Grand Theft Auto: The Innocent Rose.

Chapter 8: Downfall Part 1: Secrets Revealed.

Streets of Vice Point.

The morning streets of Vice City were nothing special; just the hustle and bustle of vehicles owned by the citizens either going to government, medical, police or office jobs all dismissing the crimson comet sports car patiently waiting at a traffic signal to turn from red to green.

With the two seats of that sports car sat Mercedes in the drivers seat; wearing a gold cross around her neck while dressed in a tight black dress and a leather jacket while Rosa sat in the passenger side in the outfit that was left out for her, staring out the windows with her wire-thin glasses slipping down her nose as she felt nervous.

"Mom; where are we going?" Rosa finally spoke after several silent minutes of waiting in traffic; the lights seemingly refusing to change until the red light blinked and turned to green allowing Mercedes to drive further to their destination.

Mercedes hadn't smiled since they'd left the house and spoken even less since calling her down for a breakfast of oatmeal and buttered toast; glancing over at her daughter as they neared the intersection for a bridge that headed directly to Starfish Island.

"Why are we going to Starfish Island?" Rosa spoke her question; recalling her last visit to the Island in which she'd nearly been killed and potentially kidnapped.

"Because that is where you'll be safest if what we suspect truly comes to pass… and there's somebody you need to meet" Mercedes finally spoke; her tone calm and collected but her eyes showed concern as she noticed a series of speedboat rushing towards the bridge, though it was not uncommon for speedboats to pass by but the number totalling seven speedboats passing by in an arrow formation was not normal.

"I'm sorry what? You're talking like you're in a movie" Rosa countered; her desire for an answer becoming clearer as her brow furrowed and totally ignoring the white and blue speedboats rushing under the bridge and out of sight.

"It doesn't matter right now but there are people you need to meet and a secret you need to learn" Mercedes spoke again but in a flat tone; driving the rest of the way towards the tall and imposing Vercetti Estate but noticed that every street corner had brown or blue-painted vans parked, her Comet taking a corner towards a guarded iron gate that opened as soon as a male guard spotted the pair within the vehicle.

"Alright…" Rosa spoke only a single word; eyeing the guard as they slowly drove into the grounds of The Vercetti Estate but noticed that the male guard was wearing the same Bermuda Shorts and Hawaiian Shirts but noticed he was wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying an M4 Assault Rifle along with a Combat Pistol sidearm.

Taking a glance at the entrance to the estate itself; Rosa noticed that every single man and woman present was wearing bulletproof equipment over their clothes and carrying some form of assault weapon whether they be an Assault Rifle, a Military-Grade SMG or Combat Shotguns.

Outside The Vercetti Estate.

Up close the mansion was nothing like anything Rosa had seen when peeking through the hedge wall almost a week ago though it was hard to believe that a week ago she was fleeing for her life from two Haitians and being rescued by her armed protectors and only four days prior she'd been present at an attack on The Malibu Nightclub that had cost her the few friends she had.

"Does this have anything to do with the Haitians? Why are they targeting me?" Rosa finally figured out why she's being taken to the headquarters of the very Gang that had been protecting her but had also saved her life on two occasions in the past week.

"Well isn't that the million dollar question little miss; nice to see you again Little Miss Rosa" spoke an accented voice from behind Rosa's back while the air suddenly smelled strongly of cigarette smoke.

Rosa's eyes widened upon hearing that all-too familiar accented voice and the puffing of cigarettes; turning around only to be met with the smiling and aged features of the full-armed with a bulletproof vest under his Hawaiian Shirt and a pair of Micro SMG's on his hips, potbellied, chain-smoking, Gang Member Marco Lower, "Hello Marco".

"It's so good to see you again Marco; it's been too long" Mercedes spoke warmly as if she was speaking to a family member or an old friend, going as far as to give Marco a hug after so many years apart.

"Mrs Cortez; it's always a pleasure to be in your company" Marco spoke in a matching friendly voice; embracing Mercedes like an old friend or family member much to Rosa's apparent shocked expression.

"Wait! You two know each other?!" Rosa blurted out before she could filter her thoughts; pointing her left index finger between the two while her mind was leaping through hoops as to what their connection was.

