Chapter 18 – Fighting Fire

Miguel gasped, closing his eyes, waiting for the inevitable. The gun barrel was so close; the round hungry for human flesh. And then the sound, the explosion around the city, the smell in the air, the ringing in his ears, they were all there.

Wait… it couldn't be?

Miguel opened his eyes, the inspector switched off. He was numb, emotionless. Miguel breathed heavily and looked to his right; he had a foreboding feeling in his gut. He expected to see Lucie, slumped back in her seat, blood trickling down her neck, her head lying crooked on the headrest, snapping back at an unusual angle, the power behind the Desert Eagle ripping the muscles and tendons apart. But she was fine. She was absolutely stunned, but she was fine. He did a double-take on Conway, his gun was lowered, his head crooked. Miguel noticed the silver pistol pushed into it.

"Don't move an inch motherfucker" called a voice, coming from the driver side. Conway's eyes were glazed, the man controlling his heartbeat as to not appear intimidated. Miguel swallowed, was this some sort of attack from Madden? He mind refocused, noticing the slumped corpse in the passenger seat. It had been Jackson who had been shot.

"Alright bruv?" said Luca, pistol trained on Conway…

x

"There they are" called Kraze, crouched down behind the van.

Luca nodded, watching the Karuma reverse into the car park space. Conway turned around to face Miguel.

"Go!" Luca shouted, the two men breaking from cover. Luca approached from the right, heading towards the driver door. Kraze was fast, sprinting quickly up to the passenger side. Luca watched through the windscreen in slow motion as Conway drew his pistol, levelling it to Miguel's head. He counted in his head – one second. Luca raised his pistol. Two seconds – The look of surprise on the other officers face. Three seconds – He could see Jackson was about to alert Conway. Four seconds – Luca had raised his pistol, squeezing the trigger. Five seconds – the body burst, slumping back in the seat. Kraze had reached the passenger side, punching the pistol through the glass, pushing it into Conway's head.

"Don't move an inch motherfucker" he commanded, his target completely frozen.

Luca could see Miguel open his eyes and stare around the car, wondering why he wasn't dead.

"Alright bruv?" he said, training his pistol on Conway…

x

Luca carefully eyed Conway as they dragged him to their van. His jacket had been removed and his hands had been tied behind his back. They shunted him into the van, launching him into the air. Slamming the door, Kraze got back into the van, nodding to Luca. Luca strode back over to the Karuma, Miguel slumped on the floor, his head held in his hand. A blonde girl crouched next to him, her arm thrown around him. Miguel watched as Luca came over to him. He jumped off the floor and ran over to his brother hugging him tight.

"Luca…"

"Save it. We got to get out of here. Come on" Luca replied, gesturing to the woman.

"Wait, what about Yen and the money?"

"We've got them, come on. I'll explain in the van…"

x

Miguel was stunned by what Luca told him. How he had been arrested and bailed out by Borgaman's hired guns. How they had not only kidnapped a newly promoted officer, but also had stolen the LCPD helicopter and tricked Conway.

"So all we got to do now is sort out Madden and the Cavellis and this will all be over" said Luca, narrow-mindedly.

"What?" said Miguel, his tone dropped, "What's happened with the Cavellis?"

"There meeting with Madden in Liberty. Were supposed to be paid with our money for something, but we don't know what"

"When did this happen?"

"Borgaman's been in contact with a few friends, and this is the story doing the rounds."

"That does fit with some of the things I heard" said Lucie.

"What!?" shouted Miguel, "Why have you mentioned this now? So we've got some sort of Mafia, the Yakuza and the Cavellis to deal with as well as saving my wife?"

"What happened to Roxy?"

"Oh Jesus" sighed Miguel…

x

Louis Cavelli took a long drag of his cigarette, blowing smoke into the air. He leaned casually on the wall, the air conditioning working over-time in the shore-side hut. He stared out of the window, his blue eyes scanning the horizon. He could see his brother's jet-engine boat bouncing around in the waves around Portland. He smiled; his tanned skin cracking.

He wore a crisp suit, denoting his position as the leader of the band of men that had overrun the docks. He'd had his guards patrolled around the grounds for days, anxious about his meeting with the Maddens. This deal would make or break the Cavellis.

The door of the hut burst open, a thin, balding man rushing in with a phone outstretched.

"Boss… I know you said not to disturb you but… Jack Madden is on the line" he panted.

