Okay folks… After the heavy couple of chapters, it's time to snap out of it. This does start off as a downer. I'm sorry. So once again, here is your fair warning on uncomfortable topics and trigger warnings.
But the end of the chapter? You'll thank me later.
aaaaaa
The voices raged against one another- screaming, yelling, accusations thrown across the room in various languages. Hostile feelings flared between leaders, and yet all Niko could do was sit there and stare blankly at the card table. People paced around him, but it never caught his attention. Everything was muted, dull. Even his eyesight felt blurry and fuzzy.
"I say we strike back!" Roy fumed as he rounded the table for the millionth time, "They kicked down your door for fuck's sake!"
"We can't just wage war after killing their leader!" Georgi shot back scrubbing his hand over his eyes in annoyance.
"We don't even know how they got into the city!" Gordon huffed and shoved out of his chair to walk off his frustration.
"The damn northern shoreline that I told Kenny about! They are probably the ones siphoning off the drug routes from LS to here!" Roy pointed an accusing finger toward Georgi knowing that Kenny was well aware of how badly their operation was failing in Blaine County, "And YOU were the one who was supposed to figure out how Kenny was captured!"
And once more the argument began over what to do about the Albanian's and if they should take over the territory and absolve them completely. They bickered and snapped at one another. Each jab worse than the last after it was announced Alexi had been shot to death. Who was going to tell the powers that be overseas and within Liberty that Alexi was dead? Would there be further retaliation against them for killing the head of the Albanian gang?
Francis lowered down into the chair next to Niko and let out a silent, shaky sigh. He had taken one lingering look at Niko and knew something was seriously wrong. His patience was never long, and it tended to get him into rather precarious situations, but surely Niko was getting tired of the yelling match between everyone in the room. Francis leaned forward just enough to catch the forlorn look of his future brother-in-law.
The 'I'm sorry' was easy to read in his eyes and that's when it hit him- Niko had his answer about Kate.
"Niko-"
Niko lifted a hand, and the room went silent. Everyone halted their movements and snapped their mouths shut.
"First things first. I am tired. Your arguing will cease right this second. Alexi is dead and that news will run through Liberty like a wildfire. I will have Francis type up a report on the shooting so legally it will be listed. IAA will send word to Interpol with this report. Everyone within your own affiliations will need to be told and suppliers, handlers, and runners can spread the word on the street.
If they even think about attacking us? We will level what's left of them and divide their territory between us. I want someone to scout out the northern shore. Also get me in contact with Johnny. The issue needs to be handled out west and questions need to be answered. Kenny was not the target of the assassination squad sent here. I was. So we need to figure out how, why, and who went after him- other than we assume it's Bulgarin's Bratva.
Vanya sacrificed himself and I want him to be honored. Make preparations for a funeral for him and everyone else we lost in the attack. We remain on high alert till we see how the Albanian's react to the news of their leader's demise.
Now go be with your families and rest. We all could use the break we have been graced with."
Niko kept his eyes trained on the hard plastic top of the table before him and addressed the problems he had heard his men argue about. The major problem was over with. Alexi was gone. But the aftermath was bound to be messy and chaotic. Even if The Fixer keeps his word on their agreement, there was no way people would just shrug it off and move on. His mind was so spent and in an unbalanced auto pilot.
People started to shuffle out of the room and the movement forced his eyes to lift to watch as those loyal to him left him to stew in his misery. His eyes caught Karen as she approached him, unease easily readable on her face, and he frowned when she leaned into the table before him.
"What do you need from me?" She tucked her hair behind her ears and awkwardly held her elbows. The emotionless wall she could feel between them was palpable and unsavory. This was not the Niko she knew, and it freaked her out with how stoic he appeared. Blank. Tired. Haunted.
"Contact your boss. Let him know. Then use Francis' report to inform the other agencies." His eyes sharpened in warning after having to repeat himself to her.
"That is not what I meant." Karen studied the shadows under his eyes- The way he didn't even react to all the inhouse fighting had been disturbing. But this was a level of pain she didn't think was meant to be felt. 'Tell me what's wrong Niko… I can help you.'
"Karen. I'm fine. Find Georgi and have him show you to an empty apartment. Let me know when your boss gets in touch." He lifted his eyebrow when she went to protest him. Now was not the time to grate against his last nerve.
"Whatever… Pakhan." She kicked the toe of his boot and smirked at getting a mild reaction out of him. There was a glimmer of his fire that flashed through his dark irises, and she shrugged her shoulders and shoved off the edge of the table, "Plenty more fire where that came from."
