Niko stood before Bernie's apartment door feeling beyond unsure of himself. Kate had answered his call but had been so short and aloof that he wasn't sure what to expect. One word answers and a heavy sigh was what she gave him before Bernie took over on the call. He had explained to him that he got the city on high alert and to be ready for him to swing by. But even Bernie had seemed somewhat cold in his answers.
He scrubbed over his short hair and turned away from the door. He was doing what he had to do in order to keep everyone safe. At least in his mind he was doing the right things. People close to him may disagree, but at present? He needed to get Kenny informed, cooled off, and looking for the rat, and not the McReary family. Francis had nothing to do with the killings and Gerry undoubtedly had zero idea they had all been killed while on his turf.
'At least that's what it sounded like on the phone…'
That was the major problem. It happened under the Irish territory. Kenny may turn a blind eye and be okay, but Roy struck him as someone who didn't care. He already complained nonstop at dinner about encroachment into others territory by the Albanian's and having their drug routes siphoned off. He frowned at the thought of the Commission going after Kenny and Gerry. It shouldn't be his concern, but it was starting to get that way.
Not to mention the absolute chaos that would bring the city. It would be like drawing a line down the middle and having everyone start shooting. It would be worse than what Natalya had done. What Faustin had done. What they had done to rob the Bank of Liberty. So many people would be stuck in the crossfire. No wonder Bernard kept his distance and hired people to do his dirty work. It probably ended more conflicts before they even had the chance to be something major.
'And kept the IAA's hands clean…'
"NB?" Roman's voice called out to him from down the hall, and he spun around to see his cousin casually walking up to him.
"Hey, Roman." Niko sighed heavily and welcomed the bear hug that his cousin gave him. It had felt like a lifetime since he had seen him, but in reality, it was more like two weeks.
"What are you doing out here in the hall?! Come on! Let's go see our beautiful women!" Roman released his cousin and knocked loudly on the apartment door, "Two undeniable handsome Bellic men stand out here waiting for the most exquisite feminine creatures to answer the door!"
Niko could only roll his eyes at this cousin's romanticism. How Mallorie and Roman managed to keep their level of 'honeymoon' stage going was beyond him. Clearly, they didn't have things to worry about or fear. His plate was now overloaded with problems to solve, and he hated that Kate was trying to hold one side of the plate. It wasn't her battle to take on, and most certainly wasn't something she needed to get involved in.
'I told her I would keep her safe and nothing else would harm her… But what about me? I'm getting so tired of this game…'
"Is that my baby daddy out there?!" Mallorie sung out poorly and swung the door open, immediately getting pulled into Roman's arms. They embraced for several seconds before Roman's hands sought out her baby bump and lovingly caressed over it.
"And how is my brave little one today?" He spoke down to her belly and couldn't stop the goofy smile from spreading across his beaming face. He was going to be a dad! And while a few months ago that left him scared shitless, he now looked forward to seeing their little one grow up and blossom before their very eyes. He could almost envision soccer games, t-ball with other kids and parents, getting to take them to their first day of kindergarten. So much happiness and life lay before them, and he finally felt like he had achieved greatness in this blasted city.
"They have been very active, even with the walk and excitement of the day." Mallorie brushed away some of Roman's hair from his forehead and directed him to look back up at her, "I think it's time we all have a major discussion. Right Niko?" She set a hardened look in her cousin-in-law's direction and waited for confirmation.
"Uh yeah. I won't keep you two long. But you should be made aware of what is going on." Niko gestured to the open apartment for them to move out from the very public hallway and into the more private setting of Bernie's apartment. How her look managed to stir up a tiny amount of fear in him always made him feel weird. It was like she could strike him down where he stood and not even lift a finger. Normal Mal was one thing, but pregnant Mal was on a different level, and he shuffled into the apartment after his family hoping this conversation would go as smoothly as it could go.
"Bernie for the love of my child, put the damn gun away. Ain't no one going to knock down this door. They'd be beyond saving if they did. Between you, Niko, and even Roman, they wouldn't even make the threshold before being killed. I am tired, bordering on stressed out, and that is NOT good for me or the baby. Now everyone sit down and get to explaining!" Mallorie clapped her hands together a couple of times and lowered down on the loveseat next to Kate.
Roman turned around to look at his cousin for some kind of explanation. Other than the explosion in Holland he wasn't sure what all was going on and he felt the tremor in his stomach that hailed trouble was on the horizon. He had prayed every day since the whole ordeal on Happiness Island that things were behind them. One look at Niko told him that was wishful thinking and he felt anger want to bloom in his chest. They were done! Out of the game! Living their best lives and now they were being dragged back into it all?
"Right. Well…" Niko sighed and paced back and forth in the living room of Bernie's apartment. It wasn't what he was expecting and was far from how he imagined telling everyone the news and what he was speculating at. But they needed to know what could be, should be, and what will be.
"Why don't you start at the beginning. I think we all need to start at the same place." Bernie offered softly from his place leaned against the opening to the kitchen, pistol still in hand. He didn't like the way Kate studied the floor, or how she had yet to jump up and give his friend a hug. It had taken a solid hour to get Kate back to thinking on a decent path and not letting her thoughts spiral out of control.
"As you all know Natalya had a crew, an organization, which didn't just disappear overnight after her death. She had significant help and backing. Francis had managed to get help from IAA and FIB to round up most of the heavy hitters- hired muscle, gunmen, financial backers, but there was a tech guy she used in order to send encrypted messages via text and email to her crew. It's how she was able to send me an email shortly after…" He hadn't told Kate about the email, and he paused in his pacing trying to salvage his line of explanation.
"Shortly after she had her men attack me? Francis had mentioned you forwarded him an email with a threat to finish what was started." Kate spoke up from her place next to Mallorie and felt her friend's hand land on her knee reassuringly. She immediately placed her own on top and tried to absorb the comfort that was being provided.
