Chapter 28

"Double crossing the double crossers"

The alarm went off and scared me awake. Niko was already in the bathroom preparing himself again for another long day in court. What he told me yesterday night about the opposition hiring people to pose as other people made me furious. But as long as Niko said Karen had documents to prove the claims wrong, it would make it a little easier to handle. I hoped this would be the thing that turns this court session to his favor. And it remains that way.

Ethan woke up early as well. I overheard him asking Karen for money again. It's like she is wearing the pants in that relationship. Karen does like to dominate. The thoughts streamed into my brain, having thought of that way too long.

I sat up in bed to scope around who was awake. Who I saw was Ethan, shuffling his way to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. I was going to scold him later about him drinking that caffeine.

"Hey, do you want to come up to the courthouse this time?" Niko asked when he came from the bathroom. I felt the steam as the door opened.

"I really want to, but I want to watch Ethan."

"I understand. I'll call you when we take a lunch. There should be much to talk about." He said as he sprayed a little cologne on his chest.

Great. Now this room smells like him, and he's going to be gone all day maybe. I guess I'll be using that vibrator after all.

"Wish me luck." He turned to the bed.

"You're leaving early? You didn't even eat breakfast."

"I am really excited for some reason. I want to go early."

"Karen's not even ready." Ethan said from behind him. "She's in the shower. You might as well eat something." He spooned himself a mouthful of cereal.

"Alright. Fine."

I made myself get out of bed to join him. We shared a cup of coffee together and I made parfaits for us. It was something simple, and he really enjoyed it. I kept telling him he can do this day to keep his morale up.

Karen soon came out of the bedroom, gathering Niko's folders in her arm and prodded him to come along. It was only 7:30 in the morning. I told her the trial didn't start until 10. She explained to me that being early is beneficial. And that traffic could be a mess. I agreed with her.

Niko's eyes met with mine. They held a sincerity as he held my hand. It felt like it was the last time we were going to be able to hold each other the way he looked at me.

"You'll do fine." I said.

"It's not that. I just want to be able to hold you without being pulled away everytime."

My free hand ran along his face. He tilted his head and closed his eyes as if he was cherishing my skin. It was times like this that I wish I could read his mind.

"We will. You keep saying we will be one after this. Keep believing that as you go through this day. You said you have a good feeling about this day. Keep that feeling too."

"I will. Volim te. I will see you later."

"Volim te, Niko."

He leaned over to me to kiss my forehead. I wanted to kiss him on the lips badly, but we both know it will lead to more. And there was no time. Karen continued to pry Niko from the table with her words. He swatted his hands acknowledging that he was coming, but it irritated her.

"Sometime today!" She snapped.

He did stand up once he knew she was not playing around. They vanished, and I was left with Ethan again, who was currently in the bathroom washing up for the day. I wondered what he had borrowed money from Karen for? We had Roman who was more than willing to help us in whatever we needed. Then again, he one day might not be available when we need something, so I guess keeping some cash available for emergency was smart.

(Niko's POV)

Karen was driving quite recklessly through traffic. It was something I never expected. When we dated all those years ago, she always commented about my driving. I wasn't safe enough, or I was speeding when I was barely going 5 miles per hour over, or I didn't use my turn signal, or whatever came to her mind. She was a typical back seat driver, and now here she is, going past stop signs, traffic signals, speeding, taking hard turns, not using her signal. The craziness I was used to though. I never said a word.

The court house had almost doubled with supporters in my case. We drove by the people slowly as they flooded the streets with banners. Their "peaceful protest" was turning into more of a violent circus. The police were working overtime in subduing a few women who got out of hand when we drove by. The windows were thankfully tinted, so we were able to slip by without being seen.

The back lot had more cars in it than the first time. Karen assured me that she recognized a few cars and it was a good thing.

"These are some of my contacts. They have more documents for us." She said as she stomped out her third cigarette since we left.

I began to worry a little at her increased smoking. True, she was a complete bitch, but we were still friends. Somewhat.

She met up with her contacts and she was handed another folder. These government people love their folders. Karen waved me further inside into a private room. Whatever she had received obviously couldn't be heard by others.

