Inspiration strikes when it wants to. I am placing a disclaimer before this chapter- there is mention of the abuse Packie and Gerry suffered at the hands of their Pa. Zero details. And it's only mentioned in passing. But I know it can trigger some people's own trauma, and the last thing I want is for someone to not be able to read the story anymore because I failed to warn them.
aaaaaa
Kate hummed softly as she cleaned the dishes in the smaller upscale kitchen of Niko's Holland apartment. Dwayne had met them on the street when they arrived and after a few words between them all, Kate had insisted he stay for dinner. She grew more fond of Dwayne the longer they spoke during dinner, and she could see why Niko had him as a close friend. They both shared tragic pasts and had someone close to them betray their trust. Under all the gruff and cold exterior, there was a kind soul just wanting to be loved and appreciated.
She looked up from the platter she was washing to see the two men out on the balcony, Dwayne lit a cigar while Niko took a sip from his glass tumbler. A tiny smile crossed her lips seeing Niko relax some and conversate easily. It was refreshing to see him in his element, and not stalking around carrying a weapon. It was odd at times, this life she lived, and she could only shake her head as she got back to tidying up the kitchen.
"I don't think I ever thanked you for saving my life man." Dwayne puffed on his cigar and leaned into the cool stone balcony railing. It felt weird being back in the old apartment and standing not too far from where he had first met Niko.
"The choice was easy. There is no thanks to be given." Niko placed his vodka down on the thick stone baluster and surveyed the skyline. Liberty City always looked pretty from a distance at nighttime. The lights twinkled and appeared to look like glittering stars against an inky black backdrop.
"I'm not talkin' bout that man. You gave me my life back. Got my girl free from that loser. Got the club free of all them fucking gangsters. I'm back on top, I run it all. And it's thanks to you." It was effortless to answer Niko's call to help look for some punk. And the power trip of getting to boss around his crew and territory wasn't a bad feeling.
"I saw myself in you. It was like getting to fix my own problems and getting to see what could be." Niko ran the tip of his finger over the rim of his glass and ignored the way the freezing wind felt against his face.
"Well, you got one thing right and fixed. That there is one fine woman man. She cooks, cleans, likes your friends, and ain't about to fuck you over if shit comes down on you." Dwayne looked over his shoulder to see Kate putting up some of the clean dishes before going back to the table to get the rest of the leftover food.
"She is in more danger by being with me." Niko sighed heavily and turned to lean back into the railing to be able to watch her move around in the apartment. It stirred something domestic in him seeing her occupy the space as if she had lived there her whole life.
"That's the risk of being who we are. If you get with someone, they should know what comes with it. Cherise knew of the dangers. Actually liked it, but that's just her. Man, she just can't stay still for very long. After your cousin's wedding she and I broke it off. I think she needs some time to breathe and realize what is right for her. I miss her like crazy man. But sometimes it's best to get some space." He took another puff off his cigar and looked to the man standing at his side. There was a sad and far off look he recognized on Niko.
"I'm still surprised we are still together at times. She was nearly killed not that long ago because of a rather long story that I don't want to get into tonight. It's why I asked you for backup. Thank you for being there. And thanks for doing this for me now. I need to learn to trust those around me and I know I can trust you. You trust your people?" Niko lifted the glass up and took a large gulp.
"I provide for my men and therefore they respect me and will do anything I tell them to. I got the entire projects prosperous again and thriving man. Mothers can afford to feed their kids, fathers can be there for their families and feel like they are providing, and the crime rate has dropped. It's amazing how simple leadership and what spreading the wealth can do for a community man. Trust that if my people spot this asshole, he will be good as dead. There won't be a place he can hide up here." Dwayne had bolstered up what Playboy X was slowly ruining and tearing apart. People were happy once again.
"I would rather he be kept alive so I can get some answers out of him, but he is too dangerous to keep breathing. I don't know how he killed Kenny's men." Niko finished his glass and placed it down next to him.
"Anyone who is able to take out Petrovic people should not be trusted or kept around. I don't mess with the man personally, but he had approached me to join forces. It's tempting. I've seen what aligning with his power and protection has done for the Irish. Gerald is right to be worried about Kenny coming after him. He gets all this territory, money, and the lucrative drug routes from the Atlantic and now this happens? Pretty damn fishy man." Dwayne finished his cigar and twisted it against the stone in order to put it out. He had considered taking Kenny's help to deal with the East Holland gang, but he liked to work alone and not let people think he couldn't do it anymore.
"My thoughts exactly. Someone doesn't like Gerry's rise in power. And if this is just the start then I'm sure the Gambetti Family will be next on the list. The new Commission being formed with Kenny is powerful and stretches all the way to Europe and out west to LS. People aren't going to be happy about that. That level of notoriety brings enemies in numbers knocking at your door." Niko looked up at the clear skies and wished he had warned Gerry about what being friends with Kenny would bring.
"Sounds like you got experience man." He crossed his arms and studied the person who had singlehandedly given him his life back.
"I worked for a rather large organization back in Eastern Europe. I knew what would become of those that tried to tear it down." Niko kicked the few pebbles around his feet away from him and turned to look Dwayne in his eyes, "I didn't get where I am now without getting my hands dirty. Petrovic knows this and has been slowly pressuring me to be his second. That's not the life I want to live anymore."
Dwayne let out a low whistle, "If he wants you at his side, I got mad respect for you man. Not many can say no to the dude and walk away. You got an out if it comes to it?" He now saw the true gravity of the situation. Niko was playing with fire, and it was starting to burn him. Petrovic got what he wanted, no questions asked, and if he didn't, bodies started to turn up in the streets. And with how close Niko was to the Irish mob, that would be the first place Kenny would attack.
They both looked up as the door opened and Kate poked her head out to them, "Rather cold to just be standing there. Come back inside and warm up for a bit? Maybe tell me a couple more stories before you hit the road, Dwayne?"