"Yes." Another small lie, "I had no way of finding the sender and figured he would have an easier time figuring it out. This person supplied her with surveillance, hidden bank accounts, information, and kept her whole paper trail in a digital lockbox. Once Francis knew of the guy from an anonymous tip, they started to tail them and figure out how to take them down. He was the last chess piece so to speak." Niko started up his pacing again hoping that saying it all aloud would help him see anything he had missed originally.
"I remember the news saying the investigation into the Rascalov terror group was coming to a close. It was all over the radio stations and tv networks. You think they were given a head start since it was public knowledge that all loose ends were being killed off or arrested?" Bernie crossed his arms and watched as Niko turned away from them all and sighed heavily. He had wanted to simply return to his own life and move on, but too much had transpired. He had Niko back in his life and it created a rift between him and Bryce.
"It's possible they had a sense of the walls closing in. LCPD was beyond ruthless. No one was taken alive. Could have used a few of them alive in order to ensure we get everyone. But after I dropped you off at your doctor's this morning Kate, Francis called asking for backup. I wanted to say no. But this was the last of them. I wanted to see it to an end. To know it was done and over with. That we could be free." Niko turned to look at his girlfriend as she leaned into Mallorie's shoulder, avoiding his gaze.
"No one blames you for wanting it to be done Niko. Thank you for trying to make sure that chapter of our lives was closed." Roman spoke up from his spot in an armchair close to his wife. He was extremely grateful for his cousin's ability to keep them all safe and eliminate the threats against them all. He kept glancing over to his wife and Kate wondering what had happened to have them cuddled up to one another and somewhat silent.
"I just wish it was closed now. The hacker was found dead in the apartment. Someone else had set up a trap to kill both Francis and me. They knew we'd be going after the last of her group. Francis stepped on a landmine. Just like the ones we have back home. Should have killed us both. But it didn't. The person got away. I have a pretty good idea that it's Robert Welsh. Kenny Petrovic gave me information that he was sent here to LC to spy on the McReary family. He was last seen getting into the back of one of Kenny's vans with some of his men." Niko crossed his arms and replayed everything from yesterday morning in his mind.
"So, it was Bobby?" Kate spoke up softly and felt the tears spring to life. She had hoped it had all just been a gigantic misunderstanding, but no. Turns out yet again someone from her past and childhood was trying to stir up trouble. 'Maybe if I had just shot him in my room then we all could just move on from yesterday…'
It was a sobering thought… If she had killed Natalya before Niko had shown up, maybe Darko would still be alive and running around. If she had just killed Bobby maybe, just maybe, they wouldn't be in the current predicament. Odd how violence seemed to be the one absolute answer to all her problems. A frown marred her face as her brain tried to tell her one pull of the trigger and her problems would just disappear…
"I don't know for sure, but Detective Avia was at the crime scene this morning. Every one of Kenny's men were killed and Bobby was not among the bodies. Kenny doesn't take that kind of attack lightly. If he knew, he would have ordered your entire family to be killed for the deaths on his hands. It's why I had Bernie bring you two here and why I took Avia to the hospital to protect Francis. Gordon has been trying to get ahold of Kenny to explain things." Niko knelt down in front of Kate, "I'm sorry for not giving you warning or a reason, but I was genuinely fearful for everyone's lives. Your brothers, you, Mallorie, Roman, and I were not safe till I could make sure things weren't as bad off as they appeared."
"You did what you had to do. You jumped into action to protect us all." She bit her lower lip and turned her head to the side to not have to look at him. So many other things waned to override the more common sense explanation he was giving everyone. He had once more just left her alone to go off into danger without a second hesitation or thought about how it would hurt her in the end. Even if it was for her own good. At the time it was like he was running off and going after Derrick's killer.
'Or like when he tried to gun down Natalya in the middle of the street…'
"Kate. Niko wouldn't do something to hurt us. He has done nothing but protect us all. He went head long into danger to rescue Roman several times, and then again at our wedding. I felt horrible for begging him to get out of the hospital bed and find you and Roman, but I knew he would be the only one able to find you two in time. I was distraught. And even with his injuries, he managed to get out of there and located you all." Mallorie turned her hand over from Kate's knee and grasped her hand, "It's so beyond lame at this point, but you need to keep faith. We've been down this road before, and this time we will be more prepared."
"My beautiful Mallorie is right! Siren that you are my love! Niko isn't about to throw away what we all have going for us just to make a quick buck. He can take a few taxi fares if he is hurting for money. He knows this. Whoever this Bobby fellow is sounds like bad news. And while I'd say leave it to LCPD… Well. There isn't much of a winning track record there." Roman huffed at the thought of the police force finding this guy and taking care of him. His cousin would be able to find him faster and leave his body someplace it would never be discovered.
"And if the idiot has any kind of brain up there, he will flee the city about as quick as he can. Wouldn't want to stick around to see what the Petrovic wrath is like." Bernie chimed in from his place behind the loveseat. If he had just killed a bunch of high ranking men within the Petrovic bratva, he'd be on the first safe passage out of the city.
Niko watched her shoulders tense, and her walls build up around her. She was shutting down and tuning it all out. Something much worse was lurking behind her frozen and guarded expression. Something Niko wasn't sure he would be able to fix or remedy soon. He hovered his hand over her knee before letting it drop down to his side. She had gone stiff and pulled her legs back into the couch as if trying to avoid being touched by him. With a quiet breath he stood up off the floor and pulled out his phone to see if he had any update from Dwayne or Little Jacob.
"Have you informed anyone else?" Bernie frowned at the interaction between his friends and figured he would try and salvage the awkward silence that was starting to crush the room.
