*claps and rubs my hands together in an evil fashion*
Strap in folks! This chick is trying her hand at something different!
aaaaaa
"Wheels down in twenty boys." Karen emerged from the cockpit, pinning her hair back in a bun at the nape of her neck. The pilot nodded to her as she closed the cockpit door.
"I know this is a job and all… But I'd be lying if I didn't say I am enjoying the perks." Anton twisted his wrist over to see where to tuck the diamond cuff link through his dress shirt. He smirked at Aleksei's exaggerated eye roll.
"You are just happy to get a day or so away from a crying infant." Aleksei snorted as he flipped the collar of his borrowed shirt up to insert the pins to keep the points pressed and creased properly, ignoring the way Anton stuck his tongue out at him.
"This isn't a vacation." Sergei placed his foot up on the back of the oversized chair in front of him to tie his dress shoe. The thoughtful and excited glint in his eye betrayed his words. He was very much looking forward to parking himself center stage at the strip club and spending his hard-earned money.
"Kind of is. I'm getting paid to 'party', wear these expensive clothes, drink, go to a strip club or two, toast our leadership-" Anton glanced over to where Niko was sitting staring out the jet's window, "All while protecting the Bratva and bettering our relationship with our west coast partners."
"And for the love of God don't actually get drunk. One or two max, please. Play the part, not be the part." Karen leaned into the side of Niko's chair and glared at the men who were changing clothes and gearing up. She pursed her lips when Aleksei yanked his long-sleeved shirt over his head and tossed it on his pile of regular clothes. 'Okay… A drink or two is definitely going to be needed.'
"Clocks ticking to get dressed Pakhan. You too Karen." Anton lifted his fine sports coat and turned it around to check for lint. It had been a long time since he had the need to dress up to this level and it felt weird having to tuck pistols and knives into clothes he normally couldn't afford on his own. "Is it weird for a Russian to be outfitted in Italian silk?"
"Feels weird." Aleksei slipped his arms into the light fabric of the dress shirt and frowned at the sheerness of it. He was more accustomed to the heaviness of his sweaters and jackets that kept the cold of Liberty City at bay.
"Bathroom is free if you want to change in there." Ivo closed the door to the rather embellished and spacious bathroom at the back of the jet and nodded at Karen.
"What? You boys think I'm shy or something?" Karen laughed when they all paused in their varying degrees of undress and changing clothes. She caught the article of clothing when it was tossed to her and shook it out to see what she was going to be wearing- and immediately frowned, "A cocktail dress? Seriously? How am I going to fight and protect Niko in this?"
"Didn't seem to bother you when you came at me in the hospital." Niko rolled his head away from the chilled window to look up at her by his side.
"Wasn't expecting an entire team of Russians to storm the building…" She grumbled and dropped the, in her opinion, overly revealing dress on Niko's lap. Her fingers lifted and started to unbutton her IAA uniform shirt.
"If I remember correctly it did give you full range of motion-" Niko chuckled when she kicked his foot and shot him an angry glare.
"You just enjoyed seeing the view again." She folded her shirt when she removed it and set it down on her chair across the aisle from Niko. Her badge caught her eye, and she turned it over. 'I'm not IAA today… I'm a freaking bodyguard to the Russian Kingpin we've been trying to take down for years…'
"The view ain't half bad either if I do say so myself." Aleksei whistled and caused the rest of them to catcall and clap. Her red, lacy bra had caught his attention and slowed his own desire to finish getting dressed.
"Now, now. The girls at the club would be jealous if you all wasted your attention on me." She winked at Aleksei and leaned over some to pick up the dress off of Niko's lap, "But this show is more rated PG thirteen than R." Her eyes lowered down to Niko when his fingers brushed against hers as he lifted her dress to meet her halfway.
Electricity sparked at the tips of his fingers, and he hastily released her dress when she took hold of it, "Don't encourage them any more than they already are." He cleared his throat when his eyes darted down to her chest and back up to her face. It had been a quick look, but he knew she saw it by the way her cheeks tinted pink, and her bottom lip disappeared into her mouth.
"A beautiful woman doesn't always tag along with us. The change of scenery is appreciated." Anton laughed as she flipped him off, "What? I'm a married man. I'm allowed to still pay compliments. What's the phrase?"
"Window shop?" Karen ducked her head and pulled on the luxurious dress. It caressed her skin as it lowered over her. Had this been in any other situation she would've spent hours getting ready to wear such an article of clothing. Her income would never have allowed her the ability to afford it. She shimmed some as she tugged it down and around her chest.
"Look but don't touch. Gonna be doing plenty of that, eh Anton?" Aleksei nudged his fellow captain and shook his head, "Don't worry. I'll do your share of the shopping!" He let out a yelp when Anton shoved him into a cushioned jet seat.