"See this?" She handed me a bunch of papers that were stapled together.

"What is it?"

"This is the DNA test I was talking about. That Natasha Rascalov is none other than James Pegorino's neice. She was paid to act as a Russian. James doesn't want you here."

"He's still alive?!"

"Aparently so. And he's pulling every trick in the book to ship you home."

"Why?"

"Wasn't it you who killed Dimitri? That was James' way back to the top by selling all that heroin. And you killed him. He still wasn't able to let that go. He wasn't able to get anything from it."

"Why so long to finally try and get revenge on me?"

"Probably because he needed money to get to you. He must have heard that you were having this trial. It was only a matter of time that your past actions caught up to you."

"So, now what?"

"We play along for now. The more lies we can get out of them, the better. They'll dig themselves deeper and...bam!" She made me flinch when she punched her hand in her palm. "Once we nail them, the judge and jury will really see how you are being oppressed in this country. You are so close, Niko!"

Her excitement was feeding mine as I smiled back at her. The woman knew how to play the right cards.

"So, Mr. Bellic. Are you ready to become American?"

"Let's do this."

Soon we were inside the court room. We had time to spare again, but this time, Karen shuffled through and organized the paperwork instead of going through lines. I kept quiet. My phone vibrated in my pocket again, and before I even looked at the screen, I knew who it was.

Good luck! Knock 'em dead, killer.

She had me laughing to myself as I read. If I didn't know any better, she'd grown more accepting of what I've done. It seemed to me that all that didn't matter. My future with her flashed in my mind before the trial began. Us. Having settled down on a beach house made for two. Preferably that way. I'm too old to have kids now. I'd be almost 60 when my kids graduate high school. We will see.

My mind was snapped from its daydream to see the jury filing in again to get the trial going. I rose moments later when the judge entered and took a seat. He looked through more papers and looked at both sides.

"If there are no questions, shall we proceed with this trial?"

Upon agreement that it was time, the opposing side took the oath and sat in the stand. The opposition did their questions and answers like it was a performance that was rehearsed many times. I would know, I was through it.

Next came the cross examination by my attorney. His questions were all about why they would oppose me becoming an American. Having no other questions, he stood down. It took little time if any as the jury was swayed to their arguments rather than mine. "Natasha Rascalov" was still on the stand when Karen took it upon herself to question her. She held in her hand the folder with the DNA tests. I waited with eagerness as she was about to rip this whole thing open.

"So, Natasha Rascalov. You say you are the daughter of Dimitri?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"And you say you were only ten years old when Niko killed your father?"

"What's your point, ma'am?"

"You were aware that Dimitri was too involved in the criminal life to even consider having a child?"

"I was born out of wedlock. I am the result of a blind love fest in the back seat of a Primo."

"Yet despite what you said before, you said that Dimitri had a wife? So, tell me. What is the story?"

She began to stutter over her words and I had a huge grin as I thought.

Get her, Karen!

Karen handed the folder to the judge and she prompted him to read it.

"Your honor, that is a DNA test on Miss. Whitter. A college graduate from California. And not Mr. Rascalov's daughter."

Again, the jury and audience did a collective gasp. It was humorous to me. It reminded me of a cheesy American sitcom from the 80's.

"Miss. Daniels. This new information shocks me. A woman posing as someone she isn't."

"She was pretending to be the daughter of Rascalov to help the opposition keep Mr. Bellic illegal and deported."

"Order. Order!" Judge Johnson banged his gavel again as the audience still clamored on about the information that was just revealed.

The opposition shifted nervously on their side. I sat back in the chair as I watched the jury whisper to themselves. It went quiet for a moment. Then, finally, Karen spoke up more.

"Miss. Whitter is the neice of ex-mob boss James Pegorino and I believe that they are trying to keep Mr. Bellic illegal as a revenge plot. Your honor, I won't believe, even for a second, that Mr. Bellic has not done horrible things in his past. But here in America, we do believe in giving our fellow man second chances. It is up to that person to use his second chance the way he sees fit. Mr. Bellic has shown that he is more than ready to become an entirely different person, and he has shown me that I can also be different. It's time to allow him citizenship. He's been waiting so long."

