So here's the next chapter. Kinda short but with substance.

I'm currently busy writing more chapters of different fics with a project close to release that is a MHA crossover that is not a Naruto fic.

Enjoy it and leave your thoughts down below.

It being the late afternoon, things were about to change.

Still not undressed or even asleep, a tired Naruto was in his all-black outfit as he was sitting inside his cellar home, watching the latest episode of Republican Space Rangers on television, he was not paying much attention as he was now reading the Liberty Tree's front page of the papers he was given this morning.

It was about Mikhail Faustin's death, which was headlines across the entire city without a question. No, doubt that this was a shock to everyone this had happened.

A day after the job was done, Naruto had made sure to erase all evidence that could be linked back to him or Niko, with the black merit sedan dumped in East Hook, the weapons thrown down a sewage drain, and splitting up shortly afterward.

Then the phone rang, and Naruto picked up and answered it.

"Hell-"

"YOU BOY, DO YOU HANG OUT WITH YOUR BOSS' COUSIN?!"

Naruto recognized the voice and replied, "Hello to you too, Onoki-ojisan."

"Naruto, don't pull this shit, I need an honest answer. Do you hang around with your fatass boss' cousin?"

"I don't see why you should care, but yeah-"

"Shit! You fool! Do you know what he just did?!"

"Yeah, I do. To settle a debt with Kenny Petrovic."

"You stupid idiot! Petrovic didn't care about Faustin's death. He wants your idiot friend's head."

"What? What are you talking about old man?"

"A powerful Bratva head in the Adriatic has placed a price on your friend's head. And said mobster has just so happened to turn up here in Liberty recently. And the price is certainly enough to wipe any debt between Petrovic and that snake Rascalov now he's in charge of Faustin's Bratva."

"So what does this mean?"

"THINK, YOU FOOL! Rascalov had your friend assassinate Faustin so he could take over, and now he intends to collect on your friend's Bounty! I know Rascalov's type, he'll try to kill your friend and destroy anything associated with him!"

"Wait, you mean..?"

"GET THE HELL OUT OF YOUR PLACE! Take your valuables with you and lie low somewhere that isn't in Broker! And try to warn your boss too, because he'll be caught up in it!"

"What about-"

"It's too late! Get your stuff and get out now! And if you hear the name Ray Bulgarin, do not attract his attention, because he's the one gunning for your friend! Shalom."

And with a click and beep, Onoki hung up on Naruto, his warning sent loud and clear. It only then got the blond to react clearly to what had just happened.

"That Teme used us…"

Meanwhile

Down an alleyway off Hooper Street in East Island City, Niko was seen walking into the back area, looking around for anything suspicious, for he was on the lookout for any of Dimitri's men who were looking for him.

Things ended up bad.

Flashback

Supposed to meet Dimitri in an empty warehouse in Mohaned, Niko was called there to come alone to collect the money for the hit.

Coming alone was what caused some doubt to arise from the Bellic, and his friend Little Jacob with whom he had called in earlier agreed on that, let alone he did not trust the Russians, so he decided to tag along.

Now both were outside the warehouse in East Hook, Jacob armed with a Uzi, he asked up.

"Yo, where Ruto at, breda?"

"He's sleeping, no need to bother him now, we can do it on our own," Niko said while both stopped right in front of the open gate. The Serb turned to his Jamaican friend.

"Sharp eyes, huh?"

"You dunno? Me have it, seen, star?"

The two bumped fists before Niko entered the empty warehouse, with the rasta just watching from behind his cover as his backup in case something were to happen.

The warehouse itself was abandoned, with materials inside that were covered in rust, and the sound of the wind blowing inside the building, it was raising the Bellic's suspicions even more that he was to come here to collect his money.

Then a few footsteps could be heard, and emerging came Dimitri.

"Hey, Niko. glad you could make it."

"Yes…" Niko began, asking then, "You got the money?"

"Sure," Dimitri replied while trying to show he was grateful, "But I just wanted to say how grateful me and my bosses are for what you did."

Taking a few steps forward, the tension ramped up, causing Niko to be even more cautious with his words.

"Good."

"Yes," Dimitri responded again, "And I just wanted to check something with you."