"Of course I do; Marco was my personal driver in The Eighties before my Father reassigned Marco to your Father, and now he been assigned to be one of your bodyguards" Mercedes spoke calmly while recounting her connection to Marco Lower; placing her hand on his shoulder while the two exchanged a friendly smile to one another.

"Its been a pleasure to work for the daughter of my esteemed friends and employers" Marco spoke through a drag of his cigarette; smoke pouring out of from between his teeth when opening his mouth.

"Why do I need Bodyguards… wait… dumb question, but where is Lucas?" Rosa slapped herself in the head for even bothering to ask such a stupid question when Douglas Ender is the reason she'd need bodyguards.

"Typical you'd ask about Lucas… he won't shut up about you" Marco spoke without ever dropping his knowing smile; even though he was merely teasing the girl when he was ordered to be professional around her but he couldn't help himself.

Rosa turned bright red when Marco brought that up; his telling smile told her that he already knew about the mutual attraction between herself and Lucas, and she'd already told her mother about the attraction but she didn't realise that it was mutual.

"I think it best if we go inside since there are some matters we should talk about; Rosa needs to learn the truth" Mercedes stated; casting her line of sight to the street and noticing that the vans she'd spotted earlier had not moved so much as an inch.

"Agreed; Boss already knows you're here" Marco stated; beginning to walk up the stairs to a patio where two women were working on something neither Rosa nor Mercedes could quite make out from the bottom of the stairs.

Glancing around herself once reaching the front door of the estate; Rosa spotted that every man was practically armed to the teeth while the pair of women in shorts, vests and bulletproof vests tended to what looked like a Mounted Grenade Launcher seemingly set up to fire out into the street.

Inside The Vercetti Estate.

Inside the mansion took Rosa's breath away; tall red walls with exquisite still-life paintings lining the walls, a regal staircase led up to a set of double-doors and around an upper floor with long corridors leading to who-knows-where, the staircase having a long wooden and ivory bannister with vases of assorted colourful flowers mounted at the bottom of the stairway.

"This is incredible…" Rosa muttered; her eyes darting from one painting to the next, each depicting beautiful bouquets of flowers, sights and skylines of Vice City or portraits of people she didn't know.

"He does like to decorate; you should have seen it when Boss made it his base of operations… place was shot to hell" Marco stated; smirking as he remembered being part of the clean-up crew after the dead bodies of an opposing Gang had to be cleaned out following a mass firefight.

"Yes; I remember" Mercedes spoke; her eyes lingering on a smaller painting hanging from the wall depicting two men: one Caucasian Man in slacks and a blue shirt standing beside an African-American Man each stood with a pistol in-hand.

"Lance Vance… he was a good friend until he revealed his true colours" spoke a voice of a man with frizzy grey hair standing at the top of the stairway; dressing in an Italian Suit and shades that barely hid the dark circles under his eyes.

"Ken Rosenburg; good to see you again" Mercedes spoke again in her friendly tone; opening her arms and embracing Ken like an old friend, Rosa stood by recalling that Ken was the man she'd heard on the phone three days ago.

"Mercedes! It's been too long; thank you for bringing Rosa today" Ken spread his arms wide in welcome as well as embracing Mercedes in return, his smile causing every line and wrinkle in his face likely induced by years of stress.

"Seems you're expecting trouble based on all the weapons outside" Mercedes spoke of the weapons in a concerned tone; separating from Ken whilst standing halfway up the central stairway alongside Ken and Marco.

"We can't be too careful in light of recent events, speaking of… we need to talk about certain matters regarding Ender" Marco chimed into the exchange between Mercedes and Ken; his line of sight darting around to ensure no other Gangsters were present to overhear besides himself.

"HEY! Is anybody going to tell me what I'm doing here? In the middle of this well-known gang hideout!" shouted the voice of Rosa; her expression one of annoyance and irritation as she'd been ignored since arriving when bringing her to a criminal base of operations was supposedly for her safety and so she could learn some big secret.

