Chapter 18

"Half way home"

I didn't know what my next move was in the morning. I didn't want to call Niko because he had enough to do with the sting operation. My brother wouldn't be of any use. My next bet was talking to Karen. She'd be able to cover this all up. Either that, I needed to turn myself in for the murder. I'll say it was in self defense. Who am I kidding? They'll take a government official over someone who isn't. I'm screwed.

My phone rang at 7:30 in the morning. It was Niko. I let it ring a few times before I answer.

"I'm assuming you've heard the news?" Niko said when I picked up.

"What news?"

"I'm done. We got the girl in custody. I am going to ask for my freedom today. It all ends here."

"I don't know about that, Niko."

"Do you know something I don't?"

"That guy...Jed, he said they will still contact you. He said they'll give you a few years, then they'll start bothering you again. That's what I was going to tell you yesterday, but Jed knocked my phone out of my hand."

"I don't think it will come to that. Karen assured me that I won't be bothered anymore. I guess time will tell."

"I hope that's the case, Niko. I really do. I gotta ask..do you remember what I did yesterday?"

"Yes?"

"That guy, Jed. He's framing you for that murder."

"What?!"

"He's trying to sabotage you. He's got your description right down to the color of your eyes and everything. There was a news report about it yesterday. There is a reward for your arrest, Niko."

"Mother fuckers!"

"Where are you? I need to know you're safe."

"I was headed back to the trailer. Now I need to head back up to the agency."

"Niko, wait. Just come back to the trailer. My brother and I are on our way back too. We need to regroup. Is Karen with you?"

"She's next to me. Why?"

"We need to get some things straight."

"Okay. Okay. I'll head back. I'll see you in an hour."

"Okay. And Niko?"

"What?"

"I-I'm glad you're safe."

"I'll see you soon. I love you."

"I love you, too." My heart felt better when I told him. Being mad at him really was making me miserable.

My brother and I pulled up to the trailer. Niko and Karen beat us back home. I felt myself rushing to the door, so I can see him. We met at the front door. He must have been waiting for me to come home. We both stopped before each other. The need to make things right between us was overwhelming me, and I was sure it was the same for him.

"I'm glad you're okay." I say sheepishly.

"Don't worry about me. I was worried about you. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No. I was just a little bit shaken up. I think I need to learn self defense." I half smiled.

"I can teach you a few techniques I learned."

"They are her techniques, right?" I pointed to Karen.

"No, they are not. They are techniques I learned from the Army. They are designed to incompasitate attackers, not kill them."

He extended his arm out to me, and I took his hand. I missed his touch when he was away. He lead me to the couch and sat me down. Karen rolled her eyes at us making gagging noises again. We both ignored her because we now knew the truth that she was jealous of us. She wanted what we had.

"I am so sorry I was such an asshole to you. I wasn't mad at you. I was mad at myself for trusting people too much. Look what that got me. It got you in danger. I should have been there to protect you. I said I was going to, and I failed you." He knelt in front of me as he spoke his mind. I noticed his frustration as it was plainly seen on his face. "I failed one woman in my life, I do not want to have that happen again. I couldn't sleep last night knowing you were attacked. I drempt you were taken from me. It was the most awful dream I have ever had. My past night terrors were nothing compared to the loss of you."

"Niko." I started, but his lips found mine, and I was taken by surprise. I moaned into his soft kiss, and my lips parted for him to slip his tongue into my mouth. I loved his kiss. Everything I was going to say simply vanished without a trace of memory.

Our lips seperated with a wet pop, and my heart fluttered. I was left wanting more from him, and he held a finger over my lips as I moved to him.

"Let's save it for later." He smiled.

"You're such a jerk." I laughed.

He quickly changed the subject and offered to cook up something to eat for lunch. We were a family, and he suggested we try and act like one. It was a weird family, but to him, it was important that we have some sort of humility. He made something simple, but it looked difficult to me to make. He made kebabs in flat bread with kaymak, a sort of sausage flatbread sandwich. He was a professional in the kitchen, and I was mesmerized by his movements.