"I let Dwayne, the leader of the North Holland Hustlers, and Little Jacob, second in command of the Yardies, know who to be on the look out for. Gerry is aware and is probably getting his own men looking as well. I have no real way of getting into contact with Kenny or Roy. They were the only other two members at the table that would want to be aware. I don't have a seat or any authority. I'm probably risking a lot by asking for favors. But I can't let him run free and cause more trouble." Niko clicked through a couple of messages he had received from Gordon and Jacob. No news on Kenny yet, but Jacob said they had shut down their turf and there would be no safe haven in their territory.
"It's a start. You want me to reach out to my friends within the club scene? Clubs are actually a decent place to lay low. No one wants to open fire at those places. Too much money and drug deals to lose if that happens." Bernie watched as his friend went internal and resorted back to how he was when they first met back up. There was a space forming between them all and he could only guess at how Niko was fighting himself to figure things out and hold on to his new life. He glanced down at the top of Kate's head and realized she was looking everywhere but at Niko.
"It would be helpful. But don't do it if you think it'll raise too much suspicion." Niko nodded to Bernie before going back to his phone. He needed to check in with Gerry and see if they had any luck finding Bobby or had any trouble at the house.
"Perhaps I will go out tonight. Meet up with a couple of people and feel them out. Maisonette 9 will have some rather curious characters present. Wouldn't take much to get some information out of a bunch of drunk and high people. And if the place isn't working, I'll try Club Liberty. More of a hide out for people in trouble." Bernie mused before pulling out his own phone to try and find Tony's number. It had been a while since he was in the middle of the club scene.
Niko only continued to shake his head positively with Bernie's words before finding Gerry's number in his phone. It was time to get an update from the leader of the Irish mob, or at the very minimum let him know what he had found out on his end. Not that there was much to give. He looked to Bernie and saw the jerk of his head letting him know he could move to the bedroom in order to have some privacy. Silently he walked out of the room to get the phone call over with.
The phone rang a couple of times before Gerry's gruff voice answered, "What's it looking like out there?"
"Well. I can't get word out to Kenny. But North Holland Hustlers and the Yardies are out searching the streets discreetly. I sent Gordon to you in hopes that he would be able to reach Kenny. Bobby did a number on them. I don't even know how he managed it. Patrick beat the shit out of his face before we both left him to the fate of Kenny's men." Niko lowered down on the edge of the bed and felt the fight just leave him completely. He just wanted to do the right thing. What was so wrong with wanting to protect everyone?
"We've been trying to call him. Roy knows and says he would put Alderney on alert, but I don't trust that man completely. He strikes me as someone out for his own benefit." Gerry let out a long breath, "I underestimated Bobby. That's my mistake. But the kid couldn't even hold his own in middle school. Someone has taken him under his wing. Has to have. I just don't know who. I have zero avenues of finding out anything when it comes to Los Santos."
"About LS. Apparently, Bobby was killed in a drive by shooting on the day I killed Natalya." Niko glared at the carpeted floors and figured Gerry could be trusted with that information. But beyond Gerry, he wasn't sure who would be privy to that information. He had been mulling it over in his mind. Bobby had to be connected in some kind of way to either the computer hacker or Natalya directly.
"Oh shit. Okay. That changes things. Gun for hire maybe? Best cover if they leave behind prints. Cops throw it out since the dude is dead and they quit looking further. Perfect cover really."
"But that begs the questions, who hired him?" Niko wondered aloud and tried to think back on everyone he had pissed off and who was still pissed off at him. So many gangs, families, crews. The Albanian's held no love for him, and neither did any various motorcycle gangs. He had still no idea who had ambushed him at the museum diamonds trade. Dimitri, Jimmy, Ray- they were all long and gone… But were their organizations done with him?
"The contract would have been issued before the news of Natalya's death happened. Otherwise, the promise of no payment would void it. And since all of her funds have been seized by the government, what would the point be?" Gerry made an interesting point. Either this hit came before October of last year or it was from someone new.
"If it was voided then Bobby wouldn't be here causing trouble. Unless he is a clean up man?" Niko propped his elbow on his knee and dropped his face into his hand. This was the last thing they needed right now.
"The only people who need a clean up crew, have something major to hide and get rid of. Usually that goes so far up the chain that no one comes to the aid of the people targeted by the sweepers. Catch my drift? You think someone means to push us out and absolve us?"
"I would need forty eight hours to confirm that theory. I hope not. Ray had cleaners and they were ruthless, thorough, and left nothing to be discovered. Entire rival gangs would disappear overnight. If Bobby is on that kind of mission, we need to find him fast and get rid of him." Niko closed his eyes and willed the images of the time he had been part of that hit squad to leave him be. He had only done a couple of jobs for Ray like that before it was too difficult to stomach. Killing children was not something he wanted to ever do again. He had then been given the task of safely transporting ships into Italy at his request.
"Definitely don't need some insane group of assassins coming after my family. They will use whatever and whoever to break us." Gerry sighed loudly and went silent on the other end of the call.
"That is my fear." And it truly was. Too many dark secrets and truths could come to light that would do more damage than simply killing someone off and he had a sinking feeling these people knew that. A dark thought wafted through his ears.
'Kill Francis and then there would be no one left to spill your secret…'
"Don't get too carried away yet. Let's get Kenny on board before going off the deep end. Keep me posted. Talk soon." Gerry ended the call and the phone slipped from Niko's fingers and softly clattered down to the carpet covered floors in Bernie's bedroom.
'Kill him and be done with the whole mess. You've carried on this long and managed to bury it. What's his life worth anyway?'
His hands shook violently, and he closed his eyes to try and silence his darker, more evil thoughts. He wasn't that person anymore. He didn't just go about killing people in order to make his situation easier. That may have been what he did under Ray's control, but he was free of him. Free of the military orders that forced him to kill innocent villagers and citizens that just wanted a better life like him. He was out from under every mob boss' control. He was his own man.