"Behave. I don't want to have to spend money bailing everyone out of jail." Niko let the smile lift his lips as he hauled himself up to start getting ready. It was amusing to see them all relax, joke, and jab at each other. He could see how well they worked together and why they held the titles they did.
"Much better things to throw money at." Sergei joined in laughing with them as he worked the hidden shoulder holster to lay right beneath his suit jacket.
Niko placed his hand to Karen's lower back and guided her forward some so he could exit the space where his seat was. She turned slightly to look up at him and met his gaze. Her eyes softened and he read the trust and care she held for him. The resentment and anger were no longer there after their talk in the hospital room when he confessed to loving Kate.
"Better hurry up. Wouldn't want to be caught with your pants down at your own Bachelor Party." She bit her lip as she teased him and tried to hold back her laughter but once the guys started up again, she failed.
"The dress looks ridiculous with your cargo pants on. Maybe you need to be caught with your pants down." Niko smirked and caught her elbow when she went to jab at him.
"Bernie is the only one I'm supposed to be caught undressed around, remember?" She rolled her eyes and hiked up her dress to undo her belt buckle. It had been amusing how every time she showed up around Bernie she had either been missing pants, had her dress caught on her gun holster, or was unconscious with him tending to her bullet graze wounds.
"He would've loved being here…" Niko felt his heart sink with the mention of his friend. Bernie would have been gushing at the chance to join them at all the clubs and bars- picking out his clothes and rambling on about how certain clothing textures went together or not.
"Mmm. Probably a good thing he isn't. He'd be defenseless against Kate if she asked him for details of what goes down at the strip club. You don't have to worry about me or any of them," She used her thumb and gestured toward the back of the plane where the guys had started to load bullets into spare magazines, "You really want Kate to know you're out here, window shopping at strippers, while she is bedridden?"
'Hit the nail on the head there…'
Niko winced at her words and regretted having to leave her side. It felt wrong on a large scale. She would be suffering and battling depression without him. Her heartbreak was his own and if he was struggling internally, then she would be more than likely worse off. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes.
"I'm not… I'm sorry-" Karen saw the absolute conflict flick over his features, and she wanted to slap herself for putting him back into his depressed state. The entire trip to the airport, loading, take off, and then the hours spent going over their plan within the jet had been spent trying to pry Niko out of his blank look. He would need to play the role of an engaged man about to tie the knot and wanting one last night of sin so to speak. And with how down he looked?
"It's bad enough I might not be there when she wakes. This is not exactly going to be easy on me." Niko shifted his eyes away from the building apology Karen was working on and unbuttoned his black leather jacket. It felt strange having it on instead of his typical brown one.
"No one said it would… Niko?" Karen followed him up a couple of chairs and placed her hand to his arm, asking him to turn to look back at her.
"Karen. Drop it." He shrugged her hand off of him and removed his jacket. He really didn't feel like talking about Kate and what would happen when she found out she lost- The sudden inhale of air felt toxic.
"Where is your brown jacket? I thought it was attached to your body." If he wanted to change the topic and have her ignore the shadows under his eyes, then she would get his mind back to the current mission. Even though she felt like she needed to do something, anything, to help him. Kate was becoming her friend too and the urge to say the right things wouldn't leave her be.
"I left it laying over Kate. If I can't be there physically… At least she will have some form of comfort." His lips twitched with a ghost of a smile. He had wanted to leave something behind that would help her, and he immediately thought of his jacket and how she would steal it from time to time and snuggle within the worn-down leather.
"That's- You really are completely and wholly in love with her. Looks good on you." Karen felt the miniscule kernel of jealousy bloom in her heart. Those soft eyes were once directed at her. Those firm hands had once caressed her curves. But… she couldn't deny how much different Niko looked, acted, and spoke when it came to Kate. And the level of tenderness was nowhere near what it was when they were together.
Niko dropped his other jacket down over the back of a seat and started to work on undoing his button down, "Thank you. I am having a ring made for her. Though now I'm not sure what her answer will be. I keep failing at every turn to keep her safe. To keep the Bratva running and protected. I am doing everything I can, but it is beginning to feel like I can't do this…
You once asked me if I planned to live happily ever after. This is my way of getting that ending-" He paused when she leaned into the seat closest to him and entered his personal space.
"Then let me help. You can't do this all on your own. You have an entire network of people at your disposal. The IAA on speed dial. You have so many powerful people around you that call you friend!" She implored him to let her back in to his life and be there to help when he needed it. And it sounded like he could really use a friend to talk to.
"She is right Pakhan. You may wear the title, and wear it well, but this is not all on just you. Georgi is your second. I am here. We all joke, but this mission will not fail. We know the risks, the roles and jobs we must complete. We won't let you down." Anton had listened in to the conversation being held near the doors to the cockpit and grew concerned with how Niko kept deflecting and avoiding talking about what had happened just the previous night.
