The Price They Paid

by CzechKris91

*Follows The Price We Pay* After the rather eventful wedding of his cousin, Niko was ready to hang up the proverbial rifle and start a more peaceful and quiet life in Liberty City. He had somehow beat Death and came away victorious. But once the dust settles, will things continue to stay silent? Can he truly retire when the entire city was witness to the underground criminal power?

15. Rigged to Blow

I swear I've gone over this chapter a hundred times and it's as good as it's going to get.

aaaaaa

The monitor softly beeped to the steady cadence of Kenny's heart. The breathing machine hissed with each breath that was forced into his lungs. The constant drip from the IV lines was slowly driving Niko mad. Here laid the most powerful man in all of Liberty, and he required machines to stay alive. Niko gripped the footrail of the hospital bed and trailed his eyes over all the wires, tubes, and various things hooked up to Kenny to keep him breathing.

"Explain it to me again." Niko spoke softly to the doc who was busy cleaning off the dried blood on Kenny's hands.

"I need to keep him under till his body is well enough to heal on its own. He needs to rest. Deeply. His heart stopped too many times for my liking. He really should be in an ICU unit at a hospital." The doc rung out the washcloth in the dirty bin before picking up another clean towel to restart the process of washing Kenny, "He is lucky he had friends to help him when he needed it most…"

'Yeah. Friends.'

Niko shoved upright and began pacing. The guys helping the doctor ran out from the yacht and said they needed to get Kenny moved. It had been a distraction enough to stall off any explanations about Bobby. Kenny's men had kept him away from anyone else. Either intentionally or not. He wasn't sure. But he had seen Bernie watching him. Gerry looked irate, and Packie wouldn't meet his eyes. Just what had they heard? Enough to make large assumptions?

'Do they know I killed Derrick?'

Roy looked too happy to ignore. He had this dark merriment about him.

Then there was Kate. She had blood on her hands. Figuratively and literally. She gave him space as she trailed behind Kenny's stretcher, and when he approached her, she had collapsed into his arms. She trembled in his hold and refused to move from the safety of being buried in his neck. She kept repeating over and over that she loved him and needed him. It was like she was begging him to stay when it should be the other way around.

'She must have seen me kill Bobby from the boat… An execution. Something she never should have been privy to…'

"Pakhan? Avia is requesting an audience." Georgi poked his head into the thick plastic curtain and couldn't take his eyes off of Kenny. It broke Niko from his thoughts and process of figuring out where he stood with everyone.

"You can send her in." Niko sighed heavily and watched as the doc turned his back to mess with the computer, giving him the appearance of privacy.

"Niko?" Avia edged into the sterile, plastic enclosed space. The doc had his team create his own version of an ICU unit within the McReary dining room. There were metal poles that held up a thick tarp of semi see-through plastic. Anyone that came and went had to wash up. The M.E was overly cautious about who was allowed to be around his patient. Niko had been about the only person he didn't fight with. Not that he would be able to say no to Niko now that he was essentially Kenny Petrovic.

"Come in. We need to talk." Niko waved her in and shook his head when Georgi tried to enter as well. Things needed to be said and cleared up. And he could handle Avia Rosen.

"Thank you…" Avia whispered as she came to stand at the foot of the hospital bed, openly staring at Kenny. She wiped at her face to remove any evidence of tears or emotions.

"When you said Bratva earlier…?" Niko sank down into the dining room chair and watched as Ron's partner shuffled to Kenny's side in order to help wash off the blood.

"Yes. Kenny tells me just about everything. And I in turn tell him about LCPD cases. I only give up information that is dire to keeping Kenny safe. Otherwise, I am dedicated to the job. More so than Francis is. Or Mitt. When I heard the call about the murders in Dukes… I had to know. Kenny hadn't checked in like he normally does before and after his flights. I knew something was wrong." She sniffled and tucked some of her wildly curly hair behind her ears.

"Then you approaching me in the park? Going to Bernie's class?" Niko leaned forward and placed his hands on his knees, tilting his head to see if Georgi was close by. He wasn't sure what all was known about her position within the LCPD and didn't want to put her in a precarious situation. He had his own people to worry about within the LCPD.

"That was legitimate. Bernie is a kind soul. He has a wonderful teaching method. It helps keep me moving. I didn't know you'd be in the park. But I was going to ask Bernie to have you call me. If there was one person Kenny told me to get ahold of if he were to-" She paused and placed a hand over her mouth. The tears obscured her vision and she sucked in a shaky breath, "Kenny told me if he were to ever go dark that I need to get to you as soon as I could. I just wasn't fast enough."

"There was no way of knowing. Don't go down that road." Niko lifted out of the chair and motioned to the doc to leave them be for a few minutes- Kenny was stable for the time being. He needed to have this conversation without listening ears. The doc simply nodded and took off his gloves before exiting the makeshift ICU.

"He never checked in. His flight was to land at 0600. I expected a text about an hour from then. I was at the crime scene at the time his plane should've touched down. Niko, how did these people swarm the airport and capture him? He has his own security team. The airfield would be on high alert. So many people are flying in for the Mayor's party. There is no way someone didn't see something." She swiped angrily at her eyes and refused to look at Niko. She would not show weakness.

"They would've hit him on the move. Airport is too risky. I need you to swear to me something." Niko walked to her side and watched as she tried to hide her tears from him.

"Anything." She whispered and continued to rub at her face. She was feeling beyond shameful at how she was nearly breaking down in front of Kenny's replacement. And now she was being forced to give loyalty to someone her partner idolized.

"If you betray Ron or Francis, I will kill you. Swear to me you won't make me kill you. That I won't be forced to make that call." Niko shifted to face her fully and crossed his arms. He was not about to risk anyone else if she went off the deep end. It was already concerning that she told Kenny things. What had she been used for in order to dig up dirt on people? Did she know about Derrick? Or the other loose ends?

"I could never! Ron is my partner! He is-?!" She spun around and glared up at him, wishing she had a weapon on her in order to strike him or take out her anger with. Her gun was left in the space outside Kenny's ICU room, where she was asked to leave it to be able to meet with Niko. She went to slap him and was immediately detained by the man that now held Kenny's mantel.

Niko grabbed her throat and pulled her close, "I'm not in the mood for threats. You will ensure Ron and Francis are kept safe. You will inform me of any threats to them. You will be my informant from here on out. If you hear anything about an attempt on the Commissioner's life you will not hesitate to tell me. Do we understand each other?" He caught her hand and twisted her arm behind her in a weird angle.

"Understood boss." She choked out before practically collapsing to the floor when she was released, "I will keep my ears open. But I don't trust Roy." She rubbed at her neck tenderly with the pain that radiated from where his hand had closed off her air supply temporarily.

"Neither do I. Part of me thinks he called whoever is in charge of Ray's organization." Niko took a step or two away from her in order to give her space to recover and breathe. It was a thought he kept coming back to. Roy had seemed too indifferent about Kenny's condition.

"Wouldn't surprise me. He is on a power grab as well…" She brushed her hair away from her face and glanced to the plastic curtains to see if anyone was close enough to hear them, "Do we know anything else about the Bulgarin crew? I can start digging on my end. Inform Francis and get things in motion."

"They will have neck tattoos. It will be some kind of star and various other animals with the initials RB somewhere within the design. Eagles or falcons are scouts. Bears are muscle. Large cats are smugglers and enforcers. And snakes are his hitmen. The people we killed tonight all had snakes. Someone sent out a kill team after Kenny." Niko dropped back down into his chair and wished the hissing and beeping of the machines would be quiet. It was giving him anxiety the longer the steady, rhythmic noise kept going.

"He was wanting to absorb Ray's old routes and territory. It was going to be his final move before retirement. He told me he wanted to step away and reap the benefits his life had given him. I told him that was pointless. There is no way people would quit coming for him. From car boosting to drug dealing- to arms dealing, and political favors. Too many players and enemies." Avia took Kenny's hand into her own and closed her eyes at feeling his warm skin.

"Agreed. He got too hungry. Which means this isn't over." Niko heavily sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face, "What else do you know?"

"If this is Ray Bulgarin's group trying to exact revenge, it will not end with just Kenny's life." She placed Kenny's hand down at his side after placing a kiss to the spot his ring had once rested.

"No. This is war. To them at least. Can you prep LCPD for extra crime along the ports and airport? They won't stop coming till they reach their goal. And even then, there is no telling if they will hold off." Niko watched as Avia pulled her hair back and attempted to contain the mass. He didn't like putting innocent people's lives in danger, but they needed to lock down the entrances into LC. Sooner the better.