And yet he didn't feel free.
He felt trapped. As if he was being forced to keep coming face to face with everything from his past life. Every mishap in Liberty still circled around him and poked the edges of his control, wanting to get out and ruin it all for him. There was only one way to truly get rid of it all. Technically two, but one way was out of the question. He refused to come clean with Kate. Or her brothers. No. There was only way.
The door creaked as it opened, and he shifted his eyes just enough to see Kate's shoes enter his line of sight. The door squeaked again as she closed it with a soft click.
"Hey." She breathed out, scared of the position he was in. She had never seen him so on edge and distant. Not even the shootout at the church for Derrick's funeral had him looking this way. She had heard how he chased Natalya down on the island but had no real visual to go off of. His fight with Darko against Natalya flashed across her mind, but she had been praying for him to end it that she felt immune to the violence of it.
"Hey Kate." Niko leaned up from his hunched over position to set her with a blank look. He felt everything within him shift around and all he could keep seeing was how she moved away from his touch. How she avoided looking at him in the living room. His skin crawled with a renewed itchiness, and he forced his fists to loosen to try and negate the feelings. She couldn't possibly flinch away from him. They had spent hours in bed together not that long ago. He had read the situation wrong. They loved each other…
"Um. Are you okay?" She took a couple of steps into the darkened room and paused within arm's reach. He was giving off this weird vibe that made her wonder just how she had ever gotten close to him in the first place. The air felt thicker and charged; like it did before a thunderstorm. She dropped her eyes back down to the floor as he continued to just stare at her.
"No." He scanned her face and body language and knew he was scaring her. But at the same time, he didn't feel up to accepting her form of comfort or reassurance. She would only cloud his defenses and keep him unaware of what was going on in the outside world. He lost himself in her. Every. Single. Time. She would capture his attention and pull him out of the hellish landscape he lived in. Bobby needed to be found and either killed or locked up securely. Preferably with someone within the IAA he could trust.
She visibly flinched at his harsh tone. His accent was sharp, heavy, and had a deadly edge to it that wanted to excite her. She bit her lip at the way his eyes seemed to just cut right through her when she dared to look up at him through her bangs. He looked so hardened and made of stone. As if no amount of force would make him crumble to the floor. It was a challenge. One she didn't think she could take on and survive. Not in the weakened mental state she currently found herself in.
"I'm sorry about Bobby." She whispered out. It was pathetic really. What was there to apologize for on her end by some long lost childhood friend? She hadn't asked him to go and kill all those people and try to murder a cop and her boyfriend. But somehow, she felt responsible for his actions. Even if she could have ended this whole ordeal had she aimed lower with Niko's pistol.
"You had nothing to do with it." Niko answered her with short words and stood up from the bed, picking up his cell phone, "I understand if you do not wish to stay with me tonight. But Gerry's place isn't safer. Bernie or Roman's place will be guarded." He paused at her side, refusing to touch her, and looked down to her shocked expression. She had pushed him away and gave him the impression that she didn't care what it was he had to say or explain. If he needed to keep his distance till things were done, then so be it. He would come for her once the threat was gone.
"What makes you think I don't want to be around you?" She turned to face him and was once more reminded at how much taller and intimidating Niko was. He hovered over her, could easily shove her into the wall or door and kill her with his bare hands. He was dangerous, violent, and intense. He could do just about anything he wanted to her, and she would be powerless to stop him. He more than likely had weapons still on him, even if he didn't need a gun of knife to cause harm. She had never truly feared him per say. The fear was more about the fact that she had been blind to his skillset before it was placed on display for her.
Now standing within his shadow, knowing he was about to go hunt down her old friend, a coldness wanted to wash through her veins. This was the man that Patrick had originally warned her about. The crazy Eastern European that blew away their competition at some drug exchange gone wrong. She hadn't given their conversation much mind. She had ignored the details and focused on making dinner as her brother boasted to her other brothers about this man simply known as Niko.
Niko leaned toward her, and she immediately took a step back and away from him. It was either voluntary or not and her mind couldn't produce a reason as to why she felt the need to get out of his personal space. This was her Niko. The man that weakened her knees with his words in other languages. Caused her body to quiver in unparalleled waves of pleasure. The one she longed to spend the rest of her life with.
"You can't even stand to be close to me." It was a cold truth. One Niko knew she would come to eventually.
Bobby's voice and words from last night tore through him:
"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?"
Niko took another step into her space; once more she retreated from him and hit the wall the door rested against, "Am I the killer you always knew I was? I can read the terror I bring you in your eyes. Is the truth something you can no longer stomach? Out of everyone who I have been around, you were the last I thought would shun me the way you are now."
It cut deep. Deeper than he wanted to admit. Seeing her tremble and cower away from him. He supposed she would eventually realize just who he was and leave. It was inevitable. How they had managed to even form the level of relationship between them was a fluke. He was destined to be alone for the rest of his life, and he knew that in his soul. He had done too much wrong in his life to be saved or wanted. He would correct the situation they were in and then he would disappear.
"And why is it so hard for you to open up to me and let me know what is going on? You ask me to stay. You ask me to trust you. How am I to trust something I know nothing about? I understand the need to protect me and my brothers. I completely, wholeheartedly agree, but who is protecting you? Who has your best interests at heart? Gerry? Packie? No. Bernie most certainly. But to me, the only one who is in your corner is me. And I do not deserve to be casted to the side when things get unstable!" She burned her glare up to him and fisted her hand into his jacket. Anchoring him in place so he wouldn't run off again and leave her alone.
"I left you in Bernie's care! I needed to get things in motion!" He darkened his voice and caged her into the wall, placing his hands to either side of her head, "If I can't keep my promises to you, then why would you ever stay with me?"