"Miss. Daniels, I do believe your speech, and Mr. Bellic's actions, have defined what America is all about. Not what Mr. Wilson's actions have shown. I believe this case is already closed. I've heard enough. If it is alright with the jury, I'd like to claim Mr. Bellic a full citizen of America, and he will have all the rights as one who was born here."

My body was shooting adrenaline as I waited for the jury talked and argued amongst themselves. This was it. This is what I was waiting for. This case only lasted two days. Hours of examination and cross examinations, papers, proof, and the drama in between cases, seemed to mean nothing to the judge. The proof was the opposing side, and their deliberate restraining of me being able to finally have freedom.

"Your honor, we'd like to ajurn while we find a verdict." A member of the jury said.

"Of course. Take as long as you need."

They all left the room and the judge turned to me and Karen.

"You may take a break as well. As for the opposition, I'd like to have a word with them."

"Thank you, your honor."

Once in the waiting room, Karen met me for a hug. She was unable to hide her feelings this time as she lightly sobbed into me. I passed it as a friendly hug and nothing more.

"I want to thank you for believing in myself. Sharon and I were talking yesterday. I told her I couldn't do this without you. It was just so kind of you to fight for me."

"You're welcome. And thank you for being who you are. You really are a kind man. Sure you have a temper, but you're not quick to it like you were before. I think you really are a changed man. And Sharon is really lucky to have you. I just hope there's a man like you out there for me."

"What about Ethan?"

"He's nice and all, but he's not the one for me."

"I think he is. You just don't see it. You are comparing the men you date to me. I see you with Ethan, and you have a smile that I remember seeing on you when we were together. Don't throw a good thing away because he's not me."

"I guess you're right." She pulled away from me to get something for lunch. Mostly to not get too enveloped in me.

She and I ate together while she watched the news. Of course, it was about my case again. The caption read, "Major turning point in the illegal Serbian case." Some bystanders in the protest were being interviewed. Some from one side, and some from another. There was a young lady saying her opinion on how I shouldn't be here and I was taking American jobs...when I really wasn't. This made me laugh hard on how the news distorts reality. There was a man being reported saying this was all for ratings and that I'm probably not illegal in the first place. Oh, how I wished that were true.

The 3 o'clock hour rolled by when a man entered the room who was looking for us. He spoke that the jury had finally come to a decision after four hours of arguing and counter arguments. I had the feeling of gut twisting nervousness. The confidence I had earlier faded away when I remembered what Karen's employers said. I should never assume anything. I walked through the hallway of the courthouse on razors edge.

A loud explosion took me out of the sort of trance walk I had. People started running in every direction and hid in nearby bathrooms and janitor's closets. Karen took my hand and ran to the court room. What we found was dead bodies scattered all over the floor and blood splattered on the walls and ceiling. It reminded me of the war, coming upon the church with children grotesquely murdered and the killer nowhere to be seen. Victim's from early 20's to late 50's littered the room with no sign of what happened or indication of who did this.

A heavy set guard found both Karen and I standing in the room. We were unable to move. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me back to Earth.

"Did you see what happened here?" He asked.

"No." I felt my throat tighten up with a mixture of emotions. Anger, rage, sorrow, and uselessness from not being able to do anything for these poor people.

"I heard an explosion and I ran here."

My anger was the first to show. I spun around and snapped at the guard for his lack of authority.

"Where were you?! Why the fuck did you let this happen? You're a goddamned guard for fucks sakes! Don't you dumb fucks have scanners for something like this?!"

"Easy there, Sir. This happened so fast. We don't even know it was a person responsible."

"A bomb goes off and you think there was nobody responsible?!" I was in his face. My eyes burned with rage that I haven't felt since the war.

"It could have been a freak accident!"

Without even thinking, my fist coiled up tightly and punched the guard out cold. He wasn't of any use to prevent this from happening and wasn't any use now to help us find the person responsible.