"I'm sure Georgi would like to see how fireproof he can be." Niko snorted when she flipped him off on her way out the door. He doubted she picked up much of the Russian he had spoken.
"There was a time where I couldn't even picture the two of you as an actual couple. Now I think I can see it." Francis turned more toward Niko in his chair, "Listen… I uh…?" He could give speeches to the public, talk to crowds at charity events, and even go on talk shows to promote the LCPD, but asking Niko if Kate was pregnant or okay… It dragged his heart down and suffocated his lungs.
"Francis. You and I find ourselves more heavily involved after we went our separate ways after Derrick's death. Now I sit next to the man I had once longed to put a bullet through and have to tell my future brother that his sister…" Niko turned his head to lock eyes with Francis. The words just died in his mouth, and he could do no more than convey with sorrowful eyes how absolutely torn up he was. He hunched forward and balanced his weight against his knees with his elbows.
'Just say it… It's not like it makes it any more real…'
"How bad?" Francis hesitated before reaching out and placing his hand on Niko's shoulder blade. The tightness in his chest burned his lungs and he realized he was holding his breath.
"She miscarried." The words were like acid on his tongue. The doc had used every tool at her disposal to show him where the cells had formed in one of her tubes and attached outside of where a healthy, viable pregnancy should rest. It would've been a matter of time before… He had listened carefully, taking in everything he was told, clinging onto the hope that she could one day have kids.
"I am so incredibly sorry…" Francis felt the tears form behind his eyes and he rubbed his hand over Niko's shoulders, trying to comfort him in a way that felt natural. He was never an affectionate person, had been denied that from his own family for so long, that it took great effort to reach out and show physical affection. He longed to see his sister and be there for her- "Has she been told?"
"No. She is resting. I think the poison did more damage than originally suspected." Volatile, burning, scathing rage slithered through his body like a venomous snake. Coiling, curling, biding its time to strike- leaving behind darkness and bitterness. What had given him glimpses of a bright and happy future was snuffed out before he even had the chance to live it. Now he was going to have to be the one to destroy Kate's dreams.
"It's not fair. She doesn't deserve this. Ever since I entered her life I have put her in danger. I have been the reason she has cried, mourned, gotten black out drunk and bared her soul. And that was before that night in October. She has suffered greatly just to be with me. I am fighting and giving my all. But what if that isn't good enough anymore?" Niko didn't care any longer about holding everything in. He had hit rock bottom and there was just nothing left to give.
"True love is usually the most inconvenient kind there is. The best and the most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or ever touched. They must be felt with the heart. And sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us. Though none of us can go back and make a new beginning- Anyone can start over and make a new ending. The day will come Niko when all this is behind us. You and my little sister will wake up and discover together when it is time." Francis dug deep to try and remember some of the kind, soothing words his Ma would give him in his time of need. She always knew just what to say, when to say it, how to say it. 'Probably why she was so involved in the Church…'
"And I know it sounds lame but look at the bright side of things! Alexi is dead. Whoever that creeper was on the phone will settle everything and the two of you can ride off into the sunset once Kenny opens his eyes. Sounds like a victory in my book." Francis patted Niko's back before nudging his arm with a closed fist.
"I am still dreading being Kenny. All I want to do is sit next to her bedside and be there when her world comes crashing down." Niko blankly looked at her brother and didn't appreciate the lighthearted tone he used to describe their so-called victory.
"That's why you have people at your beck and call to order around and get things done. If you are meant to stand in for Kenny, then maybe it's time to take the full reins and start spreading the responsibilities. Kate needs her rest, and you still have some hefty items to deal with." Francis mulled over everything that various people had been shouting about. He would need to keep LCPD from checking certain vans and trucks that came in through Alderney if that was how Kenny's shipments entered the city.
"Like what? My only priority now is Kate." Niko crossed his arms and slumped back into the cushioned armchair he occupied.
"From what I've gathered, you have a big problem in San Andreas somewhere, we gotta figure out how to contact that person on the phone, get the hard drives back, find Patrick, clean our hands of our sin, and somehow keep Kenny alive. Not to mention how the hell are you going to renegotiate Kenny's agreements at the mayor's party?" Even Francis felt tired just listing off everything that still had to be taken care of. 'There is bound to be more I'm missing… But damn we have a ton of work to do!'
"Any idea on where Packie may have gone?" He frowned with the thought of his friend. How had everything spiraled so quickly? One day they were all having lunch and drinks together and the next Patrick went AWOL and pretty much pinned Derrick's murder on him and Francis.
"My guess? Out of the state. My junior detectives ran the footage from my apartment. He and the chick who was helping him left with a duffle bag. The cab they took went directly to the airport. I have them looking at plane manifests and ticket counters." Francis turned to look at the large metal door when it creaked open slightly.