"I will do what I can from within. This party will give us the ability to see who has taken over for Ray. There is no way they would miss this event. Ray was there last year so it reasons that his second or third would be there. Timur is dead. So, it will have to be the new boss. It's more dangerous now. But we need to get eyes on them." She tried to braid her hair, but her hands were shaking too much to form the tight loops. She didn't like the level of risk now waiting for them at this party, but it would be necessary to go. She needed to protect Francis and Ron.

"I'll think of something. Go take a break and collect yourself. I think the McReary's still have a firepit outside. I hear cold air and heat does wonders to sooth the soul." Niko flicked his hand toward the curtain entrance and dismissed her. There was much to think on, and he was sure the doc was needing to come back in and check on Kenny. He knew just staying put wasn't helping his current situation. So many people had questions and accusations to make.

"Thank you, Pakhan." Avia faintly spoke and walked up to him and held her hand out to him. She immediately took his outstretched one and placed a kiss to the ring that Kenny once wore. It had been a long day and an even longer night. She had been lucky to hear from a contact in the clubs that someone fitting the description of Robert Welsh was there. On her way to the club, she spotted Georgi's convoy racing off toward Dukes. There was no hesitation to tail them and figure out what the urgency was about.

It didn't take much to put two and two together.

Silently she bowed her head and moved out from the barely put together medical bay. Being outside sounded like a good idea and she ducked between Irish, Italian, and Russian muscle. Whispers and conversations floated around her, and she tried to not focus on the speculation and threats that carried on people's breath. Bernie came into her line of sight, and she gave him a weak smile. She needed to get away from everyone.

Avia jerked open the back door and rushed outside, pulling the door closed behind her. What she wasn't prepared for was to see the firepit roaring away and a certain redhead sitting on one of the large wooden benches.

"I- My apologies. I will find somewhere else to go." Avia spoke quickly and turned on her heel to go back inside the house.

"It's okay. Could use the company." Kate turned her face to regard the woman who had silently broken down over Kenny on the yacht. She pulled the large thick blanket around her body and shifted her legs from their tucked position to be more comfortable. Kate didn't like how full the house had been, or the fact that Niko was expected to talk to so many people. It hadn't even been a long thought out process to go upstairs, remove the jacket, and grab the fluffy comforter from the hall closet. Outside she felt like the problems of the night weren't her own to dwell on.

The fire crackled and sparked- dancing before her eyes. It was calming to say the least. She had curled up on the new bench once Bernie got the fire going. He offered to stay with her, probably to protect her, but she was at her brother's home. No one would dare to attack it while so many people were under the roof. LCPD, Russians, Italians, and Irish. She had half expected Dwayne to show back up. But he needed to return to his own turf to keep watch over the docks.

"If my company is agreeable." Avia rubbed her hands over her arms and looked toward the inviting fire.

"I have seen you at your worst. There is nothing wrong with sitting by each other to escape the utter bullshit that we find ourselves in." Kate scooted to the end of the bench and lifted a corner of the blanket, "Unless you don't want my company?"

"Thank you…" Avia hesitated at Kate's offer. She had silently cried at Kenny's side while helping the doc get him stable. Kate had stood at the shot out windows watching whatever was taking place on the shore. It was too far of a distance to hear anything beyond the three gunshots they all heard. Someone had been killed. And it wouldn't surprise her if Niko had finished off Bobby. Letting it be his first kill as boss. Every now and then she would check on Kate to make sure she was okay. Niko had said, rather aloofly, that she was to keep her safe. The jacket had thrown her for a minute. Albanian's were not friendly to them.

In a skittish way, Avia approached Kate on the bench and lowered to sit at her side. The heat from the fire instantly relaxed her shoulders. The soft chill of the frozen temperature outside grazed her cheeks and nose before the fire would pop and sizzle, extinguishing the frost. She let Kate drape the blanket over her lap and accepted the kindness for what it was. They both were hurting in a way not many understood.

"How is Kenny?" Kate kindly spoke, watching the dancing flames and trying to get past her preconceived notions when it came to the detective that almost got Francis fired.

"Stable. In a medically induced coma to recover. No telling how long it will be." Avia pulled her legs up on the bench to tucked them under the heavy blanket. It was comforting in a way she wasn't expecting.

"He will pull through. The doc is a miracle worker. The boys have had a couple of close calls where the doc pulled them back from the brink." Kate shifted the blanket higher and tucked it under her chin. She prayed Kenny would recover soon and get Niko out of the game. They needed to get away from it all. The faint idea of going overseas and pulling a Derrick was tempting.

'But would we end up just finding new trouble…?'

"He really is a skilled surgeon and healer." They grew quiet and tried to ignore some of the shouting from inside the house. The occasional car or train would go by, and it would break up the illusion of being alone on just a typical night in Liberty.

"I thank you for jumping into action with Kenny. You kept him alive till help arrived. You didn't have to, yet you did." Avia picked at the small feathers that poked out from the downed quilt. It was a shock to find her and her brothers tending to the open wounds on Kenny. She didn't want to believe her eyes. But seeing the dried blood on Kate's hands and the few smudges on her face proved her wrong- Kate wasn't helpless.

"I did it for Niko. If Kenny were to die, things would get worse for us all. Gerry would have to continually prove he had nothing to do with Bobby and the men who were killed. Packie would more than likely flee the city. He is done with it all. And Niko would either take over unwillingly, or he might want it, or we'd be forced to go into hiding. Any of those scenarios is not one I care to live in." Kate let out a huff and glanced over to the woman at her side, "And while I do not trust you or care what you do, I understand watching someone you love die. Or almost die."

"Who?" Avia pulled her hair over her shoulder and went about trying to braid it again to give her a distraction from the mix of emotions flowing through her.

"I watched Francis get shot twice with a shotgun in the basement of the Suffolk Church. I watched Roman get beaten because he didn't want Natalya's men to touch me, so he took the brunt of it. Niko's ex comrade was shot and bleeding out as he tried to save me. Niko was shot by Natalya on Happiness Island by his own gun before she turned it my way and shot me. I have been so close to violence lately that I'm not even sure what life was like before." Kate massaged her forehead and frowned at the way the dried blood felt on her hands.

"I only got the vague report about what happened with Natalya. Kenny didn't like her dating his son. Was actively trying to break them up for a month or so. Then when Lenny was killed… Sorry." Avia closed her mouth and snapped her eyes to the fire. She hadn't meant to bring up Lenny's death.

"It's alright. I've heard it all so many times. Niko was forced to kill Lenny. It wasn't something he wanted to do. Mikhail and Dimitri had him in a corner. At least that's my understanding of it. Not sure what to believe anymore." Kate leaned forward and moved the blanket some in order to pick up the open wine bottle off the grass, "You like wine?"

"Is it Italian?" Avia made a face when Kate laughed unexpectedly.

"Oh no. I gave the last of that to the only Italian woman to enter the home. This is good old fashioned San Andreas wine country." Kate laughed again and took a swig from the bottle, "Dry, rich, and expensive."

"The American way, yes?" Avia let a small smile bloom as she took the bottle from her boss' sister. There was a strange ease to talking to her and she shoved her worries to the side as she took her own sip of the wine.

"Hitting the nail on the head there. But yeah… I may not know everything about Niko and what he has done, but I have to trust in something right now. I trust in his care of me. I believe he will do the right thing to get us back to the life we want. Otherwise, I am going to be torn into a million pieces." Kate felt her heart lurch at the thought of Niko not giving up the power he had just received. She understood he needed to help out for the time being, but Kenny would get better, and when that time came, she hoped Niko would relinquish the power immediately.

"I know I will never be the one Kenny will want fully. He is married. Has kids. Had kids, it is just his daughter now. Hell, I'm only eight years older than his daughter. Lenny was four years younger than me. But there was something there between us. I should not want him at all. Maybe it was his softer, joyful side that drew me in. There is a side of him that wants a better life, but he is so entrenched into what he has now, that there is no escape. I wanted to help him. But I am seeing that is not my role."

Avia took a long gulp of the wine, "God instructs me to shun sin and walk with him. But sometimes that sin is so tempting. I am a killer. I am a liar and a…" She couldn't finish her thought as Kate had grabbed her hand and held it tightly.