My emotion turned to sorrow when I looked away from the guard to see a young woman streching out her arm beside me. She clasped on to my trousers to gain my attention. I knelt before her as she struggled to breathe. My instinct kicked in and my training as a soldier told me I had to stop the bleeding. I took off my tuxedo jacket and applied pressure to her wound on her chest. She cried as I tried to save her. Her hands shook, but they managed to find her cell phone and dialed her mother's number with bloody hands. Her fingerprints made blood splotches on the screen.

"Tell my mother I won't make it. She'll be nervous." She handed me her phone to me to relay the message.

My voice broke as the mother screamed as she watched the news from her home. I couldn't tell her that she'd never see her daughter again. I tossed the phone aside and tried to keep this young woman alive.

"Tell me your name." I felt a tear form and roll down my face.

"Jackie. Jackie Reynolds."

"Jackie. I won't let you die. You hear me? You won't die here. Not today. You just keep talking to me, okay?"

"You're really a nice guy. If it means anything, Niko, I was on your side the entire time. You had my vote from the beginning. Welcome to America."

She died right there in my arms and I couldn't help but think if Sharon had come today, this would have been her. Dead. In my arms, and there was nothing I could have done.

Then, the uselessness emotion made it's way to my mind. I lost it. Being in the Army numbed me to death and losing friends. Friends that I was able to call brothers. But this was not the case. Now, I cried hard still holding Jackie in my arms. Karen was by my side as I clinged to this woman I never knew.

"We need to leave, Niko."

I knew she was right, but I couldn't help the feelings I had. My harsh reply came without my control, and I instantly wanted to take it back.

"We can't leave these people here! You really are an insensitive bitch!"

My jaw clenched down hard. It was too late to try to hold back my words. Her throat worked and she cried along with me. Not for the reason I had.

"Karen, I am so sorry. You're right. There's nothing we can do."

Karen said nothing to me as she ran out of the room, leaving me alone with the dead. Jackie's phone screached from across the room with the frantic mother still on the line. I stood with fading strength to tell the grieving mother what happened. Even though I didn't even know myself, atleast she knew her daughter was dead and I did the best I could to give her a few more minutes of life. I brought the phone with me and I reminded myself to find the mother to give her the phone. I was sure it had extremely valuable photos of her daughter.

I found Karen still crying just a few feet away from the court room. Police and bomb squad were on their way through the hallway being lead on by a bunch of dogs. They barked and yelped as they tried to sniff out where the bomb came from.

"Hey, I'm sorry I yelled at you." I said, bringing her head up to look at me.

"You are really an asshole."

"I know. I was hit hard with this. I kept thinking if Sharon was here."

"You always think of her! Always thinking with your dick and not with your brain. Thinking when you're going to get the next piece of ass from her. When you are going to get the next blowjob from her. Never about the feelings of others."

This, I know wasn't true, but I kept my words for now. She needed to get this off her chest.

"I know. I am sorry. Please forgive me. You are one of my best friends, and I am glad you're not hurt."

She stopped crying for a moment and hicced a few times. Her eyes glazed with tears as she tried to calm down.

"I'm glad you're okay too." She said finally.

"Let's get out of here. We're no good standing here."

She quickly nodded and we were able to escape with nothing further happening. We stood by her Calvacade to collect ourselves. She immediately reached for her cigarettes and began smoking like a train. My phone vibrated in my pocket.

"Are you okay?! Why didn't you answer my calls?" The familiar voice of my lepi anđeo was in full panic as she yelled into the phone on her end.

"I'm okay. Karen is too. We're outside by the Calvacade. I was too busy saving a life to realize you were calling."

"Don't you dare move. I'm coming up there."

"That's a bad idea. Stay home where it's safe. They have the police and bomb squad in there."

Another explosion near us sent Karen and I flying across the parking lot. I crawled to her to protect her from debris that may still be falling. My body acting as a shield to any glass or stone that could be falling onto her. The debris settled. Nearly missing us was a large glass shard. It landed in front of me, shattering in a million pieces.

"Well, it's the dumb immigrant fuck I've grown to hate."

That voice. It was so familiar. Once the dust settled, the form of James Pegorino himself came from inside the nearly demolished courthouse. The police dogs barked in the distance and shouting of the bomb squad came from all directions.

