After much time and numerous days of waiting- part two is ready! This is a dark chapter. Consider this your trigger warning.
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High pitched, dulled ringing buzzed through his ears. Hot, searing metal burned the palm of his hand. Rapidly he blinked to try and clear his blurred vision before everything snapped back into focus. Immediately he released the top of the gun and stumbled back as an angry, aggravating itch went in waves along his side. His eyes noticed the shiny pink blister forming on his hand before dropping down to his side where the pain was coming from.
Niko reached out with his other hand and gently pulled the gun free from Kate's grasp, not once looking up from the frayed fabric of his suit jacket and vest.
"Niko…?" Kate whispered after a moment of silence fell upon everyone in the room.
"Fuck. Someone call the Doc!" A panicked voice rose above the growing chaos in the small bedroom. He wasn't sure who had yelled out, his ears were still echoing around the gun blast.
"What the fuck is going on up here?! I clearly stated no weapons were to be fired under my roof!" He recognized Gerry's angry chastising as other people murmured loudly. Phrases came and went through the haze before his legs gave out and he dropped down to a knee.
"Niko?!" Kate's frantic voice broke through the cloud of noise as she lowered into his field of view; Terrified greenish blue eyes staring at him behind building tears.
Carefully he let go of the gun once his fingers snapped the safety back on. Mentally he tried to go through a checklist of where he was hurting and how bad it was going to be. He had been shot plenty of times before, but this felt different. There was a disbelief that suffocated his heart in his chest. His arm was going numb the longer he held it out away from his scorching side and he jerked his hand to the place where the pain felt the most intense.
The solid and firm fabric of the bullet proof vest greeted his fingers, and he squinted his eyes as he roughly rubbed over the area for the telltale sign of blood or torn flesh.
"Stop it. You're going to make it worse…" Kate scooted closer to him and moved his hand away from the shredded cloth.
"I'm fine." Niko sucked in a steady breath. There was no blood, no wound… 'The bullet must've missed…'
"Just let me look, okay?" He could tell her panic, guilt, fear was boiling over and he slowly lowered his forehead to her shoulder as she gently pulled away the suit jacket from his side to try and get a better look. He tried to ignore the louder shouting coming from Gerry, Packie, and Gordon. But they were exchanging words that would be rather upsetting had this been in a different situation.
"Would someone get this fucking knife out of my shirt so I can sit up already!"
The disbelief surrounding his heart gave way to cold, unrelenting anger as Bobby's annoying, grating voice cut through the noise.
"You will stay pinned where you are until I find a way to torture you that is fitting for what you did to Kate." She stiffened against his body, hands bunching into his torn suit. With a huff and shove of energy throughout his body he lifted himself off of Kate's shoulder to glare at the man he had found in his girlfriend's closed bedroom. She was wearing different clothes and he wasn't liking where his thoughts were wanting to drift to.
"You don't have the authority to make those calls jackass." Bobby matched the intense glare and twisted his arm around to grab the handle of the knife and feebly tried to jerk it free from the floorboard.
"And you don't have any right being in my sister's bedroom." Gerry's booming voice forced a couple of people to shuffle further from the bedroom to shield themselves from the volatile anger his voice carried, "Everyone go back downstairs and take up watch. Kenny should be here any minute. I will handle this mess and be down shortly." He glanced around at everyone that was huddled in the doorway, frowning when no one dared to move on his command.
"I said GO!"
Immediately everyone started to rush through the hall, carrying the thundering footsteps down the creaking stairs in their haste to get away.
"Boss?" Gordon held his ground, pistol retrained on the man pinned to the ground. He wasn't sure what all had taken place, but he trusted Niko and wanted to make sure he was okay and that nothing had happened to his friend. He had vowed to protect the McReary family just like everyone else who was brought into the family business and would not abandon his job easily. Hesitantly he looked between Patrick and Gerald to see if he was being dismissed or was silently being asked to stick around. Part of him wished to leave the oppressing rage he could feel in the room.
"Stay." Niko shakily found his footing and carefully stood up, gently forcing Kate to release her hold on him. His hand sought out the bullet hole and firmly pressed against the bullet proof vest. There was no metal bullet. No warm liquid. And no signs that he had been grievously injured, "Do not let him out of your sight."
Gordon nodded but sought out permission from Gerald. While he would follow Niko's lead without question, he still answered to other people.
"It's fine." Gerry shifted his eyes between his sister, Niko, Gordon, and finally down to the man he had called back to Liberty City, "Close the door, Patrick. I think it's time we all have a chat."
"Since when do you so easily bend toward some low life immigrant?" Bobby tugged on the knife with more force and managed to jerk it free. Quickly he rolled to his side and clamored to his feet, favoring one side to give relief to his other leg, drawing his own pistol and taking aim at the man who had so mercilessly knocked him down.
Kate didn't even think as she placed herself in front of Niko, "Robert. You will put your gun down right now! You came into my bedroom, didn't announce yourself, and proceeded to- to-"
"To what? Help you get your zipper unstuck? To help you get properly dressed? I didn't once touch your skin or dared to venture any place other than to help you!" He sneered darkly as he kept his gaze completely focused on the man to her back.
"She asked you to lower your weapon." Gerry pulled his own pistol free and aimed it to Bobby's head, "And I don't care if you were trying to be the ever loving gentleman you claim to be, you entered my sister's room when she was up here getting ready for dinner. I think that crossed just about every line and rule I have about MY household!"
"I came back here as a favor to you. Rumors have been spreading about who works for you. About how dangerous and highly sought after this man is. When I ran into your sister earlier today, I just couldn't believe it. And she introduced me to her boyfriend, who might I add, is not the man standing behind her like some kind of overbearing freak. This man is wanted for war crimes overseas for fucks sake!" Bobby slightly limped away from Gerry's pistol, never letting his aim drop from the headshot he had lined up on the man that his sources told him was dangerous.
"He's done more than prove himself worthy to be in our inner circle." Packie spoke up and edged his way to stand slightly in front of Niko and his sister, "And who gives a shit what he did before coming over here and droppin' in our lives. He kept my ass alive on more than one occasion. So drop your gun and say what you got to say."