"I'd be more than happy to indulge you. I got a good one too!" Dwayne smiled at the female and seemed to only have eyes for Niko.
"Be right there." Niko answered her and watched as she closed the door and walked over to the couch and plopped down, turning the television on. It was getting cold outside, and his drink was empty. He figured they needed to talk a little bit more and maybe settle a couple of things between them.
"Niko, man. You do have a way out of this right?" Dwayne placed his hand on Niko's shoulder as he moved to head back inside the apartment.
"Yes." Niko paused with the hand to his shoulder and gave Dwayne a once over, asking him to release him silently.
"Your girl got an exit strategy too? I can only do so much from my end. But I can't take on the Russian's and survive. You know what I mean man?" Dwayne removed his hand and spoke his peace. While he will always have Niko's back, he knew that if Kenny started a rampage, his crew wouldn't stand a chance. People would be slaughtered, and his territory would be absorbed quickly.
"She won't need one. If he crosses me? I will kill him." Niko turned to face Dwayne and let his threat hang between them, "No one will be able to stop me."
"Man… You kill him and you'd take over. There would be no walking away from that. You kill him man… And you will have my dying loyalty." Dwayne held his hand out for Niko to shake. With Niko in charge and calling the shots, he would pledge his allegiance without a single thought otherwise. He could trust Niko to make the right decisions and all of Liberty would fall in line. There would be a peace that had never been seen before.
Niko shook his hand, "That's if he is dumb enough to come after me. And it will be my last resort. I made a promise to walk away from that life, and I plan to keep it."
"You might not have that choice."
aaaaaa
"Hey Gerry, is everything okay?" Kate answered her phone when she saw her brother calling, muting the tv with the remote. He never called her on her cell phone, for obvious reasons, as it could be traced back to him. Seeing his name flashing as the caller got her heartrate up and she had looked out the windows to see if Niko and Dwayne were heading back inside.
"No Katie it's not. Packie took off. We can't find him." Gerry sounded extremely worried, and his voice was strained.
"What do you mean you can't find him?!" Kate stood up off the couch and turned toward the large patio doors in a panic.
"We didn't even know he snuck out of the house till a minute or two ago. He left his phone behind. I'm guessing he isn't with you?" Kate looked around the apartment for some kind of answer, but nothing was coming to her.
"No, he isn't with me or Niko. Did Gordon check Steinway?" Kate grabbed her jacket off the back of the couch and worked her arms into the sleeves. There were only so many places Patrick would disappear to when he got lost or upset. Derrick had the same habit of going to Steinway or the Monoglobe in Meadow's Park.
"That's where I am heading now. Look. I don't know if you know the current situation, but if we can't find him, I'm worried something much worse happened to him." Gerry sounded slightly winded, and it spurred Kate on.
"Bobby killed some of Kenny's men. Yeah, I know. But why would Bobby go and kill Packie? They were close friends back then." Kate moved toward the patio and stopped abruptly as she took hold of the door handle, "Wait. That's not who you are worried about hurting him, is it?"
"Petrovic isn't to be crossed Katie. The Russians are a very dangerous group. I'm pulling up to Steinway now. I'll text you if we find him. If you can think of any other place he could be at, please let me know." Kate could hear a car door open and close over the line and she figured he wasn't kidding about getting out and looking for their brother. Gerry was meant to be hidden from the public eye. He was considered dead.
"I will Gerry. I'm going to get Niko to help. I'll keep you updated as well. Be careful. I love you." Kate jerked open the patio doors and shuddered as the cold wind blasted her.
"Love you too Katie-Bear." The call ended with a beep, and she tucked her phone into her jacket pocket as she rushed up to Niko and his friend.
"Kate? What happened?" Niko and Dwayne had turned toward the doors as they heard them open rapidly. Niko could see the sheer panic and fear painted all over her face and he took a couple of steps in her direction and met her halfway, catching her as she collapsed into his arms.
"It's Packie. He's gone missing. Gerry is out looking for him. And you know that can't happen. We need- no have to find him!" Kate's hands shook so bad as she grabbed the jacket sleeves on Niko's arms.
"Fuck. Okay. Back inside now." Niko helped direct her back inside the apartment, jerking his head to tell Dwayne to follow them.
"Niko… What if it's Kenny? What if he killed Packie? Oh my God… This can't be happening." Kate clung to Niko even has he helped her sit back down on the couch.
"Dwayne, can you get me a shot of whiskey from the cabinet?" Niko looked to his friend and pointed toward where the liquor was kept. He nodded his thanks as his friend went in search of a glass and the brown liquid, "Now Kate. Tell me everything and where he might go."
"Gerry called me. Said he must have snuck out of the house at some point. He had just gotten to Steinway. I figured maybe Packie went to Derrick's old hangout spot. The only other place I know of that he liked to go to is Meadow's Park. We all like to walk around it at night to work through things." Kate tried to take a deep breath and closed her eyes to help refocus her mind.
"Here. Take a couple of sips and breathe. Everything is going to be okay." Dwayne held out a glass for her and held on to it with her till he was sure she could take ahold of it on her own.
"Thank you, Dwayne." Kate downed the entire glass and didn't even flinch at the burn that scorched down her throat, "Niko what happened with him last night? He never came down to dinner, and if he's in the wrong mind set, he can get pretty dangerous. To himself and others."
Niko took the empty glass from her and placed it down on the table, "Bobby said some messed up things about your father before Packie pistol whipped him. I am going to go search the park."
"I'll come help. If he's headed down a dark path, maybe I can help. I've been there myself a few times." Dwayne zipped up his coat and moved over to the bar top to grab his handgun.
"I'm coming too. Packie will talk to me." Kate made to get up off the couch before Niko gently held her back down on the cushions.
"No. You are staying here. This would be the perfect opportunity for Bobby to come for you or get us out in the open." Niko matched her glare and stood his ground. She would not be out wandering around and forcing him to divide his attention between watching out for her and looking for Patrick, "I get you are worried. I am too. But please. Just stay here where it is safe. I'll be back as soon as we find him."