Now he was convinced, there was no money - this was something else.

"Okay…"

Not knowing why Niko stepped a few steps closer, making the distance from the gate from where Jacob was watching.

"You are Niko Bellic," Dimitri asked with an interesting smile, "correct?"

"What is this?"

"And you used to work the coast in the Mediterranean, smuggling people into Italy?"

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

"But you messed up," Dimitri interrupted him, sounding not so friendly anymore. "and left a lot of bad debt. You left a good friend of mine out of pocket, big time."

"Hello, Niko."

Then another person entered the conversation out of nowhere, smoking a cigar whilst doing so. A tall, heavyset man with a mustache and short hair. The high Slavic cheekbones, frame a scowling mouth with a cigar in it. He wears brown corduroy pants, a leather jacket, and a turtleneck with a zipper.

"Hello…Mr. Bulgarin."

At this point, Jacob was watching this develop and saw the unexpected guest and the man coming up behind Niko, with a blade in his hand.

"Ras…"

Bulgarin did not hesitate to ask, "Where's our money?"

"I don't know," Niko answered, "I didn't rob you?"

"Really?"

The gate then began to close down, ticking the tension like a butter knife ready to slice it.

"We were busted a mile off the coast. I had to swim for my life." Niko told him, the same story as before to the man, keeping his cool, "I don't know what happened. I nearly drowned."

Bulgarin scoffed, "My heart is bleeding."

"I did my best! I didn't fuck up!" Niko responded with anger.

"отстранить его!"

Ordered in Russian, A man attempted to slit Niko's throat but he headbutts him straight in the face.

With Jacob entering the warehouse before the gate closed, the unwanted reunion ended up in a gunfight.

Flashback ends

It could've been Bulgarin's men or Dimitri's people who tried to take him out in that warehouse, they all ended up as dead men once the shooting ended with the cops arriving on the spot, allowing Niko and Jacob to slip out and escape. Yet it did not end up in their favor, both Bulgarin and Dimitri managed to escape on time.

Meaning that the situation only was about to get worse.

With Jacob having been dropped off in Beechwood City, he now needed to find his cousin - who was the reason why he was here in this alleyway in the first place.

"Roman?" Looking around now and calling him out, "Roman? Where are you?"

"In here. I'm stuck"

The muffled sound came from behind, and not having noticed before, there was one of Roman's Esperanto black cabs, with the sound coming from the trunk.

"Let me out…"

"Shit man…"

Niko popped open the trunk, allowing then for Roman to get out. He looked scared and panicked, trying to get out of the car.

"What are you doing in there?"

"I got scared... people started calling the house and hanging up," Roman said while standing up on his two feet and asking, "You and Naruto weren't answering your phone! What happened?"

"We've got a big problem." Niko admitted to him while on alert, he turned briefly to his cousin, "Dimitri was not a man of his word."

Roman asked frighteningly, "So we're dead?"

"More or less."

"Everything was fine before you…" Roman began berating Niko, who in response could only apologize and understand his frustration.

"Thank you, Thanks a lot!"

"Izvini." Niko apologized in Serbian, pausing the tension between them.

"Whatever," Roman replied in his native tongue, no point in arguing anymore, "What's done is done."

"Yes, but there's a bigger problem…" Niko admitted while still looking around to make sure they were alone.

"What?"

"That guy I owed money to, Bulgarin," Niko mentioned, having once talked about him, Roman knew he was his former employee, but thought he was still in Europe.

"Yes, the guy in Europe... who lives by the Adriatic."

"Yeah, yeah," Niko turned back and said, "he's here now."

Hearing that just then exhausted a simple response from Roman, throwing his hands in defeat.

"Great…"

"I'm sorry…" Niko began to apologize, too ashamed to even face his cousin, "I've ruined your life."

"No. Don't be like that…" Roman replied, trying to keep the spirits up, "we can find a way out of this... bunch of idiot Russians…"

"I will kill every one of them." Niko began-

"No... that's exactly what you won't do." Roman protested whilst reasoning with him, "We don't have time for revenge. We can't afford it."

"What can we afford?"

Niko's question prompted Roman to respond with an idea.