"You were rather vague on the phone. Said you knew something about one of our associates. Well now is the perfect opportunity to let us all know what it is that was just too important to not say over the open airways." Gerry lowered his pistol and crossed his arms over his broad chest. 'Just what is he going on about? Niko is the only one dating my sis…'
"And quit pointing that thing at me. If you know so much about me then you know it's pointless to try and kill me when you are surrounded by those who will return the favor before my body hits the floor." Niko's face plunged into a murderous scowl. He did not like the way Kate flinched at the mention of his war crimes. Or the way she kept her body off of his own, keeping a space between them. He was reaching a dangerous tipping point internally and all it would take was one more incredulous thing to be spewed his direction before he snapped.
"Kate I am sorry for making you feel uncomfortable. That was my mistake, and it won't happen again." Bobby ignored the man behind her and tried to offer his sincerity.
"After tonight I don't ever want to see you again." Kate pulled her arms around herself feeling self-conscious all of a sudden, "You've crossed so many lines with me and didn't once stop to think about how I might feel with all the touching and openness. I get that your part of whatever my family is involved in, but I'm not. And I don't want to be." She bit her lip and wished the tears would just go away and not fall down her cheeks for once.
"Kate. Why don't you go downstairs and help Ally with the food in the kitchen? Gordon go with her and do not leave her alone." Gerry watched as his sister tried to stay composed and keep her emotions from coming through. But he could see the slight tremble of her arms, the quiver of her bottom lip, and the strain of her face as she fought against the tears he knew wanted to break free. He would handle the situation and get things back on track.
"I don't want to leave Niko's side. I-"
"Katie. This is something you shouldn't be privy to. You don't want to be involved in family business. This is business. Gordon will keep you safe. Right?" He fixed his gaze on the man that hadn't once let his gun drop from being pointed at Bobby.
"Yes boss." Gordon did not like the read of the room. He was missing parts of the story he was sure, but the way Niko and Bobby were looking at each other was excuse enough to want to hightail it out of Kate's room. He was almost relieved to be dismissed, till he saw Kate go rigid with her brother's words. Slowly he tucked his pistol away from view and awkwardly shifted from foot to foot not sure if he should escort Kate from the room or wait for her to make the first move.
"Robert has twice now invaded my personal space. This time while I was partially undressed, and I fear that if I hadn't noticed how different he felt against my body he would've continued to let me believe he was my boyfriend. He took advantage of what little security I feel being back home after everything that happened… in this very room. Had I not had Niko's gun with me I really don't know what would've happened." Kate clenched her hands around her elbows, feeling the bite of her nails as they dug into her skin.
Everyone turned to stare at the man that had invited himself into Kate's bedroom.
"Ти си јебени мртвац (Ti si jebena mrtvac)!"
Niko's soft spoken words felt like a cold bucket of water being splashed against her exposed skin. She went to turn to look at him, to calm that untamable rage she recognized in his lowered, thick accent, but flinched as he brushed past her and toward Robert. Fear coursed through her veins as she watched him pull another knife free from a hiding place within his clothes.
He didn't give a single fuck what Gerry would do or say anymore. He had stood by and let this excuse of a man touch what was his. He had been too careless and left his defenses open for too long when it came to protecting Kate. He would not let what happened to her happen again. This would be it. He would put a stop to the threat against her, against him, and against their relationship. He was done being passive and letting things go by. No more.
"Niko! Niko! Wait man!" Packie grabbed his arm and used as much strength as he could to halt the enraged man from attacking someone in front of his sister.
"Woah there!" Gordon charged forward and took hold of Niko's wrist of the hand that held the knife. The last thing he needed was for a bloodbath to start right before the heads of every major organization showed up for a formal sit-down meeting. Things were getting so far out of control.
"That is ENOUGH!" Gerry roared loudly in the room, and everything came to a screeching halt, "Bobby hand me your weapon now or I won't think twice about letting Niko at you." He held his hand out toward Robert to give him one last chance to surrender. And if he didn't? There was a spare room upstairs used for such… conversations.
"Fine. Here." Bobby clicked his safety back on and twisted the pistol around in his hand and deftly dropped it down into the Irish Mob Boss' hand. There would be a time and place to settle differences and get the information out in the open.
The doorbell rang out loudly in the house and everyone silently stared at Gerry to see what exactly needed to happen now. Either Petrovic had impeccable timing, or it was more of the growing members of the Irish Mob.
"I am going to go downstairs to greet our honored guest. Packie, Niko take Bobby upstairs to Derrick's old room and keep him there for the rest of dinner. Gordon take Kate down to the kitchen. Ally will need help, I'm sure. Not a word of this is to leave this room. Once dinner is done, we can revisit this, this… transgression. Bobby, you know the rules about my sis." Gerry dislodged the magazine from Robert's pistol, let the round in the chamber tumble to his outstretched hand, and tucked it into his slacks pocket, "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes boss." Gordon nodded solemnly and turned to look at Kate. She had turned away from everyone and was somewhat leaning into the footboard of her bed shaking.
"Yeah alright, come on Niko." Packie patted his friend's arm and tried to steer his focus away from the bloodlust he could see in his eyes. They would get Bobby upstairs and try to figure everything out. Hopefully without killing one another.
Niko jerked his arms free from Patrick and Gordon. Stiffly he pressed his hand once more to his side not believing he hadn't been shot. The gun had been damn near aimed at his chest and at point blank range. He was furious, pissed off to levels he hadn't been to since Roman and he were kidnapped by Faustin's men. He wanted to slowly embed his knife into the smug smirk of the man that had stripped Kate of her fragile security.
"I'm not saying shit till you get done with dinner." Bobby coldly spoke before turning toward the bedroom door.
"Silence will only stay your death sentence for so long." Niko's voice was sharply intertwined with his thick accent, and it caused a shiver to traverse down Bobby's spine. Maybe he had misjudged just who he was trying to find in Liberty.
Gerry turned toward the still opened door that Patrick had failed to close and moved out into the hall, gesturing Bobby to follow him. Silently the group filed out into the hall from Kate's bedroom. Packie took hold of Bobby's arm and started to sternly escort him toward the back staircase that led up to the other two bedrooms in the house- Francis and Derrick's old rooms. Gordon followed shortly afterwards and nodded to his boss, moving to wait by the top of the stairs for Kate to join him.
Niko spun the knife in his hand to get a better grip to be able to make quick and efficient slices should he need to. A large hand landed on his shoulder as he stalked out into the hallway.
"Don't kill him. You understand?" Gerry spoke quietly keeping his eyes trained on his younger brother and Bobby. He had a weird feeling about what was going to take place now and didn't like the way Niko looked ready to throw everything away just to get what he wanted. He clasped Niko's shoulder harder to get his point across.