They had all grown attached to Kate. He had his own heart melt seeing his son hug her and call her his new friend. Aleksei had told him he was not expecting to ever hold attachments to a boss in this way. Georgi would go on for hours if they let him about how much he cared for Niko and Kate. No. This was definitely not Kenny Petrovic. This was better.
"And when you find yourself lost and alone- I will be here to listen. You do not have to suffer this loss alone. We all feel your pain. We all are dealing with Kate's pain. This is your Bratva now. This is your family. We are your family." Anton looked up from the now full pistol magazine he was loading and saluted his leader.
"To give life, blood, body, and service to your will. It is an honor to serve." Aleksei laid his rifle across his lap and saluted Niko. Sergei and Ivo followed suit knowing that while they were about to experience things never once thought obtainable, they were on the clock and had a person to hunt down.
"You. Are. Not. Alone." Karen whispered and dropped her chin down to rest on the headrest of the plush chair. Her eyes had watered some with what she picked up from Anton's Russian. They were all committed to him, and it floored her to see just how high up Niko ascended. He was no longer a hired gun or simple drug dealer. He wasn't the resigned killer she had met outside the subway station with Mallorie.
'Niko… You do not realize the power you hold.' Her eyes dropped to the gold ring that flashed on his hand. The simple fact he now out ranked her- was higher on the food chain, excited her. But also terrified her.
Niko looked between Anton, Aleksei, Sergei, Ivo, and then back to Karen. Each one of them held a determined look. One that spoke volumes on how much they respected and cared for him and his family. How each and every one of them would take a bullet on his behalf. Had at one point.
He honestly wasn't sure how to feel about it.
His whole life had been spent looking over his shoulder and defending himself. Being alone. On his own. Now? Now he had so many people in his inner circle. People he could call friend and confidant. The fullness of no longer feeling isolated warmed his chest and a sincere smile spread across his lips.
When he was ready to process Kate's miscarriage he would have a shoulder to lean on. When he was ready to speak on his presumed failures there would be a kind, listening ear. When he felt down, depressed, or sad any one of his friends would be waiting and willing to help.
He was no longer a loner left to live out the rest of his life killing and stealing to get by.
'Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to come be with Roman in Liberty…'
"Thank you. All of you. It is important we find Trevor. But…" He looked down at the watch Roy lent him and calculated how many hours they had before really needing to start the search, "I think it's time we have some- fun."
The overhead sign to buckle in for landing dinged and lit up causing them all to scramble for their seats. Excitement and knowing looks between the men of Kenny's organization were easy to see when Niko scanned over them.
'Just what have I gotten myself in to?!'
aaaaaa
Georgi sat at the folding table he had dragged into Kate's room and flipped through all the pictures he had printed out from their security cameras. Every now and then he would spot something he felt was odd and speed through the digital footage on his laptop before clearing it and moving on to the next suspicious image.
Karen had brought up a couple of thoughts about Vasil's fight for survival and his brain would not let it go. Boris was also constantly in his mind's eye. If there was one thing he was more determined about than helping Niko, it was finding Boris and snuffing him out.
One of the monitors beeped that was attached to Kate and the doctor got up from her chair across from him to mess with the IV machine.
"Blood transfusion is complete and appears successful. I'll keep a close eye on her to see if that changes." Doctor Sparkman glanced over to the young-looking man that joined her in the early predawn hours.
"If you need a break or wish to get in a nap, you can. I am staying in here till she wakes. I know you have to be tired." 'Hell I am exhausted…' Georgi slightly lowered the laptop screen to see the doctor better. The yawn and stretch from her caused his own yawn to form.
"It has been a stressful and long night slash morning. My other patients will need to be seen by me here in a few hours. I promised I would take care of Kate, but she isn't the only one I oversee." Witney pressed a couple of buttons on a computer screen and watched the blood pressure cuff inflate. Her trepidation of having to ask to leave was building- She may not have any connections to the criminal world, but even she knew you never turn down Kenny or his orders.
"Will Kate remain stable and safe if you have to leave?" Georgi leaned back in his metal chair and tilted his head. He didn't like the idea of her leaving Kate's side, but he wasn't so heartless that he would deny other women her level of care.
"Her vitals are strong. There hasn't been a blip or anything that tells me she will crash or have any other issues. I will have to send off her bloodwork to get tested for the poison. That is the only unknown for me." She yawned again and pulled her hoodie closer around her body, "She will need to be kept warm for the time being. Blood transfusions can make you feel cold."
Georgi's eyes lowered to where Niko's jacket rested over Kate's abdomen, "That shouldn't be too hard to manage. Anything else I need to do or change?"