"I should have known you'd double cross me one day. I favored you. People wanted you dead. Ray Bochino, Phill Bell, even my wife. We all knew you were untrustworthy. But I had a feeling about you. I knew you'd be useful to the organization. The organization I had well intact until you fucked me over. Now look who is getting fucked!"

"If you kill me now, you'll be killed by the squad." My time was nearing its end, Karen's was far ahead of mine. Blood poured from her head. For a moment, I thought she was dead. She snapped back to consciousness when she heard the dog's barking getting closer. She started to panic when she began to realize quickly what happened. I soothed her as I remained on top of her to not be afraid. For one thing, if I were to die, I'd be dying with a friend. I wouldn't be able to see Sharon ever again, and that thought made me inwardly panic.

"Atleast I'll have the satisfaction of seeing you in Hell."

He aimed the rifle at me to end me. I knew as a prisoner in various ways ranging from an Army soldier to a captured citizen, time was of the essence. I formulated questions to buy me time as the police squad drew closer.

"Tell me, James. How did you cause those explosions?"

"You really wanna know before you die? That's not the thing I wanna know before I die. Maybe one last threesome with some college bimbos, but it's your last request. I suppose you are entitled to it."

I half paid attention on how he managed to get materials for building this bomb through security. My main focus was on Karen. I already failed someone today. I was not going to lose Karen.

I heard the words as he spoke, but I didn't believe it. During the court hiatus, he smuggled in the materials by paying off members of security to look the other way. Once he had the bombs constructed, he placed two bombs in two different places. One was in the hallway by the courtroom, and the other was nearby the exit that Karen and I took. He said had no eyes on the inside, so he waited until it was the perfect time to detonate them. Making him the perfect mastermind. I'd like to believe him when he said he had no way of knowing where we were in relivence to the bombs. The last bomb was too coincidental to go off by us when he said he placed them in random spots.

"Is that all you want to hear? Just one last thing before I put this bullet in your dumbfuck brain, I don't plan on stopping with you. I am erasing every last one of you Bellics. I will find your cousin, I will find his floosy bitch of a wife and I will find that maggot neice of yours and I will put an end to that disease."

My rage held in check by the fact that I was defenseless and offenceless. I was paralyzed by his word choice and I still laid on top of Karen. Her form losing consciousness quickly as her skin was feeling cold. I thought of the idea to try and keep her warm with my body heat and I took off my longsleeve shirt. I whispered under my breath to keep her talking to me. Her light voice told me she was losing.

"But what will bring me the most satisfaction will be me finding that dirty dumpster of a girlfriend of yours and watching the life slip away from her as I choke her with my bare hands!"

My rage blinded me as well as numbed me to any pain I may recieve as I lunged myself at Pegorino. The rifle went off and he missed me as my stealth proved too much for the old timer. His reflexes weren't as good as they once were.

I tackled him to the ground and wrestled the rifle out of his hands. The lifeless body of Sharon burning in my mind was fueling my body as I began beating Pegorino to death. He tried to retaliate, but it was one last powerful punch to his skull that did him in. He gurgled one last unrecognizable word and his life was over.

I took hard breaths to come back to myself and lose the barbaric rage that was within me. I ran to Karen who was still hanging on for her life. My body held her off the concrete to keep her warm and atleast comfortable until the police came. All forms of communication were destroyed in that last blast, except for Jackie's cell phone. I'd like to think it was her way of giving me one last chance to save Karen. I dialed the emergency number and within minutes, the paramedics arrived. The police squad was still in the dilapidated building, looking for the survivors inside. The paramedics took Karen to the hospital and left me wondering if I used Jackie's chance to the fullest.

I was taken aside for questioning by the police once they found me. Some tried to blame me for the bombing. My short fuse burned out and I charged at the officer heckling me. Another younger officer held me back. He was more mild mannered than the older one.

"He blames me for the bombing when I had nothing to do with it?! Why the fuck would I kill people before I was so close to getting what I wanted!?" I shouted at the young officer from denying the venting of my frustration.

"He's an old cop with a tiny penis. His wife is threatening to leave him and he is losing his kid. He's not having a good year."

"I don't give a fuck about his problems!"