"He will live." He shrugged Gerald's hand off of him and went to move down the hall toward the back of the home. He hadn't been to this area of the house yet and felt uneasy. But the knife in his hand spurred him on.
Kate watched as everyone left her standing alone in her now empty bedroom. Niko hadn't once looked back to her. Had brushed off her concern and care. Didn't try to move her out of the way of Bobby's gun… Just how mad was he at her? Her lip quivered with the thought, and she tried to stifle the hiccup that bubbled in her throat. She had messed up big time this go round. Her eyes landed on Niko's discarded gun on the floor and coldly stared at it.
Who knew such a small object could cause such devastating outcomes?
"You okay?" Gerry leaned into the open door frame observing the bullet hole in the wooden door.
"Fine." Kate sighed and forced herself to move back to the closet to slip her heels on. She gave the gun a wide berth as she felt powerless to do anything about what had taken place. 'How typical. Just move on from the problem and don't face it head on. The McReary way!'
"You don't have to do that with me. You've been through hell. You fired a gun…" He watched her shove her bare feet into the black heels that were scattered on the floor of her opened closet, "Did he…?"
"He did enough to make me wish to kill him. That answer your question?" She nearly stomped her foot to the floor in her anger. Her words scared her more than she wanted to admit. "I shouldn't want to react that way. But between constantly having to stave off the memories of what those-those men did to me in my room. How they killed Ma. How everything just got to the point of insanity following that night. I just can't handle anything else right now. Sure he didn't really touch me inappropriately. But damnit Gerry!"
"Hey, hey…" He walked into her room and pulled her into a tight hug, "It's okay. It's okay. I'm sorry. This is my fault."
"It's really not." She shoved everything back into her mental safe and spun the dial to keep it locked away. There would be another day to deal with it. But tonight just needed to get over with already. She needed to make sure her and Niko were okay… She almost- Her vision darkened as the idea of accidentally killing Niko splashed across her mind's eye.
"What can I do?" He brushed his fingers over her curled hair and tried to find the right things to say. So many years had been put between them. So many visits to the pen and back again. So much violence and anger. He wanted to make things better between them, but he didn't know how. How was he going to help his sister get over the shock of firing a gun for the first time? No less at someone she cared for deeply?
"Just. I don't know. I don't want to talk to any of those people downstairs. That's your world. Not mine." Kate tried to relax into her brother's hug, but her body just wasn't feeling it. Her mind was closing off rapidly and she just wanted to be alone for a minute.
"Okay. Ally is cool. You can stay with her in the kitchen or you two can hang out in Ma's room. Whatever you need, okay?"
She turned her head to the side to listen to his heartbeat. Gerry was a wall of unmovable strength and safety. He had always had her back no matter what, even when she didn't know it. But now wasn't the time to dwell on how her brother was going to make everything okay. Carefully she scanned her bedroom for something to distract her wildly chaotic thoughts. Her eyes landed on the slightly scattered letter from Derrick upon her dresser. The tears threaten to spill over again at the sight of the faded notebook paper, "I um…? Can we talk?"
"Yeah of course. You want to now? Or?" He gave her a gentle squeeze as he felt her shiver harshly against him.
"Later."
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Gordon kept awkwardly watching the bedroom doorway for Gerry and Kate to come outside. He was torn in so many directions- He wanted to help Niko beat the answers out of Bobby. He wanted to check in on Kate… But he mostly wanted to scurry down the stairs to greet his other boss. Kenny was not a patient man, nor was he rather understanding when it came to formalities and disrespect. He had heard how he burned his son's fiancé from his good graces for simply wanting to branch out on her own.
Then he heard the full story from Gerry and Packie.
He had been livid with being kept in the dark over everything. He was close to the McReary's! He should've known that someone had broken into the home and killed their Ma. He would have dropped everything to help out and find those responsible. But Niko was filling that role rapidly. So where did that leave him? He turned to look down to the first floor when he heard Kenny's loud rolling laughter.
"Hey Gordon… Would you mind staying with me in the kitchen till I feel comfortable?" Kate's small voice snapped him to attention, and he spun back around to face the hall and the bedrooms. Kate smoothed over her modest black dress and tucked her hair back behind her ears. He would never utter the words out loud, but she was beautiful. She was kind and a stark contrast to her brothers. And while he had brief thoughts about getting to know her better, he knew his place and where the line was drawn.
"Sure." He looked past her to see Gerry closing the bedroom door, "Boss?"
"Do as she says." Gerry walked past them and headed down the stairs, fixing his dress clothes to be as presentable as possible to greet the head of the table.
"Guess that makes you the boss now huh?" Gordon shrugged his shoulder and jerked his head to the side to get her moving toward the stairs.
"Actually. Hang on a second." She looked down to the frayed runner that traveled the expanse of the narrow hallway before turning around and heading back into her bedroom, leaving the door open behind her.
He sighed and rolled his eyes to the ceiling. He knew she was stubborn to no end, but he didn't want to anger anyone tonight. Silently he moved back to the opening of her room in time to see her lift Niko's pistol off the floor, the barrel comically pointed toward the floor, "And just what do you think you're going to do with that?!" He grew wary watching her handle the gun a second time and prayed she wasn't about to fire it off again.
"Niko is pretty attached to this gun. It's from his time in the war. See?" She stood up from her crouched position and turned the gun over to hold it with both hands, "No matter what I know he would want this kept safe and close by."
Cautiously Gordon walked into her bedroom to see what she was going on about. In faded, barely legible, boxy script was a phrase scrawling along the barrel in a language he couldn't identify or read. Kate's finger lovingly trailed over it. He reached out and tilted the gun down somewhat in the light to see if it was easier to read with a different angle, "You know what it means?"
"No. But I have a matching one that saved my life tucked away in Niko's apartment. It's stupid I know- to have an attachment to something like this." She softly ran the tip of her finger of the lettering one more time before looking up to meet Gordon's stare.
"Nah. I have the winning race bet stub in my nightstand that saved me from swimming with the fishes. We all have objects that hold deeper meaning… You plan on just carrying that around all night? I don't think the boss would be happy with that."
"Give me your suit coat. I'll conceal it in there." She lowered the gun to her side and held out her other hand in Gordon's direction.
"Um. What?" Oh no. He was not about to escort her down the stairs with her wearing his jacket and get made fun of all night by Kenny and murderously stared at by Niko if he came back down from interrogating Bobby. There were rules.
