Before we begin, I'd like to thank those who have given me the reviews. It really encourages me to post more chapters and continue this story.

Second, I realize that Niko is ooc...okay, a lot ooc, but through my eyes I believe he can change. He is in a transition going through this story that shows him at his best and worst. He stated in my story that he pushes away those who want to help, and that he is working on it. Niko is 40 years old and the realization hits him when I met him that he has nothing to show in his life.

Thirdly, these upcoming chapters will become a little more gruesome in the sence of violence and sexual themes. I hope that those who are following and reading are not grossed out by such things.

Finally, on with the story! Please PM me of any further questions and I will try my best to answer them!

Chapter 16

"What it takes"

The whole day of Wednesday was just full of awkwardness between me and my brother and the new bodyguard named Chad. I was sure he knew what my brother has done to recieve a wanted status by the government. I was actually protecting my brother from our protector. I hoped he didn't try and take us in to the police.

After his deep search through all of our things and every single corner if the apartment, Chad took it upon himself to start consuming our food. We barely had enough between us two. I was a little irked that he showed no restraint from his gluttony.

"Excuse me."

He paid no mind to me as he guzzled our last bottled water.

"Excuse me! Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Look, lady. I was pulled away from my desk to protect you two scum bags. Atleast you should show more appreciation. Remember, I could easily turn you two in in a heart beat."

He shut me up with his threat. It was going to be a really difficult time with this slob here.

There was a pounding on the door again that made me jump.

"This is the police department. We know you're holed up in there. Come out and surrender with your hands up."

"There is a fire escape in the bedroom. Make yourself scarce." Chad demanded.

He recieved no questions from us. I grabbed the keys to Karen's SUV before we climbed down the fire escape and ran through the parking lot. I took the wheel and got as far away as I could from the complex. It was in the park that we alluded the police again. I was on a pure adrenaline rush as my hands shook.

"That was too close." My brother said as he caught his breath. "Are we safe here?"

"We should be okay. If we keep out of sight, that is."

I texted Niko to let him know what happened. His reply never came, and I drove around the city, hoping he'd reply soon. Thankfully, the SUVs windows were slightly tinted, so we were able to avoid being seen as other police cruisers drove by.

I found a rather depressing looking bar in the far outskirts of the city. The kind of place you'd expect to see on the news with chalkout lines and police tape everywhere. I thought it would be a well hidden place to lay low until Niko called or texted me back on what he wanted us to do.

"Hey, little lady." A gruff voice grabbed my attention. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing all the way out here?"

My choice was to ignore him. My ignorance to the greasy man only made him shove my brother out of the way and brought himself in my view.

"A sassy babe like you would look real good on the back of my bike."

"As if I would ever pair up with an animal like you."

"Why you gotta be like that? I'm only being all gentleman like to ya."

I stood up only because the cigarette breath this man had was making me gag, and his unsightly smile with atleast four missing teeth made me disgusted. I cue my brother to follow me outside to the back of the building. It was a huge mistake because there were more grungy greasy biker men all around a set up stage with three strippers flashing their tits like it was some sort of free for all pornography.

"We got another pretty lady. She looks like she's got some round firm tits!"

Whooping and chanting erupted within the small courtyard, beckoning me to join in the show.

I immediately turn around and made my way back to the front of the bar. Not knowing where else to go, I sat inside the SUV along with my brother.

"That was awkward." He said as he bucked up his seatbelt.

"I think we are done here. We will drive around a while and hope we don't get caught."

It had been hours before I decided to find a motel to hide in. Hopefully there wasn't any wanted posters in there.

I called the motel cashier over to get a room, and he handed me the keys. The motel room was horrendous with old ratty carpet, sunset yellow walls, and two twin sized beds that had questionable stains on the blankets. The cleanest part of the room was ironically the bathroom.

My brother was no stranger to living in a place like this, and I was slowly getting acquainted to this way of life too. He dove backwards on the bed and made himself comfortable. The TV was an old tube television and only had five channels. One channel was a paid pornography channel that had cheesy seventys music playing.

