise.

"Now I understand why it can't be duplicated…" Niko moved to stand at Rami's side and lined up the ring on his hand into the sunken mechanism.

"Correct. On the count of three." Rami shoved his key and another one into the slots and looked to his new boss for the countdown.

"One. Two. Three!" Together they twisted the locks open and a series of deadbolts giving way, hissing, and groaning filled the space. Air blew down the hall as the vacuum was released from inside the vault. Rami guided the Bellic cousins away from the opening as sometimes the lack of oxygen and shifting of air can be dizzying.

A solid foot thick door squeaked, popped, buzzed as it came to a stop- fully open for them to see just how wealthy Kenny Petrovic is.

"Again Pakhan. Take your time. I will be down the hall at the bottom of the stairs to give you privacy. And uh…" A boyish smirk lifted up the corners of Kenny's hitman, "Have fun with the back drawers."

Niko and Roman couldn't find the strength to move into the room. A vintage nineteen twenty's Russian Officer's military vehicle was parked dead center of a massive room. It rested a couple of steps down in a sunken area, and how they had even got the vehicle in there in the first place baffled them. Precious artwork held in protective airtight containers lined the wall to their right. Likely some of it has never been seen by the general public.

But what caught Niko's eye as the lights finally illuminated to their full potential, was the glittering gemstones. Rows and shelves stacked up to his height were packed and overloaded with everything from diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires- It was like an entire Royal Crowned jewel exhibit.

"You know…? I'd laugh. But I can't feel my feet." Roman's eyes darted over everything and for once felt completely speechless.

Niko did let out a dry chuckle, "Well cousin? This is technically mine. So. I do believe you can say we made it now." Niko grasped the cold metal edge of the vault and used what little strength he held to force his feet forward.

"You're serious?!" Roman excitedly followed after Niko and made a beeline for the shimmering rocks. All sizes and shapes stared up at him. Some uncut, others in intricate precious metals and fashion jewelry. He reached down when he spotted drawer handles and had to put in effort to open them.

"No. Fucking. Way." Roman lowered down to his knees and hefted up a solid gold bar, "Niko…" He glanced over his shoulder to see Niko slowly admiring the vintage vehicle.

"We are not here to rob ourselves blind and splurge…" Although… The thought of having an absolute wild night out with his friends and family, or taking them all on a world vacation, away from the violence and crime- a beach! Some place warm, calming, relaxing… Therapeutic. 'Kate could use the time away…'

"I saw that look NB! Penthouses! Hot tubs! Models! Crazy over the top parties with Brucie!" Roman laughed as he sat down on the carpeted section in front of the open gold-filled drawers.

"More like picking out a couple of other unbelievable gifted stones for Kate's wedding ring…" Niko's voice softened as he rounded the vehicle to approach the wide range of what Kenny, well Georgi, had offered to him.

"I told you love looks good on you!" He accepted Niko's outstretched hand and stood up, "I shall help you cousin! She is already like a sister to me and my beautiful Mallorie loves her to the ends of the world. What do you have in mind?"

"Well. Somehow, I ended up with some of Ray Bulgarin's uncut diamonds. Kenny's stash of whatever I want. And I don't feel completely right not buying something myself. Wouldn't it be considered blood diamonds? Or that she is tied back to those organizations?" A flash of dark emerald green caught the corner of his eye, and he shuffled over to get a better look.

"Depends on how you have acquired all this. Did you personally kill Ray or whoever to get the diamonds you have in your possession?" Roman used a handle to tilt down one of the higher shelves, eyes watering at how much was just sitting here.

"I originally had a hand in a lot of death trying to obtain them for several different people. But I was told the small pouch, given to me by someone close to Jon Gravelli, were ones from Ray's vault down the hall. Since I am now Kenny, this is all in my name, but part of me feels wrong. You know Kate's stance on crime and violence." Niko spotted a pair of white gloves and slipped them on, immediately opening the case as if in a trance.

"But this crime streak, violent ladened year, and underworld connections is what brought you to her." Roman did a double take and walked over to see what had sparked his cousin's interest.

Niko paused with Roman's words.

He never would have met her had he not killed Lenny. He never would have been driven out of Hove and to Mallorie's connection to Elizabeta Torres.

Which is where Packie rested on the couch of the drug king pin- thus leading to the ultimate meeting within the living room of the McReary brownstone.

"Cousin? If I can just lay out my thoughts…?" Roman met Niko's eyes when he turned to regard him, "Your meeting with her, and subsequent events, seems to be heavily involved with all these criminal organizations. She is even the daughter of one herself. And yet she has proven to you time and again that she is willing to stay through all this madness and chaos. NB if you don't wed that woman, with the gifts and opportunity you have been handed, you're an even bigger idiot than I thought." He clasped Niko's shoulder and firmed his expression.

"I have secrets that would destroy her. Things I- I don't want to tell you. But she has changed my own perspective on life. How I want to live. To be the man that laughs, enjoys life, and raises a family." His eyes glazed over, and he turned more fully to Roman, "It is possible she is…" The faintest of smiles graced his face as realization dawned over his cousin's face.