"It's just an article of clothing. Give me your jacket. Or you can carry around Niko's gun till we leave?" She placed her hand on her hip and gave him an expectant glare. One he was usually powerless against.
"Fine! But you will have to be the one to explain to Gerald and Niko. I ain't about to be killed over my cheap ass suit jacket." Gordon threw his hands up and went to undoing the two buttons on the front of his blazer.
"Great. Glad we see eye to eye." She smiled slightly and took the jacket from him as he shucked it over, "Plus it's one more layer to keep any of those creeps from looking my direction."
"Yeah because some wrinkled suit layer is gonna keep Kenny from saying shit." He rolled his eyes and took the gun from her when she struggled to slip the sleeves up her arms.
"Then maybe you should stick close and keep him from being disrespectful…" Kate grumbled out as she adjusted the larger jacket over her shoulders. It nearly swallowed her, but it gave her a sense of protection. It hid her body from prying eyes and tugged older memories to the surface. While Gordon's jacket wasn't Niko's brown leather one… It would do for the time being.
aaaaaa
"Good evening, Kenny." Gerry slowed his approach as he entered into the living room from the main hallway. He wasn't in the mood for anything else crazy to take place tonight and just wanted to get introductions over with and a few things ironed out between all the major gangs in Liberty. This was his chance to reclaim what Derrick had lost when he took over. It was an opportunity to return the Irish stronghold in Dukes and Bohan. It was something he aspired to accomplish and now was moments away from seeing his vision come to life.
"Ah the man of the house! How are you?" Kenny turned around and warmly shook the outstretched hand, "Everyone is quite a buzz with the renovations done to the place. I take it solitude has given you new drive?"
"Eh yeah. Place was in need of some repairs. Drink?" Gerry released Kenny's hand and gestured to the dining room where the wet bar was located. He could go for a stiff drink after finding out his sister had nearly killed two people in one night. It would also settle his stomach and nerves as the house was packed and surrounded by armed men- his own, Kenny's, and the Italian mob.
"Yes, yes. A toast to a prosperous night. I have a couple of people I want to introduce you to." He waved off his guards and nodded toward a sharply dress man casually leaning against the archway to the dining space, "Roy. Come meet our host!"
Slicked back dark brown hair that was meticulously placed, well groomed eyebrows set above steely blue eyes, and a sharp jaw lined man gracefully walked up to them and held his hand out toward Gerald, "Pleasure. I must say the houses out here in Dukes do impress."
"Uh thanks?" Gerry shook the man's hand noticing how weak of a handshake he gave.
"It's been a very long time since I have been out this way. There is lots of opportunity to be had out here. Plenty of available store fronts and abandoned factories. Could be rather lucrative for washing money. How come I didn't notice any buildings with the McReary name on them?" Roy slipped his hand into the crease of his tailored suit casually, glancing around the room at a couple of low snickers he heard.
"Honestly don't start with the petty insults." A feminine, Italian voice called out from behind them, and they turned to see who had spoken out of turn. A slim figure approached the semi-circle of men and smiled warmly. A deep navy cocktail dress fell midthigh and was adorned by a charcoal gray blazer. Diamonds and jewels shimmered in the low light from her neck, wrists, and fingers.
"Ah and the lovely Miss Antonia Bottino!" Kenny introduced her, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles fondly, being sure to place a meaningful peck to a large family ring that graced her middle finger, "She has graciously decided to accompany me out to Los Santos."
"More like forced to, but whatever. I guess random shitholes in the desert is better than having to deal with the constant threats of being murdered to give up the location of my father." She rolled her dark brown eyes and flicked some of her thick, rich chocolate hair over her shoulder, "Aren't there any other females here tonight? Or am I going to be bored to death with your men's talk?"
"Gerry?" Kate spoke up when they got closer and tightened her hold on Gordon's arm, suddenly scared by all the nicely dressed men standing in the living room. She had been on her way to the kitchen with Gordon when the woman's words caught her ear. Now she was regretting butting in the conversation.
"Petrovic, Zito, and Miss Bottino I'd like to introduce you to my sister, Kate McReary." Gerald moved to stand at her side and placed a hand between her shoulder blades in hopes that she wouldn't freak out in front of the most powerful men in all of Liberty. He wanted to send a dark glare to Gordon who held Kate on his arm like he had permission to but fought the urge to in front of Kenny. They would speak later about the liberties taken tonight.
"Ah my, my! So this is who Niko almost blatantly tore down all of LC to find!" Kenny shuffled forward and held his hand out to the pretty female that stood timidly between her brother and Gordon, "It's an absolute pleasure to finally meet you, Kenny Petrovic."
A streak of fear lit up her spine with the way the man introduced himself and the name reverberated between her ears. She had heard rumors and talked intermittently with Niko and the man with IAA about just who and what the name Petrovic meant. Niko had killed this man's son and set off a wild chain of events that nearly consumed her. Now she stood face to face with the man who had at one point in time wanted Niko's head served to him on a silver platter. A firm nudge against her back snapped her from the fight or flight that wanted to overtake her.
"Miss McReary, glad to make your acquaintance." Kate shakily extended her hand out to the man with a rather boyish glint to his eye. But somewhere deep down, she knew he was not to be trusted or taken lightly. This was a way to hide his truth from the world and she immediately felt sick the second her hand landed in his palm.
"I do believe we will be more than acquaintances soon. Niko is very protective of those he keeps close." Kenny smiled toward the trembling woman and leaned down to kiss her knuckles, "What is his word? Lepa? In Russian I do believe the word would be Красота (Krasota). Действительно редкая красота (Deystvitel'no redkaya krasota)." Once more he kissed her hand and tugged her forward to tuck her hand into the crook of his elbow. He moved her around like he had known her for years, gently guiding her to stand in front of his newly established partner. He smiled down to her frightened eyes and gave her an encouraging nod.
"And this nice fellow is Roy Zito. He is the head of the Gambetti Family." He ignored the way Gerry bristled and clenched his hands into tight fists. Gordon hurriedly moved to stay nearly glued to Kate's side trying to avoid his watchful gaze. Their level of care was amusing to see, and he would laugh if it wasn't for how stiff Kate felt on his arm. Carefully he directed Kate to address the man he had brought along into the McReary household.
