Chapter 21 – Faith and Fortune

Kraze guided the bike down a small alley and parked it next to a garage door. This place would have been the perfect safehouse. He and Miguel jumped off the bike and listened to the sirens wailing in the distance.

"So what do we do now?" asked Kraze, sitting on the floor. His body was exhausted; the adrenaline had entirely drained from his body.

"We finish this" said Miguel sternly, examining the garage door. He gritted his teeth as he forced the lock, the door opening.

Kraze got up and walked into the lockup, completely stunned.

"What is this place?" he asked, searching through a number of crates and boxes.

"It's one of Joey Gillespie's lockups" said Miguel grimly, examining the sheet that shrouded the car in the garage. "He's got it for sale at the moment, the apartment above too. Would have been a good base of operations, right here in the middle of Staunton. You got shops across the street, hospital down the road and…"

"Hey, I'm not here for a viewing" said Kraze sharply. He produced a M5 and, priming it, slung it over his shoulder.

"Yeah, sure" replied Miguel. He grabbed the sheet and pulled, unveiling the scarlet monster that lay underneath.

"What is that?" exclaimed Kraze, attaching a grenade to his belt.

"This is a Racer Turbo. I knew there was one coming into town, but I didn't know who owned it. I feel we're obliged to take it" said Miguel slyly.

"Well lead on" said Kraze…

x

Miguel guided the Racer to the street at the top of the ramp. He looked around, spying the wreck of a building on his left.

"I heard Panlantic have bought that land" said Kraze, as Miguel turned right, shifting the car up a gear. He revved the engine, blasting down the street, foot to the floor. Miguel's focus had returned to his mission, his pistol burning in his back pocket.

Miguel shot Kraze a glance as he pulled out his phone, the phone playing a remixed rap. Miguel listened to Kraze's conversation with interest before Kraze snapped the phone shut, putting it back in his pocket.

"Holy fuck" he jested, "This is going to be one mean play. Let's do this for the fallen eh?"

Miguel nodded silently. The grim thought of his brother lying dead was too much to take. He rode the Racer harder, swinger it into the corners, hurling it through the traffic.

"Where are we going then?" said Kraze.

"We've done nearest and friend. Now we're going after faith" said Miguel, "we're going to where this vendetta started…"

x

Miguel pulled up opposite the Liberty City Cathedral, the aged architecture out of place against Liberty's drab backdrop. It was situated in the north of Staunton and was surrounded by old buildings. None had the history and reputation of the cathedral though. It's history was riddled with suspicious deaths and crooked clergymen. But there was only one piece of history Miguel was interested in. This was the place where Antonio De Fidio had screwed Jack Madden over. This was the place that had triggered Madden's quest to wipe out the De Fidio name from the annals of Liberty history. This was the place where Madden would be confronted and put to the icy justice only a 9mm could bring.

"Look," said Kraze, pointing. "The Stinger is parked over there." Sure enough, Miguel spotted the white Yakuza Stinger across the street. Miguel nodded and flicked his hand before turning to Kraze.

"Come on" he said, refocusing. He swiped up the M4 and crossed the road. Kraze followed, checking the clip in his machinegun.

Miguel marched up to the gargantuan double door, the solid oak proving heavy as the men walked in. They stepped into a stone hall, wooden pews lining the sides. They quickly took in the scene and found what they were looking for. Jack Madden stood with two men at the golden altar, just like Antonio had down in the fifties. Miguel strode calmly forward, spying the men hidden in the shadows; the footsoldiers waiting in the wings.

Jack Madden turned around, his veteran face expressionless as he faced Miguel.

"At last, we meet again." He said triumphantly. "I must thank you for removing those troublesome Cavelli brothers. They never did demonstrate the finesse you show"

"That's because they are Italian. You cannot get more skilful than one born of Spanish descent" said Miguel unwavering. Kraze stepped up to his side, his hand clasping the M5.

"And you've brought a friend" Madden jested, "Seems you soil your bloodline by not only bringing in a mercenary, but one of his… origin"

Kraze smiled, the sour attempt at racism amused him.

"Now then Mr De Fidio, I presume you are here for your wife, since you took the trouble to spoil my plans"

"Your plans were flawed. I now control the docks and I've eliminated your allies. Imagine what you could have done if you hadn't messed with me. You've got nowhere left to hide" snarled Miguel. "I will get my wife, but you will meet your maker"

"Indeed," started Madden, "But you will go first!"

Miguel and Kraze dived into the rows of pews as the two men flanking Madden turned around, firing several blasts from their shotguns. Miguel dropped to the floor, breathing deeply. He heard a crack of semi-automatic fire as he watched the guards in the wings leap into action. Miguel swept up the rifle and, crouching on one knee, fired a burst into the guard by the altar and another into a guard who had attempted to come from behind. In the corner of his eye, he could see Madden, the man escaping up a flight of stairs.

Kraze sprang up and fired the M5, bullets crashing into two uzi-wielding guards. Miguel fired a burst into another as he leapt over the pew, the force behind the M4 cutting the man in half.

"Miguel! Madden's escaped. I'll hold them off, just get after him!" yelled Kraze, cutting another guard down. Miguel nodded and pushed himself to his feet. He fired another short burst, the second guard by the altar floundered, hit in the chest.

Miguel sprinted over to the staircase and ascended them quickly. A blast from a shotgun sent him into hiding as a second came, a cruel laugh following them. The blasts stopped, the man wielding the shotgun running in the opposite direction. He was playing with Miguel.

Miguel threw caution to the wind and leapt out from his cover, sprinting down the corridor. He kicked open a door, searching the room through the sight of the rifle before bursting in. He kicked down another door and flew down the stone corridor. Another series of blasts came as Miguel reached another opening. Ducking down, he scrambled back around the corner, a shell breezing past his leg. His heart pounded but the adrenaline kept him in check. He was alive, for now.

"Come on you rat!" shouted the man as he fired another shell. Miguel cradled the M4 before rolling through the opening, firing at the man. The series of bullets penetrated the man's chest, blood exploding from his body.

Miguel carefully entered the room; the wooden flooring was cracked and bare. He looked around, taking in the scene. The room was empty save for the body on the floor, a lone window illuminating the spot where he'd fallen. Miguel had no idea who the man was but continued into the room, walking into the centre before the door suddenly shut behind him. He felt cold steel push into his neck. Miguel turned around, Paul Madden staring back at him.

"Welcome back" he said, holding the gun level. "Drop the rifle" he demanded coolly. Miguel rolled his eyes and threw the gun to the floor.

"On your knees" ordered Paul, his eyes wide with the power he held.

"You're a fool" said Miguel quietly.

"Really? I'm not the one who was lured into a trap. I'm not the one who had millions stolen from me" Paul replied angrily.

"Your father will betray you. You won't usurp him"

"My father is upstairs hiding from you. He's growing weak. I will kill you and then I will kill him. I am no fool"

"No, your right," said Miguel, staring at Paul. "But you were stupid enough to stand in front of the window"

Paul turned to look outside, just in time to see the bullet enter his skull. Miguel watched the body fall in front of him with a satisfying smile. He looked out the window and across to where the Stinger was parked, giving a nod. Yen nodded back, reloading the sniper rifle. It had been Yen who had phoned Kraze in the car, letting Miguel know that he would be there to take revenge for the death of Kaido and the Yakuza. Miguel had spied the sniper in the street, gesturing him to stay put. Miguel was surprised at how well it had worked. He turned to face a new door, a staircase behind it.

"Father's upstairs hiding eh?" he said to himself, picking up Paul's pistol.