"Um. When this bag of fluids is done you can remove the line from her arm if you are comfortable doing that. Otherwise it's all on her for when she decides to wake. I took her off the morphine drip after the medicine ran its course." She drummed her fingers along the guardrail of Kate's bed, her thoughts going through the necessary processes of discharging a patient in her condition.
"Okay. How… Will she feel different when she wakes?" It was a major concern of his. Would Kate somehow instantly know the second her brain clicks on from shaking off the sleep? Was he going to have to be the one to tell her? His stomach churned with the idea of breaking the news to her.
"Hard to say really… If she was further along, yes. But with how early in development the pregnancy was I doubt she would have known she was even pregnant if she hadn't been attacked." She turned to face Georgi and felt the stab of guilt hit her chest. He looked overwhelmed and worried. The sigh slipped past her lips, and she dug deep to remove the 'doctor mode' in order to give him some kind of comfort.
"It is not my place to say- If she was mentally and emotionally attached to the vision of having a baby, it might dawn on her the second she wakes. Her body went through major trauma… She will feel like something is wrong. I believe I would know the second I came to." Witney walked around the hospital bed to stand by his side and squeeze his shoulder.
"I'm not sure how to get the words out…" He looked up into her understanding eyes knowing she had probably had this conversation with hundreds of other women in her line of work.
"They will come to you. I get the feeling the second she sees you; you won't even have to vocally say it. Be here for her. It is extremely distressing to the one who suffered the loss physically." She patted his shoulder blade encouragingly. He would know what to do when the time came.
"Thank you. I will call if her condition changes. Go be with your other patients." He jerked his head toward the exit and dismissed her. Kate was stable and resting peacefully by the looks of it. Granted that would change when her eyes flutter open. He listened to the doctor's footsteps as she gathered up her coat and bag and headed for the door.
She paused in the doorway and looked back over her shoulder, "If she panics or begins to hyperventilate, there is a syringe in the top drawer of the computer cart, it will calm her down and more than likely put her back to sleep. Do not let her heartrate get to a dangerous level please." With that she tapped the metal frame of the door and took her leave.
The door softly clicked back into place and plunged Georgi back into the dim lights and dark thoughts of Boris.
"Should of just shot him myself…"
The laptop caught his attention again and he sighed knowing he had much work to get through before Niko and his fellow captains returned to LC. He scooted up to the edge of the table and once more pressed the play button for the security feed.
Minutes turned to hours. Images blurred together and he rubbed at his eyes to clear his vision. How was Alexi able to get inside the compound so easily?! The questions burned in his head, and he plopped back in his chair scrubbing over his face furiously. Their defenses were better than this.
His cellphone started to buzz on the table, and he wearily picked it up to see who needed him now. He frowned when he saw the name of the man he placed in charge of watching over Mallorie and Roman.
"Georgi speaking." He slouched down in the chair hoping nothing too crazy was going on at the hospital. But with the way the angry sounding Spanish in the background kept elevating in volume, things were about to get hectic.
"Boss… Can you please explain to this woman why they need to stay here? It sounds stupid, but I am actually in fear for my life." A higher-ranking enforcer within the Bratva quickly spoke in Russian to him and sounded somewhat scared. "Ma'am!"
"I don't know who it is this idiota called, but I am not staying in this hospital for one more minute!" Mallorie huffed over the call before it was ended abruptly.
'Great…'
Georgi quickly scrolled through his contacts and clicked on Gordon's name. He closed his laptop as he waited for the call to connect. There was a bigger issue about to happen that would take priority over scanning security footage.
"Hey Georgi! Is Kate-" Gordon started to speak before Georgi cut him off.
"Are you still by the compound? I need someone to watch over Kate while I handle another situation." Georgi stood up and tucked the phone between his cheek and shoulder. He quickly stacked the photos up and turned them over to rest on top of his laptop.
"I thought Niko ordered you to stay by her side and call him the second she wakes?"
Georgi's eyes immediately narrowed at the pushback he was getting, "Pakhan also put me in charge of the Bratva in his absence. Now you can either meet me in Kate's room or I can call Francis and have him watch over her." The idea was more tempting now to have Kate's brother in the room instead of Gordon. Images of how Gordon was cuddled up on the bed with Kate at the hospital flipped through his mind and he frowned. 'He wouldn't dare cross a line… Right?'
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm on my way up. I'm outside with Ron helping contain the crime scene. Francis got called to meet with Mitt and the mayor, so he isn't an option. Be there in a second." He could almost see Gordon roll his eyes as the phone call ended.
A small whimper had his eyes snapping over to the bed. Kate shifted slightly under the heavy comforter and a pained look flashed across her face. Georgi instantly tucked his phone into his back pocket and rushed to her bedside. He scanned over the monitors checking for elevated heartrate or blood pressure.