The group of Mercedes, Ken and Marco all stood silent with their eyes firmly fixed on Rosa, a group of armed men paused while carrying an arms cache as Rosa had shouted her demand before hurrying out of the opened main door to their comrades-in-arms and leaving Rosa alone with her mother and Gang Leaders.

"She doesn't know about her Father yet… does she?" Ken finally spoke; breaking the silence but his tired eyes peered over his sunglasses like he was seeing a resemblance of Rosa's Father in the girl at the moment.

"No; I thought it best that she meet him face-to-face" Mercedes spoke slowly while picking her words carefully; her expression one of concern while her eyes showed only worry and concern for her daughter.

"Fair… he is somebody that prefers to deal with matters in-person" Marco stated; having been chewed out and verbally abused following the attempted kidnapping on the streets of Starfish Island only a week ago.

With a heavy heart; Mercedes carefully and slowly walked to her daughter an placed her hands of Rosa's slender shoulders when speaking, "Rosa; are you ready to meet your father?".

Rosa could only stare dumbfoundedly as her mother revealed that her unknown father was somewhere inside of the walls of The Vercetti Estate somewhere in the back on her mind she suspected who he might have been sine she'd always felt a kind of pull towards this building

Main Office.

As the double doors to the main office opened; two men stood in wait within the confines of the office decorated with a tall painted portrait of a man in a fine suit and slicked black hair with a woman in a flowing red dress while a baby in her arms, in the other corner of the room stood a large safe that remained locked but in the middle was a enormous desk with a black ivory desktop with a series of papers scattered around along with a well-polished Revolver.

By the side of the desk stood Lucas Winters; dressed in ash-coloured shorts and a matching vest under a bulletproof vest and a pair of Handguns attached to his hips along with several grenades hooked to the straps of his vest.

Rosa felt happy and relieved to see somebody familiar so much so she blushed as she and Lucas locked eyes for a brief second; Lucas quickly looked away from Rosa as the second man glared at him.

The second man stood behind the desk; a man with raven-black hair though streaked with lines of grey, dressing in formal black trousers and a buttoned shirt with a black blazer though Rosa could see a platinum watch on his right wrist and a number of rings on his fingers.

Before Rosa could speak directly to the suit-wearing man; he turned to face her only for their eyes to lock, at that moment Rosa saw that he not only had the same hair colour as her but he also had the same eyes, "Your wearing my pendant; I'm happy to see you again Rosa".

Mercedes, Ken Rosenburg, Marco and Lucas stood silent as Rosa stepped further into the office instead of merely standing in the doorway; her hands shaking with each step she took closer to the man standing behind a desk, the man slowly walked around the desk until he and Rosa stood parallel to one another.

"My name is Tommy Vercetti; but you likely already know my public image but you know me in another way besides the leader of a criminal organization…" Tommy introduced himself with a curt bow; his facial features aged from years of alcohol and drugs but his smile remained genuine as he gazed upon the eighteen-year-old young woman, "Rosa… I'm your father".

Rosa stood in stunned silence for what felt like an eternity when its actuality it was only several seconds.

"Rosa; are you alright?" Mercedes

Without any word or answer; Rosa suddenly stepped forward and cast her arm around her father to take him into a loving embrace, Tommy felt stunned by the sudden affection when he expected her to be angry for not being there for her for eighteen years.

"I love your outfit; and you're even wearing my pendant" Tommy remarked; admiring the beautiful floral dress Rosa wore along with the black pumps with red ribbons around her thin ankles, Tommy saw his daughter as a princess and thought that she should dress like one for their fated meeting.

"You said I'm wearing your pendant… was it you that gave me this for my thirteenth birthday?" Rosa spoke; cupping the pendant in her hand before showing it to her father in her open palm.

"Yes; it was, I picked it out myself while on a business trip in Liberty City to meet with some associates and saw it within the display of a jewellery store; don't worry… it's not stolen" Tommy remarked with a slight chuckle; a silent wish that those associates would be able prepare a counterattack to whatever was coming.

"Tommy; we still need to review the battlements in case the rumours of an attack are true" Ken spoke up after being quiet for some time, Tommy silently nodding before heading to the top of his desk where a full map of The Estate along with a map of Starfish Island as a whole.