I yanked the remote from his hands as I began to see that his 'casual channel surfing' was just an excuse to peek at the blonde bimbo.

"Come on, I was enjoying that."

"You're not watching that shit while I am here. We are watching the news."

"Okay then. I'm sure the weather girl is pretty too."

With that comment, I turned the television off and kept the remote. I knew he wouldn't make an attempt to manually turn it on if I glared at him.

I kept an eye on my phone waiting for the phone call I desperately wanted to hear. My phone battery was at thirty percent, and in the rush to get away from the police, I didn't grab my phone charger. It was close to 2:30 in the morning, and I felt my eyelids wanting to close. Especially since I didn't fall asleep the night before.

Eventually, my brother won back the remote because I was too damn tired to fight back. The sound only heard was a red headed vixen getting tag teamed by two burly men in a jail cell. I questioned why the hell there would be a random red head in an assumed all male jail, but I dismissed it because it was a porn.

I soon fell asleep with somehow the groovy music putting me in a weird trance.

This is your last chance ta see the light a day, white boy.

A thug stood over Niko while he remained still in a wooden chair. His hands were tied behind his back, and his legs were roped together against the chair legs. Niko's face was covered in deep gashes from cuts and lashings from a metal chain. His arm was cut open by a hacksaw, and he suffered a bullet wound to his knee. All he could do was struggle, but with waining strength and will to survive, he could do nothing to break free. He still remained brave in the face of death.

You made a big mistake comin' here actin' a hero, but all you'll be remembered by is a slimy mother fucker. Got any last words before I paint the floor in your blood?

I stood there as the scene played out. I watched the thug raise his gun and rested it against Niko's head. I tried to move to save him, but I was running in place.

You bastards think you've won, but there will be more to come and get you. You'll get yours eventually. Ти црни пичкица!

The thug glared threateningly at him. Whatever hopes Niko had of surviving all blew away.

The thug pulled the trigger, and I could only watch in horror as his head flew backwards from the force of the gun. The chair tipped backwards, and his blood sprayed all over behind him. The thug only licked his pistol from the reminents of his blood. Deep satisfaction was displayed as a smile as Niko was instantly killed.

It was my brother shaking me erratically, trying to wake me from my dream. I shot up awake with the nightmare still poisioned into my memory.

"Where is he?!" I shook my brother.

"Where's who? Niko?"

"Yes!"

"He tried calling you early this morning, but you were passed out. I answered the phone. He said the meeting is over. He wants us back at the apartment. Karen's contacts were able to draw off the police for now. We have to move again to another hideout."

"Did the deal go his way?!"

"He didn't say. He wants us back to the apartment."

I ran down the hallway of the motel and slapped my credit card on the counter. The old rustic computer took minutes to finally ring up the sale. The SUV was waiting for us outside, and I piled my brother's butt into the seat.

"I am coming home, Niko!"

"Please exercise safe driving." My brother said as he buckled up and clung his hands to the armrests.

I took the corners as fast as I could without rolling over the top heavy beast. Niko would certainly disapprove of me if he saw me treating Karen's transport without a care. The woman would use her trashed up truck against him if she really wanted to.

I threw the SUV into park in the parking space that was provided for visitors and ran like a gazelle up the staircases. The door to our hideout apartment flung open, and there was Niko and Karen sitting casually drinking coffee not having a clue what just happened to my brother and I just hours ago. My hair was a mess from tossing and turning from my nightmare, I was sure I smelled like cigarettes and an old motel, and I was pure exhaustion as I wavered my way to Niko. I was so glad to see him after the bad day I had.

"So, your brother tells me you two had an adventure yesterday?" Niko said after he caught me as I flopped into his lap.

"You don't know the half of it." I half laughed.

"Karen was able to get us a semi decent deal. There's good news, and bad news." He said not wanting to stall anymore.

"Did they agree to your terms? Please say yes. You need this."

"They didn't say yes to my agreement, but they were willing to work out something I can do. One more contract. For freedom. I agreed to it."