"Shh. It's okay Kate. Just breathe." He was starting to panic. If she wakes up and he fails to get to Mallorie and Roman in time to keep them safe he was going to be in so much trouble with Niko. Carefully he began to tuck the covers back in around her neck and shoulders where it had lowered some with her tiny movements.
"There, there. Rest. I will watch over you. Take your time and when you are ready I will be here." Georgi whispered the words in Russian hoping it would settle her like it did when she got worked up back in the hospital when it was just the two of them. He kept repeating the words over and over while he stroked over her cheek with the tips of his fingers.
Kate let out a long, relaxing sigh and pressed her cheek more firmly into his fingers. The faintest of smiles graced her lips before the tension left her body and she began to sleep more comfortably.
"There you go Kate. Rest and dream of a brighter future." He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss to her forehead. As soon as he stood upright the door opened and Gordon walked in, his eyes immediately going to Kate. It irked him with the way Gordon's eyes would linger or how his facial features took on a longing look.
"What is so important that you are going against Niko's orders?" Gordon casually walked into the room and leaned into the opposite wall on the other side of Kate's bed from Georgi. He crossed his arms and waited for a decent explanation.
"I'm not disobeying anything. Mallorie is trying to leave the hospital and has probably already hit her bodyguard with her shoe. I was instructed to watch over all of Niko's family. That includes his cousin and cousin in law. And while I respect your title and, by law, required to follow your orders when given- I do not care for your attitude or insinuation that I am breaking my tasks. I am loyal to my boss and have sworn my oath. Question me again and you will have to explain to Niko why you are sporting a black eye." Georgi firmed his stance and glared at the new head of the Irish mob.
"Did you just threaten someone above your title?" Gordon's eyebrows drew down at the perceived threat.
"You'd know it if I was. When I come back from the hospital I better not see you on the bed looking familiar with Kate. I understand you two have history and a close relationship, but Niko will not see it that way. I let it slide the first time, but I am not blind, and I see the way you look at her." Georgi moved to the table with his laptop and picked up his pistol, tucking it away. He would tell Niko right away if he caught Gordon doing anything disrespectful.
"Kate is my friend, and I am not stupid enough to anger Niko. He killed Bobby for touching her. If there is a surefire way to get killed it's to go after Kate." Gordon scoffed and dropped his head back into the wall. He didn't think Georgi had taken his position on Kate's hospital bed the wrong way, but he had guessed wrong. Now he was going to have to keep his distance from Kate to keep Georgi from assuming things that weren't happening. 'Even if she comes to you…'
"He killed Robert for many reasons. He had it coming." Georgi had wasted too much time and he took off for the door needing to get to the hospital before Roman and Mal left.
"The same could be said about you and Kate by the way…" Gordon watched as Georgi stopped in the middle of the doorway, hand gripping the metal frame.
'He is the leader of the Irish Mob. He is the leader of the Irish Mob. He is the leader of the Irish Mob. Can't kill him.' Georgi repeated it over and over in his head before willing his legs to move. It was a low blow. And he carried himself better than that. He would let it slide for the time being.
The door swung shut when Georgi left and Gordon jumped at the loud noise it made, "Going to have to watch it from now on…" He shoved off the wall and dragged the metal folding chair to Kate's side and took up the familiar spot of watching over her.
aaaaaa
"Ladies and Gentlemen, taking the stage is the lovely, the talented, the one and onnnllllyyyyyy Cinnamon!"
Cheers and applause filled the main floor as a shapely woman strutted down the long drag of the stage, slowly letting the satin robe slip down her arms and flutter to the surface. The lights dimmed and a spotlight clicked on, illuminating the solo pole center stage. What little fabric there was to her outfit sparkled when the light hit the vast number of rhinestones.
"That one?" Aleksei jutted his chin out toward the dancer and nudged Anton with his closed fist, being sure to keep his Russian quiet and out of earshot of his boss.
"Oh yeah. She's got red hair too." Anton adjusted in his VIP chair and glanced over toward Niko and smirked at the plan they had come up with. He pulled out a stack of hundreds and fanned them in the direction of the stripper.
"The freckles. I don't know guys." Sergei leaned forward and lowered his voice as he went along with what his superiors wanted to do.
"He won't be looking at her face idiot." Aleksei rolled his eyes and took the drink he was handed by a waitress, "Can I ask you something?" He looked up at the female and beckoned her to bend down so he could talk in her ear.
"Anything sugah." She winked at him and tucked her small drink tray under her arm, bending down suggestively to give him the best view of her chest.