The four of us ate together, but it was silence all throughout the trailer. There was much to discuss, including the all of a sudden hook up of Karen and my brother. There was atleast a dozen questions written on my face. Niko kept looking at me, shaking his head subtly. I didn't want to stir the pot, but I really wanted to know what they saw in each other. I guess the same questions could be said for Niko and I. Everyone who truely knows him can say that he is a changed man. His murderous past was seemingly dissolving away. Atleast it seemed that way to me. Other people doubt him that he could become a family man and having children. I saw myself with him as my mind traveled away. I saw him and myself with two children living in a beautiful home in a cul-de-sac. Myself holding the youngest child, and proud father Niko holding the hand of his daughter as she shyly looked away from the family portrait. It seemed to me that the future I saw with him was slowly coming to fruition. It took a tap on my shoulder from Niko to bring me back to reality.

"Wh-what?"

"I asked you if you wanted to go with us to the agency. We have our plan sorted out."

"What plan?"

Niko laughed. "I thought you were paying attention. We are going back up to the agency to sort out this murder thing. We need you to explain to them that they were aggressive towards you and you only shot him in self defense."

"Which it was! He had me pinned down! I didn't know what he'd do next! For all I know, he would have tried to rape me!" I slammed my hand on the table to accentuate my point.

"Alright, settle down." Niko eased my temper with his soothing voice.

"I don't think they'd rape you. They just wanted information from you."

"You don't know that either. I would have been found dead if I didn't stand up for myself."

Something about my words horrified Niko as I remember what he told me about his nightmare.

"I should have been there for you." His hands curled into fists. He was blaming himself for something he did not have control over.

"It's okay, Niko. It wasn't your fault. It was nobody's fault but those men."

Niko remained quiet. The self blame was still in him.

"Hey, we gotta get going." Karen interrupted. "My contacts are ready to meet with us."

"Please say we can bring her brother this time." He pleaded.

"I don't think we can. If the police spot him, we'll be chased all over the city."

"I can keep low. I'll stay in between the seats! Sharon and I have had no luck staying back."

"I still don't like the idea, but I can't stop you."

I looked at Karen in hidden shock. She normally kept us both at home. I figured now since I killed Nick, I am involved in this. So, we all piled into her SUV again, leaving the trailer behind. Our journey was going to be another long one seeing as though we were miles from any civilization. My brother hid himself in the back by sitting on the floor behind Niko. Karen started the journey back by discussing with Niko the plan over and over to make sure they got the facts straight.

"My contacts will be waiting for us on the third floor in room 346. Are you nervous, Niko?"

"No. Because if this doesn't go my way, I'm going to lose it."

"That wouldn't be wise. You'll only screw yourself in the process."

"That'll be a change. I'm being screwed by other's all the time."

"I think he will get what he wants." I chime in.

"We still have to worry about that murder. Nick was young, but he had a high position in the agency."

"That makes me feel a little better knowing I took out a big time agent and not just a pawn."

Niko laughed at my dark humor.

"I don't suppose they'll recruit Sharon?"

"I don't have that answer."

The rest of the drive was left in silence. We arrived at the agency with time to spare so we decided to get our story straight one last time. I felt butterflies in my stomach as we walked up to the building. Niko held my hand to keep me moving, and Karen led the way inside.

Soon we found the suite they were in and we filed in one by one. I really wanted to turn around and run, but Niko brought up the back. There was nowhere to run.

"We've been expecting you. Please, have a seat." A man said.

"Thank you, sir. We came as fast as we could. Traffic is terrible at this hour."

"Can I offer you three a drink? Coffee?"

I'm thinking right about now that this is going to erupt into a huge gunfight like it did back at the trailer. This man is being extremely kind to us.