"Pakhan?" Georgi stuck his head through the doorway and waited to either be dismissed or allowed entry.
"It's fine Georgi. Come in." Niko nodded his consent and groaned internally. When was he going to get a minute to process everything and grieve in his own way?
"I am sorry for the interruption. One of our contacts out west said they have a name and a face to the person who has been destroying our shipments, killing our men, and had taken possession of Kenny's plane. Which is currently parked in a run-down hanger in plain sight. Sticks out like a sore thumb." Georgi had received a phone call the second he left their meeting space and finally had some answers to the questions hurled at him.
"Good." Niko felt his mouth twitch and a strange suspicion was building within. 'Now he is probably going to tell me we need to send a team there and stretch our assets thin…'
"Yes. It will be tricky to get this man alone. He already has shown he knows how we operate and move product. We would have to go in under the radar in order to steal back Kenny's plane and either kill the person or retaliate in… our… own… way?" Georgi trailed off at the near murderous glare he was getting from his boss, "Is- Did I say something wrong?"
He was going to get hiccups soon if he didn't stop sighing, "No. How urgent is this?" Niko closed his eyes and scrubbed over his face at the agitation that built in his brain. It was like a merry go round with no stopping in sight. Just mission after mission, job after job, kill this person, take out this leader- 'Can I just get an hour? Just one hour of silence and peace?'
"Forgive me." Georgi slid into the room and shut the door, "I do not mean for anything to seem more important than Kate. That is not my intention." He lowered his head and stared at his feet. How could he simply fall back into how he operated under Kenny and forget that his current boss was suffering a major loss?
"I know it's not. So how important is getting to wherever? Does it outweigh our current situation?" Niko knew Georgi wasn't trying to ignore Kate's condition or his own, but if this wasn't a high priority, then it could have waited till later to be addressed.
"Sandy Shores. It's some middle of nowhere desert town. And if we don't confront him soon we will lose the foothold we have and potentially lose it to the Madrazo Cartel. That is not something we can allow to happen." Georgi chewed the inside of his cheek and wished he didn't have to bring this before his boss. He regretted how pressing the matter was becoming. He would give anything to just let Niko be for a day or so, but unfortunately the desert was calling.
"Yeah I'd avoid having anything to do with Martin. He may have zero reach out here in LC, but even we have a rap sheet of crimes on him." Francis winced at the mention of the notorious Mexican Cartel and prayed that none of them would have to run into any member of said gang.
Niko mulled it over. He knew things like this were bound to come up when he took on the title and power- How much wasn't exactly something he dwelled on. He just assumed Kenny did whatever he wanted and everyone else pretty much ran the business. 'Apparently not.'
"Give me an hour to think. Then we can discuss a plan on how to fix this. Is there anything else?" Oh he was going to get that hour alone by Kate even if he had to start shooting people. Their words to each other in the bathroom, which felt like forever ago, echoed in his mind.
'Remember. One thing at a time.
Together though, right?
Together.'
Her trusting eyes had met his and he knew she would hold him to it. Then everything came unraveled.
"We are doing as you have asked. Spreading the word of Alexi's death. Anton volunteered to organize Vanya's funeral. Roy's men have met with some of the other families to set up a blockade of the northern shore to keep any more people from sneaking in. Aleksei is waiting on a call back from Johnny. Gordon contacted Luis, Dwayne, and Jacob to update them on what happened. I was going to check in on Vasil and then walk the room where he fought Alexi in, if that's alright?" Georgi gave his full report and waited for Niko's commands.
"Sounds good." And it really did sound good to Niko. His men were working hard, things were getting accomplished, one major hurdle was taken care of- so that meant he could shed some of the guilt and trepidation about having to hunt down Alexi.
"If Kate wakes… Can you give her my condolences? I don't think she will be up for seeing any of us for a while. And I- I feel…" Georgi bowed his head and stared at his shoes, forcing himself to say what he needed to say, "Not responsible but I can't shake it. My heart is heavy. Anton blames himself. I blame myself for possibly giving her the wrong antidote or too much of it-"
A firm hand landed on each of his shoulders, and he looked up startled. Niko stood before him and grimly smiled at him. There was a sheen of tears glassing over his boss' eyes and it stabbed at his hurting heart.
