Chapter 19 – Nearest and Dearest

Miguel rode the Patriot hard like a charging knight on a beast of steel. Steering with one hand, he changed the clip of his pistol, checking the road every now and again. Steaming over the Callahan bridge, he floored the vehicle around Staunton, heading north where the Yakuza had set up there businesses. He'd only been to the Prancing Blowfish once before, and that was on a dinner date when he had first met Roxy.

He rounded a corner, entering the Yakuza-owned district of the island. Driving around until he had found the restaurant, he pulled up on the street, watching a black Banshee pull away at speed from across the road. It was followed by two Sentinels, each decked out in Mafia colours.

"Shit…" cursed Miguel, drawing his gun. He jumped out of the car, and sprinted across the road, pistol gripped in both hands. Risking a glance inside, he slowly opened the door, pistol held out in front of him.

The restaurant floor was empty, the tables and chairs dark in the dim light. Miguel scanned the area and headed towards the back of the room, towards the entry point to the other "business" area. He pushed open a door and, checking first, he crept along the corridor, pistol held tightly.

He took a deep breath as he came to the end of the corridor, a huge mahogany door standing between him and "The Hall". The Hall was an underground fighting arena the Yakuza used to initiate new entrants and where the shadier business deals were negotiated, usually with the presence of a rifle or two.

Miguel kicked the door open and sprang into the room, searching for a victim. Instead, he reeled back in horror and cursed loudly, he blood boiling and his eyes widening. Bodies littered the floor, surrounded by exhausted ammunition. The familiar smell of death lingered, the blood splattered around the room had already begun to dry.

Taking in the scene, he found the lifeless form of the Yakuza leader, a katana pushed through his chest suspending him in midair against the Hall's massive steel gong. Miguel walked up to him, studying the man's position. He had daggers through his wrists, holding him in place. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the sight of a folded piece of paper in Kaido's hand, Miguel's name clearly written on it. He carefully took the piece of paper, and opened it gingerly.

"Nearest and dearest, friend and faith"

Miguel ran the phrase through his head, trying to determine what it meant. It was clearly some sort of hit-list. He rubbed his fore-head, a vibrating in his pocket distracting him from his thoughts.

"Yes?" he answered sternly.

"Miguel, its Kraze" came the response quickly, He sounding out of breath. "Listen, Mike and Zed just rang me. They said some guys have just turned up at the ranch and there searching the place. I'm heading up there now"

"Shit" cursed Miguel loudly, racing back towards the Patriot. He looked at the piece of paper, the words making more sense to him. "Where's Lucie? Is she still up there?"

"No idea man. Listen, I got to go. Just get up there quick!" Kraze put down the phone.

Miguel ran through the restaurant floor, barging out of the door and running into the street. A white Stinger braked sharply as Miguel threw himself into the driver's seat of the Patriot. Starting the engine and revving the guts out of it, he charged forward, smoke blasting from the rear wheels. Heading north towards the ranch, he drew out his phone, dialling a number.

"Luca, you okay man?"

"Sure, I'm alright. Are you going to help Kraze?"

"On my way right now. Listen, is Tash still with you?"

"Yeah"

"Good, take her and go back to the house. Abandon the docks"

"Uh, sure. Why?"

"Because I've just come back from the Yakuza, and unless you want a fucking sword stuck through your chest, just fucking do it man!"

"Right, sure" replied Luca, a slight edge to his voice. Miguel could tell he'd overdone it. He needed to be gentle with Luca.

"Seriously go and I'll see you in a bit." Miguel put down the phone as he reached the outskirts.

"Fuck" cried Miguel, as three cars sped past him. He'd barely registered them as he had climbed the hill, but he knew it had been the black Banshee and it's Sentinel guard. That meant one of two things; either everyone was dead or Kraze and the freelancers had held them off.

Turning sharply onto the track, he dropped the Patriot a gear, allowing it to climb the hill. Sweat formed on Miguel's brow in anticipation of what he might find. He finally came to the summit and, parking the car quickly, jumped out. He could see the remnants of Kraze's van near the entrance to the barn, the body shattered by an explosion. Approaching the barn door, Miguel drew his pistol, the warm metal familiar in its grasp.

Miguel entered the barn to find it a mess. There was debris everywhere. The computer console was a smoking wreck, riddled with bullet holes and scorched by fire. Bits of wood lay entangled with pieces of equipment the freelancers had stored in the building. The once impressive array of facilities the freelancers had implemented had been reduced to rumble.

Miguel moved around the room looking for any sign of life, the barn holding a dark atmosphere. Within seconds he had found the lifeless body of Zed, a gaping hole in his chest. He was led in an unusual manner, his body twisted and contorted. He held an expression of true terror on his face.

"He's dead" came a voice, Kraze standing in the doorway, his face bloodied.

"What causalities are there?" replied Miguel.

"Mike's dead. He took a bullet to the head. Rafa was shot too. He's alive, barely. He took several bullets. I don't know what's making him hold on but he is. He's inside with Lucie. She hid from the bastards"

Miguel breathed a sigh of relief. His friend was okay. He relaxed his muscles when a thought came to his head.

"What about Conway? And where's Borgaman?"

"There's no sign of either of them. It looks like Conway was let out rather than escaped. I don't think the mafia were his rescue party though. Yen has gone too" said Kraze, his tone low.

"What happened to your van?" said Miguel, cursing the snake's escape.

"I got up here just before they killed Mike. I was using it as cover, but they just kept shooting. I had to sprint out of the way when I saw the smoke. By the time it was clear, they'd left" Kraze replied.

"I saw them on my way up. Two mafia cars and a Banshee" said Miguel.

"The man in the Banshee is the other Cavelli" said Kraze.

"Fuck!" shouted Miguel, taking a swing at the air, "Louis Cavelli did this? We got to find the bastards"

"Any idea where to look?"

"I've an idea. But firstly I need to check if Lucie and Luca are ok"

"And Natasha" said Kraze.

"What?" replied Miguel, heading for the door.

"Natasha is with Luca."

"Oh, yeah. We need to get them out. He'll never survive this, the poor kid" said Miguel, hurrying towards the ranch house…

x

"What do you think we're supposed to do, just sit here?" said Natasha sternly, sitting in one of Luca's father's chairs.

"That's what he said yeah" replied Luca frustrated.

"We've been here for two fucking hours; I'm not doing it anymore. I'm not staying put when we're being hunted" she said getting up. She walked past Luca and headed for the front door.

"Wait!" shouted Luca, running after her. He grabbed her by the arm as she put her hand on the doorknob.

"Remember what happened last time you grabbed me?" she said angrily.

They stood in the wide corridor of the De Fidio house, staring at each other. Luca let go, his heart racing. He had been waiting for the slap at any moment. But it had never come.

"I just don't want you to leave me" said Luca, resembling his former pathetic self. "Not yet, don't leave me."

Natasha sighed and let go of the doorknob. Striding up to Luca, she grabbed him toughly by the collar, holding him close.

"What kind of man are you? You think your brother would want to see you like this?" she said, shaking him, "You've been so strong these last few days, a real action hero. Be that man" she said, staring into his eyes. She relaxed her grip, but Luca stayed rigid. A long pause followed, the couple staring longingly, each trying to second guess the other. Luca finally plucked up the courage to speak.

"For you, anything" he whispered, gently touching her hips. Electricity flew between them as he leaned in. Natasha responded, her soft lips locking with his. He pulled her close and, fully embracing each other, drifted off into another world…