"My friend over there?" He tilted his head ever so slightly in Niko's direction, waiting for her to take notice of him, "He's getting hitched. We wanna make sure he has a good Bachelor party. I hear this place knows how to give a decent send off from bachelorhood." He downed the double of vodka she had brought him and gave her his signature smirk. Anton handed him a couple of folded over hundred-dollar bills and he slipped them down between her breasts, "Money is no object."
"Any preferences Papi?" She blew an air kiss Anton's way and waved her fingers in thanks.
"He's got a thing for red heads." Aleksei tried to hold off the laughter when Sergei snorted next to him and nearly choked on his drink.
"I think I've got something in mind. You boys don't go far, ya hear?" She coyly smiled as she stood back up and headed off toward the DJ booth, trailing her fingers over Niko's hair on her way. He turned slightly with the touch and only shrugged when Aleksei shook his head in a 'no clue' manner.
"You're dead if Высочество (Vysochestvo) finds out you planned this out." Ivo finished his drink and threw a couple of bills on the stage when the stripper crawled up to the edge of where they were sitting.
"You gonna tell her? Cuz I'm not." Anton puffed out a rush of air and smiled when Niko glanced their way. "Work it girl!" He slapped some money to the surface of the stage when she turned her attention to him and winked while biting her lip.
The music thumped and rocked the room making it hard to hear what the guys were saying, but he didn't really care. He was a couple of shots in and was trying to enjoy himself… But his heart kept lurching every time his thoughts traveled back to Kate. Was this considered cheating? 'How'd you feel if she went out with Mal and threw money at men taking their clothes off?'
"Well, well, well mister big spender. Drink is looking pretty empty." A fairly large chested woman daintily sat on the armrest of Niko's chair and ran her fingers through his hair, dangling another large tumbler of vodka in front of his face, "Bottoms up."
Niko tried his best not to openly stare, but Roman would be salivating at the sight. He dumbly took the drink from her and sipped on the expensive liquid. Her lips curled upwards with his acceptance of the drink, and it caused his eyebrow to lift in a silent way of questioning her, completely missing Anton hand over an entire stack of money to another female.
"Finish up baby." She placed her index finger on the bottom of the glass and gently tilted it back to Niko's lips.
"Don't be wasteful sweetheart." Hands slid down his chest from behind his front row seat and he leaned back to see who was touching him only to be met by the sight of more boobs.
"Yeah Niko. Don't be wasteful." Anton hid his smile behind his hand and failed at not laughing when Aleksei shot him a look and waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Uhhh… What?" Niko did as told and finished his drink only to have another one land in his free hand. 'Don't think. Don't stare. Come on. You can do this.'
"Thank you Cinnamon for yet another dazzling performance. But I think we got a special request from a very special guest folks!" The DJ's voice broke through some of the haze that was settling down in Niko's mind and he dropped his head down to give his men a blank look. They all had ridiculous smirks and smiles plastered on their faces and that warning signal went off in his mind.
A chair was brought up on the stage and the music changed.
'No.'
"Welcome up to the stage one lucky bachelor!"
'They didn't…'
"Come on sweetheart. We just want to have some fun." The stripper on the armrest placed his empty glass down on a side table and encouraged him to finish the other glass.
'They did.'
The room erupted in whoops and hollers as they took Niko's hand and pulled him to his feet. His men slapped the lip of the stage causing some of the other VIPs to do the same. The chant of 'bachelor' grew in volume as he just numbly stood, planted in place.
He lifted the glass and downed the liquid courage, letting the gorgeous women coax him over to the steps to get up on the stage. His feet definitely moved him with a mind of their own. The cheers reached an all-time high as Cinnamon placed her hands on his shoulders and rather roughly shoved him down to the chair.
"Hands to yourself baby and enjoy the treat." She kissed his cheek and dropped down in front of him as the music faded and her favorite song started to blast over the speakers.
aaaaaa
"And you just let them walk out of the room!" Georgi was furious as he shoved open the door to the hallway from Mallorie's now vacant room.
"Have you seen that woman's freaking temper?!" The bodyguard flinched back when his boss murderously glared at him when he tried to follow him out into the hall.
"It's not going to even compare to what I'm about to do!" He scanned the rooms as he briskly moved down the hall. Maybe they had gone to Bernie's room and were visiting before leaving? It was worth a shot to see.
"I'm sorry! Okay?" The man nearly collided into his boss' back when he abruptly stopped.
"You will be. Now stay here." Georgi knocked on Bernie's door and let out a sigh of relief when Mallorie's voice called out to him to come in. He took in a deep breath to contain his anger before opening the door and confronting Niko's rather temperamental cousin in law.
He ducked down when he moved into the room and caught the tennis shoe that was chucked at his head.
"Your aim is getting better my dear." Bernie's amused voice forced him to look to the bed to see that Bernie was in fact awake and looking well.