"It is not anyone's fault but those who attacked her. You killed the person responsible for poisoning her. You. Not me. You gave her the antidote that more than likely saved her life. Anton did nothing wrong. He brought her back from the brink of death. Do not hold this burden." Niko understood his thoughts and feelings. He himself felt like a complete failure for not protecting her and putting her in danger. 'If anyone is to blame it is myself…'
"Thank you…" Georgi whispered the words and nodded his head to let Niko know it was okay to release him. He had tasks to take care of and needed a moment to collect himself. This was not like him. He was always in control of his emotions and reactions. Kenny demanded neutral and levelheadedness. It was what he exuded most of his adult life. Now? The floodgates were wide open.
Niko lifted his hands off of his shoulders, "I will text you when I am ready to discuss Sandy Shores."
"I will try and get more information for you. As you have asked it, so it shall be done." Georgi saluted his boss and left the meeting room to check in on Vasil's condition. Last thing they needed was another casualty.
"Is it okay if I check on Kate before I go? I'd like to see her…" Francis stood up from the chair and slowly approached Niko. It was always fascinating to him to see and hear how easily Niko went from one language to another seamlessly.
"Of course. She is your sister." Niko lifted his eyebrow at his question. Why would he need to ask?
"It's just- Everyone else hangs on your every word and I don't exactly know where I stand with you. It's been a stressful and eventful few days and it at times felt like we were back to the hostile, mutual hatred." Francis really wasn't sure where exactly he ranked in Niko's mind. One thing he did know was that they were going to be forever bound to each other because of Derrick.
"Truce?" Niko let out a dry chuckle. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think he and Francis would get along, let alone work together again, and eventually they would be related by marriage. Life truly threw him a curveball.
"You keep Katie happy, and I'll be happy. Truce." Francis held out his hand and shook Niko's when he grasped it.
aaaaaa
Georgi didn't walk at fast pace. He was lost within his thoughts. Vasil took one hell of a beating. Injury after injury filled the doctor's notes and charts. And it made him wonder just how skilled Alexi was. Vasil wasn't a push over by any stretch of the imagination. None of them were. They were trained, skilled, and lethal.
The way Kenny wanted it.
But if they all held a high skillset on hand-to-hand combat and weaponry, why was Vasil in critical condition?
"Maybe he was attacked from behind or by surprise?" He muttered to himself as he trailed through the halls in the direction of the main living space. His thoughts drifted through Vasil's injury report- the stab to the upper arm would make it very difficult to block or evade other strikes…
He paused when he entered the room and saw Karen slowly making a circuit of the flipped over table, "Ma'am?"
Karen jolted at the voice not being prepared to be spotted or interrupted, "Sorry! I just…" She gestured around the room and awkwardly shifted back and forth on her feet.
"You are… Assessing the crime scene, yes?" He took a small step into the room over a broken leg of a chair.
"The agent in me won't leave me alone. I know I should be calling my boss nonstop, but there is just this incessant need to walk this room. Study it." She knelt down and peered under one of the couches trying to figure out where a small kid could of hid during the fight.
"It's almost too good to be true? That the feeling?" His eyes started their own sweep on the devastation. The room was a complete wreck. Like a bar brawl broke out between fifty people and they used the furniture as weapons.
"YES! Exactly that! Thank you! Thought I was losing my mind. I freaking saw the dead body and for whatever reason my brain is telling me no." Karen nearly groaned with finding someone who understood what was reeling in her brain.
"No thanks needed. I was on my way here to try and mentally walk through how my fellow captain might've fought him off. But this looks more like he was jumped by more than one person. May I?" He pointed to the back wall where the door to the basement staircase was.
"I could use a fresh set of eyes. Been a very long time since I had to work crime scenes. I'm more of uh… Field Agent. Granted my boss wants me in interrogation." Karen grumbled the last sentence under her breath and felt the heat rise in her cheeks when he smirked at her on his way to the back of the room.
"Can't exactly go against the boss' wishes?" He shook his head as if chastising her, "The boss' word is law."
"Maybe for you. I got some wiggle room. I think my boss and I have a decent understanding of one another." She turned to face him and crossed her arms over the heavy bullet proof vest. She had to steel her spine when he approached her and crane her neck to maintain eye contact.
"That crest means you and I have the same boss. And while you are under this roof your loyalty will remain to Niko. I will only warn you once- betray him, hurt him, do anything to jeopardize the Bratva and I will kill you." He hardened his eyes and pointed his index finger to the Petrovic coat of arms that was attached to Avia's backup vest.
Karen ripped open the velcro straps on her sides and lifted the thick material over her head, "I do not need a symbol to hold me loyal to him. And I do not need your threats. I don't think I deserve them." She shoved the vest into Georgi's chest and glared at him. 'I may have betrayed Niko once… But never again.'