"There is forgiveness to be had. Do not beat yourself up over past mistakes. It will only make each day harder to face." Kate squeezed her hand and tried to get the woman off her spiraling thoughts and labeling, "You are only those things if you believe that is all you are. I saw someone capable of fear, pain, loss, and empathy on the yacht. You cared for Kenny when you yourself have said he will never want you the way you want him to. You are stronger and more than just 'Kenny's girlfriend'."

"You are more than what others perceive you to be. I've heard the phrase 'Princess of the Irish Mob' countless times. I figured you'd be incapable of getting your hands dirty. And yet here we sit, side by side, at the home of the most powerful alliances, sharing a bottle of wine and expressing how fucked up things are. There is a power you wield. People are drawn to you." The Hebrew accent came through on a couple of words and she smirked at the look Kate was giving her, "I shall have to become your friend."

"I could do with another friend. But I do have a question." Kate took a heavy gulp of wine and passed the bottle over to the woman she had once hated with everything in her being. She felt warm now and the blanket pooled in her lap as she let it drop from her chin.

"Shoot. That is the expression, yes?" Avia chuckled and took another large drink from the wine bottle.

"Yes, and yes," Kate removed the pistol out from under the blanket and from the resting place of her lap, "I fear I am going to have to learn to shoot this thing before I am truly comfortable holding one."

"Shit!" Avia clasped her hand over the pistol and moved it away from being semi pointed her way, "First things first, never point it at someone you don't intend to shoot or kill. I know I'm not your favorite person, but come on."

Kate let her laughter fill the quiet space between them, "Last week would've been different. Now?" A couple of giggles slipped past her lips, "Sorry. Focusing now." She drew her fingers together in front of her face and took a deep breath, "Ready."

"Come. Stand with me." Avia removed the pistol from Kate's grip and looked down at the feel of the handle. It was damaged on one side and there was faint boxy script along the barrel. She turned it over in her hand and used the firelight to try and see the gun better.

"It's Darko's. Niko's ex comrade." Kate flipped the blanket back from her body and swayed slightly when she stood up, "I refuse to let him get rid of it. It saved my life. I thought he had disposed of it. But I was wrong. He had it tucked away safely in a random drawer. He must've moved it from the place I had it tucked away in. Guess some things are harder to let go of than we think." Kate shrugged and held her hand out to give Avia help getting up.

"Maybe we should practice with a different gun when it comes to actually shooting. I don't trust this to not malfunction." She easily took Kate's hand and let her pull her upright. With a trained hand she dislodged the magazine to see if there were live rounds loaded. There were only four bullets left and one in the chamber.

"Packie managed to use it no problem earlier." Kate watched as she dislodged the round from the chamber and place it all down on the bench.

"Let me show you the basics of reloading, checking your weapon, and simple operating mechanics. If you don't know how to load, unload, cock it, and where the safety is, then there is no point in moving on to actually using the gun."

aaaaaa

Niko let the doc back in with Avia's departure. The small space felt like it was beginning to close in on him. How was he supposed to manage all this? Operate Kenny's organization, keep Roy from doing something stupid, stay in touch with Bernard, convince Gerry and Packie that they hadn't heard anything from Bobby's last words, somehow find a way to keep his relationship from falling apart, and at some point, get his own sleep and rest. The weight of it all felt like too much.

"Avia is blind if she doesn't see how much Ron loves and wants her." The doc dared to venture into the topic as he changed out the near empty bag of fluids for a new one.

"What was that?" Niko wasn't sure he had heard right since his own mind was lost to another train of thought.

"Rosen. Ron adores her and would gladly give his life for her. But I fear if he ever found out who she spends her nights with on occasion, he would drop the idea completely. I may not have a badge, but I am there in the station every day and hear all the office gossip. Francis will make a great Commissioner. Ron would make Avia happy and content. And Mitt will need protection once he steps down. Kenny's enemies will be gunning for him. The title has its own form of protection." The older gentleman glanced Niko's way before going back to his extensive care of Kenny.

That was a thought that hadn't crossed his mind, "I'll see what Kenny has in place. I doubt he would just hang Mitt out to dry." Niko ignored the way the doc tried to insinuate about people's relationships. He was not about to get involved in anyone else's love life but his own. Unless it started to threaten his own personal life, he could care less who people dated or not dated.

"That would be careless." The doc wrote a few things down on a clipboard before placing it on the tray table. His eyes met a harsh glare and he gulped, "It would be careless on Kenny's part. Mitt knows too much to be allowed to just walk around freely. He will either be silenced or placed in protective custody. I hear FIB is making a grab into vulnerable people. Some hot shot is in town that managed to flip some big time criminal in exchange for bringing down the small crew."

"I'll have to find out who is on Mitt's detail. Can't have him giving out secrets." He wondered who was in town and could make a pass at Mitt. If they were going to, it would be at the Valentine's party.

"Pakhan. I think you need to come out here. Things are getting out of hand." Georgi poked his head through the plastic curtain doorway again, worried frown etched along his forehead.

"Alright," Niko rose from his seat, looks like the time had come, "Thank you doctor. Keep me posted on his recovery. And if his status changes, let me know." He nodded to the older man that worked constantly to keep Kenny comfortable and alive. Georgi opened the curtain for him and dropped his eyes to the floor.

"What is getting out of-" Niko barely made it into the living room before he was grabbed by Patrick and hauled around to be slammed into the wall.

"Did. You. Kill. Derrick?!" Patrick's nostrils flared with his anger, and he tightly fisted his hands into Niko's jacket. He nearly screamed at his friend needing to know the answer to the question that tormented him nightly.

Every Russian in the house pulled their weapons and targeted someone within the Irish mob. Georgi shoved the end of his pistol to Packie's temple and held still, waiting on Niko's order. Gordon held his hands up in surrender when someone pointed a rifle towards his body. Gerald was the only one not with a gun aimed at him, as he had the authority to call off his own people. Everyone was at a standstill, weapons drawn, breath held back anticipating a Mexican standoff.

"TELL ME!" Packie yelled. He needed to know if his best friend- his stand in brother- was responsible for killing his eldest sibling. He wanted to scream, cry, shoot something; anything to quit feeling the way he was feeling. He wanted out. He wanted to leave everything behind and just start over. The drugs, alcohol, money, power- all of it was not worth the mental strain and torture he went through daily.

"You will remove your hands from the boss NOW!" Georgi instructed and shifted his eyes toward the man that had his boss shoved against the wall.

"Gentlemen, please. This is all simply some misunderstanding." Roy lightly chimed in from his place on one of the large armchairs by the fireplace. He was amused to see how everyone turned on themselves quickly. His own men looked to him for direction and he jerked his chin tightly in Niko's direction. They would back the Petrovic family till it was time to move against them. With one rapid movement the Italian's targeted the Irish Mob.

"Some misunderstanding if you take sides." Gerry leaned up off the wall and glared in Packie and Niko's direction, "Answer the question Niko. Did you kill Derrick?"

"You will NOT talk to the boss this way! We will not hesitate to shoot." Georgi pulled a second pistol and aimed it at Gerald. He would silence the accusations and threat to his boss and chain of command. Kenny had taught him to be weary of other mobs and families. He would do whatever was within in his power to keep the Petrovic organization going. Even if it meant killing someone else of a higher ranking.

Niko looked into the hurt expression of Packie and knew he needed to be told the truth. But not in this setting. He could tell how badly the answer stalked his friend. There was a desperation that grew behind Patrick's eyes. A need to know who it was that put his brother six feet under. His stomach pitched uncomfortably. How was he going to get out of this situation?

Not to mention- everyone was about ready to kill one another over something that could be interoperated in many ways from a dead man.

"I think we all need to calm down and take a break. It has been a stressful couple of days." Bernie slowly entered the living room with his hands held up. He had heard the question thrown at Niko and knew there was no easy way out of telling Packie the truth. Besides himself, he wasn't sure who else knew the truth, and he didn't want to have everyone shooting one another in the McReary home. He would come to his friend's defense in whatever way presented itself.

"It would not surprise me if the Albanian's put a hit out on your brother. Afterall, you did mess with them and the Ancelotti's." Roy leaned into the armrest of the chair he sat in, trying to hide his own glee at the standoff. They were tearing each other down without him even having to lift a finger.

"They did ambush Derrick's funeral Packie…" Gordon didn't like seeing his best friend slipping. He also was beginning to question why Niko didn't just say no. There was no way he had shot Derrick. He was part of the McReary family.

"Answer me. Please." Packie shoved Niko back into the wall and ignored the gun placed to his head.

