So… Long time no posting everyone. Extremely MCU level story short- I was hospitalized for 3 months roughly. In and out at times. Was in a coma for 2 weeks of that time. My life has gone pretty dang bad rather quickly. Like flushing the toilet quick. I am just now bouncing back and literally the first day home I powered this chapter out and just needed an escape. Forgive the inconsistent tones and off beat from the overall feel of the story-
But I just have to be honest. There ain't much fight left right now.
I will give a huge and should be ceremonial shoutout to:
whatADream, Npc, Wuewue, Raven, rendield31, WaynesWorld, Elizabeta, Goatcake, Assassin's Creed Master, jwill21, and Blue M Hart for commenting, reaching out- just everything. Y'all have no idea how bad some days got and just seeing the notifications on my stuff, or the personal messages helped me want to get better.
But without all the mushy backstory- Here is the next installment of the epic I WILL finish (if it is the last thing I do) story within my GTA universe.
aaaaaa
Georgi stalked down the silent halls of the compound doing his own security checks. It wasn't that he didn't trust his fellow men to do their jobs, or report in anything suspicious, it was just that Alexi had gotten into the compound too easily. There should have been a zero chance of their enemies slipping in undetected during the ambush. The missing security footage had been concerning. Five minutes before the attack to seconds after Vasil shot Alexi were absent from their servers.
He assumed if Boris truly was betraying them then he had the forethought to delete said footage, but the timing was off in Georgi's mind. How could he get free from his cell, stop recording or turn off their security defenses, and then get back into his cell in order to link up with Alexi? Also how was he able to get word out to their enemies if they had taken his cell phone? 'And why didn't I see the delete command if it was erased?'
Georgi's feet carried him back to the semi destroyed living room and he paused at the threshold. Something was nagging him, and it would just not leave him be.
Failure was not an emotion or state of mind he was fond of or liked to dwell within its construct. The scratch through his hair felt rougher than it was, and he felt a violent swear bubble in his chest. His fist landed against the broken door frame gently as he let the failure crack the surface to lessen the knot in his throat. Vile, hot, and pressurized rage squeezed his lungs and forced him to suck in air greedily.
First with not getting to Kate quick enough in the hospital, and now this… Just how many more times was he supposed to drop the ball before he got back into the swing of things?! He could no longer stand watching Kate breathe silently- unflinchingly. He needed to get out of that room and to get his mind on the right track.
Alexi may be dead…
But that couldn't be everyone right?
Surely someone else would take over and the whole spiel would start up again. But this time he would be prepared and ready. This time he would know the players on the field and what to expect from their enemies.
He would throw his entire being into settling the wrongs and making things right for those he protected and served. He had sworn his life to Niko and Kate, and he had meant every word… Yet. Somewhere in the confines of his mind he knew he had done all that there could have been done… Right? He had stuck by Niko's side. He had stood watch when asked. Someone was messing with him outside of his control.
'Boris? Someone else…?'
And he was bound and determined to find them.
'Maybe a few rounds in the gym or sparring matches will settle this hazardous energy…'
Georgi wearily plopped his forehead to his fist and willed his mind to just stop for a second so he could catch his breath. No good was going to come out of him spiraling and losing control. He needed focus. Determination. He needed answers. He needed…
Niko.
And Kate.
They balanced out a side of him he didn't realize was off-center.
"Gogo? Is daddy coming home soon?" Lova leaned around the flipped over couch, looking beyond scared and worried. His large chocolate eyes widened with trepidation as he stared up at his father's friend who looked worse for wear.
"Lova… You know you should be with your mother and sister. Why are you out here in all this chaos?" Georgi slowly moved into the room, stepping over wreckage and debris from a fight he was still trying to reconstruct in his mind. On a quiet sigh he lowered down to sit next to his friend's son and figure out why the kid kept sneaking out of the assigned apartment.
'Maybe he can give me the simple and basic answers my brain can't even being to assemble…'
"I can't shut my eyes. Too scary." Lova whispered as he sank back into his hiding spot. He tucked his knees up to his chest and buried his face into his pajama pants. Out of all of his dad's friends Georgi was the coolest and easily the best one to talk to. He always said yes to play time. And he was always down for an ice cream run. The trust ran deep.
"You have nothing to be scared of. I am here to protect you and your family. Pakhan will ensure you stay safe. I promise." Carefully Georgi stroked his hand over Lova's hair trying to sooth the poor kid. He could see the shaking and trembling the child was trying to hide from him and it troubled him. Just what was going on with Lova?
"Pakhan wasn't here… My new friend. KayKay. I like her a lot. When I heard the alarm I needed to find her. I got trapped in here with- with…" Lova leaned into Georgi's side and gripped the thick sweatshirt tightly between his tiny fingers. He hated the tears that formed and started to spill down his cheeks, but he had been so terrified when the shooting and fighting started. The loud shouting in a language he didn't know frightened him to the point of scrambling behind whatever piece of furniture would keep him from view. He crawled, ducked, and rolled between objects as the men and female toppled things over and angrily shouted at one another.