"Ok, give me the phone" said Louis, disgruntled by this interruption. "Mr Madden, what can I do you for?"

"We have a slight problem with our impending meeting"

"What?" Cavelli span around, thumping his fist on the wooden desk.

"I need you to remove someone. I'm sending you the details now…"

x

Miguel slumped down at the kitchen table in the ranch's main house. He eyed the people around the table carefully, playing with the food that been prepared. He hadn't eaten properly in days. Borgaman sat at the head of the table, engaging in conversation with Kraze. Luca was sat between Natasha and Lucie, making jokes and generally trying to charm the eastern blonde. Miguel sat next to Zed and Mike, who had arrived back at the ranch just before Miguel had. The helicopter sat proudly outside, it's cargo safely in the hands of the freelancers. Conway had been stored in the barn with Rafa and Yen, the freelancer's makeshift prison proving invaluable.

Miguel ate a little of the food, the tastes strange in his bitter mouth. He couldn't stop thinking about Roxy. He suddenly got up and opened the back door, surprising everyone as he headed outside. He reached outside, the cool evening air blowing on his unshaven face. He looked up towards the dark blue sky, the sun leaving a blazing trail on the horizon as she disappeared behind the dominating buildings of Liberty's skyline.

"You know Miguel, you did the best you could," said Borgaman, appearing behind him, "but you must focus on the task at hand, it's what your father would have wanted"

"I need to get Roxy back first" sighed Miguel.

"That will come. Madden's meeting with the Cavellis is in two days time. We must be ready"

"I'm still not clear about this," said Miguel, scratching his head, "what happened to the Yakuza connection? Why have they suddenly been dropped?"

"Perhaps they have not" said Borgaman, with a knowing smile. "After what you said, I began to investigate the Yakuza link and it appears they are still involved, though in a less direct role than you thought perhaps"

"Go on" said Miguel sternly, turning to face the aging lawyer.

"Well, we all know Madden's crime empire is largely under wraps, nothing can be pinned on him. Am I correct?"

"Yeah but…"

"He had been financing Yakuza operations, getting them to do his dirty work. Yen in particular, was his favourite agent. But it looks like Madden is trying to get rid of them in favour of the Cavellis. They are more predictable, and easier for him to manipulate. They have acquired certain tastes since they met Madden"

"You mean drugs? Madden's going ahead with his drugs operation?"

"Yes. And he intends to do the deal in Yakuza owned premises before finishing them off. The Cavellis have spent their time at the docks importing the goods and plan to sell them to Madden under Yakuza supervision. They believe they are getting a slice of the profits but I envisage that the Yakuza leaders may be getting the chop, if you get my meaning"

"Then we need to reschedule this meeting, starting with the Cavellis" said Miguel, determination flaring in his eyes.

"That's the Miguel we need. Take Luca and hunt down the brothers. If we can take the docks, we can focus on arranging a deal with Madden on our terms"

"What about Lucie?" questioned Miguel.

"She going to be my new PA" said Borgaman with a smile, "don't worry, she'll be fine" he added, Miguel not amused.

x

Miguel waited out by the front of the ranch, leaning against the Patriot. Luca appeared soon after, carrying an SMG. He walked around the side on the car and got in, Miguel following him soon after.

"Let's go crack some Cavelli skulls" he proclaimed, priming the SMG.

"What turned you into such a killer?" said Miguel, flooring the accelerator.

"Fucking hell bruv! Your driving doesn't get any better!"

"Just relax" he answered, spinning the car onto the main road, dropping the car a gear before charging around the traffic.

"Fucking maniac"

"Yeah, shut up will you. You need to listen, I don't want any shit"

"Miguel, we are about to burst into a docks full of burly Italians from a city named Vice. What possibly could be shit about that?" Luca answered with a smile.

"Yeah, yeah" said Miguel, blindly not interested.

"That Lucie girl is nice" said Luca, putting his feet up.

"And what do you mean by that?" said Miguel, slapping Luca's legs. He threw the car around a corner, tearing up the streets as he entered the industrial estates.

"Nothing man. Nothing. Let's just concentrate; the docks on the left, just through the security gates. Are we going to blast them?"

"Nope," said Miguel, accelerating hard.

"Ah, hell no" said Luca, as the car flew bonnet first into the iron gates, snapping them off their hinges as the Patriot, span around, Miguel lifting the handbrake.