Rosa stood to one side of the room; quietly watching and listening to the battlements meeting while her eye caught the gaze of Lucas, Lucas stood on the other side of the room with a smile while he'd been watching Rosa; he thought she looked stunning in her floral dress and though he knew it was his job to defend her today he still felt an attraction though unknowing that the attraction was mutual for Rosa scoped out Lucas in his shorts, shirt and bulletproof vest thinking he looked ready for anything.

"We have Sniper's on the Helipad overlooking the street and the Dock where my Squalo Speedboat in docked in case we need it for a quick escape in the possibility of losing the Estate, men and women with Assault Rifles are standing by on all sides of the building as well as multiple Mounted Grenade Launchers assembled and ready to counter any vehicle assaults" Tommy spoke slowly; pointing out each placement on a map of the Estate while Mercedes, Ken, and Marco gathered around the desk.

"You still have that boat? It's been twenty years since that thing was the fastest boat in Vice City" Mercedes spoke suddenly; looking at Tommy with dumbfounded astonishment that he would keep that boat for decades.

"Of course I do; the thing is still plenty fast and it's even faster with the improvements made to its hull and engine" Tommy spoke with a smirk; having planned an escape in case all else failed.

"What about Allies? Can we depend on The Cubans to help us out?" Mercedes spoke up; pointing out the undefended bridges and the blind spots all over the Island.

"No; The Haitians have utterly destroyed The Cubans… not a single man was left alive" Marco spoke up; having been a Cuban himself in the past but changed allegiances when Tommy and The Cubans became allies.

"What about The Vice City Bikers?" Lucas cut in; offering his input though he felt like was out of place though Marco shot him with an impressed smile.

"They're a possibility; but they've been involved with The Lost Motorcycle Club recently so I don't think they'll be coming" Tommy spoke up; nodding towards Lucas in thanks of his input, but any hope of the Bikers assisting was slim.

"So we're on our own…" Mercedes spoke gloomfully; staring down at the map with so few battlements highlighted where the bridges connecting Starfish Island to Vice Point and Downtown went completely undefended.

"Excuse me… I would like to know why was I kept hidden? Why did you have to keep all this secret?" Rosa spoke up after being quiet for several long minutes while she'd listened to her parents and bodyguards discuss the Estate's fortifications.

"You're right Rosa… we haven't finished explaining, sit down; this might take some time" Tommy spoke; taking his daughter by the hand before seating himself along with Rosa on a pristine and luxurious couch that matched the décor perfectly, Rosa's attention became firmly on her father as he began to recount the story.

Flashback Begins: Tommy Vercetti's Office, Seventeen Years Ago

The flash of a photographer lit up the room; a moment forever captured in photographic form as within the walls of Vercetti's Main Office stood Tommy, Mercedes and a bundle of blankets holding a tiny one-year-old baby girl.

"Thank you Sir and Ma'am; we are all done with your family picture, the painted version should be ready in a few weeks; may I please be excused?" spoke the Photographer; a tall and young man with a mop of blonde hair.

"Thank you; that'll be all" Tommy gave a nod of his head; his jawline unshaven and having dressed in a full grey suit with a blue shirt underneath while Mercedes stood beside him in a flowing red dress with Baby Rosa in her arms, The Photographer folding up his tripod stand and hurrying out of the Office.

"Mr Vercetti; about protection for your family… now that Auntie Poulet has passed away and Douglas Ender is taking over with a more aggressive ideology for The Haitians, we need to think about everyone's safety" spoke a younger Marco; his face much less lined and his body having more muscle-tone under the shorts and shirt.

Tommy thought for a long moment; his thoughts spinning like a tornado in his head when a soft touch to his hand snapped him out of his vortex of thoughts, the small baby in Mercedes' arms had reached out and grabbed her father's ring finger; Tommy's heart felt like it had feathers dancing when looking down upon his baby daughter.

"She needs to be protected; and the Estate isn't going to be safe enough for our baby" Mercedes spoke slowly and with a tone of motherly concern; his hands tightening on the blanket covering Baby Rosa, her small rosy-cheeked face and bright eyes beaming up at her mother.