"I thought you said you don't want to kill anyone anymore!"

"I won't be. I'm going undercover."

The thought of Niko going as a spy made my mind float away. Niko? As a spy? How sexy is that?

"Undercover as what?"

"I'm going as a...shit...you're going to laugh or be mad."

"I won't laugh or get mad!"

How ridiculous could it be, I wondered.

"A male prostitute."

I slapped his chest. How could he agree to something like this?

"Listen! I know it sounds bad, but the contract I am going after is a woman. The girl likes to party, and I am supposed to be the prostitute she gets with. I am supposed to work my charm, get her to trust me, and then I'm supposed to lead her away from her party. Then, I can make an arrest."

"You need to sleep with her?!"

"No. I won't. They know I am with you. I would never agreed to this if sleeping with her was involved."

"Why can't they arrest her now?"

"The girl is rich. She has guards all over her estate."

"So, this is supposed to be your last contract? No killing?"

"Not if I can help it. I of course have to look the part." He said with his fingers tapping a clothes box.

"Oh, no. That isn't it, is it?"

"Oh, yes it is. This is my costume."

He lifted the boxtop to reveal a cop outfit. The cop outfit top looked normal, but the trousers had some sort of cup on the crotch. It looked like the outfit was bought at a sex shop, judging by the sexy woman silhouettes on the tag. Obviously being the company's claim to fame logo. It was the epitome of irony that he was so go as a cop to a kinky sex party when the police were looking to arrest her.

"This outfit is so not you." I chuckled.

"Wait until you see it on me. You'll be drooling for me." He said choking back a laugh.

"Put it on, Niko. We need to make sure it fits." Karen asked.

"The cup might be a little small."

Karen rolled her eyes at Niko's attempt to brag about his buldge size. She has seen him before fully erect. Why she showed doubt was beyond me. I knew he was a big boy.

Niko unbuttoned the tuxedo jacket and hung it on the back of the kitchen chair. Next was the longsleeve shirt and his undershirt. I was majorly distracted as this sexy Serb undressed himself. His pecs looked amazing...here I go again.

Karen helped him by handing him the articles of clothing. The shirt and police top fitted him perfectly, but the problem came when he had to take off his trousers. Atleast it was a problem for me. He unbuckled his belt, and I stopped him.

"What?" He asked as I held the belt loop with my finger.

"You know what." I looked past him to Karen.

"She's not interested in me, Sharon. It's fine." He took my fingers and kissed them all in some sort of chivalric gesture. "You don't need to worry about it."

He undid his button, and they slid down to the floor. He kicked them away, and I decided to get over my jealously. I watched Karen as I folded his trousers in half and draped them on top of the jacket.

Karen handed him the odd police trousers, and he had to wiggle them on. They looked a little tight on him as I observed him struggling. He took a deep inhale to button the trousers.

"I guess these are meant to be tight?" He asked as I literally heard him squeal from being too confined.

"It's supposed to be. Do they feel too tight?"

"No. I can still breathe." He said, mocking his labored breathing.

"No. This won't do. You'll need a slightly larger size. I'll have my contacts make you another set of pants."

"Are you calling me fat, Karen?"

"Niko," She sighed and facepalmed. "Jesus. I wish you'd be serious for once."

"I am serious." He said laughing.

I laughed with him. He didn't have a gut. He was in fantastic shape for a fourty year old man, but the pants were too tight around more than just his waist. It was around his thighs and in the groin were he felt squished. The groin certainly had no room in them.

"I told you I was too big for these. I have a tailor make my pants because the pants I get from the store aren't made for well endowed men like myself."

"Who do you go to? We need your tailor's name."

"Her name is Vanessa Huges. She knows my measurements by heart."

"What is her contact information?"

"I could make the call. She'd wonder too much about it as to why you're calling for me." He said as he dialed his phone and put out on speaker.

A cheerful voice was heard over his speakerphone.

"Hello. Perseus clothing store. This is Damian. How can I help you?"