"You could have spared a second to give me some kind of reassurance. What if that had been it? Hm? What if that was the last time we saw one another? You would be okay with that?!" She matched his intense, hardened stare, jerking him closer to her face to reiterate her own point, "I'm not okay with you just going off and doing whatever! Someone needs to watch your back. Someone needs to be there for you. I can't stand the thought of you dying simply because Gerry can't handle his own shitshow. Or Kenny! Or whoever! You don't work for any of them." She had been pushed to her limits now. He needed to hear her feelings and thoughts before it was too late to do anything about it.
"Why are you so angry with me?" Niko lessened the harshness of his voice noticing the matching ire and fire within her eyes. They didn't need to be at each other's throats. They were on the same team, wanting the same things; or so he figured.
"I am distraught that you would just up and leave without a decent goodbye. I get that things are messed up once more. But could you not come to me, tell me you love me, and then go?" Kate leaned back into the wall and wished for just once she could control her emotions and tears, "Is it so wrong that I feel like I deserve more than a distant stare before walking away?"
Another deep stab to his ego and heart, "Kate. I would not have done what I did, if I did not think everyone else you love was about to be killed. Francis is about to gain a title and power that he is unaware of. Gerry is vulnerable. Packie is not okay. And the last thing I could ever live with is if someone killed them. Bernie has our backs. He knew if it came down to it, he is to save you over me. There is no room for questioning there. You don't deserve to be dragged down into everyone else's darkness." He removed what little space was between them and bore his eyes into hers, "Could you live with the fact that I had let your brothers be killed because I hesitated?"
"They made their choices. We have made ours… but…" She felt so weak and strung out. Could she live with her siblings death if she had forced Niko to stay and quit helping them out? Could the knowledge that had she simply let Niko do what need to be done, they could be spared? She blinked rapidly and attempted to keep the tears at bay. Was she meant to always share him with everyone else? Would there ever come a time where it would be just them?
Her heart knew the answer her soul confirmed to her…
"No." She nearly choked on the word and felt such a profound pain in her chest. She needed to let him go in order to keep what was important to her alive. Her brothers. But Niko was important too! "But I can't let you go into danger. You mean too much to me." Her lips trembled at the weight the words carried.
"I will not disappoint you. Nor will I fail in my promises anymore. You will be kept safe. I will come back to you." He brushed away the one tear that broke loose from the dam and rolled down her cheeks, "Kate. I need to finish this. I need to make sure the future you want, we want, can be secured. I can't do that from the sidelines."
"God promises to make something good out of the storms that bring devastation to your life." Kate recited the passage her Ma used to give her daily when things felt like it was about to crush them into oblivion. It was one of the verses she found comfort in. Her faith may have left her years and years ago, but sometimes it was easier to fall back on what she was raised with.
"Well. This storm is far from over. If we need to weather the storm a little longer, are you up to it?" He swiped another tear free from her face and searched her eyes to find the answers he wasn't sure she could vocalize.
"I don't think that is a fair question. I am with you. Hell, or high water. I think we've made that point to one another numerous times. The storm may be never ending and ruthless. But we need to find a chance to breathe in-between the waves." She released his jacket and smoothed over the creases her fist had made. It was like giving permission to have someone openly attack them and it left her feeling gutted.
"Never lose sight of the parts of life you're absolutely clear about. The truest part of ourselves is found inside that clarity." Niko dropped his hands to her shoulders and wished he had missed the slightly recoil she gave him. Did so much damage occur in the short time it took to get everyone ready for an impending attack? How had they gone from agreeing to finding their own version of happily ever after, to this?
"I simply want this burden to fall on someone else's shoulders. Not yours. Not mine. It's selfish. I know. But damnit Niko! We've been through enough. I don't know how much more I can endure. What if Bobby comes after me while you are away? I can't continually have someone watching me nonstop. That's not living. That's hiding. As much as I love Bernie's and Mallorie's company; I crave yours!" The tears welled up tremendously and spilt over the edge. She wanted to just give in and say fuck it. But someone had to protect herself from everything internal. And the only one who could, was herself.
"Then let me finish this now." He dropped his hands away from her body and took a step back. The frigid air that settled between them wanted to cause him to shiver. His mind was made up. He would go to Kenny's second in command at their compound. Make things right. Turn over whatever information he had and pray that Kenny was on his side. Then whenever Bobby surfaced, he would kill him in whatever way presented itself. It would be the last and final mission he took on.
She had said the words he never wanted to hear cross her lips- She wasn't sure how much more she could handle. He had brought her to the break point. And she didn't think she could go through with it. His hands felt clammy all of a sudden.
Would finishing Bobby even be the end of it?
Could he be done and free?
He wanted to say yes with all of his being, but someplace dark within the recesses of his mind, the answer was no… He would have to leave her.
'And maybe then you can accept me for who I am and what needed to be done Kate… To see the real me.'
"Niko?" Something felt so very off with the way he moved back. There was a distance now that wasn't passable. She wiped a few tears from her face and took a hesitant step forward. Just what was he getting at? Finish it now? Her heart lurched into her throat at the blank and stern look he was giving her. Had she said something wrong? Too much? Too far? The room wanted to darken in her vision.
"You told me to not leave without saying goodbye. I realize now that the only way to give you a life is to end my past one and rid us of the current threats. I'm sorry things are the way they are. But I can't just let you go and not do everything in my power to make sure you are safe. You may not understand in this moment. But one day you will. It's so damn hard, for me to let you go." He shifted his face to the side to find the door to Bernie's bedroom. He would walk out that door and set things right.
"Niko!" Kate gasped and widened her eyes with his words. Was she really giving him that kind of signal? Her heart began to hammer away in her chest, and she felt the inevitable heartbreak forming. This was not the end. Couldn't be!