"What the fuck?!" screamed a guard, running over. Luca raised the SMG and fired a burst, practically cutting the man in half. Miguel dropped the gas, tyres screeching as he flung the Patriot around the back of some containers. He stopped the car, and got out before reaching into the back. Luca followed him, watching as his brother produced the AK-47 he so favoured. The brother's ducked down, hearing the rumblings of guards rushing over to the stricken guard.

"You guys get back to the bosses cabin. You guys are with me! Let's find these bastards!" shouted one of the guards.

"We need to get to that cabin" said Miguel.

"No shit" said Luca, "head off to the left, I'll see if I can handle these ladyboys"

Luca watched as Miguel nodded and crawled off around the containers, the rifle awkward in his hands. Luca shook his head and crept over to the side of the container, spying the guards. He aimed steadily, firing a burst into the gaggle of guards. He floored one of them as the rest scrambled for cover, alerted to the gunfire. Luca sprayed bullets all over the area, splitting flesh and muscle as he took down another guard.

"Over by the container! Fire!" shouted the ring leader. The guards raised there semi-automatics and fired blindly in Luca's direction. Luca slide back behind the metal container, confident of its protection. He changed his clip before risking another glance. He could see the ring leader had peeled off towards the cabin, two of the guards following him. He had to react. Rolling off to the right, he abandoned his cover, spraying automatic fire, hitting the ring leader in the chest. The guards who had been following him dived for cover again, hiding behind whatever they could find.

Luca smiled a sadistic smile before seeing the grenade being launched. He stared at it in slow motion as it hurtled through the air. His body reacted, his arms pushing him up; his legs scrambling. He ran at full pelt, the blast erupting behind him throwing his body to the ground. The SMG slide away from him; the pain in his front unbearable as he tried to reach it.

"Move!" shouted a voice, the guards footsteps get ever nearer…

x

"What the fuck is going on?" shouted Ignacio Cavelli, throwing a chair across the cabin. "Why are there lunatics running around the compound? And where's Louis?"

"We don't know boss" said a thin, balding man, "he had a phone call from Madden earlier and then disappeared. As for these lunatics, the men are sorting it"

"Maurice you prick, our men can barely tie their fucking shoelaces! Get me a gun, or even two. I'm gonna show these motherfuckers what it's like to mess with a Cavelli…"

x

Miguel heard the explosion as he rounded a corner, grabbing a guard by the neck and snapping it with his muscular arms. He hoped to god Luca had caused that explosion and not been killed by it. He ducked down, spying the cabin. He could see guards rushing around, guns outstretched.

"We've got one of them! They're a man down!"

A shiver went down Miguel's spine; the thought of his brother being killed was too much to bear. Especially after the trouble he'd been through to rescue Miguel. Dying in this way was not ideal. Miguel pushed himself to his feet, sprinting back around the containers, rifle in hand. He leaned forward, throwing his weight around the corners as he ran. He caught sight of a few of the guards and, not even aiming the rifle, he fired several bursts, knocking the guards to the floor with a crack. He could see the plume of smoke from where the grenade had impacted. He could even hear the sounds of gunshots. Good, he thought to himself as he pushed harder, Luca was still alive.

Miguel ran past the Patriot to where the stricken Luca lay. He'd managed to get hold of the SMG, and, propping himself up against the front of the car, had started shooting at the approaching guards. In one fluid motion, Miguel rolled to the floor, switching to a steadier stance. He raised the rifle and fired burst after burst, shooting anything that moved. The gun continued to crack as guard after guard fell. He held the trigger down long after the clip had expired, a host of dead bodies littering the floor.

"Miguel" called Luca, reaching out.

Miguel dropped the rifle and ran back to his brother, the anger he had felt had completely drained him.

"Help me up" asked Luca. Miguel grabbed his younger brother's arm, hefting him to his feet.

"You ok?"

"Sure, let's find these Cavellis" said Luca, holding his side. A trickle of blood had begun to ooze, covering his hands.

"You're staying right here. Get in the car and cover that up" Miguel ordered, helping his brother get into the vehicle. Making sure Luca was comfortable, he retrieved a pistol from the glove compartment and walked out into the compound, dead bodies strewn like rubble.

He approached the cabin calmly, the sound of silence filling the arena, save for the echo of choppy waters crashing against the dock wall. The wind howled as Miguel slowed his pace down, the darkness shrouding him in paranoia.