"We can lay low... and start over." Roman held his hand over Niko's shoulder to convince him, "Please... come on, let's go back to the apartment."

Swallowing that down, Niko nodded in agreement on this plan, both then turned to the Esperanto cab and he recognized it.

"Is that Naruto's cab?"

"Yes it is, nothing else was available," Roman said while closing the trunk and throwing Niko the keys, "Let us go back, we grab our stuff and warn him - we got no time to spare."

"Agreed…"

Both the Bellic Cousins got inside the cab, leaving the alleyway and making their way back southwards to Hove Beach.

"Have you called Naruto by any chance?" Roman asked him, "Told him what had happened?"

"I have not, no." Niko replied while taking a turn right, "I dropped him off in the night and we have not talked since. Why?"

"No worry, he can handle himself, but I need to make a call." Roman said while grabbing for his phone, "We can pick up our stuff and then get out of here. I'll call Mallorie, she might have somewhere we can hide out."

As they drove across Broker, Roman's phone was ringing until he got someone on the line.

"Hey, beautiful. Listen, me and Niko are in a bit of trouble - need to get out of Broker a few days."

Niko drove past the Heights and through the intersection that would lead them down South Broker, all while Roman kept himself busy on the phone.

"Any of your cousins have a place we could use out in Bohan?" Waiting for a response, Roman looked relieved and thanked, "You're an angel - beautiful and kind. I love you. We'll see you there."

Once ending the call, Roman's tone took a different turn to the whole situation.

"Maybe things are not so bad."

"This, I did not expect," Niko said sternly.

"I was thinking about getting out of the cab business. Last night I had a dream…"

"Really?"

"es, you and I had a place of our own. A place where people come to eat and relax. A classy place." Roman told him, clarifying the dream, "None of this fast-food, diner bullshit. We own a real restaurant, a tavern. It is a place of distinction, you know?"

The cab drove up Mohawk Avenue after having gone through Rotterdam Hill, a distinctive sound could've been heard from afar if the Bellics paid attention.

Niko said, "I can't see myself settling down."

"Not now, but in the dream you've met the right woman. She is beautiful. Pure like my Mallorie. In the dream Mallorie and me are married. Everything is perfect." Roman said, "This could be the start of that. A fresh beginning."

"All I know is we have to get as far from Dimitri and Bulgarin as we can."

"We will, but I have left something important at the apartment. Something I must show you, cousin."

The two drove up further on Mohawk Avenue, arriving at Hove Beach, they were about to come across their home - seeing something that freaked Roman out.

"What the hell?"

The whole apartment building was on fire, with the fires spreading out of their home's windows.

"Holy fuck, it's fucking burning. The whole place…" Roman tried to get out of his seat, "I've got to go in, I've got to get something."

Niko held him back and kept him in the car, preventing him from doing something stupid-

*BOOM!*

The cellar then exploded, causing Niko to freeze and realize what happened.

"Leave it, cousin. This place is gone."

"They burnt it... they fucking burnt it, Niko!"

The Bellics left the scene before they could catch anyone's attention, with the first responding firetrucks driving past them, a small crowd was seen assembling near the burning scene, with some noticing the car driving off.

"Do you know how long it took me to get a place of my own?" Roman began, ranting against his cousin, "You got off the boat and I was here for you!"

"I know you were," Niko replied calmly,

"I got here and I had nothing, nobody!" Roman kept berating him in anger, "I worked my way up from the fucking dirt!"

Then when they were about to arrive at the cab depot, the smoldering black clouds were visible.

"Jesus! It's on fire, fuck!"

The Esperanto stopped in the middle of the street, with the two watching Bellic enterprises go up in smoke, with a few cabs also destroyed by the flames, this did little to calm Roman down.

"I've got nothing left. Not my home, not my business, nothing. They took it all."

Seeing the despair in his cousin's eyes, Niko said, "I'm sorry, Roman, I'm really sorry but we have to go."

The cab drove off from the scene again, with them turning to Mohawk Avenue again, going upwards to Rotterdam Hill.

"We'll meet Mallorie in Bohan. You still have her."

"And you, for all the good you've done me!"

The drive continued with them bypassing Rotterdam Hill, and Roman's justified berating continued.