"That's all I needed to see." He took the vest from her when he spotted the fiery scorch that had lit her eyes up back down in Hove. She was fierce and headstrong. Something he started to admire in Avia when he observed her outside of Kenny's command. The affronted offended look she was using on him told him everything he needed to know to trust her. 'And it is rather amusing to see…'
"What?" Her anger vanished with his acceptance. She had expected a fight- a verbal beat down. But he just simply tilted his head ever so gently and lifted his eyebrow with a boyish grin.
"Your aggressiveness to oppose my initial assessment of you. It shows me how badly it offended you. Which in turn leads me to believe that you can't, or won't, betray Pakhan." He set the vest down on the only undamaged table in the room and frowned when he spotted several empty discarded magazines stacked neatly together.
"Just like that? I'm off the hook?" Karen rolled her eyes and went back to following the blood splatter patterns on the floor.
"If you were in a fight for your life, and you get the room to look like this, would not everything be knocked over and misplaced?" Georgi lowered down to be eye level with the table and started thoughtfully at the magazines.
"I mean, depending on the direction of the fight and the chain of events, it's possible not everything would be disturbed." She joined him at his side and felt her inner agent stir to life. They did look rather out of place within all the wreckage.
"If he came in to the room to make sure our prisoners were still held hostage…" He grew serious and stood up from the table to stand in the entry way of the room, "It is possible Alexi had just freed them and all three of them would ambush him." Georgi glanced at how one of the doors was loose on the hinges and held several bullet holes.
"Alexi had a rifle next to him, so he would fire immediately at him." Karen backed up some and held her hands like she was firing an assault rifle.
"Forcing Vasil to take cover and return fire." He moved in the direction of the overturned couch, crouching down and taking aim at Karen.
"Would he have flipped the couch like that?" She held her position and waited to see where he would go next.
"This room is filled to the brim with hidden weapons," To demonstrate he pulled a rifle from the metal base frame of the couch and turned it her way, "He most certainly would have shoved it over like this for cover and extra weapons and ammo."
"But then Alexi would have been out gunned easily if he knows where all the weapons are." Karen spun a quick circle to see if she could spot any other hiding places for a gun.
"Boris… He would know too." Georgi sighed heavily and tucked the rifle back into its resting place. Taking hold of the couch he stood up and met Karen's questioning look, "Boris must have betrayed the Bratva…"
It hurt a lot worse once the words were out there.
No one ever, ever dared to leave or go against Kenny. How any of the higher-ranking men could commit such treason was preposterous! It pitched his stomach, gripped his heart, and chilled his blood. And the sobering thought that had Niko killed Boris when he had the chance, Vasil might not be as injured.
"That's a rather daunting look. Care to share?" She watched him go internal and draw his face down in concentration. 'Just what is going on in there…?'
"Boris insulted Kate. She exiled him and we locked him up in one of our cells. When Niko confronted him, he was going to execute him…" Georgi replayed the events in his mind and slowly moved around the couch, darting his eyes between the furniture and mapping out where they stored their weapons.
"Let me guess? Princess stilled Niko's hand?" As much as her and Kate got along now, it still caused a ravenous itch to light up her skin with how soft-hearted Kate could be.
He wanted to smile at the term, but the edge and slightly crude tone in which it was said bothered him, "Niko has explained that we do not call Kate by that title. Or her rightful one within our ranks. I will let it slide this one time, but say it again in poor taste, and you might find yourself at the end of a gun."
"Jesus everyone is so head over heels for her! Honestly." She threw her hands up in the air and groaned. It was like everyone who ever comes into contact with Kate immediately gets puppy eyes.
"She is easy to be around…" He kept up his trek back toward the staircase and paused by the filing cabinet. He rolled his fingers into a fist and tapped the side of the filing cabinet firmly once, forcing the hidden drawer to pop open. "Empty. Fuck."
"So…?" She turned and nearly jumped at the noise his fist made against the warped metal cabinet.
"He fucking betrayed us… The bastard is as good as dead."
Inside the hidden drawer laid the necklace Boris had been gifted from Kenny and the gun slot was empty.
aaaaaa
"Does she have any pain?" Niko spoke softly from his place next to Kate's hospital bed. His thumb methodically brushing over the top of her hand that he held.
"Hard to say. I have her on a morphine drip, and all her vitals have vastly improved. If she was feeling any pain, her heartrate or blood pressure would be off, and the machine over there would start beeping." Witney took the cap off of the IV feed and twisted the saline nozzle on to flush the line.
Niko nodded and lifted his eyes to the machine she indicated before going back to resting on Kate's peaceful face. Francis had cried at the sight of his sister and just sat next to her holding her hand silently. He didn't say a word, never moved to wipe his tears, and let his guard down completely in the room. Niko had given him privacy and forced the doctor to leave for a couple of minutes.