"Shh… It's okay now. How about I take you back to see your mother and you can help me hold your sister? Would you like that?" Georgi let the child hold him and seek comfort. He wasn't completely aware of what took place during the ambush, but he had been told Lova had possibly seen Alexi get shot in the face. Even his own stomach churned at the thought of seeing something so gruesome. And for someone so young and impressionable to witness a horrific act? The bile rose in the back of this throat, and he swallowed thickly.
At Lova's barely there nod, Georgi rose to his feet and lifted the small boy in his arms, letting him tuck his face into his neck. It broke his heart at how much Anton's son shook within his arms. Everyone was suffering so much around him, and it made him feel like such a failure. Since when had Kenny's mighty Bratva become so wounded and hurt?!
And there was the word again- failure.
His thoughts tore at him as he exited the dilapidated room. His level of observance had been lacking as of late and he blamed himself for all the shortcomings and catastrophes that kept occurring. He was meant to be Kenny's right-hand man. The one who saw all threats and dangers. The single person Pakhan trusted with his life- to ensure power, peace, and safety for everyone within their ranks. But to have this many disasters befall them within such a short time frame?
Kenny would've shot him between the eyes already.
'Or the back of the head…'
"Gogo?" Lova whispered as sleep was trying to take him under. He had been refusing to rest since he had gone against his mother's word and ran out of the apartment to find Kate. But the warmth and comfort of Georgi's arms was dragging his sleep deprived mind and soul to the plane of dreams.
"Hm?" Georgi tried not to smile at the nickname Lova had given him. People's names always tripped up his friend's son and he had to bite the inside of his cheek when he learned he called Kate, KayKay. He was bound and determined to call Kate by that name the second he got the chance to. Just to see her reaction. She struck him as someone who only liked to be called by her proper name and not a title or nickname. 'Although Princess would be interesting to see how she would explode… Or her actual title. She won't be able to run from the title for long. Valentine's Day will cement it…'
The thought tried to derail him. She would be at an official gathering. On Niko's arm- Pakhan's arm. People would see her as his equal and the weight of power that came with it. Desperate people would flock to her in order to gain approval from the head of the most powerful organization in the world. The world might be selling it. But at least in America. Georgi frowned as he pictured her trying to gently let people down; Her own heart breaking at not being able to help everyone.
"Why did Vasil let Boris hit him?"
aaaaaa
Karen adjusted her legs under her as she reread the email from her now interim boss. Apparently her normal boss had been taking some personal days. Which was completely unlike him. He never took time off. Ever. Even while injured or sick, he was at the office or on call. Always available and present. Her forehead creased in concern. Just where had her direct boss gone?
"You are going to have to change up your tells." Aleksei mused as he placed his two of a kind down on the coffee table, smirking at Ivo who had lost his hand after betting too much, "But it was a decent hand. Just not as good as my pair of kings."
"Speak for yourself Aleksei! Read it and witness what it means to lose!" Anton slapped his two aces that matched the other one in the center of the table to the surface of the coffee table, "I do believe the pot is mine, yes?"
"You do know this isn't for real money right…?" Ivo tossed his cards on the discard pile and slumped back against the couch from his place on the floor, rolling his head to be able to look up at Anton who sat upon the faded and scratchy couch.
"A victory is still a victory." Anton huffed letting his eyes roam over his men before glancing over to Karen on the bed. She had stormed into the motel room in a rather off-putting mood- soaked from head to toe, and her dress barely clinging to her lithe form. They had all openly stared as she marched into the attached bathroom and slammed the door shut, the shower turning on a second later.
Aleksei had shuffled in a moment later looking… Well. Anton had a hard time placing what was splashed across his fellow captain's face. There was an odd recognition that reflected within his eyes, and he watched as Aleksei moved over to his suitcase and pulled out a pair of sweatpants and undershirt. He immediately started to undress and change clothes. It was as if it was a signal to the others that they would be staying put for the time being, and they all decided to change into comfortable clothes and settle in for the night.
Sergei, Ivo, and Anton balked when Aleksei grabbed his dress shirt and a spare pair of boxers and moved to the bathroom door and opened it without knocking. A death sentence to most men. He disappeared inside the small room and emerged a minute later empty handed. He only gave a one shoulder shrug as if that was meant to answer all their burning questions.
Anton tried to quiet his spinning thoughts. One second Aleksei was ready to cut her loose and the next he was giving her his clothes?! Something must have happened between the two while on perimeter check. That was the only thing his brain could come up with. Otherwise it was completely out of character for his friend to lend his clothes to someone he hadn't slept with.
The sound of a car rolling to a stop outside the window forced him from his inner musings and he immediately reached for his pistol on the side table by the couch. The others mirrored his move and armed themselves with varying weapons and turned to listen intently to the door and outside environment. As far as Anton knew, they weren't expecting anyone.
"It's probably Bob." Karen whispered lowly and partially closed the screen for her laptop. She was expecting him to swing by with the drone controls and intel the local law enforcement and military held on Trevor. It was the whole reason she met up with him at the bar. He reluctantly agreed, but only after she promised to give him the IAA notes on The Angels of Death MC in the region.
A knock sounded from the faded door, "Pizza delivery from your favorite place! Pizza This…!" A young sounding voice was only slightly muffled as he spoke up to get their attention.