Kate nearly stumbled right out of her heels as the man practically yanked her from between her safe place of Gerry and Gordon. The urge to pull free from his loose grip was all encompassing. This wasn't someone to trust and she eagerly sought out Gordon's eyes or her brother's as she was hauled front and center to another well-dressed man. She wanted to call out to Niko on instinct. To get him within her line of sight to settle the pitching wave in her stomach. 'He wouldn't let anything happen…'
"I see the McReary's aren't all just brawn. There is such stunning beauty within the females. Such a shame to hear about your late mother. Much tragedy has befallen the Irish Family. I extend my sincerest condolences to your family." Roy didn't hesitate to grab Kate's free hand and place a light kiss to the back of her hand before patting it affectionately, "Please let me introduce you to my good friend's daughter, Antonia."
"Finally. Someone who will be a decent conversation. Shall we? I hear there is wine tucked away somewhere in this house." Antonia smiled softly through long, wispy bangs, and held both of her hands out to the clearly shaken woman, "Let's leave these men to their boring and rather prudish talk. Hm?"
Kate immediately liked the way the woman dismissed everyone around her and gave her the out she was longing for, "Yes, I know exactly where we keep the good wine at. Pretty sure I have one bottle of Italian stashed away somewhere." She returned the smile and carefully detangled herself from Kenny's arm and Roy's hands.
Antonia let out a peel of joyful laughter, "A woman after my own heart. Come on dear. I'll show you a party trick or two for opening a bottle of wine." Merrily she linked her arm through Kate's and quickly headed back toward the kitchen, dismissing the various bodyguards and patrolling armed men. A delicious aroma wafted toward them from the back of the house, and it caused her mouth to water.
"Your necklace is a Roth and Son's piece? Has to be. Only their level of craftmanship can produce something absolutely stunning like that." Antonia carried on the one-sided conversation as she continued to wave off Petrovic's men and her own security team. She was getting irritated with how close they wanted to stay.
Once they were out of the living room and just through the entrance of the kitchen, away from any listening ears, she pulled Kate to the side.
"No matter what anyone tells you, you are not to trust a single thing that comes out of either of their mouths. You understand me?" She lowered her voice and set a hardened gaze at the female who looked beyond confused and worn out. Slowly she brushed a couple of loose curls to the side of Kate's face to be sure she got her words across to her. "Roy is a very dangerous and slick man. He is after power and that's all. He does not care who he harms on his way to the top."
"I-"
"I know Kenny. And he rarely if ever greets a female the way he did you. You must fall high up on the chain." Antonia held Kate's shoulders and searched her eyes to make sure that the seriousness of the situation was comprehended. Took much was going on and she refused to let someone else fall into the trap that was Kenny's world.
"She's Niko's girlfriend." Kate turned to see Ally pulling a large roasting pan from one of the ovens in the kitchen. She carefully hauled the heavy cookware up to the counter and placed it down on some warmer pads. In a huff she shook her long blonde hair over shoulder and wiped some sweat from her brow, "Hey Kate. Long time since we've seen each other."
"Oh. So untouchable and practically royalty. A good problem to have." Antonia patted Kate's shoulders gently and took a step back. She may have been fairly removed from the inner workings of the mob, but even she had heard the hushed murmurings of an Eastern European that was making waves and bringing down people left and right. Of the man that had granted Jon's dying wishes and been beyond successful. How Niko had been hell bent on revenge against Dimitri and his cousin. She knew the story and finally had a face to the name of the female that caused such heroics.
"I don't know about good." Kate mumbled feeling completely out of place and now in danger that Gordon was out of her sight and her brother was laughing it up with dangerous men in the living room. She reached for one of the pockets on the oversized suit jacket and realized she left her phone up in her bedroom. 'Great and I have no way of getting ahold of Niko…'
"It's something I wish I had." Antonia sighed and walked over to the other female in the kitchen, immediately pulling out a stool for the remodeled kitchen island. She glanced toward the entrance of the kitchen and sighed when she didn't spot any of the men leaning into the space or trying to edge their way back to keeping an eye on her.
"How do you mean?" Kate figured she might as well busy herself with something to keep the panic at bay. She made a direct line for the cabinet by the fridge where she kept her own private stash of food and alcohol. It was her secret place so her brothers would quit taking her snacks and wine. Not that they drank much wine, preferring to stick to Irish spirits only, but every now and then a good glass of wine and a book kept Kate up long into the night. That was before Niko had dropped into her life. A ghost of a smile lifted her lips at the thought of their first outing.
"Well, my family is on the run. People want me and everyone I love dead. I thought being the daughter of the head of the Gambetti Crime Family granted me protection. After Jon Gravelli's passing I lived without fear. Till my father fucked up. I don't even know if he actually killed that man. But it started our fall from power and Roy took over. Now I'm pulling the only favor I have with Kenny to get out of the city to meet up with my mom." She shrugged when Ally looked at her like she was crazy. Wasn't like she had much to go on now a days.
Kate found the bottle behind the fake back of the cabinet and turned to look at the woman who so causally spoke about death and being on the run. Wasn't she scared? Worried? In fear for her life? She would be an absolute wreck if their roles were reversed.
"I know that look. You must not be involved with the family business." Antonia waved Kate forward and took the wine bottle when it was held out to her.
"Not particularly." Kate pulled out one of the new kitchen bar stools and took a seat next to the woman. She met Ally's gaze and nodded to the upper cabinet that held the fancy glassware. This night was tumbling all over the place and at this point she wasn't sure if she was going to pass out from shock or just fall through the floor and wake up back in Niko's arms to start the day over again like some kind of hellish loop.
"And yet you are dating someone so ingrained in the business?" Antonia adjusted her dress and crossed her legs to get more comfortable on the stool, setting her new companion with a questioning stare.
"It wasn't like I planned on falling for him… It just kind of happened. I didn't know, or I guess I had my suspicions. Can't really live in this household without wondering about things…" Kate sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Makes sense. I had a choice. My thirteenth birthday my dad sat me down in his office and told me I could choose to know what went on or I could go about my day as if nothing was suspicious or weird. I had nice clothes, new phone every time a newer edition came out, went to a private secure school, I had it all. But something always bothered me. Dad would be gone all the time. Mom drank herself to sleep every day. People would come and go from the house. Things weren't adding up. So, in that moment I picked." She pulled a folded wine opener from her blazer jacket pocket and worked on cutting the foil off the neck of the wine bottle.