"Cousin?! COUSIN!" Roman shouted for joy and pulled Niko into a tight hug, "This is wonderful news! You sly dog. When will you know for sure? It took almost four to six weeks before we could confirm Mallorie was. Okay! We have got to get this woman a ring made!" Roman's hands landed on Niko's shoulder's before cupping his face. The sheer delight and happiness he felt coursing through him had him feeling giddy, "Congratulations cousin!"

"Thank you Roman. Please don't tell Mal. Let Kate do it. Don't steal that moment from her. But they ran her blood after her attack in the hospital. It was inconclusive. So there is a chance it might not be happening… But damn- If you could just see how happy she is you'd be convinced yourself." Niko stepped back and went to try and spot the matching emeralds he had seen earlier.

"A woman's intuition is never wrong. All Mal will have to do is take one look at her and you will know. Science got nothing on my woman." Roman lifted the lid for his cousin, "Irish heritage, criminal backing, protection from law enforcement and abroad LC, possibly carrying your child? I'd say it is rather fitting to have a piece of all that in her engagement ring and matching wedding bands…

A part of your entire lives together in a symbolic way."

The smoothest of footfalls had Niko lowering the lid, stepping in front of his cousin, and drawing his pistol, "Show yourself. You have three seconds."

"I did not mean to intrude, but I forgot to give you bank withdrawal bags." Rami rounded the entrance, hands lifted, with several thick and heavy velvet bags.

Niko only blankly started at him waiting to either confess to listening in, or if he'd had to force it. His eyebrow lifted and his pistol never wavered.

"Pakhan if she is carrying your heir, it is our duty to provide. Georgi was correct in that every stone, golden bar, or silver, or even the template for what would have been Nadia's ring- Lenny's sister, it is yours to use. There is no guilt to be had here. And if I could offer something…?" Rami lowered his eyes and did his best to show fidelity.

"Go on." Niko was only slightly mollified, and he clicked the safety back on.

"My uncle? He own's Roth and Son's. Tell him this is our gift to the new leader of the Petrovic Bratva. He will not question it." Rami lowered his arms and waved his hand toward the glowing cases, asking for permission to help.

"Niko… You kind of have to accept at this point. Mal's ring only happened because I hit it big one night- that cost was ridiculous, but only the best for her. Accept help and opportunity when it presents itself cousin." Roman felt bold and reached out to lower the pistol aimed at someone related to the Jewish Mob.

"Fine." Niko tucked his pistol away and accepted the help from his cousin and his new hitman. The thought was weird enough, but living it? Not even his most drunken illusions could've come up with this level of insanity.

"Silver. Cousin. You wear gold and I think she will want something that won't remind her of Kenny being injured." Roman opened a couple of lower drawers looking for pure silver, or as close as he can get.

"We have white gold." Rami opened a side cabinet and removed several thinner bars, "We will take both. My uncle has a way of just knowing when he sees the materials."

"And nothing too large. If she is going to be holding a baby, you won't want something that could cause harm." Roman handed the silver off to Rami and nodded at the tender look that overtook Niko's face.

Niko quietly listened to the other two men discuss diamonds and colors, but it faded away. His eyes kept coming back to two, perfectly identical, darkest of dark emeralds. It matched the depth of color in her necklace. They could rest on either side of the large diamond from Antonia- a plethora of small diamonds could be set around the entire band. He was so lost in thought he didn't realize Roman, and Rami were standing on either side of him.

"Perfect…" Niko and Roman whispered at the same time.

"I will box all this up and let you browse the rest of the vault. I'll be back shortly." Rami held open a small wooden box and let Niko drop the stones inside, snapping it closed. With a glance between the pair of cousins, he exited the room and headed for the security room in order to properly store the items for transport.

"He did say you'd like the back wall…" Together they turned to large vertical polished cabinets that ran the expanse of the floor to ceiling, before meeting each other's eyes. At once they rushed over and started throwing open the doors, their mouths dropping, as a vodka room, stacks of cash, and weapons of all kinds nearly overflowed from their resting places.

"Heh. The man has style." Roman laughed as he pulled a set of gold-plated desert eagles from a foam slot, "Whadda think cousin?"

"I think you should put them down before your ego inflates any larger..." Niko trailed off as he thumbed through the rifles, several of which looked enticing.

"Mal don't like guns anyway." Gently, as if now afraid they'd magically go off, he lowered them back into their respectful places.

"Here. Catch." Niko threw a couple stacks of hundreds at his cousin, "I still owe you for Kate's necklace set, and think of it as a small baby shower gift." Taking another long look at the limitless cash neatly stacked in rows and on pallets, he closed the cabinet door.

"Thank you…" He breathed, fanning it out and staring as bill after bill shuffled down within the band.

"If you two are ready, I have your lock box. Go straight to Roth and Son's, they will be waiting for you. You do not want this amount of wealth falling into someone else's hands." Rami lifted a metal suitcase, handcuff locked around the handle, the other waiting for someone's wrist.