"Do you know how long it took me to get set up here? You don't because it was easy for you. You had it all from day one. It took me months to get some cash together. Finally, I bought a cab and then another, then I got the depot... I slept under my desk at that place for over a year... then I got the apartment, the apartment you thought was so shitty. Well, it doesn't matter. Now it's gone along with everything else."

Niko could only respond with another apology, "I said I was sorry…"

"You have a lot to apologize for. Since you got here I've had my computer smashed, I've been beaten up, I was kidnapped and then shot in the stomach, my apartment got burned down and so did my business!" Roman yelled out all the things that had happened to him, ending it in a sarcastic tone, "Things have been going so great, just great since you showed up."

"You remember that time we went to the bar back home and found it razed to the ground?" Bringing up an old story from back then. Niko tried to calm Roman down with that story, "Just a pile of rubble... everything smashed, except for that one bottle of vodka."

With the cab arriving at the East Borough Bridge, Roman was seen distracted for now by the mentioning of that story.

"Yeah... we sat down and finished it off there and then." Roman remembered that time for a brief moment, "Wait... wait... I don't want to talk about back home. We're here in America now and I should be thinking about my life here, my life which is ruined. Just drive, shut up, and drive."

The moment the cab happened to enter traffic up on the bridge, it was then that a phone went off and it was Roman's, proceeding to pull the device out of his pocket to answer it - it was Mallorie.

Sucking up the emotions, Roman started, "Hey beautiful, what's up?"

Seeing his cousin in distress while trying to keep an act on his fiance on the phone, Niko kept up with the traffic as he was about to reach the toll booth.

*Bzzz!*

Then Niko's phone went off, as he pulled it out of his pocket, he saw he had just gotten a text that read.

'I am safe, meet you up in Bohan - N.U'

South Slopes

Even K'Dusash Synagogue

The door bursts open in the Synagogue, Naruto runs through the door and into the aisle, looking over his shoulder until he feels himself trip over and land on his face.

The pain of landing on his face is quickly accompanied by the pain of a wooden stick repeatedly hitting his head, accompanied by a berating old man's voice.

"I've told you repeatedly brat, No Running!"

Onoki stood over Naruto as he beat his walking cane over the blond.

"Ouch! Ouch! Stop it, old man!"

"I'll stop when I want to, you stupid brat!" Onoki told him, angrily scolding the young man, "Now get up, so I can speak to you properly!"

Naruto did so to face the old man, and by this, it was visible for Onoki to see some burn patterns on the blond's shirt and pants, but also the pistol sticking out.

Onoki shook his head, "You are in deep trouble, kid."

"Like I said over the phone, it was to settle a debt." Naruto tried to explain the whole situation, all the way to the hit of Petrovic's son in Bohan to the point of Dimitri telling Niko about the supposed deal to keep them out from the crosshairs of the Russian Mob.

Once done explaining, Onoki walked over to the entrance of the Synagogue and closed the doors to lock them, proceeding to return to the center and get to the point where he wanted Naruto to come back here.

"Listen very carefully boy because I am only going to say it once," Onoki began to tell, "The only Russian mobster who was willing to cover your backs is now dead and Rascalov has put a price on both you and that Serb's head - Hove Beach isn't safe for you now."

"I know…" Naruto said, pulling up his sleeve and showing a burn wound on his forearm, allowing the old man to see it, "I just got out from Hove Beach."

"Then allow me to help you, boy." Onoki spoke, "I know people who will help you but you will need to trust me from now on, alright?"

"Since when did I doubt you?" Naruto asked him.

A nod came from the elder before he asked, "You got your belongings?"

"Outside the building, why?"

"You are living with us now for a few days," Onoki said before he walked over to the door again, "I hope you can handle life in our little enclave."

"Okay…" Naruto reluctantly agreed, following the little man as they exited the building.

"I hope for you that you can speak Yiddish."

Bohan

A door opened by the Bellics and both walked into their new apartment…with the new part being barely anything relevant.

It was a dump to begin with, the only plus point was that it was bigger than the one in Broker with a futon bed and several Honkers posters across the walls, and a kitchen that looked like it was barely kept clean but was also an improvement of space.