"Oh my God I will literally kiss you if you actually brought freaking pizza!" Karen groaned loudly and dropped her laptop by Niko's slumbering form and clamored for the door. She easily caught the pistol that was thrown in her direction from Aleksei before checking the peephole to confirm it was her contact within the military.
"Hurry up! These boxes are piping hot and getting difficult to manage one handed!" Bob shifted the stack of large pizza boxes in his arms and hauled up a very heavy-duty looking laptop under his arm. His military fatigues did nothing to keep the heat from the pizza from seeping down into his skin.
Karen immediately undid all the locks and threw the door open, nearly jerking the food from his grasp. They had all forgone eating when Martin Madrazo almost had a run in with them, and she was raving mad starving. With an urgency in her step she carried the steaming hot boxes over to the shabby dining table, excitedly waving the guys over to dig in.
"This is not going to disappoint guys." Karen flipped open the lid and grabbed a large flat, and extra cheesy slice and practically moaned around the burning degree of heat in her mouth. The aroma floated throughout the motel unit and caused Niko's men to hurry over and satisfy the instant hunger pains that arose from the provided dinner.
"I see you still react the same way you did the first time I took you there." Bob laughed at her antics and shifted from foot to foot unsure if he was welcomed in or if he was just going to be meeting with Karen outside. His round glasses made him look younger and more innocent than he was, but there was a glint of experience within his light brown eyes.
"It's like an orgasm in your mouth. Duh!" Karen polished off her slice and beckoned him into the unit, "Come on. Get comfortable and grab a slice. Can't tell me you bought all this food for us and won't join in." Her guard was instantly dropped with the sign of goodwill, and she was not about to let him miss out on the best pizza on the planet.
"Nothing like planning illegal and covert ops in the middle of some seedy motel room and sharing a slice of pizza with the IAA." He rolled his eyes and quickly entered the room, pulling the door closed and redoing all the locks, "You were beyond vague M. I'm really putting my neck out here."
Karen grabbed another slice and headed back to her spot upon the foot of the bed, "And you will be paid handsomely, don't fret." She waved him in casually and watched the guys carefully as they made their own assessment of Bob, carrying their pizza back into the living room to appear to simply start playing poker again. They were slow, unassuming, and aloof- as if wanting to throw Bob off of their level of skill.
"The IAA got the funding for an hour or so of active drone flying? That's like a million dollars or so. Per. Hour." He shuffled further into the unit and heaved his large laptop up to the top of the table, "I've got some footage already captured, but figured everyone would want something up to date." He was startled when Niko snored loudly and rolled over in his sleep.
"We really just need to know the places he frequents the most and to confirm his home address." Karen wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and directed her attention toward Anton knowing he would know what Niko wanted asked. This wasn't entirely her op. This was Niko's and the shots came from him, not her.
"There is a man in Sandy Shores, Trevor Philips. One of our men out here said there is a trailer off of Zancudo Avenue where he sleeps or spends most of his nights. If he isn't out at this run-down bar or liquor store." Anton basically inhaled two pieces of pizza and was in the process of grabbing another slice when Karen had handed over the conversation to him. The needed carbs were helping curb his own stomach pain and the much required energy to keep on going through the night.
"Oh not this lunatic! M! You said this was going to be simple and cut and dry!" Bob raised his voice and spun around to face Karen and try to back out from being involved in anything to do with the one man the military actively avoided crossing paths with, "This is a hard pass."
"Bob. You just need to tell us if he has been seen recently in and around his home and his normal hang out places. I'm not asking much here." Karen recoiled at the harshness within her friend's voice. He had seemed more than willing to bend the rules back at the bar, so what was so alarming about this target that had one of the toughest pilots out of Fort Zancudo flat out refusing to be involved?
"Not much?! Not much! He is red taped. File as thick as the Bible. And you want me to send our tech over his place with his whacked-out conspiracy theory friend who constantly watches the skies like aliens are going to plop down and abduct us all?! He is ex-military too! Find yourself another pilot." Bob angrily grasped the handle to his laptop and was in the middle of turning around when the sound of guns being readied in his direction clicked audibly.
"She may have asked. But we are not. Put the laptop down and think your situation through a little better." Anton sat alert on the lumpy couch and trained his pistol at the back of Bob's head. They hadn't come this far, pulled every string they could find, and kept their boss away from the love of his life after miscarrying just for some punk in the military to deny them help.
"And just who do you think you people are to threaten someone ranked in the military?" Bob pulled his service side arm and narrowed his eyes at the threat, turning around to take aim at whoever was closest to him.
Things were deteriorating faster than Karen cared to admit and she leapt up off the bed and placed herself between Bob and the irate looking men within Kenny's Bratva. How were they supposed to know the person interfering with Johnny and Kenny's arrangements within Grapeseed was a known criminal?
"Bob. Listen to me. We didn't know he was flagged." Karen widened her hands and cautiously approached her contact, "Please lower your weapon and let's talk this through. Peacefully." She would pull every tactic she knew from her handbook. Her boss had taught her well about manipulation, but Bob was her friend. They went through so many classes and debriefings over the years at this point. He could almost be considered her partner by now if it wasn't for the separation of branches of government.