"I will have my men lock down the building and keep watch. No one will be able to get to her." Dwayne waited by the front door and typed out a couple of messages to the people who lived in the building, as well as his higher ranking men. He would protect Niko's girl while they went out into the night and looked for a member of the McReary family. He was kind of worried about meeting the notorious Gerald.
"Niko, he's my brother. Let me help." She shoved up off the couch and tried to hold her own against the intimidating look she was getting from him.
"I can't Kate. I need you to be safe and protected so I can put all my attention on finding him. Listen to me on this." He placed his hands on her shoulders and gave her a loving squeeze, "You asked that I don't just run off without saying goodbye or letting you know what I'm going to go do. This is me asking you to stay here while I locate Packie and make sure he hasn't been taken by Kenny's men or had a run in with Bobby."
"Okay. I'll stay here, but you better answer my phone calls or texts when you can. I'm going to call some of the guys and see where they have been looking and pass along the areas that have been cleared. That way I at least feel like I'm doing something." Kate relented and dropped her forehead to his chest. He had a point. They had nearly fought over the same situation they found themselves in now.
"Thank you." Niko pulled her into a tight hug and looked over to Dwayne to let him know he was almost ready to head out.
"Take your rifle." Kate mumbled from her position pressed against his strong body. She wanted to just go lax in his arms and soak in the comfort that he brought her, but her heart was still slamming against her ribcage, and it was pumping fear to every nerve ending in her body.
"I will. Be safe Лепа (Lepa). I will come back to you." Niko kissed the top of her head and took a step back, lifting her face up to meet his gaze, "I have too much to lose now."
"Волим те (Volim te)" Kate felt her lips tremble as the tears wanted to break free. Her brother could possibly be dead in the middle of the street and her boyfriend was about to leave her locked up in his apartment to go find him. Everything inside her was screaming at her to do something, anything, to help and make the pain go away.
"волим и ја тебе (volim i ja tebe)" Niko cupped her face and placed a tender kiss to her lips. He wanted to do more than that, but time was ticking away, and he needed to get out there searching. Who knew how long he had truly been missing. Silently he leaned away from her and stroked over her cheek with the pad of his thumb. It hurt his heart to see how devastated she looked back at him. With one final brush of her cheek, he let her go and walked away to the bedroom to get his assault rifle.
Kate wiped at her cheeks and sucked in a sharp breath. She refused to cry in front of Niko's friend she just met. She sent him a tight smile before picking up her empty glass and going back to the kitchen for another large shot of whiskey. She refused to believe Packie was dead. If he had been reminded of what their Pa had done and forced them all to endure, he was probably trying to find a place to be alone. She had the same yearnings here and there to be shut off from the world and be left alone in a quiet peaceful place.
Niko emerged from behind the separating wall carrying his rifle and tucking a couple of extra magazines into his jacket pockets. He met her eyes from across the room, but they might as well have been in different neighborhoods with how far apart he felt from her. He would need to work on that when he got back to the apartment. Dwayne coughed from his spot by the front door, and he turned his attention away from Kate and back to the task at hand.
Kate downed another shot and placed the glass down on the island, "Niko! Wait!"
She watched as he paused in following Dwayne out the door and turn toward her. Her feet carried her over to him rapidly and she flung her arms around his neck as she slightly jumped up in order to kiss him hard.
Niko dropped his rifle to his side and caught her as she slammed into him, and he fisted his hands into her jacket as he returned the feverish kissing she was giving him. So many memories and feelings wanted to assault him as he shifted his hands down to her hips, helping haul her up his body to be able to change the angle of their connected lips. Her hands ran over his hair and sent a shiver down his spine. Even the quiet, whisper of his name that broke from her throat had him wishing he could carry her over to the pool table and strip her out of her pants.
"Come back to me." Kate slowed down and rested her forehead against his, panting at the way her body burned for him. There was a clock in her mind that was counting down to something, and she feared what would happen when the time ran out.
"Always." Niko brushed his nose against hers and planted another longing kiss to her waiting lips, "I'll find him alive and figure out what's going on."
"There is an alcove in Meadow's Park not far from the Monoglobe. It's Packie's and my spot. It's where we went after Pa died. Try there first." She kissed him again and slowly found her footing as he placed her down on the ground.
"Okay. I'll call when I can." He threaded his hands into her hair and kissed her deeply, "Stay safe for me."
"I'll be safe. Now go." She blinked back the tears and patted his chest. It felt like he was truly saying goodbye as he searched over her face as if memorizing it. She watched as he leaned away from her personal space and grew serious. It was so startling to see how he could shift moods so quickly.
Niko took one last long, hard look at his girlfriend before tearing his eyes off of her and entered the elevator that Dwayne had held open for them. He would search the park and find her brother quickly. Then he was going to break every traffic law the city had in order to get back to her. He didn't like leaving her alone and without someone he knew would die protecting her. Thoughts about calling Bernie crossed his mind, but he would be at the clubs checking for Bobby and getting intel where he could.
Kate trembled from head to toe as the elevator doors slid shut and took Niko away from her view. She forced herself back to the kitchen island and poured herself another shot. Surely Packie had just gone to their hidden place to think through some things and find his way back to whatever he deemed as levelheaded. She downed the liquid and moved back to the couch to try and calm her own nerves.
'Where else could he have gone?'
There truly were only a few places she knew of that he would want to go to, and there was no way he didn't know about Bobby or Kenny. He would have more information than her on that front. And there was no way Gerry hadn't told him to not leave the house. They were all potential targets. She glanced up at the clock on the wall and started to watch the minutes tick away. How was she supposed to just sit here and do nothing as everyone tore the city apart looking for her brother?
She found the strength to stand up and pace around the apartment. Her heart tried to tell her Niko would find him quickly and then everything could calm down.
But why did Packie leave his phone at the house?