"Is Vanessa Huges there? Tell her it's Niko Bellic."

"Right away, Sir."

There was the infamous hold music that was simply the worst. Niko made a gagging face to show his repulsion at the squealing woman who tried to sing. After about three minutes, the music stopped and the phone clicked.

"This is Vanessa, who is this?"

"Niko Bellic."

"Oh, hi, Niko! How's things?"

"Oh, you know. Surviving."

"I gotcha. What can I do for you, babe?"

Her choice of endearment made me already apprehensive of the tailor. Did they once have a fling he never told me about? Was it a crush?

"Yeah, hey listen. This will be an odd request. Can I stop in either today or tomorrow and get fitted for a pair of trousers?"

"Niko, honey. I know your size by heart."

"I get that, but these trousers won't be like anything you've made before. I might be able to show you what I am looking for if you can see me."

"I've always got time for you, darling. Can you stop up today? Say, in two hours? I'm free then. I can take your measurements and get to work."

"Sounds good. I'll see you around noon."

With that, he hung up and put his phone on the coffee table. Karen was on her phone as well, arranging new living accommodations after hearing about the near capture yesterday. We've been fortunately lucky we were able to avoid the police, but something told me the grasp was getting tighter. We would be found out soon enough.

"Anywhere. Perhaps Jared knows somewhere. We are in need of a new location."

There was a long pause from her. I assumed this Jared guy was being contacted about any open apartments or any other living quarters. All eyes were on Karen as she paced back and forth.

"Alright, just have him call me back when he finds something."

She rarely said goodbye afterwards. Assuming that's just the way those government people are. Saying goodbye was a sign of weakness I guess.

"So?" Niko asked.

"Jared will call us back. He is looking into a new spot. In the meantime, we stay absolutely quiet."

"Why won't they come for us now?"

Everyone looked at me at my strange question. It's true, I had no idea how this sort of thing works.

Niko gave me a smile and sat next to me on the couch.

"Because Karen is basically above the police. If she sees fit, she can strip the badges right off the cops if she can see bad conduct. We are protected by the government right now."

I never knew she had that much power. I was a little intimidated of her, and even envious of her authority.

Niko snuck a text to his cousin to let him know to stop by, so we could give him another errand list since the rest of our food was devoured. It wasn't a whole bunch, but it was all we had. Roman showed up a little later, and we explained to him that we would be moving again. His help was asked from us, and he agreed that he would be on standby. He took the list from Niko, but before he left, he asked Niko if there was anything else he could think of that we needed. Niko put his hands on his hips, trying hard to think if he missed anything. I chimed in and pulled Roman aside privately.

"You need to promise me that you keep this between you and me." I spoke at at a low volume.

"What do you need?"

"I need you to get something for Niko. It's his birthday soon, and I want to surprise him with a gift."

"His birthday is Saturday. How will you keep it a secret for that long?"

"I can do it. I don't know when we will see you next, and since we will be moving here soon, I want it out of the way. Can you get him his favorite vodka? I will pay you back, I swear it."

"He promised himself he was going to cut down on drinking."

"Alright. Get him what you think he'd like. And get him a birthday card, too. I want him to know we love him, and we are thinking of him. And thanking him for everything he's done."

"I'm not sure you need to be thanking him for everything. There is a lot of fucked up shit he's done in his life."

"You know what I mean. I want him to know that he is being thought of when I am sure he doesn't get to much of that. He's always thinking of others. Just look how he took my brother under his wing without question. He's risked his life to-"

"Alright! Okay! I'll get him something he will like. Jeez."

I glared at Roman, and he chuckled. I shook my head at him as he left. I opened the door up, and there was my brother eavesdropping on the conversation.

"You jerk!" I hollered.

"I can't resist secrets." He said full of giddiness.

"Don't. You. Dare."

By this time, Niko's curiosity was peaked. He sat up on the couch and stared at me, wanting to know what was said.

"Nevermind. It was something stupid I wanted."

"Well, what is it?" Niko asked.