"We?" Bob lifted an eyebrow and pointed his gun at her forehead, "You know I always knew IAA was backwards and crazy, but what did you get dragged in to that you are seeking out someone marked for capture by the DOA? Don't you people all talk to one another and share intel?!"
"DOA is after him?" Oh this was really bad news. If Karen blew their operation she would be kicked out of the IAA and locked up for treason. She pursed her lips and looked over her shoulder to Aleksei that had shifted on the floor to take cover behind the couch, rifle unwavering from the kill shot on Bob, "Things just got really complicated."
"Yeah no shit." Bob huffed and hesitated to lower his pistol. He trusted Karen with his life. They had been assigned to work together on a mission back in January and they had watched each other's backs in one of the most hostile neighborhood streets in LS. She hadn't hesitated to pull him into cover when he got pinned. And now she was asking him to essentially return the favor.
"What does DOA want with him?" Anton decided he needed to deescalate the situation and start working on a new plan of action. Of course it would help if Niko was awake and able to contribute.
"He's got some of the purest and cleanest meth on the west coast. Got some big-time buyers. I think they mainly want him for his contacts. He also deals with weapons. But FIB has managed to close in on those weapon's cache drops. The DOA has a decent case being built against him. Got some undercover idiot working with him I think…" Bob re-holstered his sidearm and sighed heavily.
"The IAA can't foil their hard work… We are going to have to try a different approach. Threatening this man or killing him isn't going to do any of us good." Karen ran her hands through her hair and let out a dry laugh. Would be just her luck that what got her fired would be working alongside Niko again.
"Wouldn't just killing him be good for the DOA?" Aleksei snapped the safety on to his rifle and got up to sit on the couch next to Anton. It made no difference to him if some law enforcement agency lost their case over someone. It removed the threat from their organization and was one less person wandering the world causing trouble.
"They'd lose the network Trevor has. With how many gangs and other organizations there are out here, we'd have the one opportunity to tear it all down slip through our fingers. Not to mention they really want to take out the chef. Shit is killing people at alarming rates." Bob dragged out a chair from under the table and sank down heavily, "Not that I need to know- for obvious reasons- but just who am I associating myself with?" He tiredly looked up to Karen before looking over the men in the room, still half-assedly pointing a gun in his direction.
"You would be doing a favor to the head of the Petrovic Bratva." Niko lowly answered, hands over his eyes to keep the blinding light from making his headache worse. He had heard loud arguing, and it jolted his dehydrated and spinning system into consciousness. A quick dart of his eyes let him know someone unknown was in the room and had a gun holstered on his hip. His brain was sluggishly trying to piece together the past eight hours, but nothing was coming together, and he almost wished he had refused that flaming shot of whatever at the fancy high priced bar in downtown.
"You're fucking kidding me…" Bob furiously scrubbed over his face and glared between his fingers at Karen, his glasses getting shoved askew, "You get me in bed with fucking Kenny Petrovic?!"
"No. I am in charge. Niko Bellic. Now I smell something delicious and would appreciate someone making me a plate so I can start to work off this hangover." Niko groaned as the smell of something reached his nose and caused his ribs to clench with hunger. Cheese, or grease, or something was wafting toward him, and he wanted it badly.
Karen wordless and soundless grabbed a couple of napkins and pulled a slice free for Niko. It was good he was at least awake. Maybe not one hundred percent yet. But it lessened some of the anxiety she had been working through. Being alone with Kenny's men and having to bring a stranger to them into the unit was beyond stressful. At least now she had a buffer between everyone that could put a stop to any infighting instantly.
"Is Kenny…?" Bob's hands dropped away from his face, and he stared in horror toward the man that was sprawled out on the king-sized bed. Last he had heard Kenny was causing all kinds of trouble overseas and building up his empire. Now someone else was in charge? His eyes snapped to Karen as she caringly sat by the man's side and held the pizza out to him.
"Temporarily incapacitated," Niko took a large bite from the pizza dangling in front of his face and mumbled a thank you to Karen as he took over feeding himself.
"So Kenny will not find out about me? I have a clean service record and I'm so close to moving up a rank." He drummed his fingers softly across the cool metal of his laptop and weighed his options. Wouldn't be too bad to help out if it meant his involvement would stay under the radar so to speak. No one would really have to know of his involvement. He could give a one off and walk away scotch free.
"So long as you give Karen what she needs, and you help me locate Trevor." Niko shoved the pizza in his mouth and gratefully accepted another slice from Anton, "And I have an idea on how to make everyone happy."
"Can't promise the drone will work. Trevor's friend somehow made drone jamming tech. We haven't figured out how he managed it. But it messes with the relay and signal." Bob propped his chin up with his hand, leaning onto the table. This night was just getting worse, and it didn't appear to be changing course anytime soon. They were about to deal with the biggest pain in their ass since the terrorist attacks in LC at the beginning of last year. And they had zero warning on those.