"Kate, you are going to have to let me go. I need to finish this. It's not goodbye, nor is it me wanting to throw us away. But I need to do this. I don't know how else to explain it." He forced himself to not look back at her. She would destroy what little confidence he had built up in being able to convince Kenny it wasn't them. He wanted to desperately hold on to the hope that there could still be a 'them' once everything was said and done. But who was he really fooling here?
"I can't. I can't let you go." Kate shoved what strength she had left into moving forward and throwing her arms around his shoulders, "Niko our lives are plenty hard, you don't need to help it."
He didn't want to return her embrace, but there was no ignoring the way his own chest constricted, "Kate. I promised you."
"I don't give a shit what you promised. You are going to stop running into danger headlong. I spent so many months ignoring how badly your death would affect me last year. How getting a phone call from Packie or Frankie would just be like any other and I would just go about my life. No! You mean so much to me and the level of attachment and commitment far outweighs whatever Bobby or Kenny could do. Just stop. For a minute." She clung to him and held on for dear life.
"What is life, but moments spent between chaos? If peace is meant to be moments between madness, is it worth walking the path of night and darkness? If only to see the sunrise knowing sunset will eventually come?" Kate whispered the words Bernie had given her in his secret apartment before all hell had broken loose in Holland. If they had given her some solace, maybe they would do the same for Niko. She needed him to see things from her perspective.
"I…" He figured something Bernie had said had given her the words to say to him. It sounded like his friend's philosophical way of thinking. But she had a small point. Things could wait if they needed to. He knew his priorities may not be in the best alignment, but shouldn't the threat be handled? Isn't that what put them in the danger they were in back in October?
"If I hold off on talking to Kenny, or finding Bobby, would that not be jeopardizing your life and others?" He smoothed over her hair as he felt her shudder against his body.
"And you just going off on your own is better? You said out there in the living room that you had everyone available out looking and doing their part. Trust them Niko. Trust them to do their part. Just like I trusted things to work out last year." She lowered her arms and slid them under his open jacket in order to hold his middle, immediately placing her ear over his heart.
"I nearly lost you and Roman because I trusted people to protect us at the church." Niko pulled her away from his body and held her face firmly between his hands, "I had the entire IAA unit my friend is part of watching the church. I had the FIB on high alert. The LCPD was also going about Francis' orders. I even had my local contacts who run powerful gangs helping out- and still! She blew up an entire street and buildings just to get even. And when that wasn't enough to kill us off, she kidnapped you and Roman and planned on executing you both."
He stroked his thumb over the faint scar on her cheek and frowned at the sight of it.
"I failed. I failed so miserably that I had my rival and enemy save you. There was zero trust there. None. And yet he did what I could not."
His mind was made up. He wanted to believe that he could trust everyone in his inner circle. But he had refused his place at the table. Had turned down the power and protection it offered to go about this on his own. He turned it down so he could have the quiet life with Kate. Kenny had warned him. Gerry had encouraged him. And Roy was silently judging him for turning it all down.
His life had been a series of choices.
This person's life over another.
Running from Ray or taking over his organization after the botched job in the Adriatic.
Coming to Roman when he was down on his luck or staying in the merchant Navy.
Heeding Packie's word to stay away from his sister or taking him up on the offer to call her.
Taking the drug deal with Pegorino or getting his revenge against Dimitri.
Now he was faced with yet another choice; let everyone else handle the situation with Bobby or take care of it himself.
'Or throw it all away and amass as much power as I can. Be rid of everything with one signal phone call…'
Kate stared up at him with heartbreak and pain. Could he really put her through more by doing anything other than taking them back to his apartment and giving up power and control. They had spoken honestly to one another not more than ten hours ago. They opened themselves to one another in a way he didn't think was possible. Shared fears, worries, and concerns. Let soft declarations guide them toward a lighter path in life. He had told her so much.
'Stop… Just stop this.'
"Darko could never save me the way you can."
He felt her hands land on his wrists softly, brushing against the rough fabric of his jacket. Tears continued to roll down her cheeks as she looked up into his eyes with pain and understanding reflected in her dark green-blue irises. She had given him everything, and to turn his back now would be evil.
"Don't pull away from me. Trust yourself with me. Trust yourself, like I trust you." She reiterated the words from last night in a hushed tone and closed her eyes as she took in a shuddering breath.
The raw emotions slammed through him at her simple words.
'Power is not worth this pain.'
"I'll stay. But we are going to my apartment in North Holland." He had a better chance at having a heads up, and an escape plan. Dwayne had so many people in that building that would come to his defense. It had been Playboy X's old place. Made sense that the North Holland Hustlers would be stacked in the building. It also gave him the ability to escape to a neighboring rooftop with her should someone ambush the place.
"The pool table and hot tub?" Kate let out a wet sounding laugh and opened her eyes to see if he was truly coming around or if this was just his way of working around her protests and getting his way in the end.
"Yes, that place. I would feel safer taking you there. I also don't want poor Tom to have to deal with another crazed killer. He won't even talk to the new receptionist beyond the simple hi and bye." Niko felt a little better taking her there. He would be in friendly territory and would have a shorter drive to Gerry's should things go completely south. Granted it was much further from the storage unit… And that place could help him hold off an entire Russian militia.
"Ouch. Yeah, I try to talk to him as often as I can. I feel bad that he was betrayed the way he was by Natalya…" She rubbed at the cuffs of his jacket sleeves and wished she could do something for the doorman at their apartment. But what was done was done and the new lady was fully vetted by her brother. Both brothers really. She felt the need to roll her eyes, but their level of care was welcomed in this case.