"Bobby knew where to hurt us. He was dying at my feet and would have said anything to get even or cause more problems. He had gone into Kate's room and touched her- preying on her fear of personal space and what had happened in her room. He knew exactly what to say about your Pa to get you to come at him. And he killed Kenny's men knowing it would put Gerry at risk with him. Do you believe what comes out of his mouth over my own words?" Niko dropped his hands over Packie's and frowned at the shaking he could feel.

"I wouldn't kill him." Niko could feel his own soul growing colder by the second the longer he stared back into Patrick's eyes. The lie would have to be carried on for just a little bit longer. He could see Bernie looking his way from the corner of his vision. There was just a small twitch in the way he moved. There was one more person he would need to check in with now.

'Lies…'

"Okay… Okay." Packie dropped his gaze to his hands that were fisted in Niko's jacket. Slowly he lessened his firm grip, trying to convince himself that Niko was telling the truth.

"Pakhan did a favor for Kenny. There was someone targeting the family. We needed a sniper. The person's name was Derman. There were promises made. Pacts, alliances, and binding words given. Kenny told us that he would get it taken care of. Within a week the person was dead. Shot in the head cleanly from a great distance. Sniper round was never recovered. Bobby was probably talking of this person who meant harm to so many people." Georgi took off the safety to his second pistol aimed at Gerry.

They had needed someone to take out Derman from a distance. It was too risky to get close and kill him. There was always a security team and LCPD needed him alive for a case they were making against Kenny. It made sense that Kenny had asked this favor to be done by Niko. Kenny never said who it was he hired, just that a debt agreement was made in order to get it done.

"I… I killed Derman from a distance. It was a well-paid hit. I went to a rooftop at a previous scouted location. I took aim and killed him. Sniper round through the head. There was nothing left to identify." Niko would take it and run with it. He had no idea what Georgi was talking about, but he had seen Kenny and Bernard end their debt agreement not that long ago, "But I ask again Patrick; Do you believe the words of Bobby over my own? Do you trust the man that wanted us all at each other?"

"No… I'm sorry." He let go of the rough leather of Niko's jacket and felt the burn behind his eyes. Now that his anger was fleeing, he realized just how messed up the situation was he put them all in. The gun was removed from the side of his head, and it knocked him out of the trance he found himself in.

"Don't be sorry for having anger about your brother dying." Niko removed his hands from Packie's as he took a step back.

'I really am sorry for killing him. I have caused you more pain than I realize…'

Collectively everyone lowered their weapons, the clicking echoed in the room as safety switches were flicked on. The heaviness dissipated in the room, and it was as if everyone could take a deep breath. Georgi kept his pistol trained on Packie till he was a full step away from Niko, as he didn't want to drop his guard. Niko reached out and lowered the gun- Packie didn't mean him any harm.

"Well, this is all exciting and everything, but I do believe we should discuss what took place in the cemetery? Why was Kenny captured? More importantly how did you fail in keeping him safe?" Roy threaded his fingers together and rested his chin on them, needing something to hide the smirk that built with the look Georgi shot him.

"I may have only just taken over for Kenny, but do not disrespect his men. For when you do, you insult me. Tread carefully." Niko glared at the Italian man who was on his radar. There was just something off about him.

"No disrespect, but Kenny has a personal bodyguard team. Where are they? How did they get taken out so easily? I haven't heard a single thing about a shooting or car chase. Nothing. When the most powerful and recognizable man goes missing, people are going to say something." Roy dropped his arms to rest on the plush armrests. It was a question he needed explained. Had he known Kenny was missing he would have had his own people asking questions and looking into it.

"He has a point. The airport is in our backyard basically and there was no word about someone getting nabbed." Gerry wasn't completely satisfied with Niko's response to Packie, but he wasn't in the position to question it further. He would let it go for now and get back to the larger issue.

"I don't answer to either of you." Georgi fumed at the notion they had purposedly failed at protecting their boss. He didn't get the check-in from Kenny's team at the scheduled time his flight was meant to touch down. But that morning Kenny had sent him a text saying he might have to stay longer in Blaine County. He should've been more diligent and called in to make sure someone had eyes on the boss. Failure was not a feeling he was familiar with, and he fought hard to get it to leave him alone.

"No, but you do answer to me. Find out what went wrong. It's concerning that Kenny was captured and tortured." Niko was having trouble putting things together. If Kenny had a team, they would have fought back and put up more of a struggle for Ray's men. Even he struggled to fight Kenny's men when he first got to Liberty.

"Yes Pakhan. I will make some calls." He sharply nodded his head once and left the room in the direction of the kitchen.

"So, Ray Bulgarin huh?" Roy lightly scratched the fuzzy fabric of the chair, trailing his eyes over everyone in the room.

"I don't know much about him or what he did here in LC." Gerry shoved up off the wall and sat down on the couch. He could see Packie heading up the stairs. He would have to talk to him later and figure out what was going on with him. He was usually the one with the anger issues, not his younger brother.

"Kenny always talked about how he wanted to go legit and buy the hockey team." Gordon was getting concerned about Packie and was having trouble focusing on the current conversation.

"It has been a couple of years since I… worked for him. I don't know if his operation had changed much from the time I left till now. Was surprised to find him here in Liberty." Niko tried to ignore the way his chest felt tight. So many things were going to shit quickly, and he just wanted to hit the pause button and breathe for a minute. Bernie was still watching him and silently asking if he was okay, to which he honestly wanted to tell him no.

"My intel told me he didn't have much of anything here in LC. Overseas was a different story. Mostly human trafficking and drugs. The occasional weapons run for someone else. If Kenny was trying to absorb Ray's group and they weren't happy about it, would make sense they would come here and send a message. Rather bold message to send. Nearly killed Kenny. That is an act of war. If that is what they are wanting, I will prepare my men and lock down my region." Roy pulled out his phone and got ready to call his second in command but paused to seek permission from Niko.

"They attacked first. We will have to respond." Gerry agreed with Roy. It was a show of power from the old Bulgarin mafia. He didn't want to think about having to ask his men to strap up and give out kill orders. But he had obligations to Kenny's Bratva. An attack on them, was an attack on him.

"What will you have us do?" Roy asked the question Niko wasn't ready to hear or answer.

Niko knew he was going to have to make decisions and tough calls. He was just hoping it would be a while before it came to it. He was really hoping Kenny would've been awake and at least capable of calling the shots. But no. He was in a coma and fighting to stay alive.

"We send a message back to them. Bulgarin owned a mansion off the coast of the Adriatic. Load the yacht up with the dead bodies and ship it back. It will let them know we are aware of their moves, can kill them easily, and to not come back." It would be rather fitting to send a boat back after he had been accused of sinking the cargo ship Ray had him escorting into Italy. It was his own way of giving them the middle finger.

"I'll get things in motion." Roy lifted out of the chair and moved to the front door to make the necessary arrangements.

"I will get the cleaners to move the bodies to the boat instead of just dumping them." Gerry nodded his head and took his own cell phone out to get the plan into action.

"I'm going to check on Packie." Gordon quietly stated before leaving the room and climbing the stairs. He had heard the plan, played his part, and now he wanted out of the house. He had his own reservations and concerns. Kenny was out, Niko was leading them, and his best friend was going through something. Then there were the weird feelings stirring around in him over Kate. He couldn't for the life of him explain why he didn't like the thought of her being with Niko anymore. He had been fine with it before she called him. He shook his head as he reached the top of the stairs and walked over to Packie's door.

Silently the room began to empty of people and Niko's plan was being put together. The boss had spoken, and it was time to let the people who attacked Kenny know they had failed and would keep failing. That their attempts to take over were futile.

Niko dropped his head back against the wall and rubbed at his temples. People were going to die, and he would be responsible for it. Maybe not directly, but indirectly. Was this what Kenny went through every day? What was the appeal of knowing your word could potentially have someone killed? It was a heavy burden. One he was wishing could be someone else's to carry.

"Maybe take a short break and step outside? You look drained." Bernie spoke softly in Serbian. That had come as close as he had ever seen Niko get to the breaking point. His secret had almost been brought to light. And now they were all going to have to deal with a past ghost. The stories of Niko's time working for Bulgarin weren't pleasant to hear. But he listened in order to help his friend move on and recover.

"Come get me if they need me. Otherwise, everyone should probably go home to rest and prepare for the fight that will show up on our doorstep." Niko didn't really wait for Bernie to confirm he had heard him before heading toward the kitchen and the backyard. A break sounded good. He spotted Georgi talking on the phone and he paused his conversation to ask him if he needed anything.

