Tommy Vercetti slowed the vehicle down as the smoke came into sight. He slowly approached the turn to see the scattered pieces of what used to be four or more vehicles, spread amongst the road and off the cliff side. Small patches of fire spread across the road, turning pieces of cloth into ashes, melting metal bars and mufflers, etc. Tommy eased out of the bloody taxi seat. The revolver in his hand shook with anticipation. It might be too late.

He walked over to the edge, avoiding a vehicle engulfed in flames. At the edge, coal black smoke made a wall in front of him. Max had to be dead. Tommy frowned in severe disappointment. Sirens in the background, a few blocks away. They would be here in a few seconds, Tommy had to retreat before the blood stained cab was found by the police.

"Son of a bitch." He thrust his fist into the air with violent force. He adjusted the revolver to aim below, into the smoke. One thunderous shot echoed throughout Shoreside. "That was for you. Max Payne."

He made a dash towards his vehicle, driving up towards the dam. Blue and red lights appeared behind him, upon the cliff. A red blur of a fire truck arrived, as well as a few ambulances and a couple Police Cruisers. By this Time Tommy was on the other side of the bay, watching from a safe difference. The rain came, more vigorous than ever before. It wasn't long before the orange glow across the bay was extinguished. Tommy returned to Staunton and visited his apartment.

As he entered the revolving glass doors into the clean lobby with bright red carpets and expensive statues, his clothes were soaked with rain. By the time he made it up to his apartment, it was around seven o'clock. Entering, he tossed his keys on the counter to his right and proceeded to take off his clothes, jump into the shower, then go straight to bed. He still had unfinished business to take care of.

The next morning the city lay damp with rain puddles. The sun broke through the morning clouds, another beautiful day. The rain had stopped falling, the busy city resuming to it's everyday life, short of the Jack Crime Families organization.

Before too long, wars would erupt within the city, gangs would be on assault to acquire the newly available territory in all three islands including Saint Marks in Portland, the JCF's former stronghold. It would be an all out chaotic war.

Claude's organization would become rebels amongst the gangs in Liberty, without a leader to lead them they would do as they please. It wouldn't be long before they would be off the Liberty City police database, erased from existence.

Leon Scott Kennedy strolled along the overcrowded sidewalks in Staunton Island. He approached a newspaper stand with a catching headline: "Car accident upon cliff in Shoreside; Chase after former SVPD officer ends dreadfully"

Leon continued reading the passage.

Detective Max Payne of the Shoreside Vale Police Department was though to be one of the most respected officers. One week ago his badge was found at the crime scene in the San Andreas Desert stained with a dead child's blood. Police tracked Max Payne back to his apartment on Staunton Island, where the arrest would be made final, last night. Max Payne would not go without a fight, he was seen fleeing the police, speeding among Liberty City's streets endangering countless lives. It wasn't until approximately after five thirty last night that the chase came to a brutal end upon Mayer Street, where a six car accident ended in chaos, leaving eleven dead, three of the victims being FBI agents. Detective Max Payne's body was never recovered, but was thought to have perished in the explosion of the vehicle he -Continue of Page A-14

Leon murmured, "Oh my god-Max. What did you do?" Not knowing what to do, Leon continued across the street and on his way. He approached his car, unlocked the door and hopped into the drivers seat.

The car arrived outside Max's apartment building. Across the street were a few police vehicles, a section of road marked off by the yellow police tape. Someone must have died there. Up above, one of the window panes on the third floor was broken through, letting light shed into the room. It was Max's apartment. Leon headed inside and up to floor three.

The elevator doors eased their way open, Leon rushed down the hall to Max's room. Two stiff officers blocked his way. Leon approached them.

"I'm sorry sir," said the large, more husky, black haired man. He held out his hand to stop Leon. "I can't let you pass."

Leon shuffled his hand round in his jacket pocket. "LCPD." He held out his badge.

"Sorry, Leon Kennedy. Go right ahead." Leon passed them, entering the room.

Last night, Tommy was sleeping in his bed when a knock echoed through the apartment. He stood up, still fully dressed, to answer the knocking at the door. Behind the door was an old friends of Tommy's.

He opened to door to reveal a black haired woman in a sexy red dress. She had a sadistic smile across her face. Without any words she walked inside, right up to Tommy.

"What are doing?" Tommy asked. "H-Hillary."

"Shh." She forced him into the bedroom, romantically kissing him all the way there. When they reached the bed, she started to removed her dress, bra, etc, continuing to make out. She tore his shirt off, pushed him down onto the bed, and then proceeded. It wasn't long before they were both under the covers.

After their lovemaking Tommy was passed out in the bed with her in his arms.

The next morning, Hillary quietly opened the door and proceeded downstairs, leaving Tommy alone in his apartment. He awoke, expecting to see her by his side. All there was, was an empty spot next to him. He stood up, putting his clothes on, then continued into the living room. The curtains in front of the living room filtered the incoming light a bright blue.
He searched the living room, her stuff was gone. The Single Action Army lay astray upon his couch. He carefully lifted it up and placed it in his bedroom. It was a strange relationship, him and Hillary's. They were like boyfriend and girlfriend, with the exception that they only see each other every few weeks, when what usually happens is a passionate night of love.