They grew quiet within the lavishly decorated bedroom of Bernie. The large cop mural always made Kate want to laugh, but she couldn't quite let the heavy mood go. Though as she kept thinking back to the other apartment Niko owned- there was a large hot tub. And a good long, hot soak, might relive some of the tension and pain her body throbbed with. They would need to stop by the Middle Park East place in order to get some clothes for however long they were going to end up staying there.
"A lot of people were fooled by her. Even Roman and I had zero suspicions." Niko sighed and felt that regret rake down his back. She had been there every single day watching him come and go and was piling up intel on him constantly.
"Well, this other place of yours doesn't have this problem, does it?" She tilted her head within his grasp and arched her eyebrow.
"No. The security guard works for my friend Dwayne. Maybe you can meet him. You'd like him. He reminds me of myself when I first arrived in Liberty." Dwayne had told him the security guard was on his payroll and had nothing to worry about if he came and went looking rather… Well. How he could look after a large shootout or hit.
"I'd like that. As well as maybe seeing if that hot tub works?" Kate bit her lower lip and hoped that all it needed was to be turned on. It had been silent as she sat out there on the phone with Gerry.
"It should still work. Will need to be filled up with water." His eyebrows drew down in confusion, "But it will be below freezing tonight. You sure you want to sit out there?"
"Nothing beats the chill of the air as you soak in almost unbearable hot water. Does the soul wonders for healing. Plus…" She glanced back up to him and trailed her fingers over his hands to make him realize he still held her in place, "It could be fairly romantic to be there for Valentine's Day. The kitchen is small, but I'm sure I could cook something for the two of us there. We could play a round or two of pool, use the hot tub, watch a movie maybe- Just have a night in, just the two of us."
And there went his somewhat recuperating mood and thoughts.
'The damn party… fuck!'
"Actually…" He stroked over her cheeks one more time and let her face go. He turned around and paced back and forth trying to figure out a way to tell her about the party without descending them back into a fight or painful words. Should he tell her the absolute truth? Or halfway lie about the reason for getting to go. He could swing it in his favor and somehow get word out to Avia to keep her mouth shut and play the part.
"Actually? What you don't want to do Valentine's anymore?" Kate hugged her arms around her stomach as it pitched uncomfortably at the sensation she got from his silence.
"That's not it. Can I explain it to you first without you freaking out?" He turned back to face her and sat down on the edge of the bed feeling his knees wobble from being on his feet for so long. And he needed to ability to lock himself in place should she explode on him.
"If I hear one thing that makes it seem like you made plans to go out with any of those thugs at dinner to go kill someone or commit crimes, I'm out that door." Kate jerked her chin toward the bedroom door and glared at him. She had spent time talking things over with Mallorie about how she could surprise him in other activities and possibly take their bedroom time to the next level. And now he was changing their entire plan for a night together?
"Nothing like that."
'Well. Kind of. Does LCPD count as any of those thugs?'
"Go on. I'm listening." Kate shifted her weight from foot to foot and realized how tired she felt now after their draining conversation.
"Francis mention something to me while I was at the hospital this morning."
'Not Francis but close enough…'
"He said that every year Mayor Ochoa throws an over the top Valentine's Day party. He said the formal announcement of him being named Commissioner will take place then. It is dinner, dancing, live music, and at some fancy venue. He invited us. I told him I'd ask you first…"
'Great more lies and half-truths. I'll have to tell Francis about this now.'
"But I figured you could go back to your favorite salon, do whatever it is you do before something like this. Take Mallorie with you. Have a girls day of it."
'That's right. Build it up and keep burying yourself.'
"And Bernie could go dress shopping with you. I think it's black tie. I don't have much details, I could get the actual invitation sent to me so we could look it over. But it's up to you."
'Not really, but what's worse at this point? I've basically lied through my teeth to get you back into the line of danger to see if we can flush out yet one more person out to get us…'
He looked up from his place at the end of the bed after rambling on and trying to make it near impossible for her to refuse to go to the party. But Avia was right. This would be their best option at getting everyone's faces, fingerprints, and known associates out in the open and in a semi safe environment. It would also give him a chance to corner Kenny and talk one on one without the threat of getting killed instantly.
Her silent and blank look had him about ready to back track it all and just tell Avia 'change of plans' before her head tilted ever so slightly.
"Did you just not tell everyone it's not safe out there?" She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. Something felt off about the invitation. But inside she was trying to control the happy dance and excitement that was shoving her concerns to the corners of her mind with a hurried pace. A spa day with Mallorie? Fancy dress shopping back at Clara Krow? Getting to go to the party that happened every year?! Francis always took Ma to it and the stories of all the rich and famous people she got to meet and dance with left her with just a small modicum of jealousy. And now she was personally invited by the soon to be Commissioner of Police to attend with her boyfriend?!
'Oh! I am dreaming. Have to be! This is like PROM! But better!' She internally let out a couple of girly shrieks and had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from blurting out her anticipation about having a romantic candle lit dinner down at the Mayor's estate, wine and dine long into the night, maybe snag a dance with Niko, if he even did that kind of thing, and then rub elbows with famous movie stars that were in town.
"I mean…" 'Shit.' "Yes. It is. But you asked me to trust the people around us to do their job. I can keep an eye out at the salon if you want or follow you around at whatever store you pick to go dress shopping at…" 'Okay this is not how I planned this. I should've thought it out more. These lies are going to build up past what I can keep straight soon…'
"NO! I mean. Yes, we can trust people. But Mal and I are going by ourselves. You can send whoever to watch over the place, but I will want to get ready and surprise you when you come to pick me up. I'll get ready here with Bernie's help. He can watch over me when we go dress shopping. I'll be careful… How did you know this has been like one of my ultimate date night dreams?"
"I did not know. But Francis seemed fairly keen on me taking you."