'At least Trevor is on the watch list…'
"People like him that just mess with anyone- no real defined alliances or loyalty to an organization, there is usually something that will gain that alignment. Money, drugs, free range to operate however they see fit, protection, a cut into the action. What is the one thing you think he will want to gain?" Niko dropped his head back on the pillow and massaged his throbbing temples. The pizza had tasted like magic, but now his stomach was rolling with how quickly he had shoved the food down his throat.
"I will give you a copy of his file, the existing footage we have over Sandy Shores, pilot one quick flight with the drone for confirmation, and that's all. I do not need to hear how you plan to do… Whatever. If you all blow the DOA's mission, I was never here and I know absolutely nothing about this little hang out." Bob gestured around the room and rolled his eyes. His own safety and life would come first. Resigned to his fate, Bob opened his military grade laptop and started to dig through the servers to locate what it was Karen needed.
"Anton report in with Georgi. Give him the updated timeframe and plan. And find out if Kate is awake." Niko let Karen take over massaging the sides of his head to alleviate the migraine he could feel forming. 'I am never drinking that much ever again…'
"Let me get you some water and a cold washcloth." She stood from her place next to him and entered the bathroom to soak a rag in some cold water. It would curb the heat she felt on his face, and hopefully help snap him out of his hangover. Karen did her best to silence her mind. Niko would be alright and with some basic proper care, would be able to continue on without issue.
'But is he going to be thinking clearly when confronted with the person causing all these problems? Or will I need to step in…?'
"Last check in was around 2200 hours their time. Lova… He isn't coping well. Georgi said he found him back in the living room. Kate was also still peacefully asleep. Bernie, Mal, and Roman have been moved to the compound for safety concerns. Gordon is also helping out with security. I will step outside to call Georgi. He should still be awake." Anton checked his phone for new messages or missed calls and was thankful there was nothing new to report on. They all needed a break.
Could definitely need a break in all the action. That was for sure. He was almost relieved to know he wouldn't have to give any pressing news to his boss in front of Karen or this unknown military ranked person. Whom he didn't trust at all. His eyes narrowed as he scanned over the young male's face for signs of deception or ulterior motives. Just who would willingly drive to the middle of nowhere on a whim? Without some kind of motive? Silently he slipped from the unit and headed toward the darkened corner of the building to reach out to his fellow captain.
"Can any of you fly Kenny's plane?" Niko sighed in relief when Karen placed a cold cloth over his eyes and forehead. It took the light from his eyelids and plunged him into a cool darkness that chipped away at the pain in his head. He felt her hands lift his wrist to check his pulse and he fought the shudder that wanted to surface. He was desperately missing Kate's touch.
Yet at the same time the tender, calm, and caring touch shoved his slowly churning mind into daydreams and vibrant feelings of Kate tenderly taking care of him while he was unconscious in the hospital. She would take the time to clean him, change his clothes, his bed sheets- she did everything for him while even recovering from her own injuries. Somewhere in his base memories he could hear or see her struggling to move and take care of him but wanting to all the same because of her undying love for him.
"Somewhat. It's been a few years since I've had to take the controls for Kenny. But I have my license." Aleksei leaned into the corner of the couch and continued to work his frustrations out every time Karen touched his boss. He understood she cared for him and was loyal, but it was still off putting how casually she invaded Niko's personal space.Kate would become sick if she could see what he was seeing. It singed that one nerve raw inside him.
"I emailed you the encrypted file. Here." Bob clicked the send icon and stood up to get Karen's laptop. He would type in the password on her laptop and save it locally. He was not about to run the risk of her somehow getting his security clearance and abusing it to the point of getting him in major trouble. It was risky enough to give her the large dossier they had formed over the years on Trevor and his associates.
Karen leaned over Niko's body and picked up her computer, turning it to him to type in his credentials, "Thank you B. I won't forget this." She softened her eyes at him and tried to convey how much this meant to her. They would just be wandering around in the desert asking random people if they knew someone by the name Trevor and would end up failing at solving their dilemma.
"No. You will." He kept his eyes trained on the screen and copied the file to her desktop, then wiped his login clean from the hard drive, "Don't suppose I could get a couple of you to help me unload the drone from the back of my truck? Now is the best time to launch. Use the night vision and thermals to see if he is home." Bob snapped her laptop closed and held it out in her direction. He hated that she had used his nickname and was trying to pull on his heartstrings. 'Typical IAA bullshit psychotherapy mind tricks ain't going to work this time…'
"Wait. You got a drone out there?!" Sergei perked up at the thought of getting to see such a high-tech piece of equipment up close. He exchanged an excited glance with Ivo.
"Can't exactly take off from the base without alerting everyone and sending them into a panic. Come on." Bob dropped the laptop to the surface of the bed when she didn't immediately take it back and nodded his head to the door, "Won't take long to set up and then we can watch from my laptop."
"Check your surroundings before taking it out of the truck. Last thing we need is the family a few rooms down getting all excited and curious. I highly doubt my badge is going to make them quit watching from the windows." Karen sighed heavily and dragged her laptop closer to her. She didn't think he was going to bring the freaking drone out to the motel. But then again she wasn't really sure what to expect when she reached out to him for help- "Wait! There was a recent case that fell through not that long ago from our joint task force. God what was his name…" She hummed and sat upright on the bed, immediately logging back into her account to locate the file that had just popped into her head.