"A plan is being put into place. We are going to be sending our own message back to them. If there are no other questions from Roy or Gerry, everyone can go home and rest. Going to take the yacht about a week or so to get over to Bulgarin's old mansion. I will be outside if I am needed." Niko explained to him in Russian what all was going on since Georgi stepped out of the living room, "Also update me on what you end up finding out."

"Understood. I will check in shortly." Georgi went back to the phone call and started talking in Russian to whoever was on the other end of the line.

Loud laughter could be heard on the other side of the back door, and it confused Niko. Who was out there having a grand old time? The door was silent as he opened it to witness his girlfriend and Kenny's laughing it up and standing rather close to one another in front of the roaring firepit. Avia dropped what looked like an empty wine bottle down on the bench.

"No!" Avia laughed harder, "Like this. Look at your little dainty hands."

"Hush you! These dainty hands have seen plenty action. Thank you very much!" Kate giggled uncontrollably and hiccupped, causing Avia to grab her side and drop her head down on Kate's shoulder, losing the ability to stop her own round of giggles.

"Action dainty hands. That shall be my new nickname for you!" Avia snorted as she laughed and both of them nearly fell over with how hard they laughed at her snort.

Niko leaned into one of the porch pillars and had to smile at seeing them both act goofy. Kate wiped at her face with her hand and shook her other out by her side. That's when Niko spotted Darko's gun in her hand. The smile started to fade from his face. What was she doing holding a loaded gun?!

"Okay… Okay! Sorry. Now you said to hold it like this, correct?" Kate let out one or two more giggles before growing partially serious.

"Yes. But your stance is all wrong. There will be a kickback from it when you fire so you need to stand in a way that will absorb the force and allow you to either keep firing or move on to a different target. Here-" Avia reposition Kate's legs, using her foot, and placed her hands on her shoulders shifting her body into a better stance, "How does that feel?"

"Weird. But it makes sense." Kate smiled and ducked her head some as if she was aiming at some imaginary target. From Niko's angle he could tell Avia had shown her a basic and rudimentary way to use and hold a pistol. From the back he could tell Kate felt uncomfortable but wasn't fighting it. Avia pressed down on one of Kate's arms and instructed her to firm it more. Niko figured it was time to let them know he was there.

"Both eyes open when you shoot. Which I can show you later." He took the two steps down into the yard from the back porch and fought the smile as both of them yelled and spun around to see him.

"Lord above Niko! You scared the shit out of me!" Kate placed her hand over her heart and sucked in several deep breaths.

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have- I-! She, we-" Avia stumbled over her words and looked at him scared he was going to do something for showing his girlfriend how to hold a gun.

"You're fine. Don't worry," He didn't like the way she nearly trembled in his presence, "Show me again Kate. I want to see what she taught you."

"Uh. Sure. Just." Kate huffed and turned back toward the fence and lifted the empty pistol the way Avia had been showing her. One shoulder slightly forward from the other, feet at shoulder width apart, one elbow bent ever so slightly. Her fingers flexed on the handle, and she darted her eyes over to Avia to see if she was doing it right. It was so intimidating having Niko circle her to come and stand directly in front of her.

Avia mouthed 'you're doing it right' and it relaxed some of the tension from her body before Niko's hands landed on the pistol and readjusted her fingers.

"Don't slide your finger into the trigger guard unless you actually want to fire it. Otherwise keep it along the barrel like this." He pulled her finger loose from the trigger and showed her how he held his own pistol, "You might end up wasting more ammo if you are always a split second away from pulling the trigger. It also gives you the ability to turn the gun to reach the safety with your thumb quicker. See?" He tilted the gun and pressed on her thumb to get it to lift toward the safety without breaking her hold or ready firing position.

"I took the ammo out of the gun…" Avia started talking before snapping her mouth closed when he looked her way.

"I figured since it feels too light in her hand. There is a major difference in weight once you know how a loaded gun and an empty one feels." Niko pulled out his own pistol and spun it around in his hand to hold out the handle to Kate, "Go on. Feel the difference."

Kate handed over Darko's gun and took Niko's. The weight, feel of the handle, it was drastically different. She was forced to put more effort into keeping her arm steady. Niko shifted to her side in order to be away from the barrel, "If it is the same gun, why do they feel so different?"

"Mine is worn in after probably more years of use. Darko's has the damage from the bullet. Other than that, there is no difference between them. Same make. Same model. Same words of trust and comradery. He decided to betray those words. I fought to avenge them." Niko lifted up Darko's pistol and studied it in the flickering light from the fire.

"You still have your service weapon? I have kept mine all these years. I can't find it in me to retire it." Avia glanced between the identical weapons and could see the differences. Kate was right, they did not appear to be the same, even if they physically were.

"It's one of the few things I still have from home. I have a few articles of clothing, but everything else is gone." Niko removed the pistol from Kate's hand and gave her back Darko's, "I will get you one that won't have damage on it. Last thing I need is the gun blowing up in your hands due to the integrity of it failing." He tucked his gun away and watched as Kate lowered her arms and got out of the firing stance.

Kate felt the retort bubble in her throat. She was rather fond of Darko's gun and didn't feel right having Niko get her a new gun. Even though she shouldn't have any attachments to Darko. A small part of her wanted to at least thank him for saving her life and keeping Natalya from killing her on the boat. But that opportunity would never come, and she knew it. She reloaded the gun like Avia had shown her and tucked it into her jeans.

"Pakhan, forgive the interruption. They need you to give an address for the mansion. The bodies are being loaded now and we've picked a couple of undercover agents to be the ones to sail it over there. They will jump ship before letting it crash into the dock. There is an extraction team being put together as we speak to get them back to Liberty safely." Georgi poked his head out the back door, phone placed to his ear.

"Georgi, come here." Niko waved him toward him. If he was going to be spending a lot of time around him, he wanted to properly introduce him to Kate.

"Okay. I will be back with the address in a minute… Yes. Thank you. Good hunting." Georgi ended the phone call and made his way down to the firepit where his boss, Kenny's girlfriend, and who he assumed was Niko's female were standing around, "Yes Pakhan? What can I do for you?"

"I wanted to introduce you to Kate. This is my girlfriend, Kate McReary. You are to protect her with everything we have. If she gets harmed while I stand in for Kenny. I will not hesitate to tear this entire mafia to the ground. Kate, this is Georgi. He is Kenny's close friend and associate. There is the possibility that we will be around him more and more till Kenny recovers. I wanted you to know you can trust him." Niko firmed his stare at his second. He needed them to know one another and set the ground rules. If it came down to it, he needed to know he could trust Georgi to protect her.

"Hello Miss McReary," Georgi held his hand out to her and looked at Niko to see if it was alright. When he got a nod in return, he clasped her hand when she dropped it into his open palm. He lifted her hand to his face and kissed her knuckles, "I saw you earlier when Kenny introduced you to Roy and Miss Bottino. Kenny used the phrase, Действительно редкая красота (Deystvitel'no redkaya krasota). A rare beauty. I don't think Pakhan will appreciate it if I use it. Is there a name or way you wish for me to address you?"

"Action dainty hands…" Avia whispered and leaned back when Kate flung her hand out to the side to get her to knock it off. The giggle got lodged in her throat and she ducked her head to not give Georgi a silly smile.

"Kate is fine by me. It's nice to meet you. And forgive me, but what is Pakhan?" She blushed at the kind words and kiss to her hand that was still covered with Kenny's blood. She had meant to clean up, but the need to get away from all the people in the house had hurried her to escape to the backyard.

"It essentially means boss, leader, highest honored spot within our organization. Niko has Kenny's title and because he is our leader now, he gains our trust and loyalty. You also have it. If you are ever in need of something- help, escort, what have you, we will answer your call." He lifted her hand and pressed his forehead to her fingers, bowing his head in a show of respect, "I hear your warning loud and clear Pakhan. Shall I get a team together to follow her?"

"Not yet. She won't like that. But I will need to talk to her about all this. It is going to be a huge adjustment; one she already hates." Niko couldn't believe how Georgi simply recognized her as equal to him in importance. He wondered if that's how they treated Kenny's wife and daughter. Clearly Avia was not given the same attention. But she also knew how to handle herself and get out of danger. Her disarming of Kenny's men on the shores of the cemetery had been impressive.