He wasn't prepared for her to charge him and tackle him back on the bed, planting kiss after kiss to his cheeks and neck, bear hugging him tightly. She straddled him and lifted up just enough to give him a beaming smile that warmed his soul.
"I'll go talk to Mallorie real quick before her and Roman leave. Get Bernie's okay. Maybe he knows of another place besides Clara Krow. Some place that the other women shop at that go to these gala-like events. Thank you, Niko! This is going to be the best Valentine's Day ever!" She kissed him quickly on the lips, not giving him a chance to respond before she leapt off of him and dashed out the door.
"I am so fucked. She is way too excited about this…" Niko glared up at the ceiling and spoke quietly in Serbian. A loud shrieking from Kate and Mallorie confirmed that this was going to either end him or he was getting the best boyfriend of the year award.
The door squeaked as it was pressed open more and Niko lifted his head up enough from his position to see Bernie standing in the doorway looking concerned, "If this is more than you just trying to get brownie points with her, I will be disappointed in you." Bernie took a few steps into his own room and partially closed the door. Not like the females would understand them talking in Serbian, but Roman may pick up a word or two here and there and blurt it out to his wife.
"You have no idea how much of a minefield I find myself walking in right now." Niko plopped his head back down on the bed and went back to staring up at the ceiling.
"Who is going to be at this party?" Bernie had guessed right. This wasn't just a date night for Kate. There was something else going on in the background, "And do I need to help her pick a dress that can conceal a bullet proof vest?" He snorted at the thought.
"I have reason to believe the person who sent Bobby after us will be there. Every single gang, family, mafia, bought politician and pay-rolled police officer will be in attendance. This is cover in order to at least get a face to the threat." Niko rubbed his temples as he could hear Kate's excited chattering with Mallorie about how to do their hair and what treatments to get while at the spa. 'Yep I took it too far now.'
"Niko… I have to trust you. But I feel like this is a trap and will end badly. I hope I am wrong, and you prove to me that you can have a good time and play the part of spy. But let me tell you, you are no James Bond." Bernie smiled as Niko slapped his hand to his face and groaned loudly. They used to tease everyone back home that they were going to grow up to be an international spy like the few movies they were able to see on trips into town.
"My brother… He almost succeeded." Niko reached into his jacket and pulled out the passport and tossed it toward Bernie knowing he'd catch it.
Bernie easily caught the small object that was thrown at him and turned it over seeing the navy blue and gold script of the Serbian National official passport. He grew confused as he opened it and did a double take at the image of Niko's brother smiling up at him. He read the name over and over again and did a quick trip down memory lane to try and remember the old addresses back home. Yugoslavia looked so weird listed as country of origin.
"Niko… Niko what is this?!" Bernie looked up from the correctly listed information from the glossy and weighted pages of a passport.
"He ran into IAA over there. Struck a deal to bring down Bulgarin's organization in exchange for safe passage of him, me, and mother to the United States. I have no clue when this took place. Clearly it had to have happened right before his death. Ironic I ended up working for the asshole." Niko sat up on the bed wishing for a drink or something to help haze out the memories that wanted to show up with seeing his brother's face again.
"That's… Damn Niko." Bernie looked back down to the picture and smiled at seeing how happy the young man looked.
"Everything okay in here?" Kate poked her head around the door and could almost pick up on the somber mood.
"Would you like to see a picture of my brother?" Niko waved Bernie on to give her the passport, "This is all I have left of him. Found it today while running around and getting people to help."
Bernie sent him a questioning look as if asking 'who the hell had this the whole time' before handing the passport over to Kate, "He is rather adorable looking. More handsome than an older brother I know of." He stuck his tongue out at Niko when he flipped him off.
Kate had no idea what was going on but eagerly accepted the passport and flipped open the cover to see what looked like a younger version of Niko smiling up at her. Kind, blue eyes, looked up at her from under thinner dark brown eyebrows. A smattering of longer chocolate hair was neatly combed over and framed the sharp outline of his face. Not a single scar was visible on his face and the way his lips curled into a smile reminded her of the way Niko would look at her when they were alone, and the rest of the world had disappeared.
"He is handsome. How old was he in this photo?" Kate read his name and other information and had to mentally figure out when Yugoslavia was dissolved. It had to have been she was young and hadn't been paying attention to world news.
"No idea. But he looks about seventeen or sixteen. He was killed in 1995." Niko gave a small half smile at hearing her call his brother handsome. He had their mother's eyes and her kind smile. Where he looked more like his father.
"God… I was only fifteen. Wait. How old were you two when you joined the war?" Kate handed the passport back to Bernie when he reached for it.
"Too young my dear. No more talk about it please." Bernie lovingly looked down at the picture one last time and silently moved to Niko's side and handed it back to him.
"When you say that's all you have left of him…?" Kate leaned into the doorframe wishing she could lift both of them back into the excitement of just a few moments ago.
"We didn't have a camera growing up. No photos of us exist as kids." Niko shrugged at her appalled look, "We were all so poor and had nothing."
"It's why I love my apartment so much. This is the nicest and best thing I have ever owned in my life. I didn't know homes could be this beautiful or warm." Bernie shook his head and smiled as he looked around his bedroom. He was proud of his life now and while he didn't like to think of himself as a materialistic person, he was fond of his belongings and residence, "Came quite the way didn't we Niko?"
"You could say that again. You about ready to head out? I'm sure you want to get online and book the appointments for you and Mallorie?" Niko tucked the passport back into his jacket and shut down the memories and sadness that rocked around in him. He had other things to focus on and figure out. Too much was at risk now and he had a few more phone calls to make.
aaaaaa
I am going to cut this chapter here. There is so much more that's about to happen and me and long chapters don't get along anymore. lol
Sorry it seems like the story is stalling somewhat. But it's about to ramp up. I needed to establish a couple of things before getting the plot moving once more.