"Probably so Frankie couldn't track it… Frankie!" Kate pulled her phone from her pocket and quickly pulled up her other brother's contact and pressed the call button. The line rang several times, and it lowered her spirits.
"Hey Kate, everything okay?" Francis answered her call and sounded groggy and tired.
"No. Packie has gone missing. Has Niko informed you of everything?" Kate tucked her hair behind her ears and frowned at the way it pulled against her fingers. Niko certainly messed up her ponytail.
"WHAT?! Fuck okay. I'll get Ron out patrolling. Where has everyone looked or not looked? Are people looking?" Francis nearly screamed at her and she jerked the phone away from her ear and put it on speaker so she could go get another shot. The alcohol was slowly working to dull the extreme feelings wanting to overwhelm her, but she didn't want to get drunk and be useless if she had the chance to help out.
"Is Ron even able to leave the hospital? And right now, Gerry is in Steinway and checking all of Derrick's old spots. Niko is heading to Meadow's Park. I don't know where else he would go." Kate yanked her hair tie loose and shook out her hair. She was starting to feel warm, and she poured another shot, taking it in one go.
"He would go looking even if he was wheelchair bound. You know how he is with the family…" There was a long pause and Kate glanced to her phone worried that Francis had ended the call, "There was a park in Alderney. I think it's called Acter Park. A couple of cops found Derrick there passed out once or twice. Could be another place he might head to. I can try to geo-locate his cell phone from here in the hospital."
"He left his phone at the house." Kate rubbed her temples and let out a huff of air, "I think he knew I would call you and have you track him."
"Smart. Kid knows how to go underground. You want me to send Ron?" Francis sounded worried and concerned and it made Kate feel thankful that she had called him. The family needed one another right now.
"Don't make him risk his own health. If Bobby attacked him like Niko thinks, then he is safer there at the hospital. I'll keep you updated. Call me if he comes to visit you." Kate dropped her face into hands when she propped her elbows on the counter.
"Why would he ever come visit me?!" Francis laughed over the line and caused Kate to frown.
"Believe it or not, he loves you in his own way. Everything changed since Roman's wedding, and you know it. I'll call with an update when I get it." Kate raised her voice slightly and reached for the phone to angrily end the call when he started talking again.
"Sorry. Old habits. Been the outcast for so long that it's hard to remember that I am somewhat welcomed by him. Let me know when you find him… please." The call ended and Kate felt a bit bad for snapping. But it just reiterated the point that Packie needed to be found. And soon. Her stress level was rising the longer the minutes kept turning into an hour since Niko left.
She felt useless just being cooped up in the apartment. She should be out there with Niko or Gerry. Packie and her were close as of late. They spent a lot of time together while recovering in the hospital and she knew she would be able to talk him off the ledge. If that's what was going on. Bobby or Kenny could have found him and…
"No! Stop thinking that way!" She shoved up from the bar stool and began pacing again, "Where would I go if I needed a break from everything? A friend's house would be out of the question. They would just call Niko or my brothers to tell them where I was at. The park would be unsafe. Too open and I'd be easily spotted. Church? No… Packie wouldn't go there." She ran her fingers through her hair as she continued to think of places her brother would run to.
Her phone buzzed on the counter, and she ran over to be able to read the message.
Gerry had sent only two words; 'Not here.'
"Fuck." Steinway was one place she knew he frequented when needing to be close to home, but wanting to feel like he was out from under the watchful eye of Ma-
"Wait. Ma! Oh my God." Kate spun around to face the bedroom and let her thoughts fly away from her. If she ever felt like needing advice or felt lonely, her Ma would be the one person she'd want to talk with and be around. And having anyone interrupt her time with Ma… Packie would surely shoot first and ask questions later. She tapped her phone in her hand and debated telling Gerry or Niko. They would more than likely spook him if they approached him in the graveyard. But she had told them she would update them when she found out information.
"I'm sorry Niko. But this requires a sister's level of understanding." She tucked her phone into her back pocket and made a beeline for the bedroom. Knowing her boyfriend, there would be more weapons tucked away somewhere. She opened a couple of dresser drawers and only saw clothes, before the large armoire caught her eye. Carefully she pulled open the cabinet style doors and gasped at seeing the vast number of guns hanging on the inside of the piece of furniture. Rifles of varying sizes intimidated her, and she could guess at the empty place that that was where he had kept handguns.
"Come on. You have more than just the one handgun…" She opened a drawer and trailed her eyes over the carefully laid out knives. Some looked more intricately designed and she hovered her hand over a couple before deciding she wouldn't know the first thing about throwing one or using it in close quarters. She shook her head and closed it to lower down and open the couple of larger drawers below the cabinet doors.
She had to yank on the large drawer to get it open and nearly fell backwards as it came loose. She gained her balance and lowered back on her legs in order to rummage through the items that looked to just be tossed inside. A large duffle bag stuffed with cash made her pause. Just what was he doing with that large amount of cash just tucked away in an unlocked drawer? She pulled the bag out and spotted the handle of a handgun peeking out from under a bulletproof vest that was riddled with bullets.
She moved the vest out of the way, grabbed the gun, and nearly dropped it once she saw which handgun it was. A large gouge mark graced one side of the handle and it was missing a decent chunk of metal. She lifted it out of the drawer and turned it over to see the faint, boxy lettering in Niko's native language of Serbian.
"What are you doing keeping Darko's handgun here hidden like this…?" Kate pressed the release button and saw golden-hued bullets still stacked neatly inside the magazine. She mimicked what she had seen her brothers and Niko do a thousand times and forcefully lodged it back inside the gun and pulled back on the slide to see if a round was loaded or not. It took more strength than she was prepared to use, but she managed to pull it back far enough to spot the single round resting in the chamber.
Kate released the slide and with a weirdly satisfying click, the gun went back to its ready to fire position, "You aren't the only one who can play hero."
