Chapter 3: Business As Usual
Niko wiped down the bar as they were opening up, the tavern was empty as it always was in the morning. Roman and Mallorie were unlocking the doors and setting up the chairs, when that was finished Roman walked into the kitchen and turned on the grill. Mallorie wore a very short white skirt with thigh high black socks, black heels, and a white button up shirt. Niko couldn't help but look, he was loyal to his cousin and wouldn't dare touch Roman's wife, but she was really attractive. Niko's phone rang, he looked to see it was Kiki his girlfriend. "Hey." Niko said answering the phone. "Hey you, how are you today?" She asked him. "Ok so far, we just opened up the tavern and are waiting for customers." Niko replied. "That's good, I'm so proud of you Niko. I don't go for wealthy men but you made your fortune with your bare hands, that is impressive for an immigrant." Kiki told Niko. "Well I wasn't going to sit around and play victim, I am a worker and I make things happen. I gotta go Kiki, be careful on your way to work." Niko replied before hanging up the phone.
The tavern was packed later on that day, Niko served the bar patrons while Mallrie covered the diners. Roman was in the back cooking as usual, he had chicken, pork chops, and rib eyes on the grill. The chicken and pork chops were coated with BBQ sauce and slow cooked on the grill, he seasoned the food and wiped the sweat off his brow. Mallorie walked in the back with a tray of empty plates and glasses, she sat them down ay the sink where the dishwasher Ryan McFarlane was washing the dishes. "Roman, we need to hire a busboy, I can't wait tables and bus dishes too." Mallorie told Roman. "I'll put a sign up in the window, and put an ad on Craplist." Roman replied. Mallorie walked out of the kitchen with an order and brought it to the table, the patron tipped her and started eating. The door opened and Kiki walked in the door, she sat at a table and waited. Mallorie approached her and pulled out her note pad. "Hey Kiki, nice to see you what'll it be?" Mallorie asked her. "Give me the chicken strips unbreaded marinated in Italian dressing, a baked potato, and a side of peas." Kiki replied. "You got it." Mallorie said with a smile.
Niko walked over to the table and greeted his girlfriend, she stood up and they kissed. "Hey, how are you?" She asked him. "I'm okay, busy." Niko replied. He sat down across from Kiki and they talked, the door opened and two men wearing masks walked in. They pointed guns at Niko and Kiki, the couple put their hands up. "Okay Pollack, gimme all the money in the cash drawer!" One of the robbers shouted. Niko nodded and walked to the counter, he knelt under the counter and pulled out a shotgun. Niko shot one of the robbers, the other shot at Niko who ducked. The robber ran out the door and Niko followed, he chased down the robber who got into a Turismo sports car and sped off. Niko got into his Infernus and chased the robber down the streets of Algonquin, he grabbed his pistol and shot out the back driver's side tire on the robber's car. The car spun out and flipped onto the sidewalk knocking over a fire hydrant, the robber crawled out of the car bleeding like a stuck pig. Niko got out of his car and walked up to the robber, he pointed his pistol at the robber's head. "You fucked with the wrong restaurant." Niko told him. Niko squeezed the trigger and the bullet pierced through the robber's eye. Niko turned around and walked back to his Infernus, he drove down the street back to the tavern, when he arrived three police cars, and ambulance and a coroner's can were parked outside the restaurant. "Fuck." Niko said quietly as he got out of the car, he walked inside where Kiki was talking to the police. "The guy in the mask was trying to rob this establishment, you cops have nothing better to do than pick on these poor immigrants. I'll get your badge numbers and go to the DA about you being bad cops." She told the investigating officer. He closed his note pad and tipped his hat, he then turned around and walked outside. Niko walked up to Kiki, he kissed her and looked in het eyes. "Thanks for speaking foe us, it's good to be dating a well known lawyer." Niko told her. "No problem love, that guy was trying to rob a hard working immigrant who just wants to make it in this country. You have nothing to be guilty over." Kiki replied. Roman walked over to Niko, he put his arm around Niko's shoulder. "Cousin, you did us proud. Come on, me you, Kiki, and Mallorie will have a drink. Roman said with a smile.