When Francis emerged from the room his eyes were red and somewhat puffy. He had mumbled a few words about typing up the shooting report and then wandered down the hall and out of Niko's sight. He felt bad for the man. In only a few hours he had lost Gerry, lost Packie, and almost lost Kate. 'And lost what would have been a niece or nephew…'
"Can I get you anything? She isn't the only one who needs care right now." Witney loathed having to give bad news to people. In her line of work she either got to see the breathtaking joy from new parents, or the devasting depression of loss. The two extremes were hard to balance some days, and she was feeling her heartstrings getting tugged on by the resigned look on Niko's face.
"I'm good. Thank you." He wanted to climb up on the bed and hold her, but with how many wires dipped below the blanks and gown, he didn't want to accidentally have one come loose. The color was starting to return to her face and his fingers twitched with the need to cup her face and kiss her lips.
"It's okay to grieve and mourn. You are allowed to feel these things. And when the time comes that you two should start trying again, please contact my office first for a checkup. My concern lies with the damage done to her body by the poison. I can run more tests and confirm if she will be able to have children." Doctor Witney walked around the side of the bed to place her hand on Niko's shoulder, "I have faith that everything is okay and you two will make beautiful babies."
A small smile lifted the corners of his lips with her words, "I am having an engagement ring made for her."
"Then maybe I'll end up seeing you two rather quickly?" She laughed at the blush that dusted across his cheeks.
"I mean…" He chuckled at her knowing look, "We both want to spend our lives together. She was overjoyed at the thought of being pregnant. And I loved the way she simply glowed when she spoke about it." It was true. His heart melted every time her happy eyes met his and her hands would cradle over the life they had made together.
"I'll see when my next availability is and start the new patient paperwork. Because if you two are not ready to be parents she will need to have a new implant put it." She set him with a stern look to let him know that there was no 'goalie' so to speak. She dropped her hand away when he nodded in understanding and walked over to her computer.
Niko's phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out to see Georgi had sent him a text message.
'SOS – Georgi'
aaaaaa
Georgi paced back and forth within the dining room; his anger clear to see. He texted all of his fellow captains to meet him so they could discuss the betrayal of Boris. Anton's scowl had yet to lower or lessen from his resting place against the wall leading to the kitchen. Aleksei was furiously cleaning his disassembled rifle and trying to focus his anger into something constructive. Sergei felt out of place being in the room with people who technically out ranked him, but he had his fellow enforcer Ivo sitting next to him.
"Why? When did he turn?!" Georgi asked no one in particular.
"I only noticed his change in attitude when Niko took over. When you assigned us to watch over the apartment in Middle Park East, he adamantly refused to join us." Ivo spoke up when it seemed like everyone else was clueless on the shift in Boris' allegiance.
"We could have used his help at the park. It is protocol to have at least six men on protective detail. He would have been our sixth to escort Kate and keep her safe. He also is our scouter within our unit. Could explain how the assassins spotted her and Mallorie out in the park." Sergei thought back to that morning and how agitated Boris had been when he was assigned to the team. Georgi had called them and given specific instructions to keep Kate within the apartment and to guard it till they returned. Granted her coming out of the elevator and asking him in the most sincere way to meet her friend in the park had thrown him.
"You tell me this now?!" Georgi rounded on Sergei and nearly shouted.
"How was I supposed to know having Boris absent would lead to her getting attacked?!" Sergei shoved out of his chair, "I may not be your equal, but I do not deserve to have the accusing stare you are shooting at me!"
"If anyone misses an assignment or acts out you are to tell your higher ups! That has never changed!" Anton seethed from his place against the wall, "There are rules. Boris would have been called immediately and warned. And if he still refused then one of us would be hunting him down."
"It is bad enough to believe one of our own managed to fly under the radar and betray us. I don't believe he truly wanted to till Alexi confronted him. Niko was seconds away from killing him- Pretty sure Boris saw an out and took it." Aleksei slammed the stock into place and glared at his weapon, "But to then take a weapon and shoot Vasil…? His own friend?"
"Boris and him were very close… They used to go to the clubs together and come back shitfaced. I was always having to cover for them at the front gate." Ivo shifted uncomfortably in his chair next to Sergei, who had yet to sit back down. He was shocked when Sergei had raised his voice at their technical boss. Rules and guidelines were being broken left and right now.
They all turned when the door opened, and Niko walked in. Immediately they all saluted him and bowed their heads in respect.
"The SOS?" Niko glanced around at his men and could pick up on the anger sizzling in the space. Something must have happened to have them looking all on edge and like they were about to start fighting one another.