Shit. I can't lie on the spot. And I shouldn't have had to lie if my brother didn't draw so much attention to the door.

"Well, you see, I wanted Roman..."

I tried to find something to cover up my surprise for Niko.

"I wanted Roman to get me a...new..."

"Yes?" Niko inquired.

"A new sex toy. See, I've been wanting a new one for a while now..." I spoke with haste.

My brother made a twisted face even though he knew I lied, and Karen dismissed herself from the room to forget what I said. Niko was the only one left and remained on the couch still staring a me.

"A new sex toy?" He parroted back with a mixture if interest and intriguement.

"Yes. I was very specific as to what I wanted. That's why I took a long time to talk to him."

"What kind do you want?"

Damn it, Niko. Stop making me lie to you.

"I want one that vibrates."

He waved me over to sit down instead of having me gibbering by the door. I sat on the other side of him, and he kept his eyes on me. Even watching me sit down. Having his eyes on me every movement I made made me feel like I was being interrogated. Almost like his eyes were going to weed out my lie. I couldn't be any more wrong as his lips met mine, and I melted into the couch. His lips were what I needed for so long. Hell, I wanted more than just his lips.

His kiss came to a hault, but he was rubbing his lips against mine. He knew how to tease me.

"What else did you want on your sex toy?"

His breath made my lips tingle, and his voice was full of lust. It may seem like he bought into my lie. Or he was just playing along.

"I want one that thrusts inside me." I say against his lips.

I felt his flesh raise in goosebumps, and I felt him form a smile.

"I love the dirty talk." He chuckled. "What else do you want on your toy?"

I swallowed hard from so much arousal. I tried to not speed ahead of him.

"I want one that rotates to reach around the unexplored areas of my pussy."

I heard him groan deeply. He liked that.

"I thought I explored those areas."

I giggled at him, and I almost tried to straddle him. Almost.

"What else, love? What comes on your dream sex toy?"

"I want one that squirts inside me as I finish."

"Am I using it on you? Or are you using it on yourself?"

"I want you to use it on me, Niko." I started to lose control.

Next thing I know, I started groping his manhood through his pants. He only grinned at my impatience. He allowed me to continue though.

"Am I kissing you as I am using it?"

His phone rang, and I really wanted to yank the phone out of his hands as he answered and yell at the caller. Instead, I held my mouth sealed shut as he happily took the call.

"This is Niko... Yeah, hi, Vanessa. What's up?...You can't?...Oh shit... I'm sorry to hear that...Has she been ill long?...A year?...Well, I'm sure Damian can do it for you... He's in training?...Well, maybe we can do it another time?...Sure...Sounds good... I'll speak to you soon, Vanessa." He hung up, and called for Karen.

"I am not joining you two in your gropefest." She called from the bedroom.

"Get in here, Karen. Something changed."

She stood in the doorway of the bedroom afraid that we were naked. She crossed her arms and waited for the latest news.

"My tailor's mother just died. She can't make those cop pants. We gotta find an alternative."

"Are you suggesting I make those pants?"

"I don't even know if you have basic tailoring skills, Karen."

"You're right about that." She deadpanned.

"So, what do we do now?" I asked.

"I can try another tailor. There's plenty out there. I just liked Vanessa's work."

Niko did some research on nearby tailor shops on his phone while I nestled myself against his shoulder. I couldn't shake off what just happened not ten minutes ago. He'd better make this up to me.

"Here we go." He said at length. His thumbs were busy tapping away at the screen rather than peeling me away in lust...

"There is a five star review on this place. I think I found another tailor."

I peered over and looked at his phone. It looked like a fancy place. He made himself an appointment for next week. It seems like this undercover sting will have to wait. It seemed like a good thing to me since it was his in-the-works birthday party, and we were still looking to move. The confirmation E-mail immediately sent to his phone, and he made a note.

"Karen, I have an appointment to this other place next week on Thursday."

She made a very visable sigh.

"We can't wait that long, Niko. We need to get this done this Saturday, remember? That's the day of her party."