Ally set down three glasses on the island before turning to check the pot on the stove. Something was simmering away and smelled beyond good. Kate watched the woman that came and went from her house and worked at Steinway Beer Garden bustle around the kitchen like it was her own. It was unnerving to say the least. Just how well did she know her way around the home? Just what did she know about the innerworkings of her family? 'Wait how does she know who Antonia is?!'
"Days like today I wish I had chosen differently. Maybe I'd be granted immunity and wouldn't have to leave everything behind. But I chose to know. Knowledge is power… till it becomes a double edged sword." The cork softly popped open from the bottle as she stared off toward the open window in the kitchen.
"That's why I stick strictly to numbers. Can't be of much help if all I know is coded words and dollar sums from part of a ledger." Ally held her hand out for the freshly opened bottle of wine.
"Smart girl. Dad told me everything. Probably more than what should've been divulged to someone so young." Antonia watched as Ally poured out three even glasses, skillfully twisting the bottle to keep anything from dripping onto the counter, "Bartender?"
"Three years next month. Gerald hired me on the spot and once he learned how good I was at math, pulled me into the fold. Derrick used to date one of my older cousin's back home. Small world." Using her apron, she cleaned the lip of the wine bottle and placed it down on the counter, before lifting her glass up.
"Yes, it is." Antonia lifted her glass up and clinked it against the Irish sounding female that was putting together a mouth watering meal.
"Do you regret it? Knowing everything? I know you said days like today. But if you could honestly go back and not be told, would you?" Kate picked up her glass and stared at the dark red liquid contemplating what was being said.
"The truth? No. I wouldn't go back and change a thing. It's better than having dad just disappear and never knowing. Finding out he is being charged of murder on the news instead of him breaking down to me over the phone and begging me to pack some things up and find Kenny. Mom had been picked up by our security team before she could get back to me. I would've just been left alone and grown bitter. Maybe I would've figured it out at some point. But this is at least easier to stomach knowing the why behind it all." She took a long sip from the wine and hummed with the way it tasted on her tongue.
"So even though the truth sucks and its causing all this to happen, you are better off?" Kate swirled the wine around in her glass and looked up in time to see Antonia pause in taking another sip.
"Now missy. Are you really asking about my life's story, or are you digging for something else?" She shifted her eyes off the cooling roasted whole chicken in the pan to set her inquisitive gaze on the redhead that looked about ready to crumble at any given second.
"Food will be ready in about five minutes. I'm going to go let Gerald know." Ally quietly excused herself from the kitchen knowing some things were better left unheard. And the conversation at hand was one she didn't want the answers to.
Kate placed her glass down on the kitchen island and pulled Gordon's larger suit jacket closed over her body, "I don't know you. I shouldn't trust you. I really shouldn't even be here tonight."
"Those are probably all true statements. I don't know you. I know of you. Who doesn't in this city? You're the sister of the Deputy Commissioner. The sister of the fear inducing leader of the Irish Mob. Daughter of the Irish Terror. Girlfriend to a notorious hitman in Liberty City. Under Kenny's strict order to not harm. The McReary last name has weight. His name has weight. You can choose your path. But if you want my advice?"
Kate could only nod as her life was listed out so clinically. Was she really nothing but someone else's half? Attached and tethered to a name or person? Was she even allowed to make her own decisions anymore?
The wine glass lifted to perfectly, coyly smiling lips of the Italian woman that had seen it all, "If you want to know the truth, you simply just need to ask the right people."
aaaaaa
Niko sat frozen across from the man who arrogantly kept staring his direction. The longer he sat propped up against the solid wood dresser the longer he wanted to cross the room and slowly sink his knife into a sensitive place and start getting answers. He flicked the knife back and forth between his fingers trying to give his mind something else to focus on. The murmuring from two floors down was extremely muffled at this distance and he couldn't hear Kate anywhere in the white noise. It was troubling him not being able to put eyes on her.
Packie sat hunched over on the neatly made bed and kept messing around on his cell phone. The clicks and beeps from his phone were growing on Niko's nerves the longer time kept stretching on. Just how long were they meant to just sit here doing nothing?
"So. If this is some kind of torture technique- I give!" Bobby huffed and shifted his weight on the creaking wooden desk chair. His hands were bound behind him and the chair by a pair of metal handcuffs. And those were then tied with thick rope to the chair. He had frowned when the Serbian had insisted on tying him up more.
"You know Gerry wants answers. So just shut up man." Patrick snapped angrily as he replied to the text message he had been sent, "You got yourself into this mess."
"I know you want a go. What do you say? Let out some steam?" Bobby shifted his attention back to the dark look that was being cast his way.
"You don't want me to move from my spot." Niko stilled the knife in his hand and inspected the edge of the blade. If it was mind games he wanted to play, then mind games he would get. And he was beyond ready to stretch those muscles. It had been a long time since he had a need to mess someone up mentally. He frowned as he thought about Darko and the way he would tear someone down they needed info out of. His methods were rather… impressive to say the least.
"Tough crowd, tough crowd. Alright. Then let me start." He pulled against his binds and winced as the metal dug into his sensitive flesh, "Honestly. This is a bit much for just me."
"You touched me sister. That ain't alright. Just better hope Gerry doesn't want to throw you off into the Humboldt." Packie glanced up from his phone before going back to texting.
"You'd never do that to a close friend!" Robert rolled his eyes and went back to smugly sneering at the person he needed to… talk to.
"Can we gag him?" Niko picked at his nails with the knife and lazily looked over to Packie hoping he would be able to cut the man's tongue out or at the very least shove a dirty sock down his throat to get his annoying, nasally voice to stop. Maybe play connect the freckles with his knife. Something, anything, to shut him up.
"Ooo into some bdsm. Kate enjoy that?"
Niko shoved off the dresser and was halfway across the room before Packie grabbed him and tried to haul him away from the cackling bound man, "He ain't worth it man!"
"Does she beg you to stop? Or does she like it just as much? She cry out in pain or pleasure? Huh? You like having power over her?" He let out a loud hoot and started laughing as Packie struggled to hold the enraged man back from hitting him.
"What the fuck is your problem?!" Packie shoved Niko back toward the dresser and rounded on his old childhood friend, pulling his pistol from the back of his pants, "Say one more disrespectful thing about my sister and I'll be the one to put a round through your ugly mug."