We all declined the offer, and the man stood up and paced around from behind his desk with a folder. I tried to see what the papers said, but there was nothing to be seen. Niko was visably at the edge of his seat as the man made mental decisions.

"So, Mr. Bellic. Karen tells me you want your discharge from this organization."

"And full citizenship in this country. I have done everything you have asked without question. I have been loyal since day one."

"We understand that. We appreciate your help and we also apologize to you that you got captured. That shouldn't have happened."

"As long as that slimeball isn't breathing anymore, I am okay with it. I have suffered worse."

The man stopped pacing, which is good because he was making me nervous. He studied the paper he had for a few more minutes, then flipped it over. His sigh came next and sat back down. I could tell he was thinking Niko's bargain was going to end up costing them big time. Niko was promised to be free at the end of all of this, and this man seemed to be finding a way to keep him.

"Your file is rather extensive, Mr. Bellic. There are a lot of crimes that you could be charged for if we can't clear everything from your file. You could face jail time before you have your freedom. You could also be deported."

My heart stopped upon hearing this. How much has he done before meeting me.

"I know this. It is a risk I am willing to take."

"There are a lot of petty crimes on here; grand theft auto, assult, robbery, public intoxication, public indecency, driving under the influence of alcohol, mob related practices, fraud. These are already erased, but there is this charge on here; murder. First degree, second degree. These won't be easy to clear. We may have some pull in the courts, but nothing is guaranteed."

"I know that. Do the best you can. I did the best I could for you."

Upon hearing those charges, I had the idea to shout at him for everything he's done. I held my rage until later, and I think he knew he was in for it.

"There is the latest accusation on Niko. The one where he is at large for." Karen added in.

"I see that. It is pending. That charge won't hold because it is only an accusation. Niko can easily be dropped from that. You are his alliby. However; the girl. She could be charged with the murder."

"What?!" I cried.

"Relax, miss. The charge may drop as well because it was in self defense. Jed also tried to frame Niko, so the charge might not stay on you. It is falsifying facts. Jed could face jail time."

I started to calm down once I heard this. I had no idea how the system worked, but I was sure this man was pulling strings. He'd have to in order to get Niko's past wiped clean.

The man rolled closer to the desk he was sitting behind and handed Niko a stack of papers. He read through them and looked at the man.

"Is this real?" He sounded a little choked up.

"Each document you sign gets you one step closer to being discharged from this organization."

I never saw someone breeze through all of those papers he was handed so quickly. His signature was becoming less legible by the second. He handed the papers back to the man and he looked through to make sure he signed them all.

"Congratulations, Mr. Bellic. You are now formally discharged from this organization, and your services are now no longer needed." He extended his hand to shake, and Niko gave him a firm handshake back.

I could tell a huge burden was lifted from his shoulders.

"There is the issue of those charges the courts simply can't turn a blind eye to. The murder charges are harder to get pardoned."

"Most of those murder charges are favors Francis McReary, the police commissioner."

"We know who he is, and there is a chance that he could face jail time along with you. Just because you were paid to kill those people doesn't make you innocent."

"I know this. I am prepared to face what I did. I am ready for my payment."

"He can't go to jail!" I started wailing. "He can't!"

"Jail time is only the beginning. He could be deported and banned. It depends on what the court says. Yes, he's an immigrant, yes, he was paid to kill those men, but if Niko says that he was blackmailed into doing those murders, the sentence could be lessened."

"Still, he can't go to jail! Please do everything you can to get him pardoned from these."

"We will do what we can, miss. In the meantime, we will want to keep you in sight. That mobile home you were staying at will be demolished and your things moved to a nearby condominium. There, you'll feel safe from the police. We will need to get a court trial assembled for Mr. Bellic right away. We will let you know what the court date is."

He raised his arm indicating the meeting was over. Niko held the door open for Karen and I and we were escorted by two new faces. They didn't tell us who they were or what they were doing. We were told to sit in a car and wait patiently. My brother was inside the car as well.