"Shit." I murmured.

Niko turned to me wondering why it was such a disappointment to me.

"Can't you find anywhere else?"

Karen asked before he could ask me what was wrong.

"I could, but these guys are the best of the others. I can't have the trousers split when I'm at the party." He half joked.

"They might end up coming off anyway, Niko. Cancel the appointment for Thursday. Get one before the party." Karen reasoned.

Niko threw his hands up in the air and made more objections about how he doesn't want the trousers to rip, or how he doesn't like the idea of young women being able to see his manhood when he is with me. I reasoned with Niko saying it was okay with me and prolonging this would mean us prolonging our future together. Niko did give up unenthusiastically and did cancel his appointment. He called around for hours trying to find someone who could tailor pants for him that was supposed to go with the stripper cop outfit. Finally, around 4 pm, he tossed his phone on the floor in anger.

"There is nobody who can see me this week!" His face held an anger that I didn't want to see on him.

"Maybe we can go to the sex shop this costume came from."

"Oh, that's even better. Getting fitted for pants at a sex shop that is dirtier than its mind is."

"Well, what do you suggest, Mr. I'm-too-well-endowed-for-regular-pants?"

"I don't fucking know!" He growled back. "Don't put the blame on me!"

"I actually can if you weren't a freak!"

"Shut the fuck up, Karen!" He shot back.

His intensity must have alerted the neighbors because there came a pounding on the wall that told us we were too loud.

Niko took an extra deep breath to calm down and to use a more indoor voice.

"Why does this have to have a cup in the crotch anyway? Can't I just wear something else with the jacket?"

"No. You'll look too much like a cop, and you won't be able to get in."

"Are you just assuming this, or did you actually do factual research?"

"Niko, we can't have you in danger. If you get killed.." She took a long pause. "This will look bad on our records."

"Oh, so I am just a file to you?"

"And we need you. You're good at what you do. We can't have the last thing you do, be the last thing you do."

"What?"

"You have something to live for, Niko. We can't take short cuts and get sloppy. It has to look legit. That's why it is called 'undercover'. You go undercover to weed out the criminal."

"I know there's another reason in your mind, but I won't chase for it." He went fishing for a reply, but he didn't get one. All he got was Karen's silence and a blank distant stare.

Karen trailed her way back in the bedroom to make another phone call. Perhaps it was to ask what the heck was taking so long for her contacts to find another apartment.

Niko sat down hard on the couch next to me. I could see he was mentally exhausted.

"So, you and Karen...have you two always fought and made up like this?"

"No. She was always a bitch. A tolerable bitch, but a bitch still the same. She would be the one who found me work to do after I did one last favor for the man who helped me find Brevic. Karen is technically my boss, and she really is doing me favors by keeping income flowing."

"What sort of work did she have you do?"

"Petty grunt work that she wouldn't send her agents in for. Small time drug busts, stings, undercover work. I've done all of it."

"This guy you keep talking about. The guy who helped you. Does he have a name?"

"I never learned his name. It was probably for the best because if I knew his name, I'd be pounding his door down and strangling his neck with my bare hands for fucking me over."

"Do you think that man is afraid of you?"

"He might be. He's afraid he will lose me as a worker. He must think I am way too valuable."

"I gotta confess something. I'm not really good at planning things." I spilled.

"What's up?"

"I lied to you about asking Roman about that sex toy. I wanted to surprise you with a birthday present and a party. It looks like we really won't be able to do that for you since we might be moving here in a day or so. And we shouldn't anyway because this apartment is being watched. It would be stupid to throw a party."

"I am flattered you would do that for me. Nobody really gave me anything I wanted when it came to my birthday. It was always what they wanted me to do. But to be honest, all I want is you for my birthday."

"I don't think that's fair though. You should get what you want. Don't worry about me."

"You know I am not one to accept gifts."

"Well, you're gunna get one from me." I say and urge him to slouch down in the couch.

My hands rush to unbuckle his belt, but his hands stop me.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"You don't have to do this for me. I know you love me."