"Sergei and Ivo help mister star spangled banner here get the drone ready. The sooner we can confirm his whereabouts, the quicker we can leave LS and get back home. I don't like how much time has passed." Aleksei pinched the bridge of his nose seeing how excited they were about the drone and military tech. Most of the time Kenny had equipped them and outfitted them with the most high tech weapons a person could find on the black market, but even he felt a twinge of excitement at getting to see this thing up close and personal.
"I was technically a German citizen before my parents moved me here…" Bob grumbled and shoved his chair back under the dining room table as he headed for the door, not liking the insult to his military code and conduct. 'Not that they would know anything about being lawful and loyal…'
"Not exactly a step in the right direction?" Aleksei lifted his eyebrow and smirked at Bob when he flipped him off, "Could always join the dark side. Come play for us Siberian, vodka drinking crazies." Sergei and Ivo chuckled at their boss' quip and waited for Bob to lead the way out to his truck.
"Play nice everyone. Aleksei go help them. I have a feeling that drone isn't exactly light weight, or easy to understand." Niko did his best to keep the pain filled groan from his voice as he sluggishly moved into a sitting position, wet rag held tightly to his face. But he did manage to pin his captain with a look before recovering his face to alleviate the ache.
"As you have asked it, so it shall be done." Aleksei nodded toward Niko and gracefully lifted off the couch, ushering along his men and the military contact Karen had involved within their mission. He hesitated at the threshold of the door, watching as his men chatted away with Bob about the drone and its capabilities, and turned to glance back at Niko and Karen upon the bed. His fingers drummed soundlessly on the hardwood doorframe, and he contemplated speaking up… But it was not his place to question his boss. And with one more heated death stare in Karen's direction, he closed the door and trudged over to a large looking army hummer.
Karen typed furiously on her laptop, searching file after file, for the random off chance she was thinking correctly. It had been a one off debriefing a day or two before she was rushed to the airport to get out to LC to help Niko and his friends. And for some reason she could swear Trevor had been mentioned in passing as part of this sting operation.
"What have I missed?" Niko slumped forward some, continuing to press the cool fabric to his eyes and forehead. Flashes of varying sizes of shots, pounding music, and stumbling around whipped across his mind and he hissed at the intensity of the imagery, "Tell me I wasn't dancing up on stage."
Karen let a small, bemused smile grace her lips as she continued to open case file after case file, "You really want to know the answer to that question?" Her blue eyes flicked in his direction before going back to the illuminated screen.
"With that tone? No. No I don't think I want to know. Ugh!" Niko swiped the washcloth over his eyes harshly and lowered it just enough to glare at her. Why would they let him embarrass himself like that? In a foreign city no less!
"So you had a little fun! No harm, no foul- Ah! Here it is. Now hear me out." She turned to fully face Niko on the bed and tucked her legs under her, swinging her laptop around to show him a picture of a young man from a distance, assault rifle slung over his shoulder, crates nailed shut littering the foreground, "This man is a gun runner for the Los Azteca's named Ortega. We've used him in the past to get weapons to field agents under cover. He owes us. We could offer Trevor a deal with us to help him with gun shipments, Kenny could get a small cut of the profits, and that way Trevor can quit targeting The Lost because he'd be making money through our connection. He wouldn't dare continue to mess with Johnny if he had a means elsewhere. Right?" She tucked some of her hair behind her ears and waited patiently for Niko to process everything and think about it.
"Either way I am going to have to threaten him to back off of our drug routes to and from LS through Grapeseed. But this might be good leverage or bargaining chip to help tip the scales. I could offer protection of some kind to him as well so if someone comes after him, we could help. Not sure I truly want to partner with someone who has burned profits and caused serious strain on Johnny." Niko trailed his finger over the edge of the laptop screen. It had merit. To a point. He wasn't sure what all Kenny would think about it.
The sound of a motorcycle back firing caused both of them to jump and turn toward the entrance to the unit, "Johnny must be pulling up. I'm going to need to talk to him and Anton in private. Help get that drone in the sky so we can confirm a few things and get this plan in motion. I've been away from home for too long." Niko sighed and slid the laptop back in Karen's direction. His spent mind was stirring and trying to plot out how to go about Trevor. He firmed his feet on the carpet and went to stand, only to wobble horribly and plop back down on the bed.
"Woah!" Karen lurched forward and caught his shoulders has he harshly sat back down on the edge of the bed, "Easy now… Here. Let me help." Without hesitation she moved the laptop to the side and climbed off the bed to come stand in front of him. Small, feminine hands reached out to him and waited for him to grasp hold to find his footing. The rougher calloused hands landed on top of hers and slid up her arms to just above her wrists and took hold.
She held his gaze as he rose to his feet, needing to barely scoot backwards to give him space to stand. Her breathing was beginning to hasten the longer his fingers stayed splayed over her forearms, brushing back and forth in thanks. Bright, hopeful eyes darted between warm, but guarded hazel. There was no sound except for her accelerated heartbeat that she could swear he was listening to.