She stood up and tucked the pistol down into the back of her jeans and caught her reflection in the mirror on the other side of the bed. She looked to recognizable, and she spun around to find his other large chest that looked like it housed hang up clothes. She jerked her jacket off and tossed it to the bed and went in search of a hoodie or larger jacket as a means to help disguise herself. The doors opened easily, and she flipped through several rather colorful sweaters before spotting a black leather sleeve.
She pulled the leather garment loose from the hanger and froze at seeing something white on the back of the jacket. She turned it around in her hands and immediately recognized the large white bird that used to be on her friend's motorcycle jacket. Flashes of Sergei's smiling face and goofy mannerisms rocked her body.
"What did Niko call this…" Kate whispered as she hugged the jacket to her chest and tried to remember the conversation they had in front of his laptop while looking at photos of her.
"I don't know this language. It's not one I can read or speak. But I have a fairly good guess. He's wearing the Albanian coat of arms on his jacket. Your friend was probably part of the Albanian gang. The very one that attacked Derrick's funeral."
Niko's voice echoed inside her head, and she lifted the jacket back up. It would be good cover. No one would want to mess with someone with the Albanian logo splashed across their back. With shaky hands she slipped her arms into the jacket and did up the zipper. It was large, bordering on too large, but it hid her figure well enough. She grabbed a beanie out of the chest of drawers and pulled it over her identifiable hair.
She checked her appearance one last time in the mirror before heading out to the patio. Dwayne had said that the building would be on lock down, so her chances of getting out the front door were slim to none. She peered over the edge of the building to the fire escape and saw it didn't go down to the street level. That plan went out the window as she would just end up back in the building in someone else's apartment unit. Which was not an option.
The wind picked up and she squinted against the sting of it. That's when she noticed that the gap between buildings wasn't that far apart. It was jumpable. Though it would be risky and dangerous. But Packie needed her, and she was determined to help him. She backed up to the patio doors and glued her eyes to the ledge of the building across from hers. She'd charge the ledge and jump it. No big deal. Right?
"What are you doing Kate. Come on…" She took a couple of deep breaths and took off as fast as her legs would carry her and when she got to the edge she leapt over the gap. Her feet connected to the firm concrete of the opposite building, and she fell forward and rolled to alleviate the pain that shot up her legs. She laid still on the roof for several moments just sucking in air to try and calm her pulsing blood pressure.
'Holy shit… That was...'
Her brain couldn't come up with the right word and she lifted up to her knees to check her surroundings. The rooftop was dark, but a single light was on above the access door. Now she just had to hope it was unlocked and she could get down the staircase and out on the street.
"Here goes nothing. I'm coming Packie." She whispered and shoved up off the roof and made her way to the door, which easily opened when she pressed on it. Each step down forced adrenaline and anxiety through her body. Was she really going against Niko's word to stay put? Was this even a good idea? Each landing was empty on the stairs, and she was thankful for the privacy and slight darkness that hid her from view.
Before she was truly ready, she reached the bottom floor. There was only one door that led out to the street, and she closed her eyes and said a silent prayer.
'Ma if you are watching over us, I could use some guidance and good luck. You too Derrick.'
The nighttime air wasn't as cold along the streets as she exited the building. But either way she felt the need to pull the beanie down further on her hair and readjust the heavy leather jacket. The gun was a welcomed weight that pressed into her waist as she took off in a brisk pace for the subway station. She would take it over into Dukes then make her way to the cemetery. In her heart she knew Packie would be at their Ma's gravesite. It was where she would go if she ever lost herself mentally, emotionally, or just wanted to feel close to her family.
A couple of men gave her a weird look and she immediately pulled her phone out from her back pocket and scrolled down to the one number she knew she wouldn't get any push back from. She lifted the phone to her ear and kept watching the streets as she waited for him to answer the phone.
"Hey Ka-"
"Are you where you can talk and not reveal it's me calling?" Kate rushed her words to try and keep him from saying her name out loud over the call. She looked both ways before crossing the street and picking up her pace once she saw the subway entrance up ahead.
"Hey KAREN! Been a long time since we went out. You finally come to your senses?" He exaggerated his voice and Kate wanted to laugh at his tone or slap a hand to her face in annoyance. Anyone who knew him would know he was lying and lying horribly. She listened as it sounded like he was telling someone he'd be right back and to check over by the dumpsters, "So why did I just lie to some of the guys that you are calling me?!"
"Gordon, I need you to listen, and do as I say-"
"Oh no, fuck this, Kate. I'm not gonna risk my neck and end up getting beat to a pulp by Gerald or gunned down by Niko. I know you are up to no good. You never call me. Ever. And when you do it's to go behind your brother's backs." Gordon harshly spoke in a low tone and Kate felt like hitting him with her phone for talking to her that way.
"I am on my way to the Steinway cemetery. I need you to meet me there. Discreetly. Do you understand?" Kate ducked her head down as she passed by a crowd of people exiting the staircase that descended below the street.
"Katie. No. Niko said you were being protected at a safehouse. Which is why he is in Meadow's Park with us searching for Patrick. You need to march your ass back to the safehouse and pretend you never called me." He spoke even quieter, and she figured he was trying to keep his voice from travelling.
"Gordon, I trust you. You have never gone against my word before. I… I need your help. Gerry and Niko would approach Packie all wrong and you know when he gets this way, he is trigger happy. I'm not going back to the safehouse till I check Ma's gravesite. If he isn't there, then you can take me back to the apartment. So you can either come protect me from a distance, or you can leave me to do this on my own." Kate moved out from under the streetlamp to sit down on a bench just outside the subway entrance.
"You are going to be the death of me one day, you know this right? Give me a few minutes to duck out and I'll meet you there. But if you get into trouble before then, you swear to me you will call Niko. And swear to me you won't get my ass killed by him for knowing you're doing this."
"I swear Sarge. Nothing will happen to you. Or me. I'll be there shortly. Thank you." Kate hung up and swiftly took the steps down into the poorly lit subway entrance. She watched the random people who milled around or were sitting down along the titled walls. When she got to the ticket turnstile entrance gates, she hopped over it. Her first real crime ever committed in Liberty City, and it was to avoid having to waste time in buying a ticket from the electronic booths.