"Definitely not. Come cousin. I think we are about to make someone's day."

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"Challenge passed by leaps and bounds…" Kate nearly moaned as she took the last couple of bites from whatever Russian dish he had cooked up. Some kind of porridge looking soup, but it warmed her entire body and bolstered up some of her lagging energy.

"My mother used to make pot loads of it in the winter- it kept us warm and from falling sick." Georgi towel dried the stainless-steel pot and shoved it back under the metal prep counter Kate sat at.

"I will say I have been feeling uncharacteristically cold." Kate folded her arms over the cool countertop and dropped her chin to rest over them.

"Your body is healing; these things take time." 'Especially if you don't rest…' He bit his lip with the image he still had seared into his mind when Niko had entered the hospital room. The blush rose along his neck, and he busied himself with rinsing out her bowl.

"I apologize! Okay!" Kate buried her face within her arms and groaned as the embarrassment lashed down her spine. She had seen the knowing looks between Georgi and Niko, and it only frustrated her more.

"Oh there is nothing to apologize for. He wanted you; you wanted him- it is a… natural response." Georgi dared a look over his shoulder to see her body shake, "I am the one who is sorry."

"It's fine!" Kate huffed out and lifted upright, "I've just been such a sheltered virgin for most of my life and now? Good Lord." She raked her fingers through her hair noticing the blush building on his neck.

"You have been spared the awkward youth days then. I don't think anyone makes it out of that era of life without a tale or two of mishaps and accidents." Georgi laughed as he remembered back to his younger days of sneaking off base or finding a quiet place within his school, "But I think we should start planning out your trip to the salon and dress store."

"Georgi can I be one hundred percent honest?" Kate nervously drummed her fingers over the surface, needing the movement to keep from going off the deep end.

"Of course. Only way I am going to know how to protect you best." He dried his hands on a dish towel and dropped down on a stool across from her, his cup of coffee still steaming and waiting to be consumed.

"Is it safe? And don't give me the Niko answer. I want your answer." Kate pinned him with her signature glare. The one her mighty brothers would crumble under. The one that made even Niko shift uncomfortably the first time she sent it his way. The one weapon she wielded that all of them would be powerless to.

"You want brutal honestly? Or the watered-down version?" Georgi paused in lifting his mug of coffee and remained neutral against her ire. If there was one thing he would not back down on, was his job given to him by Niko to keep her safe, happy, relaxed and resting- but he would also not go against her wishes. There was a delicate balance that he held when it came to dealing with his boss and his female.

"Brutal. I have to know- Georgi…" Tears burned behind her eyes and her hands dipped below the surface to rest against the life she hoped she was creating.

"Come. This is long past due." He took a long drag from his now semi lukewarm drink and dumped it into the sink. He held his hand out to her when he neared her side, "You asked for this. So do not take it out on me."

"Promise." Her hand landed into his open palm, and she let him pull her to her feet. A flicker of concern flashed through his eyes, and she firmed her fingers over his, "What?"

"You said you are cold?" Georgi moved into her personal space and cupped her face, "You are burning up."

"I don't feel at my best. And standing for too long drains me." She closed her eyes when he started to massage behind her ears. It soothed every tight muscle in her body and warmth instantly washed over her pale skin.

"Alright. Tell me the second something feels off. We have a medical team here monitoring Kenny, I am sure they can help you." His thoughts were edging toward dark places, and he forced himself to tuck her hand back into the crook of his arm, "The guys should be going over the building blueprints as we speak. We will join them."

"They will be okay with me listening in?" Kate's feet trembled as she let Georgi walk her out into the maze of halls and down to where she could hear some harsh bickering in Russian.

"You are Niko's equal, they have no say." But he did frown as he was picking up some of the more negative sentiments about the assignment and who they were doing it for.

"Well at least I won't have a gun on me for this meeting and can't shoot anyone." She rolled her eyes and giggled when Georgi barked out a surprised laugh.

"No. This is very true." He laughed again as they entered the open double doors of the main living room.

The massive fireplace roared away, making the room a pleasant temperature. But the cigarette smoke burned her lungs. Her eyes blinked against the heaviness as she was lowered into an oversized armchair, one she figured two people could sit comfortably on. She watched as Georgi cracked open the windows that lined the room, letting the smoke and smell billow out into the frigid Broker air.

"And you let HER sit in Kenny's chair?!" A man at the far end of a card table raised his voice and threw his hand out in Kate's direction.

"Boris!" Georgi matched his volume and went to draw his own pistol, "If you have such a problem with the new leadership, you may leave at any time."

"Kenny's rule is absolute. We follow and give loyalty to whoever wields his title, mantel, and ring. Or are you defecting from the Bratva?" Georgi stuck with English just to continue to prod the man who had been resisting orders and asking for other tasks.

"Ohh maybe it's because YOU have a soft spot for her? Pakhan letting you tap that too?" Boris sneered at the man he used to respect beyond measure.

"Why you-" Georgi started.