To say it in short it was a shithole, but that didn't deter Roman from breaking the silence.

"Not so bad…" Roman began dryly, turning to Niko while speaking, "I mean, I don't think we'll be impressing women with our wonderful hot tub, but, err, this looks okay…"

Niko in response reacted differently, "Yes, great!"

"Come on, what's…" Roman attempts to keep up a smile while asking, "What's wrong?

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Niko responded in near anger and asked him, "Where should I start? Alright, I'll start with you - what's wrong with you?"

Roman turned away from him as Niko kept going.

"Fifteen minutes ago you were cowering in fear because you didn't know what was going to happen. Now, you know everything is shit and we are going to be killed, and you're all cheerful. I don't get it!"

"I guess I'm an optimist."

"An idiot." Niko told him, "Not an optimist."

Roman spun around to answer him in an equally angry tone with sarcasm, "I was bored of Broker anyway! I'm glad you turned up and made some Russian killers burn down my home and business! Oh yeah, thanks Niko! Thanks a bunch! Is that better?"

"Much!" Niko harshly replied, just then the door opened again and the two turned around to see it was Mallorie who entered the apartment, looking worried sick.

"Thank God you are okay!" Mallorie said, going over to Roman to peck him on both cheeks, "Both of you."

"We're fucked." Niko angrily stated with crossed arms, "We're broke and on the run."

"No, I'm from up here, Niko. I know a bunch of people who might be able to help out." Mallorie said to him, even going on to suggest to her boyfriend's cousin, "Why don't you come and meet me at the community center later on?"

Niko took a moment to calm down from all the stress and nodded to Mallorie's suggestion.

"I'll do."

"Good, and bring Naruto along," Mallorie said before noticing the time on her watch, "I've got to go to work"

She went on to peck Roman on the cheeks goodbye, with a comment about his scent, both men were not that focused on the Puerto Rican woman's comments as she left the apartment, waiting for her to be off ear distance before they resumed to talk.

*Bzzz!*

"Hmm…" Roman's phone went off, he grabbed his pocket and pulled the device out, reading something that brought relief to him.

"Thank God…Naruto's alive." Roman said, summarizing the text, "He told me he'll meet us in Bohan. No need to worry about him."

"Yeah…" Niko nodded before heading for the door, "I'm going out."

"Sure."

The older Bellic departed from the room, leaving Roman by himself as he could only comment.

"Beginning our new lives…again."

That night

With the day after the whole fiasco in Hove Beach having ended, there was nothing left in Broker for the cab drivers of Roman's cab company to return to. Naruto knew that firsthand after having called some of the drivers.

Inside his motel room that was owned by a Jewish family that was part of Onoki's congregation and associate, Naruto was using this place to conduct business for now - with one hand to call and direct all of Roman's cab drivers to continue to work until an update could be given…

On the illegal side of his stay here, a stash of weapons was left on the bed, mainly a variety of pistols, a shotgun, body armor, and ammunition that Naruto owned, with some cash next to it.

"Later, Mohammed." Finishing the last call, Naruto had his final phone call with his irritating colleague who now was working overtime at Francis International, as he like many drivers was permitted to work overtime.

Sitting back down on a chair, Naruto sighed as he was tired from today, having been chased out of his home by the Bratva, he was only a driving distance away from Broker and the people who tried to burn him to death.

*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*

"Brat!"

That voice behind the door caused Naruto to throw one of the blankets across the guns, just then when the doorknob clicked.

"Come in."

The door opened up and coming in was Onoki himself, with behind him a large bald man who was one of the old man's bodyguards who stood outside on watch.

"We are about to leave for my home, The car outside is ready." Onoki told him and noticed the bedsheet and what lay underneath it, "That your weapons?"

Naruto nodded,

"No need to worry, Schlomo outside will look after them," Onoki affirmed to the boy, "Shall we?"

"Sure."

"Good, to Bohan it is because dinner's about to start." Onoki chuckled as he opened the door again, "It also happens to be the Sabbath, so I hope you are not a picky eater."

The two left the motel room soon after, allowing the room to be empty of any activity. Until then a sound could be heard.

The sound of drilling to be more exact, as a small hole began appearing in the wall.