"After what your Pa did to you and everyone else, I'm surprised Kate even opened up to the idea of inviting someone to her bed. Bet those guys did an excellent job of showing her what your sick dad was capable of-"
Packie struck the smirk right off the face of Bobby. He hit him again and again, alternating between his fist and the butt of his pistol. Niko let him take a few more swings before catching Packie's backswing and pulling him away from the continuous thrashing. He shifted his hold to keep the pistol from being pointed back at the now bleeding man tied to the office chair. The struggling didn't lessen, and Niko had to drop the knife to the floor to keep from accidentally hurting his friend.
"Let me go man! I'm going to kill him!" Packie's voice cracked, and he kept trying to get Niko to let him go. He only saw red and wanted to put an end to the anger and pain that continuously pounded on him. "I have to kill him! I have to!"
"He's dead Packie... He's not going to harm you ever again." Niko knew what he was really upset over. He hauled Packie around and pulled him into a hug. Too many nights had he picked up on the clues of what his friend endured. The nightmares that plagued him and kept him from wanting to make friends or do anything else with his life. He felt the weak punch to his side and ignored the pain that radiated from where the gunshot had grazed him.
"Then let me kill him." Packie's voice was quieter, and his struggling stopped completely. Heavy, labored breathing filled the room as he tried to work back to the present.
"Not yet." Niko patted his back and glared at the swollen and bleeding face of the man that had so easily riled both of them up. He held no remorse or pity for the beating Packie had given him. He deserved every swing. Every strike. The open wound over his eyebrow would surely scar and be a constant reminder of what was done to him.
"I should've been here…" Packie sucked in a deep breath and pushed away from Niko scrubbing a hand over his face. He turned just enough to glare at the man hunched over somewhat, dripping blood onto the clean wooden floors of Derrick's old bedroom.
"They are dead." Niko calmly picked up and tucked the knife back into his waistband, watching as Packie worked down his rage and anger. This was headed south quickly, and he was letting Packie show his soft points openly. They needed to stay calm and in charge- not let some idiot unsettle them and unwind their defenses.
"And how the fuck do you know what they did to Kate!" Packie raised his voice and cocked his pistol back to load a round into the chamber. He took two large steps forward and pressed his gun into the open cut on Bobby's face, "Huh? Start talking!"
Bloodshot, dangerous eyes looked up through the mess of a face to stare up at his captors. There was an evil air about him, and Niko didn't like it one bit. He met the look head on and in an instant, he knew he had messed up.
Bobby rolled his tongue around in his mouth to collect the pooled blood and promptly spit it out at his feet, "What's the- the saying? …How's it go?" He struggled to get the words out and split his lip open when he sickly smiled up at Niko in his hunched over position. He jerked upright and shoved his forehead into the end of Packie's pistol, "Keep… Keep-"
The door creaked open, and Gordon poked his head in, "Gerry wants me to take over with a couple of the guys on baby…sitting… duties..." He froze when he saw Packie hovering over a bleeding Bobby with a gun pressed firmly to his forehead.
"If he says another word shove something in his mouth to keep him quiet." Packie lowered his weapon and marched out of the room not caring to look back or see if Niko was following.
"Fucking pussy…" Bobby coughed and spit out some more blood.
Niko pulled several tissues loose from the box upon the desk and wadded them up in his hand, before turning on his heel and approaching the person he wanted to kill. He roughly grabbed his chin and forced his mouth open, shoving the wadded tissues firmly into his offending opening, "We have many sayings back home. And considering Petrovic is downstairs I will give you one of his- Silence is the only way to survive. Keep your mouth shut and you just might make it to sunrise." He lightly smacked Bobby's bloodied cheek and took a step back.
"You want us to peel flesh from bone? Has he dared to speak ill of our boss?" One of the more dressed up men entered the room and took up the spot Niko had been using, speaking in Russian after recognizing the words Niko had spoken. His blank expression didn't alter when he leaned around Niko to see the mess of a man tied to a chair.
"He has threatened someone under his care. Do as you see fit." He didn't bother to look over to one of Petrovic's men. He would leave it up to him on what was done to the asshole. Niko glanced up and nodded to Gordon, "What did Gerry say?"
"Just that you two were wanted down at dinner and for me to oversee our unwell guest." He paled the longer he looked over Bobby's injuries. What in the world had happened to cause all of this?
"Alright." Niko eyed Gordon to see his suit jacket was missing and that he looked beyond skittish and sick. He figured he had probably not been present to any real form of torture or brutality. The weak slap he had thrown at Gracie in front of Gordon had been nothing compared to what he was capable of doing to someone. And he had felt guilty about striking her. He would hold absolutely no guilt about what Petrovic's men would do once he left the room.
"Is he to be left coherent?" The man with the heavy Russian accent was unbuttoning his suit jacket and carefully removing it from his body. His eyes briefly lifted to meet Niko and he lifted an eyebrow to get his orders.
"Just keep him alive. Gordon you might want to stand guard outside." With that Niko left the room and the fate of Bobby in the hands of Petrovic's lead interrogator.
aaaaaa
"The Albanian's must be back. I have seen their numbers increasing as of late. Causing small problems along our controlled shores in Alderney. The northern ports specifically." Roy took a bite from his dinner plate and looked up to Kenny for confirmation that he knew about the issues in Alderney or not.
"They have new leadership now. I am aware of the situation." Kenny sipped from his glass tumbler to wet his throat, "You bring this up because?"
"The Ancelotti's are still very bitter over the handling of Gracie. They believe the uproar from the Albanian's is in retaliation of the unresolved issues stemming from the conflict between Pegorino and them." Roy took a long sip from his glass of high quality cognac. The issue was slowly becoming one of his own and he didn't want to get his hands dirty with one of the other Families in The Commission.
"They didn't even believe she was kidnapped." Kenny huffed lightly and went back to carving his chicken breast on his plate of food, "Besides no harm, no foul." He waved his hand dismissively and glanced down the table to where Gerry sat silently at the head.
"And the continued presence of this pesky Albanian gang? What is to come of them? They are eating away at my influx of product. Our profits. They are basically sitting in your backyard!" Roy was getting frustrated with the lack of urgency shown.
"I have said I am aware. That is all the acknowledgement needed. Yet you press the nonissue more, what is the reasoning, Roy?" Kenny placed his utensils down, propping his elbows on the table, and folding his fingers together to rest his chin on them. He would give him one more chance to explain it better before dismissing it all together. His food was getting cold after all.
"Giovanni asked The Commission to force Don Jon to take out the McReary's." Roy set his glass down upon the table and looked over to Gerry for a rebuttal. Surely this would be news to everyone at the table. Gerry's sister sure seemed to shrink further and further away from the table with every new topic brought up.