Aleksei stood from his folding chair closest to Kate and shielded her from view of the angry, hostile eyes of Boris, "That is uncalled for! Know your place and what we have all done for you. The debts, the drug addiction, and your dying mother. You walk out that door and you become the enemy. I will find you. You know of this truth."

"Gentlemen?" Kate weakly stood from the chair and placed her hand on Aleksei's shoulder to shift him over, as well as keep her legs locked, "If there is an issue with me, I believe I have the right to face my accuser." The brush of Aleksei's hand to her back narrowed her eyes, she would not appear ill in front of someone who clearly didn't like her.

"Boris? You have time to explain your actions to the boss, or you can face Kate. Pick." Georgi did remove his pistol but kept it at his side when Kate lifted her hand in his direction. He would follow her lead… Till a point. The jab at him had his blood boiling and he was half tempted to just kill the man where he stood.

"You sit in the chair of honor. You do not deserve it. You sully it with your presence!" Boris stood to his feet and slammed his palms down on the plastic folding table. His rage was absolute and flooding his mind and heart. He served Kenny! Not the man and the- the woman who slept with the asshole who killed Lenny. It was preposterous! "You are nothing but a piece of meat to please the stand in boss- a whore- probably on your knees every morning and night-"

Kate dropped her eyes to Aleksei's waist and flipped the strap open and yanked the pistol free, taking aim at the man who insulted her, "Chose your next words very carefully." Georgi pointed his pistol and flicked the safety off. Anton shoved out of his chair and matched the wall of protection that was being built around Kate. Vanya, who was closest to Boris kicked the back of their knee and shoved the end of the pistol to his head. Every other member in the room was called to arms the second she drew Aleksei's weapon.

"You choose her? Over Pakhan! The man who fed us, clothed us, employed us!" Boris tried to lean forward and away from the intense pressure being applied to the back of his head, "When have you all gotten so soft and insolent?"

The safety being flicked off of Aleksei's gun in Kate's hand echoed in the room.

"Niko IS Pakhan!" Georgi moved closer and removed Boris' weapon, "Niko's Sovietnik is growing inside the woman you have disrespected. Anton take him down to one of the cells. Pakhan will want a word with him when he returns!"

Anton snapped to attention, too stunned to do much else, and jerked Boris up to his feet. Vanya nodded his consent and helped drag a protesting, and now finally apologizing, Boris down a staircase Kate hadn't seen earlier.

Her legs shook violently, and Aleksei guided her down to rest of the plush cushions of Kenny's chair. Fingers trembled over the pistol grip and strong, warm ones gently brushed them to the side, returning the safety to its rightful place. The gun left her line of sight, and everything went sideways.

'You pulled a gun… Again…'

"Woah!" Aleksei dropped his pistol to the rug covered hardwoods and caught Kate's shoulders, "Easy!"

"Shit." Georgi tucked his weapon away and rushed over, grabbing a fluffy pillow and thick throw blanket on his way, "She has been complaining about being cold. But her skin is on fire." He met the worried eyes of his second and figured they were thinking the same things.

"I'm- I'm okay. Just tired." She let them lean her into the pillow that Georgi tucked down in one of the arm rests, the weighted velour blanket floated down over her body and snapped the cold away. Her vision swam as their hands tucked the blanket in around her shoulders and neck, "Thank you."

"Храбрый (Khrabryy), next time a little warning before disarming me." Aleksei had to let out a couple of chuckles as he had not seen the move coming. One minute he is trying to keep Boris from offending Kate, and the next he feels the weight leaving his side. His instincts screamed at him to take the gun back, but this was her battle, her right, and no one interferes when the boss is making decisions. But as he glanced over her flushed face, shaking shoulders, and how her hands fisted into the hem of the blanket- maybe he should have taken charge.

"The second I get free time I am forcing you into the shooting range." Georgi nearly scoffed and was trying to work off his own mess and mass of emotions. Niko was going to kill him. Boris first- then him. He started pacing and running his hands through his hair. He was meant to keep this day slow paced, easy going; not executions and title throw downs.

Anton entered the room for a split second before walking through another doorway, his expression unreadable.

"Did I do something… wrong? Bad? Is Niko going to get into trouble?!" Kate tried to sit up as the panic brewed in her chest. She had assumed his role…

"Forgive me. I heard the commotion from down the hall and came running." Sergei entered the room, assault rifle at the ready, his eyes wildly looking around the room for the threat.

"Never. This was within your right. But maybe we need to lay some ground rules. The next person you might end up excommunicating from the Bratva might try to retaliate." Georgi returned to her side and sat down in the opposite folding chair Aleksei was occupying, "We've been having issues with Boris ever since Kenny named Niko Pakhan. Somehow you saw that without having any real knowledge of what's been going on."

"He gave me the creeps and I didn't care much for his words. Oh!" A bowl of freshly cut mixed berries was lowered into her line of sight as well as a cold bottle of water. Her eyes shot up to see a rather peaceful smile on Anton's face.