"Oh! It's Kate's favorite. Thank God. You tell that other idiota to beat it?" Mallorie rested in the recliner, footrest kicked all the way out, next to Bernie, surrounded in pillows. Her left hand soothingly rubbed over her belly, and she closed her eyes, dropping her head back to the pillow Roman had placed there.
"Mallorie-"
"I do have a second shoe." She cracked her eye open and lifted her eyebrow in a dare to agree with them staying in the hospital.
Georgi looked down at the shoe in his hand and just let out a bark of laughter, "And I have your other one? You gonna just hobble down the hall?" This time he let her shoe hit his chest as he felt his mind just slip. 'What is my life anymore?!'
"If I have to walk barefoot out of this damn hospital I will." She winced when her baby kicked harder, "I swear this one knows when momma is getting upset."
"Forgive me. I do not wish to upset you." All laughter and happiness vanished as he watched her lovingly rub over the life she was growing. Visions of Kate's tears sliding down her cheeks as the news was given to her broke his heart all over again.
"Er. Georgi, right?" Roman witnessed devastation befall Niko's right-hand man and he looked down to his wife wondering why he was looking at her that way. Then his conversation with Niko popped up and his eyes darted down to where Mal was cradling their baby, "Can I talk to you out in the hall?"
"Of course." Georgi waited for Roman to stand up from the couch before walking over to Mal to hand her back her shoes. He forced his face to remain neutral to keep her from panicking or picking up on his distress. Once she had a good grip on her tennis shoes he followed Roman out into the hall, waving off the bodyguard to have some privacy.
Roman watched the door close and took a steadying breath. He may not be the smartest person on the planet, or the most observant, but he had been thinking nonstop about his cousin telling him they might be expecting as well. He was nearly bursting at the seams to keep that secret from his wife.
And with how pained Georgi looked at his wife when she was soothing her baby bump? His eyes wanted to water with the wild thoughts that raced through his mind.
"I um… When I went with Niko to get some things for Kate's engagement ring. He had mentioned something about Kate to me. That it wasn't confirmed, but Kate seemed to think so. Did they find out? Or…?" Roman shuffled back and forth on his feet and fumbled over his words. How does one ask someone if they are pregnant or not and it not be super awkward?
"Kate… She had a relapse from the poison. Are you wanting Mal to hear all this? A lot has happened since you last spoke with Niko." 'That's an understatement…'
"Yes I'd like to know!" Mal's muffled voice came through the door and Roman just shook his head.
"That's my wife for you. Sneaky little minx that she is." Roman chuckled, or tried to, knowing what was about to be told to them wasn't good.
"Alright. Might as well update Bernie too." Georgi figured this would be a good practice run if he had to tell Kate himself…
"Can't keep much from Mal. You'll figure out real quick that she is more of a handful than Kate." Bernie used the bed remote to tilt up when they all reentered the room. He tried really hard to not let his inner panic out at what he was picking up off of Georgi. 'Something happened while I've been out of commission…'
"What is the last thing that's been told to everyone?" Georgi started a slow pace back and forth at the end of Bernie's bed while Mal and Roman returned to their seats.
"Last thing I remember is Gerry's death and you running out of the room when Francis screamed." Mal went about tucking and fluffing pillows in the recliner to get comfortable again.
"Wait Gerry is dead?!" Bernie's mouth dropped open and he wide eyed stared at Georgi, "How the fuck did that happen?!"
"I'll start from the beginning then. Hit squad was sent to LC to kill Niko and hurt him before the killing blow. They attacked Kate, shot at Francis and Avia took the hit, riddled the McReary residence with bullets killing Gerry and the doc, Patrick left LC, Gordon took over the Irish mob, and then they attacked you at the pier." Georgi focused on the facts and let his pacing ground him. 'Maybe a fresh set of ears will help me understand everything.'
"Explains why I have blank spots in my memory. I remember parts of the attack. Thank you to whoever pulled me from the river." Bernie looked up to the ceiling and felt himself reeling with the knowledge everyone had been attacked. "Wait. Is Kate okay? I think I remember her coming into my room one night…?"
"I'll get there. We caught the beginning stages of Kate's poisoning. And that's when everything started falling apart. After the attacks we all met in Kate's room to figure things out. Got new assignments and scheduled a meet with someone to help us with one of the assassins' phones." His eyes darted from place to place in the room as he spoke, replaying it all in his mind.
"When the room cleared Francis stayed behind. I was with Mal and Roman in the hall. When I went to check on Niko, Francis stormed out of the room. I panic because Niko looks like he'd seen a ghost or something. Come to find out… Kate had an inconclusive pregnancy test run with her lab work." He paused at the excited gasp from Mallorie.