"Forgive the forwardness; are there children? Do we need to meet anyone else in your close circle?" Georgi released her hand and turned to his boss.

"Oh my God…" Kate moaned and covered her face with her hands. Avia laughed at her side and didn't help quell the embarrassment that scorched through her.

"No. Just Kate and I. But I might need someone to watch my cousin's house. Roman's wife is expecting, and I don't want anything to happen to them. Ray's orders back then were to go after loved ones first." Niko felt his own face heat up beyond what the fire was doing to him. He had not expected Georgi to go there. He had asked about other women, but not kids.

"Understood. Again. My apologies." Georgi smiled and lowered his eyes when Kate looked mortified at his question. He didn't mean to bring her discomfort, but he needed to know if there were others he needed to protect and get his, their, people watching. The sound of the back porch creaking forced him to look over his shoulder at the house, hand going to the pistol on his hip. Bernie leaned back into the siding of the house.

"What about you? Are you married? Kids?" Kate figured if he was allowed to ask, she could return the question. He seemed like a nice man. Cute in the boyish way of having a baby face. It made her wonder just how old he is.

"No ma'am. No one special in my life. Maybe one day. But I am happy with my life and what I do." He glanced at Avia when she snickered at their side. It was fascinating to see how people just gravitated to Niko and his friends. The loyalty and care given was remarkable.

"Ah well. I'm sure there is someone out there for you. The in-laws will adore your politeness and manners." Kate smiled as he turned a shade of red across his cheeks and ears. 'That will show you to ask such bold questions to me!'

"I thank you for the high praise. But I am afraid I need Niko to give me some information. He will return shortly." Georgi shifted awkwardly on his feet and kept his request vague. He was unsure how much Niko talked to Kate about things within the Bratva. He would tread carefully and act like he did around Kenny's wife.

"Stealing him away so soon… Just bring him back in one piece." Kate looked up at Niko and softened her expression. Things needed to be done. That much she gathered from the shoot out and the small talk Avia had been giving her. But as soon as she got him alone, they were going to have a serious conversation.

"Of course, Kate. As you ask it, I will make it happen." Georgi lifted his eyes long enough to smile at her before turning around and retreating to the safety of the porch. He was thoroughly thrown by her kind nature, welcoming attitude, and ease at which he felt he could communicate with her. He would wait for his boss to join him then get back to returning the yacht and the dead Russians to Serbia. Bernie nodded at him and went back to watching over Niko and Kate.

"Is he going to have to sleep on the couch or something? I don't think he will want to leave your side. I mean the bed is only so big." Kate laughed when Avia snorted at her words. She didn't want to make the comparison to having a new puppy, but the guy was almost never out of Niko's sight.

"Ha. Very funny. And no. I will figure things out and make sure we are still relatively left alone. I don't want you tailed constantly. You already probably hate me for even getting involved in all this." Niko let out a long sigh and half expected her to leave him the second the danger was done and over with. The hits just kept coming and he was having trouble holding onto the splinter of hope that nudged him on.

"Can you give us a minute Avia?" Kate didn't take her eyes off of Niko, knowing she would respect her time needed to be with Niko. There was something in his tone that raked over her skin and left her feeling wrong.

"Sure. I'm going to go check on Kenny. Come get me if you need company." Avia met Niko's glare and gave her availability to watch over Kate while she was still around. He hadn't given her any other orders, so she would keep on her task of keeping the McReary's safe. Slowly she walked back into the house to go check on Kenny, smiling at Georgi and Bernie before crossing into the threshold.

"Thank you." Kate called after her. If she worked at it, she might end up liking the strange woman that was a complete lightweight when it came to alcohol. The bottle of wine gave her a small buzz, but Avia loosened up to the point that she wasn't sure if this would've happened had they not had anything to drink.

Carefully Kate reached out and took Niko's hand, "You look worn down. How bad Niko? Can you even tell me?" She could tell by his stance, his eyes, and his choice of word- hate- that he was hurting and struggling. She most definitely didn't hate him. The predicament? Yes. That she hated one hundred percent. But she didn't like the way his shoulders slumped as if weighed down greatly.

"Natalya level bad. You remember me telling you about Ray Bulgarin? There is someone in charge of that mafia now. They wanted me dead for a job gone wrong. Wasn't my fault. But they blamed me for it. One of the many reasons I came to Liberty. But there is so much more than that. I wanted to not have this life. Now look at us. I dragged you into the very life you didn't want." He looked down at their joined hands and rubbed his thumb over some of the dried blood.

"I wouldn't say you dragged me into it. I did jump a building to get out of the apartment. I stayed when you took Kenny's ring. This isn't permanent right?" She turned his hand to see the ring that graced his finger. 'At least its not where a wedding band goes…'

"You jumped the gap? Kate…" Niko pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, "And no. As soon as Kenny is awake and can take control, we are done. We will go wherever you want to go. I could use a break from this place." He kissed the top of her head and felt better when her arms surrounded him. They were so close to losing it all. He had almost been exposed as Derrick's killer. She had almost been killed by a group of people from his past. They had each gone against promises and words to one another. Maybe a fresh start in another city or country would give them the out they needed.

"I was thinking the same. Maybe a week or two out of Liberty. Just you and me. Call it a vacation. Vice City or Los Santos have amazing beaches. Or we can go see your mother? I'd like to meet her." Kate tucked herself into his body and enjoyed how strongly he held her to him. It was its own way of him telling her he needed her.

"She will love you. But it is too dangerous to go there. I could have her flown out to us? Her English is getting better so you two will be able to talk. And she will want to be here for the birth of Roman's child." He hugged her firmly and tried to relish in the comfort of her. He was about to have to go back in the house and assume a role not fit for him.

"I'd like that. Niko?" She shifted within his hold to look up at him. His eyes held that guarded and worried look about them. It bothered her how hard he was on himself.

"Yes Лепа (Lepa)?" All he could do was look into her eyes and wish things were different and back to how it was before Francis stepped on the landmine.

"I love it when you call me that." She smiled at his word for her, "As soon as you are done. Can we leave? I just want to shower and lay in your arms. It's about the only thing I know will make me feel marginally better. This is like reliving those hellish days in October. I was nearly killed. You've been thrown into action. A place was blown up. Crazy people from your past are after you. I'd feel better if we could have a moment to ourselves. Like we had…" She rested her face against his chest and felt everything inside shift around. The resemblance to a few months ago was hard to not make.

"I will get us out of here soon. Promise. Just give me a few minutes to get things in motion." He buried his hand into her hair and tilted her face up to him, "Do you still love me?"

"I think I will use your favorite word, always. Now take care of business and get me home. I think I will take Avia up to Ma's old room and see what it was she left me. Or stay out here to avoid that emotional dig for a little bit longer." She lifted up on her toes and stopped just before placing her lips to his, "And Niko?"

He had started to close his eyes and surrender to her when she stopped moving, "What is it моја љубав (moja ljubav)?" He used the phrase she had given him at Jerkov's. The one that told him she would be his for the rest of his life. However long or short that would be. He would have taken her there in the dimly lit hallway of the restaurant if she would've let him. The passion and feelings that came with that memory filled him and he brushed his nose against hers. He needed this break from reality.

"Promise me something? And maybe promise is the wrong term. Make an oath with me?" Kate pulled down the zipper of his jacket to dip her hands within the warmth of his body. She was losing herself to his scent and body. He could simply place his hands on her and she would bend to his will effortlessly. The rest of the world darkened, and the only thing that existed was them.

"You wish to make the blood oath?" He smirked against her cheek as he kissed it. He placed another kiss over her scar before making his way to her ear, "You wish me to start? To my dying breath…" He breathed the words against her flesh as he kissed her below her ear, "I will be yours. I will protect you. Love you…" He sucked on her earlobe before going back to placing kiss after kiss to her neck, using his hold in her hair to move her head where he wanted it.

"To my dying breath I will be yours… Wholly. Willingly. Longingly…" Kate shuddered under his touch and let the words just slip past her lips, "To my last breath I will trust you and love you." She wanted to let the moan out when he used his free hand to roughly grab her hip. But they had an audience with Georgi and Bernie. The power Niko wielded now was palpable and enthralling. He had people at his command. He could do whatever he wanted. A small, darker, more inviting voice whispered in her mind to give in and enjoy the benefits of this title. To give in to the level of care, protection, and authority they held now.