"You're right; I have a safe house several miles from The Estate, El Swanko Casa should do well enough" Tommy agreed; taking a housing deed from a drawer in his desk, attached to the deed was a picture of the house.

"That place? I was thinking along the lines of an apartment near the beach like Ocean View Apartments… but that place? People will think we're just another rich family"

"Exactly; you'll be hidden in plain sight" Tommy spoke; cracking a grin though he knew his ideas had their flaws but he was positive that his family would be safe.

"What should I do Sir? I assume it would be bad if I remained in Lady Mercedes' employ as well as yours Boss Vercetti" Marco spoke with a tone of duty; standing in slacks, a vest and a leather jacket, a cigarette circling between his fingers.

"Marco… you will continue to work as my Driver until Rosa comes of age only then do we bring her back into the fold, and you must forget about everything you heard in this office… do I make myself clear?" Tommy thought for only a moment before giving Marco his orders; thinking it best to sever the more obvious connections between Mercedes and The Vercetti Gang.

"Crystal" Marco answered; tucking his cigarette behind his ear instead of lighting it up in the presence of a baby and leaving the office only to follow after the Photographer.

"Once Ken returns from Los Santos from his work with The Triads and our truce with The Cubans is finalised we shall move you and our child to that safehouse" Tommy spoke solemnly; clearly thinking of his lawyer, ally and friend, a picture of Ken Rosenburg in his hot pink suit and frizzy hair stood next to a picture of Lance atop the safe.

"I'm going to need a business… a source of income to maintain this cover… I'm thinking InterGlobal Studios" Mercedes tapped her chin in thought; gazing out the windows of the Office until her eyes set on the distant sight of Prawn Island.

"The porn studio? Why do you want that?" Tommy turned on his heels with a stunned expression; trying to figure out why Mercedes would want that dump.

"Its out of the way and if we use a story that you abandoned the place leaving it open to a new investor then Ender won't look twice at it" Mercedes spoke calmly; explaining why she wanted it and how it would make for a decent cover.

"Its not a bad idea… fine; you'll have the studios" Tommy thought for a moment before agreeing; taking the contract for the Studio and handing the pile of papers over to his lover.

"My thanks Tommy" Mercedes spoke with a tone of thankfulness; coddling her baby as the child began to cry.

Flashback Ends.

"So… keeping Mom and I separate from you was to protect me from Douglas Ender; but he clearly knows about me and who my parents are" Rosa spoke slowly; her mind dizzy with all the information she'd learnt, her hands held tightly by the hands of both her parents.

"Yes; I'm aware of that fact and I'm also curious as to how he found out my secret" Tommy spoke; sinking into the couch with his family sat beside him, his jawline cupped in his right hand while he thought on how their enemy could possibly have discovered Tommy's most closely guarded secret.

"I'm not sure how he did either Boss Vercetti; but the facts are that Douglas Ender knows and his new Lieutenants know too" Marco spoke clearly upon drawing everyone's attention; the lack of a cigarette between his lips was most noticeable.

"Douglas Ender has new Lieutenants? Who are they?" Lucas blurted out; noticing out of the corners of his eyes that Ken Rosenberg was standing in a corner of the room and had been very quiet during the time Tommy and Mercedes had spent explaining the past to their daughter.

"And how do you know that Douglas Ender has new Lieutenants?" Rosa asked; her voice speaking in the same demanding for answers tone that Tommy would use causing both her parents to beam with pride for she truly was their daughter.

Before Marco could open his mouth to speak; the sounds of gunfire, explosions and the dying screams of human beings echoed in the air, the sounds of fighting reverberating off the walls while those gathered in the office stood amidst a deathly silence.

"Oh what the fuck is it now?!" Tommy bellowed; seizing his Revolver from the desk moments before the doors opened as a tall but bloody male Gangster stood in the doorway, blood pouring from multiple bleeding bullet wounds that riddled his body.

Rosa could only stare in horror as the man collapsed to the floor before he could speak but before anyone could check if he was still alive an explosion rocked the building causing dust to be shaken from the walls and ceiling.

"We're under attack" Ken muttered; his frowning expression aimed towards the dead man laying on the floor while sounds of gunfire and screams continued to echo outside where the conflict had finally begun.