"My wife had energy level issues in the first trimester. The one thing that seemed to help was to constantly have her grazing on healthy snacks. Eat and let us get back to happier topics. It is not good for your condition." Anton waited till she had the bowl perched in front of her before going to take his place once more at the table.

"Your… wife?" Kate didn't waste any time and started to pop berry after berry into her mouth, completely enthralled now that she knew someone who was married in this line of work and wasn't the boss.

"Of ten years. She gave birth to my daughter last month. And we have a four-year-old son. While this line of work is dangerous, Kenny, now Niko, has given us a place to live, raise our children, and they will never have to worry about food being on the table." Anton smiled as the fascination grew on Niko's woman, "And forgive us for Boris' disgusting views."

"I'm getting over it. So." Her eyes shifted over to Georgi who looked a little worse for wear, "Brutally honest."

One by one everyone rejoined the table and began to explain to Kate how open the salon was for attack. Main entrances, back entrances, service doors, even roof access via a nearby building. That corners could supply some shielding, eventually you needed to move, and getting caught in one of the massage rooms near the back wasn't an option.

So many schematics were thrown her way. How thick the tempered glass could be against normal bullets, or full metal rounds. Is the security system easily compromised, to which Aleksei nodded as he typed away on his laptop. But as her hopes of getting some much-needed girl time in with Mal were dashing away from her- their plan was explained.

It was beyond vast in detail. Every escape route, car drop off, where a sniper could be located. How many approximate civilian casualties there could be if a shoot-out occurred, much to Kate's chagrin. How Georgi would remain within five feet the entire time they were within the walls of the salon. It was the only way to prevent a repeat of the hospital…

"Ivo and Vasil, the man who escorted you to the park? They will lead shadow teams. They are very good at it, and you will never know they are there. It will give the appearance of just another day in the life of Pakhan's family out for a spa day." Georgi tapped the name of the salon they technically owned. Igor, Kenny's cousin, ran the joint and used it to funnel dirty bills back into the city.

"Wow…" Discarded, and empty bowl of berries, were moved to the opposite wide armrest, "All this? Just for me and Mal?"

"Kate, you wanted brutal honesty?" Georgi gave her one last out. He didn't want to go there, but she needed to know the risks. How badly Alexi was gunning for them all.

"You keep avoiding it. Look…" Kate sighed heavily and pulled the blanket around her tightly, "It has been a really-"

She sucked in a shaky breath, she could do this, "Since October it has been really hard on me putting the pieces together. I think I get most of it. What led to what, and who hated who. And I thought it was all over. Now it's like being back in my room all over again in some kind of perpetual loop. Where the attacks just keep escalating to where a damn city block gets blown up."

"I have been shot, assaulted, violated, held hostage, beaten, and now we can add poisoned to the list. I think it is about damn time I know what is coming my way, and what I need to do to avoid the next blow." Kate roughly wiped at the one tear she let escape. Kate was officially done with being in the dark and constantly looking over her shoulder.

At the sheer silence she made a slow trek with her eyes at every one of Niko's men, "Well?"

"We do not know where the next attack will be coming from. We have been given a two-week window to find and kill Alexi. If we do this, there will be peace, and the attacks will stop." Georgi felt gutted by her words and dug deep to tell her what they were up against.

"It all weighs on one person's death?" Kate wanted to laugh, scream, cry, throw something! One- one life and they could just walk off into the sunset. The madness of it all! This was just Natalya all over again. One death. 'Yeah… right…'

"That is how it sounds. But we are not so easily convinced. We have people all over looking into it. This level of deal does not just show up. It is concerning." Aleksei spoke up when it appeared Georgi could not.

"Kate. There is another thing I think you need to think about." Georgi shifted in his seat and nodded his head when Aleksei gave a weird gesture.

"And?" God she was tired and information overload was taking effect.

"There is always, slim, but always a possibility that Kenny will not wake up. We will follow Niko to the ends of the earth, but if this is not what you want, you two need to discuss how this plays out. I don't need an answer now. You've been through enough today." Georgi lifted his hands when Anton went to roll up the blueprints for the salon.

The thought she had been avidly avoided was now out in the open.

'No. NO! Not now. Later. Change the topic. Change the mood. Something, anything!'

Kate desperately looked around the room before spotting a deck of cards on a nearby table, "You're right. Any of you know how to play poker?"

aaaaaa

"My boy! When you walked out that door back in October, I figured you would be back eventually. But not as the head of the Petrovic Bratva." The jovial man who had helped Roman design Mallorie's ring moved around the counters to shake Niko's hand, "It is our honor to serve. What have you brought me?"

"I am wanting something special for the woman I want to marry." Niko returned the strong shake of his hand and gestured to a back room. He did not like being out on the floor with other customers, some who had looked over scared when his title had been thrown out.

"Roman said you'd be by when the time came. Come." He led them back behind a locked door and pulled out a couple of plush chairs for his guests, "Now I can simply work my magic, take suggestions, or do exactly as you wish." With old bones the man lowered into the other chair and pulled a sketch book back toward him.