She kissed his cheek and worked her way to his ear, "Pakhan, swear to me that you are mine and I am yours." She fisted her hand into his shirt below his jacket, grinding her body against his. The wine she had consumed, the power of his hands, and all the convictions within herself took over and she leaned back enough to look him in his eyes. The lust and love that was sent her way let her know that he could not break this oath between them.

"I give you, my life. This is my oath. To love you till my last breath… I love you." Niko pulled her up off the ground and kissed her hard. His hands dropped to her thighs and yanked her legs around him when she bit his bottom lip. He pressed their bodies together and gave in to his need to be with her. They had given each other an unbreakable oath. He would not, could not break those words to her. He would not give up on them. Would do everything in his power to ensure they made it. Kenny owed him. Bernard was only a phone call away. Francis was in his debt. And he ran the most powerful mafia in the country. He would get this to play out in his favor.

"Take me from here. Let's go see the world. You and me. Make our own lives." Kate whispered the words between intense kiss after knee weakening kiss. She clung to his body and rode the wave of pleasure and love that surged through her. Darko's gun dug into her lower back, but she paid it no mind. There was violence, weapons of death, and a house full of killers close by. But here in his arms none of that mattered or bothered her. This was her home and her place in life.

Niko returned her passion and sucked her lower lip into his mouth, giving her a second to breathe before diving back in and drowning in her love, "My heart is in a better place when you're around…" He felt her hand slide down into the collar of his jacket and try to get it off of his arms. While he wanted to sit down on the bench and take her there, things needed to be addressed and taken care of.

"Keep talking to me. Tell me in your language." Kate kissed her way down to his neck, fisting her hands into his shirt and tugging on it. 'Fuck it all. I just want you. Everything else be damned.'

"The world is ours for the taking. Let me fix this mess and we will leave it all." He pressed the words to her throat as he tried to calm them down, pulling her from her place on his own neck. The drunken, lust filled gaze she gave him had him almost breaking his last restraint and need to keep her dignity in place. He could hear Georgi coughing from his place on the porch. A quick glance in that direction showed he was turned around and attempting to give them space. Bernie was openly watching them with a wicked smirk on his face.

"We still have Valentine's Day to celebrate. I will do everything in my power to be available for us. To keep you safe. You have my word, my oath. My secrets will be yours. I have so much power now and I am willing to give it all up if you tell me to. Tell me Kate. What do you want me to do?" He jerked her body up against his and readjusted his hold of her in order to tuck her hair behind her ear.

"Use this power to ensure we get what we want out of life. We want the quiet, reserved, violence free life. Ma told me all the time that we don't choose who we fall for. You came into my life when I wanted no one. And yet I couldn't drop you. I was yours before I even knew it. If we need to move someplace else, get new names, whatever. I will leave this life of mine behind." She ran her hand over his scalp and studied him for clues on how he was feeling.

'You might have to leave it all behind once the truth comes to light…'

"I can do that. I can set us up. Maybe buy a place on the coast of Los Santos. Assume new names. I can do all that you ask of me. You give me the word, and it's yours. Now tell me. What do you want Kate?" He returned her quizzically puzzling look and settled her body against his own. The heat from the fire, their bodies, and the sluggish want that moved through him had him feeling invincible. That he could overcome all that had been placed before him.

"I want you. Only you." Kate gave him her own reserved look for him. They could read each other if their words failed them, and she tried to read his expression. But all she was getting was love, respect, and yearning. She felt better now that he had come to her. She knew how her Pa never had time for her family and it was refreshing to see Niko walking away from the house to check in on her.

"I will throw all this away in order to go away with you." It was true. He would give the ring to Gordon or Georgi and just walk right out of the house with her. Go to the storage unit and just leave with her. There was no need to keep putting her in this spot. But the thought of Roman and his extended family forced him to shove some of the illustrious dreams to the side. They would be left behind. Defenseless.

"We both know that we can't just walk away. As much as I want that. Go do what you need to. Then drive me home?" Kate felt her legs shake when he lowered her back to the ground, "Perhaps Georgi will escort me and Mal to the salon? He could get his nails done with us." She laughed at his blank look, "Oh come on! Lighten up. If he is gonna protect you and me, might as well bring him into the fold. I'm sure Bernie wouldn't mind."

"I will let you break the news to Bernie. I thought you and him were close? You'll hurt his feelings if his girlfriend replaces him." Niko chuckled as he helped her find her footing before walking her toward the back porch.

"We are! Pretty sure that relationship is on solid ground," Kate shook her head and smirked in Bernie's direction as they neared the porch steps, "I plan on having him and Mal with me when I go dress shopping. But maybe a third opinion is needed?" Kate leaned her head into Niko's arm and smiled at the man who she had been introduced to.

"Ma'am?" Georgi wasn't sure what was being discussed or what he was being signed up for. But he felt a sliver of dread slide down his spine. Bernie had told him a hushed tone he was in for it if Kate decided to adopt him. He had no idea what that meant, and he grew apprehensive at the way Bernie so casually watched his new boss and his woman. He would never live to see another day if Kenny's wife caught him spying.

"Kate wishes to take you to the salon and dress shop for the Valentine's Day party we've been invited to. And since you are my second, you will be attending." Niko smirked at the paleness that fell over Georgi's face. Bernie beamed from his place and golf clapped at the order.

"I will have to go suit shopping myself in order to meet dress code. You know this is a masquerade party? We will need masks. That is the theme. Formal, ball gown, fancy. Kenny was going to take his wife. But I can make arrangements. If that is what you need me to do." Georgi locked his eyes to his stand in boss and couldn't believe he was being invited to come along.

"You will need a better suit if you are to join us. Will you join me and my friends when we go shopping? I'd like to know you better and get comfortable with the idea of you being around us more. I will need help navigating all this. I am excited about this party and want to surprise Niko. Will you help me?" Kate smiled up at Niko and let it take on a dangerous flare. She was going to give him a run for everything on this party.

"My lady!" Georgi dropped to his knee and bowed his head, "I will love to go shopping with you. If my boss wishes it. I will help you and make sure everything is in order. Shall I order transportation for the event? Kenny spoke highly of this Party. I have never been." This gathering was important. That much he knew. People met, discussed, and created new deals and alliances within the walls of the Mayor's mansion. But to be personally invited and asked to care for Kate and on a level more than just a hired gun? He was stunned.

"No need for this! Stand up, please!" Kate flushed at his show of respect and compliance, "I could use more friends and help navigating my life. If you would be so kind as to join my friends at the salon, the dress shop, and a couple of other places, I would appreciate it." Kate held tightly to Niko's arm not sure if she was doing the right thing. The wicked gleam in Bernie's eyes told her that this was going to either be more trouble than it was worth, or it was going to be an epic day out on the town.

"Tell me the date and time, and I will be there. Should I let Clara Krow know? No better formal wear shop in the city. She is an absolute favorite of Mrs. Petrovic." Georgi kept his knelt position and waited for Niko to let him know it was okay to stand up. The wheels started to turn in his head. The designers number was stored in his phone.

"Georgi stand up. I respect the indifference but it's worrying Kate. Please be by her side as she goes to the salon, stores, and whatever place she needs to go. That goes for you too Bernie. Keep them all safe…" Niko rolled his eyes skyward wishing he didn't need to reiterate himself but felt the need to tell Bernie in Serbian. They would speak later about what he needed. He was also half worried about Georgi being around Kate, Mal, and Bernie. Surely the three of them would drive him off. He highly doubted Georgi knew how to handle the strong personalities of his friend, family, and girlfriend.

"Then it's settled!" Kate clapped her hands and grew excited with the idea of surprising Niko. Then his words caught up to him, "Wait. You know Clara Krow personally?"

"She designs Kenny's wife's dresses personally for these kinds of events. I am sure I could get her to make an emergency appointment if that's what you want." He stood up from his knelt position and was helpless against the smile that spread at her squeal and small hop.

A quiet, "This is what I'm warning you about…" in Russian from Niko's friend barely registered in Georgi's head.

"Oh! That would be a dream come true! Her magazines are things of fantasies. Thank you!" She squeezed Niko's arm before throwing her arms around the young looking man that she had been introduced to, "I need to tell Avia! She said she was going to this party as well and now we can coordinate!" She gave Georgi a quick hug and dashed into the house.

"Is that… Normal?" Georgi placed a hand over his chest after the hug. No one had been so open with affection toward him in his life. Especially someone he worked for. The fear slammed through his system once he realized Niko's girl had hugged him. Shown him favoritism and kindness.