"Thanks…" Niko's scratchy voice grated against his ears, and he cleared his throat at the uncomfortable sensation. He gave her arms one final squeeze before shifting around her to locate where his pistol had ended up and get outside and back to business. There was no time to waste anymore. Things were falling into place and Johnny needed to be informed of the situation.
Karen's shoulders lowered at the lost touch. It was stolen moments like those that irritated the spark she still held for him, and it frustrated her to the ends of the world. Car doors slammed and the gravel crunched outside as more people gathered within the parking lot. Her eyes snapped down to her state of undress and she immediately dashed over to her small suitcase to find something appropriate to wear to an out-of-town meeting with some of the most powerful criminals she knew.
"Hey man! Long time no see! How's life in the big city treating you?" Johnny kicked the stand out to his bike and shook Niko's outstretched hand. It had blown his mind when he was informed Niko took over for Kenny. And then he was further thrown for a loop with the news of Gerry's passing and who had taken over for the Irish. And to get a rushed and coded message to conduct a meet face to face on such short notice? Things were definitely bleak.
"Hey Johnny. Wish I could say it's been better. We need to talk- privately." Niko nodded at a couple of the chapter members that flanked their boss and semi waved when Ashley enthusiastically waved in his direction from the back of Johnny's bike.
"Alright shoot. Lead the way. Be right back Ash." Johnny turned and dropped a kiss to the top of her head and signaled to his men to keep watch, before he did a double take when his eyes landed on the military Humvee and the large, unmanned drone that was being slid out the back hatch, "What the…"
"That is part of what we will discuss. Anton walk with us." Niko moved along the front corridor of the motel expecting Johnny and Anton to simply fall in line. His head was killing him and the sooner he got this out of the way, the quicker he could lay back down for a little bit until sunrise.
Anton heard his boss' call and rushed to get off the phone with Georgi. He was growing concerned about Georgi's state of mind. He repeated himself a couple of times and his voice was lacking the usual bounce and warmth he carried. There were maybe only a handful of other times he had heard his fellow captain sound that far off base. With a couple of hurried steps he matched Niko's stride and respectfully gave Johnny the appropriate bow.
"I want your thoughts on something before I make a final decision. As this involves your club and my Bratva directly, I feel it should be up to us. Anton meet Johnny, formally. Johnny this is Anton, my second's stand in when he is on another assignment." Niko paced along the edge of the darkened pool's courtyard and gestured between the two men with him.
"Uh yeah. I think we met around Thanksgiving. It was right before Kenny gave us the deed to the land out here." Johnny shook Anton's hand and crossed his arms with how intense the atmosphere Niko was giving off, "Look Niko. We would've killed the dude already, but he's got ties to other groups and people. We don't have the numbers yet to take on a full-fledged war."
"No one is blaming you or accusing you of anything. IAA said there is a gun runner operating out here somewhere that can give this Trevor guy work. Keep him off of your drug operation. Keep Kenny's profits coming. That is one side of the coin. The other side is we take him on and remove the problem completely. Either way I can't let him just keep harassing my Bratva." Niko massaged his temples once more as his brain tried to jumpstart his normally sharp and focused mind.
"The few times I've interacted with him… He just has this weird, wild look in his eyes. He is hungry for work, money, power- The typical stuff you see outta wacko's. But he is unhinged. I wouldn't confront him unless you have backup, and a plan of attack should he rage out of control." Johnny rubbed the back of his neck and looked to Niko's second to see if he'd back him up with his assessment.
"I think I know the type…" Niko paused in his pacing and shifted his eyes to the still water within the pool, "I say we corner him at a public place. Maybe with civilians around it'll make him think twice about pulling a gun. We wait for him to come to us. You said he has a rather hot temper when it comes to you and your club?" He turned to address Johnny directly. The wheels and gears were revolving now.
"Oh he hates us alright." Johnny scoffed and rolled his eyes. It was the understatement of the year.
"We use that. Whatever location they get from the military footage- be it a bar, restaurant, store, whatever. Some place public and where your motorcycles can be spotted easily from the streets. We will arrive there when they open to canvas the place and set up a killbox. Johnny, you and me will be inside so he will be tempted to confront you. I will have Aleksei enroute to the airfield with Sergei and Ivo to get the plane up and running to be ready to take off at a moment's notice. Karen and Anton will be in the building with us to guard the front and back entrances." Niko tapped the pads of his fingers to his chin and ran through the scenario through his mind.
He could essentially trap Trevor within a store or bar. Confront him and offer a solution that benefits everyone. If that were to fail he could just have him killed and they hightail it to the airfield and fly out of there as fast as humanly possible. It felt like the safest course of action he could come up with on such short notice.
"How trustworthy is the gunrunner? Do we know if that is a sure thing?" Anton regarded his boss and could see how much thought he was putting into their course of action. It would be nice to have one more connection out in San Andreas. Expand the business more and establish a foothold against Martin.
"If Karen says he is one of their assets then I will have to trust her. She hasn't failed me recently. And it's the only real leverage angle we got." Niko turned to his second in command, currently, and waited to see what he had to say.
"Will Trevor even go for the deal?" Anton turned his question in Johnny's direction as he had been the only one to interact with him within the group.