"So, what did they say? What happened?" He asked full of curiosity.

"They discharged me, but I have to wait to get my citizenship."

"Well, that's one step forward. Why do you have to wait?"

"I have a court trial to attend. The date hasn't been set."

My brother's eyes got wider. "I thought all your crimes would be dropped?"

"There were some that couldn't be. I don't want to talk about it."

"But-"

"Shh." I thought it to be a good idea to let Niko have a while before he told the whole story.

The two men who were escorting us got into the SUV and drove off. We were again headed to another place to hide. I tried to look at Niko to gather an emotion from him. He wore a blank stare. If only I could read minds...

There was only one way to figure out what he was thinking.

"Niko?" I placed my hand on his arm to let him know I am thinking about him. "Tell me what's on your mind."

"I don't want to talk about it. Not now."

"Don't close yourself up on me, Niko. You were so open to me all those other times."

"I'm just tired. Just leave me alone. Okay?"

He seemed a little irritated, and I took my hand off him. I wanted to keep his wishes. I looked at my phone to see if there were any calls or texts from my family. Not one call. I suppose I should call them and tell them what's going on with me with a little fabrication. As I dialed my mother's number, Niko shook his head.

"What? I'm not allowed to call my family?"

"Not now. Wait. It's not a good time." He sounded more annoyed.

"When is a good time when we're bouncing around the state?" I asked with a slight back talk.

He just heavily sighed and dismissed our conversation like it was nothing.

"Answer me!"

No response.

I crossed my arms at his attitude. I don't know what made him become so angry.

The condominium we pulled up to looked rather nice on the outside. The inside had updated appliances, hardwood floor in the kitchen, and to my supprise, two bedrooms. I automatically knew that my brother and Karen would end up sleeping together, but Niko opted to take the bedroom with Karen. I was in his face after his suggestion.

"What the fuck, Niko?"

"It is best if we don't sleep together right now."

He never said his reasoning in his decision, and that hurt me. I left him on his own and went to lay down on the bed. It was really comfortable as I sprawled out. My brother entered moments later wanting to hear what was on my mind.

"I have no idea why he doesn't want to sleep with me. We've always did so. Even when we were moving from hideout to hideout. Even when he was injured, we still slept together. Why doesn't he want to now?"

"He has a lot on his mind right now. He could face jail time. Wouldn't that make you lose your ability to perform in bed? Niko probably doesn't think he will satisfy you. He's not in the mood."

"We can still sleep in the same bed atleast!"

"I don't know. Maybe he has erectile dysfunction or something."

"I know he doesn't. I gotta know why. Can you go get him please?"

"Do you promise not to get angry at him again? Or have sex?"

I didn't say a word at either comment. He went to get Niko and he did come into the bedroom. His facial expression again was blank and unreadable.

"What do you want?"

"I need to know why you won't sleep with me. Is it me?"

"God no. It isn't you. It's me."

"D-do you have a problem with..." I looked down at his groin as my eyes finished the question.

"You know I don't."

"So, what is it, Niko? Why?"

"I need to be focused on this trial. I am really nervous about it."

That made me furious. That's the only reason?

"So, why the fuck did you do all those terrible things?! You knew they were bad! You still did them anyway! Did you care that you killed those people?!"

"I didn't come in here to be shouted at by you!"

"What were you thinking?! You were an idiot!"

"God damn it! You had no idea the shit I had to do. What I still have to do!"

"Just tell me! Then I'll know! I already know you've killed people. Tell me why! I'm sure you had a choice!"

"I didn't have a choice! I was a hired gun! If I said no, the police commissioner would hand my file over and that was it."

"So, you wanted to bring the commissioner down with you?"

"Stop putting words in my mouth!"

"Then what is it!"

"Francis McReary wanted me to take out a few people who were selling drugs, prostituting women, getting into fights all over the city. I was paid to take a few out. But that was before I was killing just to get even with a few people who fucked me over."