"Freeze you motherfucker" shouted a voice, followed by a burst of fire. Miguel dived to the side, the flashes of the semi-automatic giving the man's position away. He could see a man charging at him, duel semis firing a constant stream in his direction. Miguel landed with a roll, throwing himself out of harms way. He reached a crate and took cover, firing blindly over the top with his pistol. He breathed deeply, thinking about what he was going to do next. At least there was only one of them he thought.

Without a moment to think, he'd caught the Cavelli out of the corner of his eye. He threw himself to his feet as the hulking man fired several more bursts in Miguel's direction. A bullet whizzed past his ear, whistling in the ocean wind. Miguel ran into what seemed like a maze of containers.

"Come out you fucking bitch" sneered the man, approaching the steel behemoths. Miguel breathed deeply, the pistol held firmly in his grasp.

"I can smell you filthy animal"

A shadow formed up on the steel wall as Cavelli crept around the corner, guns outstretched. His heart rate jumped, expecting to see the dark form of Miguel pressed up to the wall. He smiled weakly as he calmed himself down, only to feel the cold steel of a 9mm pushed against his head. Miguel had crept up from behind.

"Drop the guns" commanded Miguel softly, spinning the Cavelli around. "Hello Ignacio"

Ignacio threw down the semis and huffed. "What do you want De Fidio"

"Where is Louis?"

"Beats me, he disappe…" Ignacio's words were cut short as a bullet entered his head.

"Shit!" cursed Miguel as he jumped out of his skin; he hadn't pulled the trigger. Miguel ducked down next to the gurgling body, crouching low to the ground.

"It's alright Miguel, it's us!" shouted Kraze. Miguel could see the headlights of the black van from behind the container wall. Miguel pushed himself to his feet and jogged over to the mercenary.

"What the fuck did you do that for?" he said, grabbing hold of the ex-soldier.

"Fuck off man, do what?"

"Fucking shoot the Cavelli"

"Whoa man. Firstly get your hands off me," Kraze replied, removing Miguels grasp, "and secondly, we didn't fire on anyone we weren't told too"

"What?"

"Borgaman said finish the job. He didn't want any more prisoners; he wanted a statement. Killing the Cavellis has done that"

"Cavelli idiot. There was only one of them here"

"It don't matter man. It's cool. Natasha's with Luca too"

Miguel was becoming more and more irritated until he finally burst, the vibration in his pocket proving to be the last straw. He snatched up his phone, throwing his pistol to the floor.

"WHAT?" he yelled into it.

"Mr De Fidio, I see your attitude hasn't improved"

"Who the fuck is this?" said Miguel forcefully, flailing his arms wildly.

"You know me as Kaido" replied the voice.

"What? What do you want?"

"I'm in desperate need of your services. I need to re-address the balance against Madden, no strings attached this time. Come to the Prancing Blowfish restaurant urgently"

Miguel listened as the phone died, Kaido putting the phone down.

"Fuck…"

"What is it?" asked Kraze, his face solemn.

"Nothing man, I gotta go. Look after Luca and lock this place down. Where's Mike and Zed?"

"Back at the ranch… Hey! Wait!" shouted Kraze as he watched Miguel run to the Patriot, flooring the accelerator and bursting out of the compound.

"Crazy motherfucker…"

x

Kaido put down the phone gently, the cold sensation on his back spreading terror through his aged bones.

"Good boy" said the man behind him. Louis Cavelli smirked as he removed the pistol from the Yakuza leader's neck. He ran his hand through his slick hair and took in the scene around him. His men had rounded the remaining Yakuza guards up, holding them at gunpoint with shotguns. Louis had Kaido on his knees facing his men. Louis couldn't help but smile at his own genius.

"Are you going to let us go now?" asked Kaido, listening as the man behind him paced.

"You know as well as I do that that isn't going to happen" said Louis, his tone laced with darkness. In one swift motion he raised his hand, his men releasing a volley of shotgun shells into the Yakuza men. Kaido quivered with shock as he watched his brother's fall, his son amongst them.

"You're a fool to trust Madden" he said, shouting at Cavelli.

Not even flinching, Louis pushed the pistol to the man's head and fired, the bullet puncturing Kaido's skull.

"Next target then boys!" he proclaimed as the body slumped to the floor.