"I want to do it, and I know you want me to do it. I need you, too. It's been a while since we were alone, and things keep popping up when we are alone."

"But that's the thing. We keep getting interrupted. We will rush through what we want to do and not be satisfied." He drew his face close to mine again. "We should wait until we have all the time in the world. Then I will really show you what I am capable of. You only got a small taste of my love."

I wanted to pounce on him and completely ignore his request, but he did have a point. It was almost everytime we wanted to share each other, we would get interrupted by a phone call, or Karen shooting orders at Niko. I decided to obey his wishes and wait until we were for sure to be alone and not bothered by others.

He chuckled at me as I grumply crossed my arms acrossed my chest like a child.

"Our time will come. Have patience."

Roman came back with grocery bags a little after 6 o'clock, and he snuck me Niko's gift and birthday card when he wasn't looking. I opened the bag and saw a bottle of vodka and gave Roman a confused look. His reply was that Niko was incredibly hard to buy for, so he did settle on getting him alcohol. Inside the bag the card was in was a bunch of condoms and some lubricant. I scolded Roman for getting me condoms because I haven't even used the last box he gave us. He soon left, saying he needed to get back to Mallorie and Mila and departed hurrying his goodbye.

Karen came from the bedroom an hour later with bags in both of her arms. She tossed them at Niko, and he jumped out of his seat. His phone went on the floor again as we were watching some stupid movie.

"What the fuck, Karen?"

"Get packing, lazyass. We got a new place to hide out."

"It's about damn time. If I didn't know any better, I'd think your contacts want us to get caught." Niko said suspiciously.

"If I wanted to turn you in, I would have by now. Remember that. Now get packing."

Niko huffed and moved the bags off of his lap. I held his phone so he didn't throw it at Karen. He's been throwing and dropping his phone a lot.

He went into the kitchen and started packing away food and water into a box. I started gathering garbage, and my brother was cleaning up messes and gathering bathing items. It was a team effort, and we had the place cleaned out with in the hour. Niko was taking the bags of clothes and tossing them in the SUV. Karen was waiting inside, texting her contact, I assumed. My brother was in the passenger seat, and I was in the far back seat helping Niko with the bags.

He wiped a bead of sweat from his scarred brow, and I offered him water. It was a humid summer night, and I of course wanted to make sure he stayed hydrated.

"Thank you." He said after he chugged the water. He had just enough left to dump some on his head.

"Don't get my shit wet back there." Karen called from the front.

"Leave him alone. He's sweating like-"

"It's okay, Sharon."

I opened my mouth to object, but then I saw his face. It was a look of thankfulness. What he could be thankful for was beyond my knowledge.

He climbed over the back seat strangely enough and sat next to me. I laughed at his weirdness, and my brother closed the door. We were off to an unknown destination. Karen rarely told us where we were going if we were going somewhere.

Niko decided it was a good time then ever to try and take a nap since it looked like we we're on the road for a while. With his head resting on my shoulder, I petted him into a light sleep. It was cute because he'd let out a small sigh of contentment.

I kept looking at the time on my phone.

"Are we there yet?" I asked annoyed.

"No, and if you keep asking, I'll drive slower."

"But we've been in the road for two hours, and I gotta pee."

"Find that bottle your boyfriend was drinking out of and pee in there."

"That's gross!"

"Then hold it. You should have peed before we left. You're like a child."

Had she not been driving, I would have decked her. Her entire attitude since her date has been so bitchy. Niko seemed to tolerate it too well. Maybe because he was used to her. I do still think she has feelings for him, and she might be jealous of us being happy when she was not.

The city scenery changed into more country feeling. The houses were becoming more spaced out as opposed to the bunched up living areas we've been accustomed to. Karen made a left onto a dirt road, and the sudden rough terrain shook Niko awake. He rubbed his groggy eyes to focus around.

"Where are we, Karen?"

"We are twenty minutes away from our new hideout. Start gathering things together because we will need to rush to get this stuff inside. I keep seeing the same helicopter circling around. We might be under watch."