Tommy returned to the living room, then to the kitchen, opening the fridge to retrieve some breakfast. It wasn't until he finished his second piece of bacon and second cup of orange juice that his cell phone rang. Not knowing where it was, he jumped up from his meal, heading towards the ringing. Somewhere in his bedroom.
About the third ring, he tore the covers off of his bed, revealing the slim silver and black cell. He hastily gabbed it.
"Hello?"
"Tommy? Tommy, we got a situation down here." The worried voice spoke, fast an uneasy.
"Fred? Fred! Calm down."
"Tommy- I don't know Tommy."
"Fred what's going on?"
"Tommy, you have to get over here. Now."
"What's happening?"
"Soma- some some, guys they just, and then, Tom, Tom, Tommy! Get down here."

"Hey Fred! Get a hold of yourself. Breathe. Now, tell me what happened."

"Some, Mafia crime lord, man. Just, get-" Tommy hung up the phone.

He grabbed the car keys to a vehicle parked across the street. He locked his door then headed downstairs, then outside and across the street. Tommy knew where to go. Fred McCann was an overly hyper speed addict who worked for Tommy, long time friend. He works over in Harwood, usually just dealing drugs nowadays, behind closed doors. He was still in touch with Tommy, a sort informant of the actions the Portland gangs were taking.

Minutes later, the red Stinger Tommy was cruising in pulled up in front of the AMCO gas station. Tommy entered. Fred was in the corner, between two aisles, cowering like a dog on Independence Day.

"Hello Fred."

Fred must have jumped two feet in the air and then fell over. Tommy was surprised at how bad Fred had gotten.

"Jesus Christ! Shit, Tommy." Fred's hair was very 'messy' and his clothes were months old, stained with wine, dirt, and god knows what else.

"I believe you have something to tell me?" Tommy leaned closer to him.

"These, these-these Mafia guys, ya know. Real clean shaven, smelled good, dressed nice, these-these guys, they just walked up to me. And I-I-I-I said to them, I said, I-I, 'what do you guys want?' And that's-that's. when they pushed me up against the-the, the wall. Right outside," he pointed, "and, and-and then-then I-I, they the said they wanted to talk to you."

"What?"

"It's-It's true, it's what they said, Tommy. They knew I knew you, you know what I mean?"

"Thanks Fred." Tommy started off.

"Hey! Hey wait, Tommy."

He stopped, turning around. He waited for Fred to speak.

"You, you wanna buy some stuff?"

"Eh, Fuck no! Go sell that shit to your ex-wife for Christ's sake."

Tommy returned to his car, constantly glancing around for any Mafia hires. He got into his car and sat for a moment. A man steadily approached his car. Tommy readied himself for questioning from the Mafia.

The man was dressed in brown, something in his right hand. When he got close to the window, he pointed a .45 through the window at Tommy. "Get out of the fuckin' car bitch, before I bust yo ass."

Tommy grinned, snapping the pistol out of his hands. Before he knew it, he was putting bullets into the carjackers chest. "Fuckin prick." He tossed the murder weapon on top of the carjacker's lifeless body and then drove off.

As he cruised through saint marks, a payphone began to ring as he came to a stop sign. Tommy turned his head and glanced at the white box. "No way." He opened the door and answered the call. A voice on the other end spoke.

"Meet us at the Gentleman's Club, north west of Portland, 1 hour. Bring no one, and no weaponry. You will be searched." The dial tone came.

After contemplating the decision for over twenty minutes, Tommy dressed in black and proceeded to drive to the location. Upon driving up the dirt road, two coal black four doors were parked out front. Tommy pulled up next to one and while unarmed, exited the vehicle.

As he headed towards the club, three men appeared, telling Tommy to stop where he was. Then the search came, standing procedure when two gangs make a deal, but was that their intentions with Tommy? He was eager to find out.

Two of the men's identities were concealed. They were both dressed in gray suits, both a thick mustaches and dark tinted glasses. One was a larger man, with a muscular figure, the other was more slim but still intimidating.

The man in the middle wore a greenish suit, with the jacket open and a large gold-chained necklace dangled from his neck upon a white collared shirt. He was pretty young, probably in the late thirties, his hair gelled back, creating a 'poof' in front. His mustache was a thick brown, his eyes a beautiful shade of blue. He moved like a gentlemen should move.

"Mr. Vercetti." He spoke, his voice kindly deep.

"What do you want?"

"As you know, my boss was, uh. Shall I say, retired. And now that I have taken his place, I would like to propose, an offer for you."

"What kind of offer is that?"

"The kind, where you give up a few blocks of territory for the better of our organization, and we have a neutral alliance."

"That means that-"

"I don't attack you, you don't attack me. My intentions here are to regain control of what is rightfully mine."

"Yours?"

"This Mafia, in Liberty. Last time it was that fool of a group, the Jack Crime Organization, but now, Padrino will be taking control."

"So, all I get is a neutral alliance? That's it?"

"No, of course we will, meet some needs for you, such as one hundred grand. Does that persuade you?"

"You know that every gang in the city has their eye on this land? They'll all fight for it."

"Yes, that is why we want to, gain some territory over in Staunton so we have our support. What do you say about that, Mr. Vercetti?"

"Let me think about it."

"If you say no, there will be consequences, Mr. Vercetti."

"What's that supposed to mean? Is that a threat?"

"It is whatever you make of it, Mr. Vercetti. Have you made your decision, yes or no?"

"You wanna know what I think?"

"Yes, Mr.-"

"I think, you can take you little deal, and shove it up you asses for all I care." Tommy retreated towards his car.

"You're making a big mistake." Padrino warned as Tommy was walking off.

Tommy turned around before getting into his car, "We'll see about that."

He opened the door and hopped in. He drove down the dirt road, headed back towards Staunton Island.

A/N: I lied. The original ending I had in mind was replaced by some new storyline content I came up with. Expect this to end later on in the future. Yay. Oh, and, PLEASE leave a review... Please?