"And I do believe I had that idea firmly, and completely squashed." Kenny lifted a small forkful of food to his mouth and paused, "This is in the past. Move on."
"Very well." Roy frowned at his concerns being dropped, but he would have time later to get help from his new associates and partners, "As it was Don Jon's dying wish that we broker a relationship with the McReary's and their hold within Dukes, I, leader of the Gambetti Family, ask that we toast to a new beginning and partnership." Roy lifted his glass and held it up for Gerry to salute him.
"To a bright and prosperous future. Legitimately and illegitimately." Kenny wiped his hands on the cloth napkin in his lap and raised his glass tumbler of vodka.
"To tha bounty and green comin' er way." Little Jacob lifted a glass of water to show his approval of the shifting of power within Liberty. While Badman usually handled these meetings and conversations, he had found himself taking over more and more. It also gave him an excuse to keep his ears open to things that took place in the background. Niko had been rather absent from the field, and he was missing the connection he brought to him.
"To a new council and alliances." Gerry picked up his glass of Irish whiskey and nodded respectively to each of his soon to be equals.
Footfalls echoed from the front living room as Niko rounded the corner into the dining room. His eyes scanned the long table noticing Packie was missing from the guests and should have been sitting to the left of Gerry. Everyone turned his way and paused in finishing off a toast of some kind. Kate hadn't looked up from her slightly hunched over position next to Gerry at the far end of the table. A brunette sat next to her sipping off of a nearly empty glass of wine not caring what was going on around her. His eyes traveled to the gentleman next to her and figured he was the man taking over for Jon, before darting across the table to see Kenny looking his way with a not so innocent smile spreading over his lips. Little Jacob met his eyes and only lifted his eyebrow silently.
"Join us Niko." Kenny waved to the empty chair resting at the other end of the table from Gerry. The opposite head of the table…
Silently Niko moved further into the room and placed his hand on the back of the chair, slowly pulling it out from the table.
"Did you hurt yourself hon?" The other female spoke up as her eyes landed on the blood that was vibrantly splashed against his hand, clearly visible against the dark wood grain.
Niko glanced down to see that he hadn't bothered to remove the blood of Bobby's face from his hand. He immediately let go of the chair and started looking for a napkin or something to be able to clean it off.
"Here son. Just another day in the life, yes?" Kenny removed his pocket square and held it out to him, eyes darting away from the blood on Niko's hand to set a stern glare his way.
"Something like that." Niko took the fine silk cloth and started to rub off the blood that was starting to cake on his fingers and hand, completely ignoring the open stares from everyone else at the table.
"It's nice to finally meet you, young man." Roy spoke up from his chair and watched as the man he had once silently feared cleaned blood from his hands. It felt rather fitting that their introduction would be done this way. Afterall a hitman's work was never done, and he could respect him for it.
Niko could only nod as he finished removing the blood from his hand, he hadn't meant to come down to dinner looking like he had taken a swing at someone or had just gotten off a job or assignment. It wasn't the impression he wanted to give. He was done with the criminal life… With a soft sigh he sat down at the other head of the table. A single glass of clear liquid was resting to the side of a full plate of food. He could tell Kate had made him the plate of food and he looked up to see her drop her eyes back down to her own nearly full plate.
"Right. Now that mostly everyone is here, Kenny?" Gerry watched as Niko nearly collapsed into the chair across from him. It was rather poetic to him. Everyone had their place and position of power, and their seats reflected that change. There were two sides to this alliance, with Niko and himself stuck in the middle.
"As I was saying- Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, but only drink and dine with family." Kenny once more lifted his glass and saluted everyone at the table.
As one the men at the table returned the gesture and took a sip of their respective drinks- Solidifying the new partnership and rise in power.
Niko watched everyone cheers to some unknown agreement he hadn't been privy to, nor did he really care too much about what had been said or not. He wanted Kate to look his way again- he needed to make sure she was okay. He hadn't been fair to her after the near miss. So much was happening at once and he should have made a better effort at making sure she was okay before simply leaving the room and following after Packie and Bobby.
'Wait… What was Bobby trying to say?'
Bobby jerked upright and shoved his forehead into the end of Packie's pistol, "Keep… Keep-"
Niko snapped up rigidly in his chair to stare at Kenny. 'No…'
'Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, but only drink and dine with family…'
"You know my boy. You really should keep a better handle on the list of enemies after you. You never know who will fall right into your lap." Kenny spoke cryptically in Russian, lifting his glass of vodka and held it out in Niko's direction.
"You know…?"
"I have told you. I understand more than you think. You are no good to anyone dead." The smile that spread over Kenny's lips took on a sinister flare in the dim lighting of the dining room.
Kate forced herself to look down the table to where Niko and Kenny were conversing in a language she didn't understand. One glance at her brother and the other people at the table told her they also couldn't understand what was being said. But the way Niko paled and had a rather ghastly look about him told her everything she needed to know. What was being said was not good and bode trouble for them.
Niko felt incredibly drained. Kenny was playing the long game, had to be. The words spoken to him in the hospital months ago still rung true and his fingers itched to grab the full shot of vodka resting on the table in front of him. But what would Kate do or think? Something was going to happen, when or where he didn't know, but he knew Kenny never did anything without a reason or ulterior motive. Why else would he be seated in the McReary home with Italians, his sworn enemy, and toasting new alliances?
His eyes met Kate's down the table, and he knew he couldn't leave her unprotected. She had been hurting so much over everything he had directly and indirectly put her through. So much pain, suffering, and anxiety weighed her down. And it was mostly his fault. He should have never gotten close to her. Kept their friends only arrangement. Spared her the life he lived. He had been a fool.
There truly was no way out.
He was wholly, and firmly stuck. And no less at the head of the table.
"Does your offer still stand?" Kenny's smile widened the longer he stared at Niko, suspended glass of vodka held out awaiting a toast.
Without hesitation Niko wrapped his somewhat still bloodied hand around the crystal tumbler of vodka and lifted it to his lips, downing the shot in one go.
aaaaaa
Did not think I would leave it here, but alas I am. I had to break it up into a third part. "She's a Keeper" is taking longer than I expected to wrap up before moving on. I will try to not have it be so long before posting the next bit. But life is just insane right now and it's about to be the holiday season. (Kind of already is for me, even if it doesn't feel very holiday-ish). Till next time! One Love!