"I'm not really sure. But I have a couple of stones that have to be included no matter what." Niko undid the lock of the handcuff from his wrist and snapped the closures open, revealing the pouch from Antonia, and several other emeralds, diamonds, and bars of white gold and silver.

A tray was placed in front of him with a pair of gloves. One by one he removed it all from the box and placed the larger uncut diamond and the matching pair of emeralds off to the side, "These three I want on her ring no matter what."

"Ah good, good. Very high quality…" Rami's uncle held the uncut stone to the light and used an eye magnifying glass to check for markers or ownership. Seeing none he lowered it down and openly stared at Niko, "Where? These are unmarked and untraceable. The last time we ever got diamonds in like this was a shipment from Ray."

"It's a long and complicated story. The ones in the pouch are a gift from Jon Gravelli. The other stones and metals are a gift from Kenny. Rami asked that you make it was your gift to us from the Jewish mob. And if there is a way to make an inscription inside the ring, I'd like to do that." Niko looked over everything on the tray and wondered just what the man could do with everything.

"White gold then. Holds up better to being chipped away at. Write down the words here-" He slid over a piece of paper that looked like an order form, "Also fill out the rest of the info. Do you have a time frame?"

"The earliest? Two weeks if it is doable. If not, when it is ready is fine." Niko studied all the questions and went to filling everything in. He knew exactly what he wanted to have written that would forever be pressed against her skin.

"Her fingers are about the same size as Mallorie." Roman chipped in as he leaned over Niko's shoulder to see what he was writing down.

"Freedom? And what's моја љубав (moja ljubav)?" Roman recognized the tattoo word Niko and Bernie both had on their arms, but the other one was escaping him.

"It means my love. You really have lost too much of our Serbian cousin." Niko flicked his eyes up to Roman's before dropping back down to make sure he spelled it correctly. He wanted the words in his native tongue as she loved to hear him speak it. It would be just one more part to her ring that held meaning.

"America will do that to you. And I have been here much longer than you." Roman leaned back in his chair and watched as the man who made Mallorie's ring sorted out the gemstones and seemed to be talking to himself silently.

"It shows." He smirked to lessen the words, "Alright that's everything."

"Congratulations my boy! I will call when I am about a day or two away from setting the final stones so you can give me an opinion. Stay safe out there. Will we see you at the mayor's mansion? Might help to lay eyes on her. Gives me the best inspiration." He took the order form from Niko and darted his eyes down to make sure all the important information was filled out.

"Yes, we will." As one they all stood and were led back out to the sales floor, "Take care and I will talk to you soon!"

"Thank you. I really do appreciate it." Niko once more clasped his hand and gave a firm shake.

"Think nothing of it. We serve the Bratva above all else." He smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. He had wanted to avoid being aligned with any one organization- to make his American dream legit. But as fate would have it, Kenny came knocking, and it hadn't changed since.

"Roman can you wait in the car for a second?" Niko handed his keys to his cousin and gestured back to the room. He had seen something he didn't like, and he would get to the bottom of it.

"I hope I did not offend!" He walked back into the room holding the door open for Niko.

"What are your arrangements with Kenny? I have the power to change it if it is unfavorable to you and yours." Niko crossed his arms and leaned back into the table. Maybe he would offer relief as thanks for doing this for him.

"He takes fifty percent of our earnings, and he is our only supplier allowed. We have made it work." He scrubbed a hand over his hair and kept his eyes glued to the floor, not daring to insult Pakhan.

"It will be twenty from here on out. I may not be able to do anything about the supplier part. But when I get back to the compound, I will update those who need it. Fifty is ridiculous." Niko held his hand out to him; it was the least he could do to alleviate the heavy protection tax they had been held under.

"Pakhan! That is too much!" He jerked his head up and widened his eyes. It was over the top and something that would truly provide for his family and store. So many things needed repairs and his daughter was nearing college.

"I can go up?" He smiled at the horror-stricken face, "Come on! You are making the woman I love wedding ring. And I know that is not cheap to create. Especially on short notice." He extended his hand out further, almost begging him to take the deal.

"No. Thank you!" He immediately shook on the deal, "You have saved my store and livelihood."

"Think nothing of it. Call when you have an update." Niko dropped his hand and shrugged. If he was meant to be Kenny, then maybe it was time to start helping people- instead of tearing everyone down with power and fear. With one last respectful bow from the owner of the store he headed outside to his waiting cousin.

"So? What was that all about?" Roman pressed the second Niko lowered down into the driver seat.

"Got to play the role of Kenny at some point." He started the car and checked traffic, "Is there any other place you need to go? Or am I taking you back to Mal?"

"The woman of my dreams cousin!" He raised his voice and pointed forward and in the direction of Holland.

"You two are made for each other I swear." Niko shook his head and pulled out into traffic and started the short drive back toward the hospital.

"Yes, we are. Now. For a more difficult and heavier subject." Roman wiped his suddenly sweaty palms over his jeans and looked over to his cousin waiting for him to acknowledge him.

"I can't divulge things about Kenny's Bratva or finer details about what is happening. It would put everyone at more risk." His eyes went to his cousin before surveilling the roads for enemies or things that were out of place.