"You don't kill people just to get even, Niko!"

"I do if they were going to kill me! It was kill or be killed as soon as I came to this country! I had to get my cousin out of debt. I had to kill a few people in order to do that. I had to get money somehow, and being an immigrant wasn't helping that. The only thing I knew how to do was to be a hired gun. Once I was able to get Roman out of debt, I was contacted by Karen's employers. The killing continued for the good of the country." Sarcasm was overflowing at his last sentence.

"Have you ever tried doing anything else?"

"I just told you, I'm an immigrant! I was incapable of getting a job."

"Had you done your life differently, what would you change?"

I wanted him to try and calm down. His anger fueled mine and I could tell it was hurting the both of us.

He came over to me and sat down hard on the bed with a heavy sigh. He closed his eyes looking for an answer, but it looked like he couldn't find one.

"There has to be one thing you could have changed."

"Not even coming here would be one."

I held my hurt in, hoping he didn't mean it.

"Maybe not even being born. What has my life become? I've killed people. There is nothing for me. I am taking you nowhere with me."

"I see a future with you. I saw one with you the other day. People call them coincidences, I call them chances. Chances to be happy. Don't you want to be happy, Niko?"

"I do. Are you happy? You said before you don't like this instability."

"I know, but I stuck with you."

"I should have waited to fall in love again."

"Love doesn't wait. Love is patient. Love happens when you are ready or not."

He smiled slightly.

"Where did you hear that?"

"A fortune cookie." I chuckled, and that made him laugh a little.

"Alright. That's good. But seriously, we need to not sleep together. Give me time, please. I promise you after all of this, we will be okay."

"I suppose I have no choice. I'll wait for you."

"Thank you."

A knock at the door prevented us from meeting in a kiss. Whoever the interrupter was was going to get a fist to the face. Niko opened the door to reveal Jed. He managed to knock out Karen and had my brother in hand cuffs. How he did it so quietly was beyond me. Niko was paralyzed with the lack of movement as Jed held a gun to his chest.

"What is this?" Niko asked.

"It's time to turn you all in. You're all wanted in some way. It's time to cash in on all of you!"

"Hold on. We're all protected by the government. You'll only get yourself in trouble. You won't get very far if the government has our backs."

"Shut up, or I will kill you."

I could tell Niko was formulating a plan. He was trying to buy time to see a way to disarm Jed.

"You don't want to do this."

"Turn around. Do something stupid, and I will end you."

He did listen, but he used the turn of his body to take Jed off guard. He spun faster around and used his arm to break Jed's elbow. The force of his impact caused Jed to drop his gun. A stray bullet discharged from the gun and ricocheted off the floor and through the wall. Niko used Jed's distraction as he held his shattered elbow and screamed in pain to body slam Jed against the wall. There the two men were in a struggle to overpower each other. Niko seemed to have the upper hand, but the well trained agent tripped up Niko by using his foot to kick the back of Niko's knee. He fell to the other knee, and Jed had easy acess to a free punch to his head. Niko collapsed and was disoriented from the blow. He stood up and started round two of his assult. Jed took the defence, hunched over, and threw Niko over his shoulder. Niko grabbed Jed's broken elbow and pulled on it, causing Jed to drop his assailant to the floor.