She easily located the line that would head into Dukes next and kept looking around her as she waited for the train. So far no one seemed to pay her much mind and it did nothing to still the queasiness in her stomach. She knew Niko would explode once he found out, but this was the only way she could see Packie getting found safely. And it wasn't like she was going without someone to watch over her. Gordon wouldn't let anything happen to her.
'Probably could have called Bernie, but he's so far away and he would down right refuse to help and would probably call Niko immediately to alert him of my plan…'
The telltale sound of the clacking wheels, and high pitch screech of the brakes filled the subway station, and she took a step forward to be able to get on as soon as the doors swung open. A person moved up a car space down from her and looked her way. He kept his eyes trained on the jacket and she wondered if he recognized the logo or was part of the same gang. A chilling thought crossed her mind. What if the Albanian's spotted her?
She turned back toward the train as it came to a stop. She would keep an eye on him and either bolt to the other side of the station if he got on and headed in her direction or go for the gun. Her hands tingled as she took the step onto the subway train. She noticed how empty it was at the late hour and was thankful for her luck. It would be less people to watch and keep in her line of sight. She looked over her shoulder down the long line of attached cabins and saw the guy taking a seat facing the front of the train.
Slowly she turned on her heel and moved up a car or two in order to put more space between them and find a seat that faced the middle of the train. It would give her a chance to see him coming if he got up. Her entire body kept shaking and she wiped her hands along her jeans to free them of the sweat that kept collecting. She wouldn't be able to fire a gun if she couldn't keep a decent grip on it.
The train lurched forward, and she looked at the overhead map. Only one stop to go. It was the first stop into Dukes and put her within a short walk to the graveyard. Now all she had to do was pray that Packie was there and not someplace else. Lights flashed as the train hurdled on through the underground tunnels before giving way to the Humboldt River. Dukes was fairly lit up for the hour and she wondered if it was because Gerry had everyone looking for their brother.
The train slowed as they approached the station in Steinway, Dukes. Kate glanced down the row of cars to see that the man was leaning into the window and was on his phone, completely ignoring her and the fact that they were coming to a stop. It was a small relief and she stood up to grab the nearest bar to help steady her as the train gave one final jolt before coming to a rest. The cemetery was just over the hill, and she grew excited at seeing it.
The doors hissed as they opened, and she practically ran off the train in the direction of where she assumed her brother was located. She tried to keep from jogging or running. It would draw notice to her, but her heart was urging her on. Spurring her to hurry up and get there. Maybe Gordon would already be there and waiting on her. Or maybe she'd beat him there and be able to get a word or two in with Packie before he got angry at her for bringing someone along.
The air burned her lungs as she sped walked down the sidewalk, head on a swivel, and she had to take a deep breath every now and then to keep from getting winded. It had been a long time since she had done anything really physically demanding. The run on Happiness Island had caused her to basically want to do nothing but lay around for months after. And the pulling of her leg muscles could attest to the prolonged break from working out. She used the sidewalks and grassy areas in order to avoid going into a beam of light from the streetlamps.
She would do everything she could think of to stay somewhat hidden and undetected. But once the entrance came into view, she took off in a light jog, not caring about being stealthy. A small group of people were loitering around the sidewalk entrance, and she slowed down to a stop and ducked down behind a couple of cars. She would have to either wait them out or climb over the short wall next to her in order to bypass them.
Kate checked that her hair was still shoved under the beanie cap and that the jacket was laying right. The gun was still pressed into her skin, and she reached behind her to pull it loose. Not that she wanted to use it, but Niko had said something along the lines of the sight of a gun could be just as intimidating as firing it. If they meant her harm, she would aim it at them and hope to the heavens that they weren't armed.
Something solid and firm was pressed to the back of her head, and she froze.
"Just what the fuck do you think you're doing in Irish territory Albanian scum!"
Kate recognized the voice immediately and raised her hands, "Gordon. It's me!"
"Kate?! Oh my God!" Gordon lowered his assault rifle and leaned around her, holding his hand out in order to help her stand up, "What are you doing looking all suspicious in the parking lot. And no less in Albanian garb? That's a surefire way of getting shot on sight in Dukes."
Kate gladly took his hand and allowed him to help her stand up. Her heart was still going nuts with having a gun pressed to her head. Thankfully Gordon is someone who wants answers before just killing someone, "I was waiting for those people to leave so I could enter without being noticed."
"Jesus!" Gordon grabbed her wrist of the hand that held a gun, forcing her to point it away from them, "Not this shit again. Why don't you give me the gun and I'll walk with you into the cemetery?"
"I'm fine." Kate jerked her hand free and tucked the gun back into the waistband of her pants, "And I figured this jacket would help me get out of Holland. Kind of hides my body. And it's really warm. Didn't think about some of my brother's gang members gunning me down." She shrugged at his opened mouth stare, "What?"
"Who are you and what did you do with Kate?" Gordon reached up and pulled the beanie down some on her forehead, "I mean. Sorry. I-"
"You're okay Sarge. I'm just glad you are here with me. Now can we go check to see if Packie is here?" She didn't like the way her cheeks warmed at his touch, or the way she wanted to laugh at him and tease him more. There was an ease to being around him, and it had pretty much been there since middle school.
"Since you've now called me by your nickname twice, I'm just going to assume I'm dead and Niko has already sent me to the afterlife. One more time and I'll be convinced you are setting me up to be murdered." Gordon shook his head and adjusted his assault rifle, "After you Princess."
"You know I hate that name." She rolled her eyes and started heading off to the entrance and where the other people started to disperse.
"Derrick called you it all the time." He matched her stride and kept watching their surroundings for movement or Russians. Kenny still hadn't returned his calls and it was concerning. His plane should have already landed hours ago. And still there had been zero communication from the Petrovic family.