"We believe Boris has betrayed us." Anton shoved off the wall and walked forward to take his seat at the table. If the boss was standing then it was appropriate to not be at his height.
"There are some inconsistencies with where Vasil fought off Alexi." Georgi huffed and plopped down in his seat, narrowing his eyes at Sergei when he took a second longer to sit down.
"Explain." Niko rested his hands on the back of a dining room chair preferring to stand. The itch that always showed up before a fight was growing along his back and he wanted to scratch it.
"I walked the room with Karen. We have weapons tucked away in various places. Only we know where they are located. By the door that leads down to the holding cells is a filing cabinet with a hidden drawer. The gun was missing, and this was inside." Georgi slid the necklace across the table in Niko's direction, "Kenny gifts all of his higher-ranking men with something of value. It is his way of showing us we hold value to him." He shoved up his sleeve and showed off a thick, knotted golden bracelet.
Aleksei pulled a thin chain from under his shirt and jacket. Anton showed off a ring on his right hand. Sergei tapped his glasses. Ivo lifted his sidearm and placed it down on the table.
"Vanya had diamond cuff links." Anton whispered. They all grew somber with the thought of their fallen comrade.
Niko picked up the necklace and turned it over in his hand, "This is his way of saying he- what? Quits?"
"Kenny has one law above all others. If you wish to leave, you must ask and present your case to him. If you fail to do so and simply leave, a hit is green lit against you. Your life is forfeit. If you betray us, the punishment and death sentence is cruel and painful. Boris knows this. We all do. By doing this he is asking for death." Aleksei was the one Kenny usually assigned to track down defectors. It was a gruesome task, but one that gave him undying loyalty from Kenny.
"We know for certain he has turned? And not simply using the attack as a means to escape and go into hiding?" Niko dropped the weighted silver chain to the surface of the dining room. 'I should've just killed the asshole. Now he is going to be one more problem for me to handle…'
"I don't think Alexi would have let Boris live if he refused to join him. They would still be considered enemies to each other. Plus why would Alexi free him from his cage? His female I understand. But what good would it do to let Boris out?" Anton folded his arms on the table and let his mind work through it. Alexi would have no reason or purpose to open Boris' cell, other than just to annoy everyone- or…
"What if this is a distraction? We would all be tracking down Boris instead of focusing on Albanian activity. If Alexi had escaped with his life its plausible he had other plans in the works." Anton looked to Niko to see if he was thinking along the same lines.
"Cut the head off and two more will grow. We all know that when one leader dies someone else takes their place. We can't take our eyes off the Albanian's. I have had some time to think. And I could use everyone's input." Niko pulled the chair out and lowered down to be able to be eye level with everyone. It was symbolic. He was asking them as equals instead of dishing out orders.
"Yes Pakhan?" They all looked to one another confused and alarmed. Kenny would never ask for their opinions or want guidance. Kenny had other people for that.
"I think we need two teams. One team is to head to Los Santos and confront the man who is messing with our operation. The other will stay here and monitor the Albanian's and look for Boris. I want this done within two days. Kate will more than likely be out and resting and it gives me a chance to get this done." Niko pulled out his phone and sent a message for Karen to join them.
Karen entered the room a half a second later and Niko had to force himself from smirking at her timing. Knowing her she had probably been outside the door the whole time listening in.
"You rang?" She slipped into the room and closed the door, unsure of where her place was or where she was allowed to sit.
"Does the IAA have assets on the ground throughout San Andreas?" Niko looked over his shoulder to her and pointed to an empty seat near the end of the table.
"That would be classified and above my paygrade. But I have a contact in Los Santos. The main office is there and I'm sure if I needed help with my assignment I could get it." She dropped down into the chair and ducked her head slightly at all the guarded glares that were being sent her way.
"Georgi what is the name of this person we need to confront?" Niko shifted his gaze off of Karen and to his second.
"Trevor Philips."
"Karen how quickly can you get surveillance on this Trevor Philips? Preferably without spooking him and jeopardizing our chance to get him alone. He is somewhere in Sandy Shores. I want to assemble a team and get into the city without being detected." Niko drummed his fingers on the table. He had an idea on how to divide and conquer, but it would require him to leave Kate's side and he dreaded that option.
'It seems I am always having to leave her when she is the most vulnerable… Forgive me Лепа (Lepa)"
"It would be best to meet my contact face to face and use drones for imagery. There is a military base not far from there. Could have a joint effort if I can get my boss to go up the chain of command. And if this person of interest already knows your tells and go to moves, might want to change up your plan of attack." Karen sat upright in her chair- the thrill of getting to travel back the sunny city of Los Santos and being included in the fight hummed within her blood.