I couldn't take it. Niko was getting his ass kicked, so instead of witnessing this, I grabbed the nearest weapon-like object which was a lamp stand. I charged from behind Jed, who for a solid minute was currently on top of Niko pummeling Niko to near unconsciousness. He was trying to gain the upper hand, but he was currently losing. Little did Jed know, I was ballsy enough to attack back. I swung with all my might to the side of Jed's head to knoch him out. Apparently it wasn't enough as he stood up from his assult of Niko to come after me. I took a quick look at Niko who laid motionless on the floor. I was in fight or flight mode as I readied myself for the experienced Jed. He stood in front of me in a defensive pose. He seemed confident that Niko was unconscious and from the look of him, he was. My years as a health care professional worried about internal hemmoraging in his brain. I wanted to take him out, and fast. I took charge at Jed, but he knew exactly what to do. Taking the pole on either side of my hands, he tried to shake me loose. I held on stubbornly as he shook me in every direction. I planted my feet firmly on the ground to stop him from shaking. He only grinned in defiance and used his strength to pin me against the wall. He held the post against my throat, and I found it difficult to breathe. I was trapped and I called out to three unconscious bodies, hoping one would snap out of it and help me. To my surprise, it worked, and Karen was first to her feet. She lept on Jed's back and wrestled him to the floor. I slumped over from lack of oxygen and gave myself time to recover. Karen and Jed both fought it out right in front of me. I figured Karen can hold her own in the fight, so I crawled to Niko, who still hasn't moved. I checked his pulse to see if Jed actually killed him. To my relief, he was still alive. His face was already forming painful bruises and there was two huge gashes below his cheekbone. I staggered up to get Niko some ice to help with the swelling, but Jed came back after me, completely ignoring Karen.

"He dies here!" He shouted and pounced on my back.

He punched me from behind like a bloodlusted madman and I screamed out. I held my arms over my head to protect myself, but it did little in defense. I heard my brother shout out and lifted himself off the floor. He used his bodyweight to get Jed off me.

"Thank you." I wailed.

"We gotta find the keys to these cuffs! I am no use with these on!"

I directed my attention to Jed who was just now standing up from the floor. My brother launched himself at Jed again, but he was easily fought off. Karen was next after having her arm broken by Jed. She grabbed Jed from behind again and started pushing him into the table where she could immobilize him. The fight continued amongst my brother, Karen, and Jed. I lifted myself off the floor to find Jed's gun. I searched around the room only to find it under the couch. I aimed it at Jed with a personal vendetta to kill him.

"Leave us alone!" I screamed.

"Don't do anything stupid!"

"The stupid thing was you coming here and hurting my boyfriend and my brother! See you in Hell!"

That prompted Karen and my brother to get out of the way. With the two out of the way, I took aim and Jed fell to the floor with a bullet between his eyes. The attack was over, but the damage he caused was still left.

I shook with residual rage that burned in my veins. He should have never came back to attack us. I heard footsteps approaching me, but when I looked at who was in front of me, I did not recognize the person.

"Get away from me!" I growled.

"It's me, Sharon. Calm down. It's over."

The voice was recognizable, but I still had no idea who it was. Instead of continuing to talk to me, the form and another feminine form went to assist a motionless form. They lifted the body and drug it into the other room where God knows what was going on. I followed the figures into the room with the gun still in my hand.

"Sharon, put the gun down. It's Karen. It's over. Niko needs your help."

The sudden realization hit me again and I was at his side, rubbing his face where ever there wasn't a bruise.

"He needs ice! Get him some ice!"

My brother darted into the kitchen, and I heard the refrigerator door open. I still rubbed him, hoping my touch would bring him back.

"I told him he'd gone soft. If only he'd listen to me when I was training him. He would have been able to fight him off."

"He's fourty years old for fucks sake! He isn't as stealthy as he once was. When he comes around, he's going to realize that and feel worthless!"

"Age doesn't matter if he knew what to do!"

"All the training in the world would not have saved him from those punches to his head!"

By then, my brother had a bag of ice and a towel. He placed the towel on Niko's forehead followed by the ice.

"Do you think he'll be okay?"

"He will. He's just knocked out. Thank you."

"Is there anything else I can get him?"

"No. He just needs to rest."

"Are you going to be alright? You're still shaking."

"I'll be fine. I'm still wound up from the fight."

I rubbed his chest to soothe him. Mostly to make sure he doesn't wake up and attack whoever is above him.

Karen stepped out to make a phone call. I was too engrossed in Niko's well-being to care who she was calling.