"He was the only one I didn't mind calling me it. Gerry and Packie use it as a way to tease me. And Natalya used it as an insult." She looked down at the ground with the mention of her late brother. She hadn't told anyone how bad it hurt when she was called Princess by Natalya. It was like disrespecting Derrick's memory. 'Which is probably why she did it…'
"I'm sorry." He felt bad for the way she slowed her steps and watched the cobblestone path, "I am sorry I wasn't there to help during it all. I should've been around, or at least been at the church for the wedding."
"Don't do that to yourself, you are here now, and that counts." She nudged his arm with her elbow like they used to do back in school when they would walk each other home.
"True." He grew silent as he thought he saw someone dropping down behind a headstone, "Kate, I know you don't like taking orders from anyone, but if I tell you to run, you better do it." He lifted his rifle and clicked on the flashlight attachment.
Kate removed her own pistol and let him take the lead. He was right that she didn't like being told what to do, but she wasn't about to leave Gordon behind. He was here because of her. And no one else knew they were here, at least she didn't think Gordon told anyone else. He was usually true to his word and never went back on it. Unless it was life or death, then he tended to try and protect life, instead of killing.
"Show yourself! This is Irish turf, you got exactly five seconds before I shoot." Gordon slowed to a stop and got into a firing stance. He hated that he might have to kill someone in front of Kate, but he would do what he had to do in order to keep her safe and alive. A dog bolted out from behind the headstone and took off down the path and out of their line of sight, "Fucking hell. Nearly killed a damn dog."
"My guardian angel!" Kate sarcastically huffed and relaxed her shoulders. 'It's only a dog… Nothing more. No Russian assassination squad, and not Bobby. Calm yourself.'
"Hey! I know you were scared- And would you cut it out with that?!" Gordon had turned to look back at her and throw an insult her way when he spotted her holding the handgun again, "Do you even know how to properly fire it? You have proven you know how to pull the trigger, but do you know how to aim or hold it or anything?"
"You're right. I do know how to pull the trigger." She spoke coldly and didn't like the reminder that she had almost killed Niko.
"I'm not trying to be mean here, but there is a level of care that needs to be used when carrying something." He lifted his free hand in a show of surrender and that he meant no harm.
"Niko plans on showing me how one day. But I wasn't about to just run out into the streets without some kind of way to defend myself. Should I have grabbed one of those larger guns? Are they easier to aim or fire?" Kate lowered the pistol to her side and started walking down the path that led to her brother, mother, and father's gravesites.
"I am clearly saying all the wrong things here. Yes. You did the right thing bringing something along, but you shouldn't even be out here. I shouldn't even be allowing you to do this. Niko is probably watching us from a distance and has the damn crosshairs on my forehead just waiting to see what I'm going to do. Like some kind of test or something." Gordon rubbed at his head and sighed loudly. He was in so much trouble if they were discovered, "I am going to regret this for the rest of my life…" He groaned under his breath.
"You're too paranoid. Anyone ever tell you that?" Kate paused as she came to the crest of the small hill and could see the headstones in the distance. Someone was sitting on the ground in front of them and her heart lurched up into her throat.
"Yeah Patrick." Gordon grumbled and nearly stumbled into her as he hadn't noticed she had stopped walking, "What is it?"
Kate jumped with the sudden nearness of him and had to mentally shake herself out of it, "I think that's Packie. Stay here out of sight and let me approach him. Can you manage that?" She set him with a stern glare and waited for him to protest her request.
"Yeah, yeah, it's a bad idea. But when has that ever stopped you before? Ouch!" He rubbed over his chest where she had punched him, "The fuck was that for?"
"Stay here and watch my back. You'll know pretty quick if it's not him and I need help." She tried to ignore the throbbing in her hand from the punch and how he always riled her up and got under her skin. He was almost as bad as her brothers.
"Whatever Prince- Sorry. I'll watch your back." Gordon lowered down to the ground by one of the large stone walls and trained his rifle on the person sitting on the ground. He would sit silently and watch for signs of trouble. He took another look toward Kate as she slowly made her way down the hill toward the headstones. He wasn't sure what was going on with him, or why he had jumped to her aid without a single hesitation. Sure, he talked a big game about not helping. But there was no way he would leave her vulnerable and alone in the city with everyone on high alert.
"And you wear a goddamn Albanian member jacket. What the actual fuck Kate…" Gordon whispered as he trained his scope to her back to take a look at the giant white bird. He had no idea where she got her hands on one.
Kate cautiously approached the figure on the ground directly in front of her Ma's headstone. She heard a sniffle or two and her heart broke all over again. She tucked the gun away out of sight and paused a few feet away from Patrick, "I miss her more and more every day."
"It isn't right." Patrick spoke up and merely looked over his shoulder in the direction he had heard his sisters voice from.
"I know. May I?" Kate pointed to the spot next to him and waited for him to let her join his side. He shrugged his shoulders and Kate took that as the closest thing she was going to get as an invitation. She waved in Gordon's direction to let him know everything was okay and to not open fire. She took a fortifying breath and lowered down next to her brother and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I tried to get sober. Hated every minute of who I was. I hated that I remembered things I swore would never cross my mind again." Packie spoke softly and dropped his cheek to the top of her head, feeling the scratch of the beanie cap she wore.
"I didn't know you quit everything." Kate read the inscription on her mother's grave marker and lowered her eyes as she felt the sting of tears wanting to spill. Bernie had helped pick out some of the kind words that graced the granite surface, and she wished she had thanked him better at the time for the help.
"Like I said. Tried. Once things got too clear when I went to sleep, I started drinking again. But that wasn't strong enough to just wipe it clean. Pills only make it worse. I relive it all on them. But coke? A combination of things? I forget it all. I'm free from the pain till someone brings it up." Packie sniffed loudly and wiped his nose.