"That's my girl for you!" Bernie laughed at the murderous glare from Niko, "Oh stop it you!"

"You get used to it. She can be rather open with her feelings when she gets excited. Watch over her when you go out." He ignored Bernie's teasing, "My cousin in-law will also be there. She is pregnant and touchy feely. Don't freak out if she hugs you as well." Niko shook his head at the look he was getting from Georgi. He hadn't expected Kate to hug him, but that was just who she was. She had a similar reaction to finding out he was taking her to this party to begin with.

"It will… Wait-?! Your girl?" Georgi's eyes widen considerably and looked back and forth between Niko and Bernie, "But I thought…?"

"Bernie knock it off. He's not going to get it." Niko sighed and slapped a hand to his face.

"She is most certainly Niko's. But I get her on the occasional weeknight and every third weekend-" Bernie started before Niko shoved his shoulder.

"Ignore him. They are close friends, and he likes to joke." Niko glared between his fingers at his friend, "Georgi this is Bernie. I'm sure he has already introduced himself to you. He's a real pain in the ass."

"Good choice of words." Bernie laughed and leaned into one of the wooden pillars of the porch, "I am the only one allowed to get away with treating Niko this way. He knows he loves me." He rolled his eyes and cutely smiled at his friend, "But I do think I will go watch Kate's back. Avia isn't on my good list just yet. But she did remove herself from the naughty one."

"Bernie…" Niko groaned at being basically humiliated in front of Kenny's second in command. But it was bound to happen eventually. Either this way or while they were all out shopping and doing whatever it is Kate deemed needed to get done for this level of fancy party.

"Leaving sweetheart!" Bernie sung the words and ducked away from the punch Niko halfheartedly sent his way. He stuck his tongue out in Niko's direction, giving him a wink, before entering into the home in search of Kate.

"Do I… Um. What?" Georgi was floored at how someone just openly spoke and treated Niko. Had anyone ever even breathed wrong in Kenny's direction they were shot on sight. Even if they parked where his prized Turismo belonged, bodies were dropped.

"It's a long story. One I am sure they will over exaggerate when you spend time around them all. Bernie was in my unit when I fought in the wars back home. Mallorie is married to my cousin and will give you a run for your money. And Kate well… You will have your work cut out for you keeping them safe and from not getting overly attached to them. Kate has a way of making you do things without even realizing it." Niko shuffled back and used the pillar from earlier to keep himself up right.

"Aren't there things that should not be said in public? Once word spreads you took over, everyone is going to be looking to gain favor with your friends and family." Georgi pointed to the chair right outside the door and asked permission to sit. His legs felt weak.

"Please," Niko wasn't sure why he needed permission to sit down, but maybe Kenny ran things strictly, "I will talk to Kate and Mal. Mal knows more about these things. Another long story for a different day. Bernie can keep Kate from blabbing anything too important. I will give you one last warning. They aren't going to be what you're expecting. At all."

"I will manage. It will be different and hard to not freak out over things that have been ingrained in my habits… Permission to speak candidly?" Georgi rubbed his sweaty palms over his knees and tried to ignore the weird feelings and sensations going through him.

"Go ahead. There won't be much that can offend me. I know where you are coming from." Niko wondered what it was he was about to hear.

"I will miss having you in charge. I have not been this involved with Kenny. I do not have a family. Yet your own woman welcomes me on her personal days. Your other friend is openly affectionate and kind. You treat me as an equal. It is not hard to serve." Georgi looked toward the back door where Kate had disappeared. His life was never as fulfilling as it was now, and it confused him greatly. Here was something he didn't know existed.

"As I have told everyone I have ever gotten close to- if you give me loyalty, I will return it. I keep a close-knit group of people around me. I protect them. I care for them. And they return the favor. I did not have many friends till I came here to Liberty. I was shown what life had to offer. It is impossible at times to remember the loneliness I had before. It's why I fight so hard to keep what I have." Kate had brightened his world and given him hope. His friends had shown him a level of living that had been missing.

"Makes the stunt you pulled on Happiness Island more reasonable. We were told you called in every favor to get your cousin and Kate back safely. Kenny had us scouring the city for Natalya. Said we had to show no mercy. I believe that was the debt order being fulfilled. You helped us get rid of Derman, and we helped you rid the planet of Rascalov. Now I, and the rest of us, are in debt to you for saving Kenny." Georgi believed in his old boss and didn't question his orders when it came to hunting down Natalya. But now there was an added level of understanding after being around Niko for a short few hours.

"Right…" Niko would let them assume things for now. It was a decent cover story, but he had a feeling that the debt favor had been whatever Bernard had done for Kenny. It was one more thing he would need to ask him when he called him later.

"It will be difficult to go back to the way things were. Thank you for allowing me this short break to see what lies on the other side of this job." Georgi stood up from the bench, "But the address would be helpful. People are getting uneasy about the message."

"Hand me your phone. I'll enter it in a text." Niko held his hand out and quickly typed out the address from memory. It had been his go to place for so many years, "Can we confirm that it is still the headquarters before just crashing a boat full of dead people into the yard?"

"The extraction team is working on that as we speak," Georgi took his phone back and sent the address to several different people, "Shall I send Kate back out to you? Or do you need a minute alone?"

"I just need a minute. I'll come in to take Kate home." He closed his eyes for a second and hoped he was doing the right thing by basically throwing it back in the Bulgarin mafia's face.

"Speaking of home…" Georgi started to talk before seeing the look on his boss' face.

"I'm not having people living with us. I can manage Kate and I's protection." Oh he was not having someone sleeping on the couch like Kate had jabbed him over. The apartment didn't exactly scream privacy and if Kate allowed him to hold her… He didn't think their hands wouldn't wander.

"That's agreeable. But I must require you allow me to have rotating teams outside the place. It would be foolish to not extend the same level of security to you that we do Kenny and his family currently. You will be wanted by our enemies." Georgi swallowed thickly and got ready to fight his boss on this. It was his job… "I will not fail in keeping my boss safe. I already…"

"Okay. But they will only be people you trust personally. And I expect you to be at the apartment in the morning for breakfast. I will need a rundown of what Kenny has in the works and what needs watching. I feel like it's going to be a ton of information and the sooner I am aware of things, the better." Niko pulled his phone out of his pocket and waited expectantly for Georgi to give him his number so he could send him his address. They would be going back to Middle Park East. Less chance of a sniper hitting them there.

"Early or late breakfast? Shall I bring the chef or have food catered?" Georgi took Niko's phone and paused when the backdoor opened a hairs' width.

"Sorry. Um. I can come back." Kate opened the door enough to make sure they were okay outside and if they would be joining everyone else.

"You want someone to cook us breakfast in the morning?" Niko tilted his head letting her know she could come outside if she wanted to.

With a small smile she opened the door and semi danced on her way into his arms. She was still riding the high of getting to meet Clara Krow and having a good time out shopping. She was a touch sad Niko wouldn't be with her, but it was so she could knock his socks off later when he'd get to see everything put together for the party. Her cheeks were starting to hurt with the amount of smiling she had been doing and the animated chatting with Avia.

"Breakfast Лепа (Lepa)?" His own soft smile pulled at his lips seeing her happy.

"Well. I am more than capable of cooking… how many people am I cooking for?" She narrowed her eyes at him before turning her head within his grasp to see if Georgi would simply tell her or if it was going to be a challenge to get information freely.

"Just us three Kate. But if you'd rather sleep in and have food made, or brought in, we can do that too." He looked up to see Georgi shifting uncomfortably under Kate's stare. He buried his face onto the top of her head to hide the laugh that wanted to break free.

"I will cook. It'll be the easiest way to see if he is gonna lie to me or not." She bit the inside of her cheek when Niko patted her hip in warning. She felt Niko kiss the crown of her head and she looked up to see if he was actually upset or not.

"She is very critical when it comes to her food. She gets mad if people aren't honest with their evaluation of her skills." It was somewhat brilliant of her. It would be Georgi's own test on how loyal versus respectful he would be. Kate could burn everything and if he said it was delicious it would be rather telling.

"Ah. I think I understand. Do I need to bring anything?" He saw the playful twinkle in her expression, and he knew instantly this was her way of making her own assessment of him. Of which he was determined to pass with flying colors.

'Sucker.'

"The ingredients needed to make you breakfast. With in reason." Kate lifted an eyebrow and leaned back into Niko's chest. The McReary challenge was officially thrown out there.

That was not the challenge he was expecting.

'Well played'