"Oh! That's right! Niko told me he thought she was expecting!" Bernie became thrilled as some of his memories clicked back into place and then he frowned when Georgi closed his eyes and massaged his temples, "I take it it's not good news…?"
"It is bad. We find out about Gerry shortly after. It hit Niko harder than I was thinking it would. But we had caught one of the assassins and Niko took his anger out on them to get information on who sent them. Next thing I know Niko picks me up from the hospital to meet with a tech guy. At the meet the Albanians show up here to try and finish Kate off. That's when she was in your room Bernie." He felt himself smile briefly at how Niko and Kate started to make out in front of him the night they met with Pavel.
"She did look scared out of her mind…" Bernie tried to replay everything that happened. A gun being placed to her forehead had him trying to snap upright in bed and he hissed in pain.
"Easy Bernie. You're still recovering." Mal hung on every word from Georgi. Her friend was possibly pregnant! Shouldn't they be jumping up and down in elation?!
"Niko makes the call to stay at Kenny's compound. We leave Kate there to go take out the handler of the hit squad and the Albanians attacked the compound. She had a heart attack… And then miscarried." He refused to look to Niko's family. The fear of how they were processing the news kept him in his place at the foot of Bernie's bed.
"Oh… Oh my God. Is. Is she okay?" Bernie whispered and glanced to Roman and Mal to see if they were just as shocked as he was.
"Where is she?" Mal felt the trembling in her hands as she shielded her baby bump. So many things wanted to rise up in her. Anger that her friend had been put through so much. Grief over the life lost. A yearning to find Kate and just hold her as she let her cry it out.
"She does not know yet. She is sleeping currently at the compound." Georgi forced himself to address Bernie and Mallorie's questions. He lowered his eyes when Mallorie began to cry. He hated seeing those he was meant to protect cry.
"Can you take me to her? If I can't go to my home, then I want to be with her. I don't care if that means you keep us prisoner there for the rest of the month or whatever. Please?" Mal wiped the onslaught of tears that kept falling from her eyes. Her heart was shoving at her to go be with her friend.
"That's actually a good idea. I have a spare apartment at the complex. You and Roman can stay there. Bernie do you want me to see if I can get you transferred to the compound? We have a medical wing of sorts. You'd be close to Kate's room." He was glad she had suggested going to the compound because he wasn't sure if he'd be able to convince her to do as he asked. And having Bernie under roof would take some of his worry away.
"If that can be arranged? Yes. If you are here, where is Niko? At her side right?" Bernie scratched through his hair and grimaced at the feel of it. He was missing taking a shower and cleaning it.
"Not… Currently. He is on a business trip."
aaaaaa
Niko plopped down on the empty bar stool and lifted two of his fingers to get the bartenders attention. His blood was thoroughly charged and giving him the shakes. He needed a drink. Bad.
"For someone throwing around money as much as you all are, you'd think you'd look happier than you do pal." A man lifted a glass of whiskey to his lips and turned his light green eyes in Niko's direction.
"Going through some things. But it's been a fun night." Niko accepted the glass of vodka that was placed down in front of him and quickly downed it, pointing to it so the bartender would pour him another.
"I'd say. You're the Bachelor aren't you?" The older looking man chuckled and ran his fingers over the rim of his glass.
"Yep." Niko wasn't one for small talk and it put his hackles up that this stranger was bothering to strike up a conversation. 'Maybe he is just feeling the alcohol and is being chatty…'
"Well enjoy the freedom while it lasts pal. It doesn't get any better. The old ball and chain is for life. Look, you wake up one day and, and your legs, they just give, and you just can't run anymore." The middle-aged man with grayish black hair lifted his glass to cheers the man he was envious of, "What's your name son? So I can properly cheers your success."
"Niko. And you?" Niko picked up his new glass and clinked it to the person who had been nursing glass after glass, planted firmly in the bar stool since they got to the strip club. He had spotted him from across the room and kept tabs on how he hadn't bothered to get up or focus on any of the women dancing.
"Michael De Santa. Nice to meet you. But if you're not wanting to draw attention to yourself then you're going about it all wrong. I'm hoping those are bodyguards and not some kind of gang." Michael looked over his shoulder to Niko's group of men. He had made them the second they walked in and started dropping stupid amounts of cash.
"Enjoy your drink, friend. Have a great night." Niko shoved up from the bar making sure Michael saw the ring on his finger and the gun on his hip.
"Yeah… Same too you pal."
aaaaaa
I couldn't resist that cameo! I feel so accomplished right now. LOL
I'm going to break up the LS trip into several chapters since there is a ton to cover and put out there. And I just am getting the worst writers block about the club scenes. I'm not a very talented writer when it comes to dance scenes. Sex sure- but dancing? XD Guess not.
Also y'all… I have the ending of this story already typed out and its truly something that topped my last one.
One Love!