"How does Kenny normally have you slip in and out of an area?" Niko saw her point. If Trevor was already aware of their routines it would be pointless to try and exact the mission in the same format.
"In this case we would all have coach seats on a random flight into Los Santos. None of us would sit by each other, no communication, and we'd take separate routes to a meet point- a hotel or rental house. We'd gear up then split up and take different paths to the target. Once in position we'd strike swiftly and silently. Then hightail it out of there covering our tracks." Georgi gave a generic version of how they did drop in jobs. There would be more planning and details than what was said of course.
"He would see that a mile away. Plus you all kind of stand out in a crowd of tan, plastic surgery riddled, and fake people. Or the hillbillies up north." Karen snorted as she looked over Kenny's men. "No offense. But a bunch of Russian's randomly showing up is kind of a red flag."
"Not… Necessarily." Anton dragged his words out and met Georgi's eyes.
"I don't have the same liver anymore. And that was years ago." Georgi rubbed over where his liver rested and took on a bemused smile, "But it would be an interesting plan."
"I am not following." Karen felt completely lost. There was no way them just landing in LS wouldn't set off every red flag at the airport- not to mention other rival gangs would be chomping at the bit to get to them.
"Roy has a jet. A very expensive and flashy jet." Aleksei caught on and leaned forward getting excited about this new approach.
"Limo to pick us up at the airport, flashy cars, maybe a fake security team?" Sergei picked up the flicker of a party within Georgi, Anton's, and Aleksei's eyes.
"We could break out the threads- go in as if it was the only trip we've ever been on." Anton's smile broke across his face. 'Oh hell yes!'
"Clubs, bars, over the top party and drive up the coast- only to pass out and get 'lost' in the desert. Then we ambush him." Aleksei nodded his head and looked to his boss to see if he liked their plan or not.
"Party like it's the nineties again! Pakhan it could be labeled as like your Bachelor trip!" Georgi bounced in his seat like a teenager getting invited to Las Venturas.
"You have got to be kidding me…" Karen muttered under her breath.
"It's not bad. Do we know if we are recognizable out west? Kenny would be. But have any of you stepped foot over there?" Niko played out the scenario. It had merit. No one would suspect they were all a bunch of killers and hitmen if they were loudly drunk and making a scene. It would just cause people to roll their eyes and grumble about tourists.
'But Bachelor party…? Am I even going to be able to look like I'm enjoying myself? Can I fake happiness when my heart will be here with Kate? When I am so off balance and needing time to find myself again? How would it look to her if she wakes and I'm across the country from her and living it up with Kenny's men…?'
"I escorted Kenny once, but never left the plane. He has his own travel team… The ones who were murdered. This would be all of our first time to see the west coast." Georgi tried to bury some of his excitement. Kate would be left here if they all went. Defenseless for the most part. It took some of the hype out of their plan.
"Okay. I'm on board. But I need someone to volunteer to stay here and guard Kate and my family. You would also be responsible for keeping Roy and Gordon searching for Boris. Dwayne, Jacob, and Luis will assist you when you call them. I know you all are nearly jumping up and down at the chance to live it up for a change, but this is still a high priority mission, and still has an element of danger. For all we know he is waiting for us to come to him." Niko would let someone step up and not choose. If it was up to him he'd send them all and stay behind. But something was nudging him toward seeing this through.
"Niko this is insane. You can't possibly go along with this!" Karen was floored. There were too many openings, chances to be made, and it practically screamed spring break to her. How would any of them focus on the task at hand when they were hitting up the clubs in Los Santos?
"I will stay behind. I have sworn my loyalty. It is only right." Georgi spoke up. He would guard Kate with his life and watch over her recovery. It was a tiny bit disappointing he wouldn't be getting to stay at his boss' side, but it came with the job. He knew the job and wore his title proudly.
"Karen you will be coming with us. You going to be okay around a bunch of partying Russians?" Niko smirked at her aghast look. Her mouth opened and closed like she couldn't process a single thing or figure out what to say next. "Then it is settled. I'll call Roy to see if we can borrow his jet. Pack your things gentlemen. We head to Los Santos in the morning."
aaaaaa
I think I can hear everyone going "Oh my God Niko and Trevor are going to meet face to face!"
So we have our answer on Kate now… I had to do it. Felt awful and torn up on it, but in the overall arc of this story it works. It's also going to be a challenging dynamic to play with between Kate and Niko. One I am ready to work on and get them back to happier places.
But what I am more excited about? Los Santos!
Till next time, One Love!