"No… Hadn't thought of that really. But no. This is about my Mal and I's child." His voice lowered and he kept his eyes glued out the passenger window. He and Mal had talked long into the night after their near miss about their future. If they were having a boy or girl. Who would they look like more- typical new parent jitters and questions.

"Is everything okay?!" Niko slowed at a red light and turned fully to watch as his cousin fidgeted continuously. He had worried that the stress and high anxiety might have done something to her or the baby, and now he was starting to panic the longer his cousin refused to talk.

"Yes! Nothing like that. I need to ask you- If it is a boy we want to name him after your brother."

Niko's foot slipped on the clutch as he tried to move with the green light. They wanted to name their son after his brother? A burning sensation seeped behind his eyes, and he forced himself to focus on traffic and not crashing his car. "Why… Why cousin? Why would you want to honor him that way?"

It took him a second to file through the Serbian, but he figured he got the gist of what was said, "I loved your brother as much as you did. My mother adored him. Mal actually shed a tear or two when I suggested it. It is my way of continuing on our family. If it is a girl she will be named after my mother. Your aunt."

"Here., I carry this with me everywhere now…" Niko pulled out his brother's passport and handed it to Roman, "It is the only-" The lump built in his throat, and he stopped talking completely.

"Cousin… Where did you get this?!" Roman whispered as he trailed his fingers over the confident smile of his other cousin. It had been so long since he saw Niko's brother. And here was his tiny picture set into a Serbian passport.

"Another story, for another time. Sometimes it feels like my memories of our childhood are fading and disappearing. It humbles me that you want to name your child after my brother." Niko pulled up in front of the hospital and held Roman's shoulder, "He would have been proud to meet Mallorie and your child."

"Just as much as he would have loved to meet Kate and what would have been his niece or nephew." Roman rubbed at his eyes not wanting to shed a tear or get too sappy, "Alright cousin, enough of this. Call me so I can join you for the update! I am curious with what he has planned! I'm telling you it will be perfect!"

"Of course, Roman. Take care and tell Mal I said hi." He waved as Roman closed the passenger door. He waited till Roman was inside and he spotted Kenny's man trailing after him, before feeling good pulling away from the hospital. They had more heartfelt and meaningful conversations today than he probably had his whole life with Roman.

It was just one more reason to be aware and diligent in finding his enemies. Preferably swiftly.

His phone rang in his pocket, and he quickly pulled it out to answer it, "Hello?"

"Pakhan, Jacob has said there has been more movement and commotion within the apartment unit. We might have to move our timetable up." Georgi spoke in Russian, and he had to strain to hear him over the obnoxious laughter in the background.

"I will be at the compound in about ten minutes. We will head out once I check on Kate. Tell Jacob to hold his position till we join him." Niko responded in Russian and stepped on the gas. There was no time to waste now. He would not let this handler escape his grasp.

"Understood. Seen you soon." Georgi hung up, and Niko tucked his phone away. There had been a weird waver in his voice, and it had Niko curious as to what was bothering him. He highly doubted it was the upcoming mission. Movement from the corner of his eye had him jerking the wheel as a truck nearly collided into the passenger side of the Infernus.

"Oh fuck this!" Niko yanked his pistol free and used his knee on the wheel to press the power window button on both windows down. He did NOT want any damage to his favorite vehicle.

The armored truck recovered and skidded to a stop ahead of him, the engine revving menacingly.

"That's how you want to play?" He shoved open the driver door and popped the trunk, dropping his pistol and pulling out his sniper- which he just so happened to load armor piercing rounds in, "I am not in the mood!" He called out lining up a headshot for the driver.

The tires screeched as the truck took off in a game of chicken.

Niko fired in rapid succession, pulling the trigger and adjusting his sight with each shot. He clustered several on the driver, weaking the shatter proof glass, before dropping down to the front tire and axel. He let out a slow breath and fired once his target entered the crosshairs.

The truck's tire and connecting axel shattered and it nearly flipped the large vehicle on its side. Niko shifted to the side and repeated the action taking out the rear tire and axel. This time the truck did roll over to its side, skidding along the street in his direction.

He took a step back as it came to a halt in front of him.

"Russian? Albanian? Italian? Huh?" Niko yelled out, raising his rifle in the ready position to slowly edge over to the front windshield. Groans of pain reached his ears as the nearly shattered windshield came within view.

He lowered his sights to the bottom corner and fired, finally breaking the glass, "Speak!" He tried Russian first, dreading that these were Bulgarin's men and not Alexi's Albanians.

"Go… Fuck yourself!" The driver attempted to raise his pistol before a bullet tore through his head.

"Join him in hell." Niko coldly spoke before shooting the passenger. His hands were steady, and he felt more like himself, compared to the earlier shootouts and fights. Maybe he knew the end was near and his mind and body were working together to get to the finish line.

A couple of police sirens lifted in the air and spurred Niko to the back of the armored truck, "There more of you back here?" He banged on the thick metal and listened for movement or voices. A couple of clanks greeted him and pulled his phone out of his pocket.