"Fan-fucking-tastic." He said sarcastically. "What do we do when they start shooting?"

"Run." Was her obvious answer.

Karen decided to not pull up to the hideout because I too saw the chopper Karen mentioned and pointed it out. I had the idea to circle around the area to confuse the pilot. Karen was actually impressed, and she even said so.

"Great, I've turned you into a criminal." Niko laughed.

We eventually lost the chopper, and we pulled up to a trashy looking motor home. From the looks of it, nobody has lived in the trailer in decades, judging by the Christmas decorations, and cheesy lawn flamingos.

We did rush to get everything inside the hideout like Karen suggested, and she looked around the new place. It smelled like a dead animal, and there actually was one. The poor racoon managed to get inside for something, and it never made it out. Niko was the poor guy who drew the short straw to get the critter outside and away from the home. He held his shirt up to his nose to cover up the stench, and used another shirt to act as a glove, so he wouldn't get a disease. He ran as fast as he could to get rid of the corpse. Mainly to eliminate the smell, and to not get spotted by the mysterious helicopter. Niko ran full speed back inside the trailer and took a couple of sniffs.

"It still smells horrible in here." He went to open a window to air out the place.

Karen started unpacking clothes into her dresser. She claimed the bedroom again, and I instantly objected. I suggested we take turns in the room so it was fair. She of course told me to bite her, and Niko actually spoke up before I could tussle with her.

"Karen, stop being such a bitch. You've been so resentful of Sharon since your disaster date. It ain't her fault you can't get a man."

Karen launched herself at Niko and tackled him to the ground. Niko held her shoulders as she tried to get a good punch on him. His arms blocked his face. He managed to roll her over on her back rather effortlessly I noticed.

"I'm not going to hit you. When I get up-"

Niko doubled over in terrible pain when Karen kicked between his legs. A low blow and a dirty way to establish herself as dominant. I was at his side immediately, thinking she'd hit him while he was down.

"You dirty fucking bitch!" Niko groaned out. "That was pathetic, even for you"

"Don't test me. I told you to drop it before. You didn't listen. You got what you deserve."

He made an animalistic growl before he moved to go after her. That preattack sound actually made me try to hold him back. I'm not sure the reason for my concern for her saftey. His strength proved a little too much for me as he managed to get loose from my grip around his arm. His pulling propelled himself faster than he thought and shoved Karen to the floor. She countered by pulling her pistol out and glared threateningly at him. Niko had the look of a crazed madman as he stared her down right back. Blood dripped from his nose, and I handed him a napkin from the kitchen box. His breath was hard and rapid. I swear he looked like he was about to attack again, and he didn't care if he got shot.

I stood next to him, and I tapped his shoulder. I hoped he'd calm down when he saw me. Unfortunately, this was not the case. It seemed to acutally ignite his anger, and he ran towards Karen.

"Niko, stop it!" I shouted. "We can't turn on each other like this!"

He did stop just before Karen, who pulled herself off the floor with her gun still aimed at him.

"Let's all just calm down, go our seperate ways in the trailer, and try again tomorrow. I think we are all on edge." I said calmly to try and ease them both.

"I'm not." My brother said as he ate a bag of potato chips.

Niko turned to my brother and started full gut laughing at his spectating. Karen must have missed the joke because she huffed and finished unpacking.

"That's what I needed." Niko said as he wiped a tear from his eye.

"Let's all just take it easy. Maybe we should try and get some rest." I regarded the time on the beer bottle clock.

Niko and I did the best we could nestling on the couch for the night. My brother took the other couch and sleep overcame him easily. Niko's thoughts kept he and I awake, and I never asked him what was on his mind. I was afraid that he'd become more restless and agitated as he poured out what was keeping him awake. Karen seemed to be trusted enough by him, but I still thought Karen had darker plans for all of us and she was to be the one to reap the benefits. Her name would shine when she turned us all in for evading the law along with a major bonus. Money makes people turn on each other.