The young officer laughed at me and that made me realize the first thing he said. I let out a loud laugh as he joined with me. I supposed there were some good officers in this city still who weren't corrupt.

It was much later as dusk set in over Liberty City. The sun turned the buildings different shades of orange determined by the brick color. It was getting little cold for it being August. I thought how good of a gift would be to come home to Sharon after the events that happened just a day after her birthday. It wasn't legal residency, but I think it was better. I used Jackie's phone to call her. She was crying over the phone as she answered the unfamiliar number.

"Hello? Who is this?"

I smiled. Even though she couldn't see me, I was sure I was about to make her day happy again.

"It's Niko."

"Niko!" She hollered. "I thought you were caught in that second bombing! I saw it on television! They had a helicopter circling around and they zoomed in to see two bodies on top of each other. I knew it was you. I heard the bomb and saw it happening. I thought you were dead!" I heard her cry harder.

"I'm okay. Karen is in the hospital."

"I don't care about her!" She cut me off.

"Sharon! That's not nice! I know you two don't get along, but that's not how people show each other they care!"

She stopped her tears. I could tell this wasn't the time to be yelling at each other. Emotions were running wild, and I knew she didn't mean it.

"Niko. I want to see you." She said.

"I'll be home. I want to help these people who are wounded. There are a lot of people in need of rescuing too."

"It's not safe, Niko. There could be more bombs and that bomber is still at large."

"No. He isn't. He's dead. There were only two bombs."

"The news said he's still alive!"

I laughed. Trust the news to give false reports to keep the viewers glued to the t.v.

"No. I made sure he will not harm anyone anymore. He only had two bombs. It's over."

"Then come home to me! I need you!"

I blinked back a tear, realizing that it was kind of selfish making my loved ones worry about me and my saftey. There were plenty of police and paramedics on the scene. All well trained and prepared to help. I did confront the young officer who I instantly became friends with. I told him I was needed at home and he waved his goodbye. Before I left, I gave him Jackie's phone. He'd have more luck in finding the mother than I would. I told the officer to relay a message to her as well. I told him to tell her I was sorry. Sorry for not being able to save her. The young officer nodded and I made haste back home using the Calvacade.

She was standing in the yard outside the condominium with Ethan. I pulled up and she recognized the black SUV as she ran up to my door. It seemed I didn't open the door fast enough as she yanked the door open and pulled me out. She held me tightly. And for the first time in a long while, I felt like I truely belonged. Like I was missed terribly and I was important to someone other than the people I knew. This was what it was like to have a family. People you can count on to be there when you come home after a day like this. Or any day.

"I'm so glad you are okay!"

She kissed me repeatedly on my cheeks between her words. She did pull a little too hard on my back and I felt a strain. My call out of pain made her seize with worry. I had scrapes, bumps and bruises, but nothing major. I suffered worse than this. Karen had it far worse than I did, and I wondered to myself how the hell I was so lucky to still be standing.

"I'm so sorry!" Her hands covered her mouth.

"No. It's okay. I miss the loving. Just be a little easier with it." I chuckled.

"How are you so cheerful?! I thought you were dead!"

"I guess I'm an optimist." I remember Roman saying that a long time ago.

"What?"

"After the day I had, I was the lucky one to come home to loved ones. My second chance." I thought of Jackie.

She nodded after I told her the story of Jackie, understanding what I meant. Ethan came up to me and gave me a hug, fighting back the tears he had for me. I could tell he was remaining strong for Sharon, but he was finally able to show his true emotions.

"I thought you were dead too. I didn't want to believe it, but I had to stay strong. I can't be strong for Sharon and myself."

"Relax, Ethan." I said, remembering his heart issue a week ago.

We went inside and tried to relax each other. Sharon cuddled close to me on the couch, and Ethan sat nearby. These two needed to touch me to assure themselves I was real. Both of them still couldn't believe I was alive, and after I told Ethan what happened to Karen and why she wasn't here, he cried just as hard as Sharon did. He genuinely cared for Karen, and now we were unsure what her state was. I was sure the hospital was working hard to keep her stable.

Soon, we all fell asleep on the couch being comforted by each other's warmth. Just being able to physically touch me was keeping them at ease.