He scrolled down to Francis' name, immediately pressing the green button. It rang only once before the slightly elevated voice came over the line, "Niko that you?! Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Armored truck tried to ram my car. I'm by myself. Kate is safe. But I think there is more men in the back. Where you at?" Niko glanced around the street at all the pedestrians staring at him and the wreckage. Not how he saw this day going…

"I'm pulling up now. There was a report of a stolen money transfer truck, and we were in pursuit. Mitt thinks it's the Albanians making a run on the Bank of Liberty branch in Northwood. Be right there." Francis ended the call as his police cruiser braked hard next to Niko's orange Infernus.

"Hey Niko. You want the rifle?" Francis was in a patrol uniform, a first for Niko, and had a rifle around his body. A service commissioned pistol sat on his hip and when he got closer, Niko could see a bullet proof vest.

"I have mine." Niko clicked the safety on his sniper and dropped it into the open trunk, lifting his trusty assault rifle. He checked it was locked and loaded and nodded to Francis, "Never tried to break into one of these. How does the back unlock?"

"Such a small comfort…" Francis muttered under his breath on his trek to the tipped over truck, "It only opens from the inside or from the release button on the dash. More of his cops showed up and he waved them to secure the scene.

"Here let me. I can climb in. Just tell me what it looks like." Niko slung his rifle to his back and joined Francis at the shattered windshield. He pulled his jacket sleeves over his palms and carefully gripped the edge to haul himself over the steering wheel and where a slew of buttons rested on the dash.

Gunfire erupted by his head, and he dropped down from the grated window into the back compartment. He landed with a thud on the dead driver, before something warm and wet slid down over his ear and down his neck.

"Niko!" Francis yelled out rushing over to the driver side and staying out of the line of fire, "Are you hurt!"

"I'm- I'm not sure!" Niko called out and pressed his hand where he felt a thick liquid. His hand came away with blood and his vision blurred for a second, "Yeah I'm hit."

"I have my men in position, just press the large green 'open' button and we will take them out!" Francis tried to see where Niko had landed and how bad the damage is.

Niko's body ached as he yanked his rifle around his body and slammed the barrel over the button several times before the loud click of the lock releasing greeted him. More gunfire ricocheted within the confines of the back compartment before silence sunk over the crowded street intersection.

"Niko! I have an ambulance here. Can you get out on your own?" Francis cautiously entered into the damaged cab and leaned over the steering wheel to see his future brother-in-law.

"Little help wouldn't hurt." Niko grabbed the edge of the driver seat and the wheel, and weakly pulled himself off the driver's corpse.

"I got you." Francis gripped Niko under the shoulders and guided him over the wheel, pulling him free from the truck, "I think it just grazed you." His eyes landed on a freely bleeding cut over his ear. Blood oozed sluggishly down Niko's head and started to soak the collar of his jacket.

"Thanks." Niko wobbled for a second before regaining his footing, "Where was the ambulance?" His eyes scanned the streets and spotted the white box truck parked on the other side of his car.

"Come on. Let's get you stitched up and you can explain to me why you were shooting at them." Francis firmed his hand on Niko's back and guided him over to the open back doors of the ambulance. The EMTs rushed to sit Niko down and started to clean the wound and figure out just how big the cut was.

"I was driving home from the hospital, and this armored truck nearly rams me on the side." He winced with the burn of the antiseptic.

"Just a couple of stiches sir. Not bad. How are you feeling otherwise?" The female EMT used a gauze pad to hold the wound closed, while her partner went to work on getting the stiches prepped.

"I'm alright. Just stich me up and I'll be good to go." Niko sucked in a breath when the hook slipped into his skin and started to close his bullet graze.

"Sir you really should go to the hospital for a full evaluation-"

"That won't be necessary Ma'am." Francis spoke up. Knowing Niko, he had places to be- and one of those places was by his sister's side, "Now how are these men's robbery of the truck connected to you?"

"They probably wanted the truck to run me off the road. I don't think it was about the money." He dug deep to not make a noise as the pain flared to life across his head. 'Does the dude really have to be so rough?!'

"So the same people we gotta watch out for till Alexi is gone?" Francis waved off his other detective as they tried to approach to get a statement, "Well. Thank God you know how to handle yourself. I'll figure out just who these people are and call with what I find." With that Francis marched over to the truck and to the officer who was taking photos.

"All done sir. Keep it clean and this bandage on till you shower later this evening or tomorrow morning." The lady EMT placed a square bandage over the fresh stiches and patted her patient's shoulder.

"Yeah… Thanks." Not like he hadn't had stiches before and knew how to take care of them. With a nod of his head, he dropped his feet to the pavement and headed over to his car. He checked it over to make sure there was no damage. He was really going to be pissed off if a single scratch was on his prized vehicle.

'Not a scratch…' Satisfied that it was still in pristine condition, he lowered into the driver seat, and took off once more toward the compound and the love of his life.

aaaaaa

Time to confront the handler!

One Love!