"What happened Packie?" Kate shifted enough to put her arm around him. The tears obscured her vision as she looked over to Derrick's headstone. Here in the chilly, quiet cemetery she felt the ability to be open with her brother. And maybe he felt the same way as he seemed like talking to her about topics that were normally off limits.
"Bobby. He knows of things that he shouldn't. There is only three or four people who knew what Pa did. And even fewer who know what happened to you when those men broke into the house. He said that those men showed you what Pa did to us. And I just lost it. I couldn't handle the idea that Pa had…" He couldn't even voice it out loud and he lifted the flask he had brought with him to his lips and downed a couple of large gulps of whiskey.
"Niko mentioned you beat him pretty good." She took the flask from him when he passed it to her and downed her own gulp.
"I wanted to kill him. I've never had urges like that. Not since right before Pa offed himself. I wanted to keep hitting him till there was nothing left to identify." He sighed and slumped back into his sister's arm. He had come to visit their Ma and get some things off his chest, and before he knew it, it was dark outside, and he couldn't find the energy to move from his spot. He gladly accepted the flask back from her when she held it out to him.
"It's okay Packie. I feel the same way now. He is putting so many of us in danger for killing Kenny's men. He came here to do who knows what. I think it's in our blood to react violently and over the top. Otherwise, I have wasted so many years in therapy." She smiled at her brothers surprised laughter.
"Told you them quacks aren't worth the money or time." He snorted as he quit laughing. He lifted the flask to his lips once more and finished off the alcohol, "So."
"So?" Kate snuggled into his side as the coolness of the ocean air wafted over them.
He removed his arm from between them and pulled her into a side hug, "How'd you know I was here?"
"Ma. When I felt like the world was coming to an end, I would go to her. You may have hidden it well from everyone else, but I knew. You loved her as much as I did." She wiped away a lone tear from her cheek and pulled the jacket tighter around her with her free hand.
"Figures. I'm guessing everyone is losing their damn minds looking for me?" He should've known Kate would know where to go. Which is why he went out the third story window at their home and used the backyards of their neighbors to dodge the security detail they had posted around the house. It had been difficult to loop his way back around to the cemetery, but he just wanted some time alone with his late mother and brother.
"You could say that. Gerry actually left the house and is at Steinway organizing a search. I think he believes you've been murdered by the Russians or Bobby." She smiled at the squeeze from Patrick and tucked her head under his chin.
"Dumbass. That's like the first place everyone goes looking. Derrick got smart and quit passing out in the back alley there. The second place would be the Monoglobe?" He chuckled when Kate nodded against his chest, "And what? I bet Frankie Boy said Acter Park, am I right?"
"But I knew better and didn't tell anyone that I was going out to come find you." Kate smiled fully when Packie shoved her upright and wagged his finger at her.
"You are either extremely dumb and stupid, or you're dumb, stupid, and extremely lucky. Can't make up my mind!" He laughed loudly when she shoved him back.
"I called Gordon to watch my back. But yeah. This dumb, stupid, and extremely lucky Irish girl managed to duck out of a secured building in Holland and get all the way here before being caught by Sarge." She leaned back on her own hands and fondly gazed upon her Ma and Derrick's headstones. She felt better knowing he was alive. He would need help to get over some major trauma, but who didn't? She had her own that kept her awake some nights.
"Where is the loveable oaf? Now there is someone I can count on to never backstab us and kill Kenny's men." He twisted around to look at the other large tombstones expecting him to be spying on them.
"Top of the hill. He took advantage of the clear shot. We weren't sure if it was you down here, and he didn't want to leave me open for attack should you be Bobby waiting on me." She rolled her eyes and looked over her shoulder to where she could barely see Gordon's figure crouched down against the stone wall.
"Well. He isn't wrong. You really shouldn't be walking around the city without someone to protect you." Packie turned back around after spotting Gordon, "If you managed to give the slip from Niko, I got to give praise where praise is due."
"Um. Well. He doesn't know…" Her voice grew meek and small as she told her brother that Niko was unaware of where she was at. She leaned forward and clasped her hands together feeling the need to move now.
"I did say dumb and stupid. Come on. Let's get out of here before Niko starts dropping bodies because he can't find you." Packie stood up and dusted off his pants from the grass that clung to him. He held his hands out to his sister and helped her stand up.
Gordon used his scope to watch the siblings stand up and gave a sigh of relief. They were going to be getting out of there and he could be done with this insane mission for Kate. His hands were sweating so bad, and he felt a tightness in his chest. There was no way Gerry or Niko wouldn't beat him senseless for doing this.
"It's about damn time." He whispered to himself and got ready to stand up.
"You know. I should thank you for watching out for her."
Gordon nearly shouted out in a panic, and he whirled around on the ground to look up the wall to where he had heard Niko's voice, "Whaaa-?" He sat down heavily on his butt and stared up in absolute disbelief.
"Karen? Seriously. I knew the second you answered the phone Kate called you." Niko kept his rifle trained on the two siblings down the gently sloping hill and used his scope to keep watch, "You can't lie very well. We can work on that."
"You scared the shit outta me man!" Gordon clutched his chest and tried to get his heartrate under control.
"You were easy to tail too. Which given the circumstances, I get. You knew Kate was out here alone and unprotected. So you rushed over to her. And yes, this is Irish territory. So maybe you didn't think to check for someone following? Kenny's men would have both of you dead to rights." Niko listed off the mistakes and openings, all while never lowering his weapon or his sights from Kate.
"Look. I wasn't sure what to do. She was well on her way out here when she called." Gordon wished he could warn her before she got within earshot. There was a level of icy calm to Niko's voice, and he didn't like it one bit.
"You inform me immediately. I told Dwayne to have someone watch the subways and bus stops. One of his people spotted her entering the station and alerted me. But by then you were already speeding down the street away from Meadow's Park." Niko caught movement behind Kate and Packie and he moved his scope over to it, only to spot a head drop down below the far stone wall, "We have company."
aaaaaa
Now let the plot get moving and get the second part of this story going! One Love!