"The dude signs up with anyone who will listen to his lame ass spiel about Trevor Phillip Enterprises. Or whatever he calls it that day. He ain't right in the head. But from what I gather he doesn't tend to screw over people he works with unless he gets crossed first. Then he's a goddamn psycho." Johnny tilted his head to the side in thought and mulled it all over. It would be nice to have the crazy man off their asses and away from his girl Ashley.
"Then if we are in agreement, we start with the peaceful solution then get bloody when it all goes to shit." Niko held his hand out to shake on it and waited to see if Johnny was willing to go along with the plan or offer a different course of action.
"You're the boss." Johnny shook on it and then shook Anton's hand, "Everyone staying out here for the night?" He glanced over his shoulder toward the main entrance frowning at the thought of all these people being held up in a tiny motel room.
"Until we know the location of our attack slash meet, yes. We made a clean entrance. And it gives major big boy pants the chance to launch the drone outside of town." Anton followed his line of sight when he thought he saw movement, only to see the shadow of Aleksei's sniper rifle shift slowly against the stucco siding. Clearly he didn't like the boss being gone so long from the wall of protection they formed.
"Wait. Hold up. You're going to launch that thing? Won't that wake up everyone in the town?!" Johnny's jaw dropped and he spun back around to stare at Niko. Just what in the world kind of connections did this man amass since they last saw one another. Niko was just some gun for hire that wanted to retire- now he was getting military drone surveillance, new alliances from people who once wanted him dead, and commanded people around like a general in an army. His arms fell lax at his sides as Niko looked up from the edge of the pool and met him with a steely eyed, hardened glare.
This was not the same Niko he had tried to steal drugs and diamonds with.
This was a whole new, evolved- or maybe it was there all along- version of Niko.
"Drone is set for launch. If you people want to see that kind of thing." Bob entered the courtyard, hand lifted with his thumb jutted back over his shoulder in the direction he had set up his equipment. He somewhat bit his lower lip at the blank stares and shrugged. He just figured he would give them a heads up as the other guys out front of the motel unit were nearly buzzing with anticipation. The eye rolling was bound to give him vertigo at some point.
"Guess we will find out." Niko clasped Johnny's shoulder as he passed him on his way back to the main entrance to the courtyard, "And next time Aleksei you try to spy or sneak up on me, there will be consequences. I get it is your job to protect me, but I asked you to help unload the drone. Did you think I gave you that order out of spite?" Niko paused when he got to the overgrown greenery set within a poorly managed flowerbed. Anton somewhat dragged Johnny forward knowing this conversation was one to not overhear.
"Pakhan-" Aleksei rose from his cover, moving his sniper to his back.
"No. I asked you to help because I do not trust whoever Karen has tasked with helping us. I trust your instincts to observe, take mental notes, watch for miscues and deceit. I fully trust Anton to get me out of a situation should Johnny turn. But I have worked with Johnny in the past and have no quarrel with him. I was once a sniper like yourself. My job was to see what couldn't be seen by those on the front lines. You watch everyone around me. That is your job. That is what Kenny had you doing, yes?" Niko let the Russian flow, simply turning his head in the direction of Aleksei and narrowed his eyes at the poorly hidden flinch from one of his captains.
"We are about to possibly go to war with an insane man and whoever may be backing him. We don't know all the players. I may have passed out for a while there, but I heard the mistrust you hold to those you do not know personally. Understandably so. I do not trust easily. And it has taken my entire willpower to believe you, Anton, Georgi- everyone is not out to get me. The protection and care you have given Kate has far exceeded my expectations. And I thank you for that." Niko let out a slow breath with the way Aleksei bowed his head and saluted him.
"I need to know that when I ask something of you, you follow through completely. The drone may have been unloaded- But people tend to give themselves away when they talk too much. He is a talker, and you would've picked up on anything flaggable. A phrase out of place. Wording used in a suspicious way. I do not say this to scold. Only warn. You have a skillset that is essential to this organization staying in power. Use it and hone in on this quick thinking you possess." Niko reached out and tapped his index finger to Aleksei's forehead, "You are young still, but the potential to lead is there."
"Thank you Pakhan. I hear all you say and will work on it." He dared to look up to his boss and sincerely let him know that he received the message loud and clear. He was to listen for missions and tasks coded and embedded within his other ones and start to watch his boss for signs and tells. There was more to the words Niko was giving him.
"Good. Now let me explain your part of the job tomorrow. Come with me."
aaaaaa
"Okay so… How does this work?" Karen climbed up on the open bed of the truck and peered over Bob's shoulder to the brightly lit laptop monitor. Joysticks and levers covered another metal box that rested within his lap. The truck jostled as everyone else crowded in wanting to see him initiate the takeoff proceedings.
"No different that you would a fighter jet- just not as loud, fast, and well. You know what I mean." Bob entered in a couple of commands on a separate keypad and looked out the window to see the rotors start to spin and emit a high-pitched whine.
"This has to be the coolest thing I have ever seen…" Sergei leaned against the opened hatch and couldn't make up his mind on what to watch more. The actual drone thundering down the road to lift off or the sci-fi looking screen that flickered to life from the cameras attached to said drone.
"Even better than the time Lenny threw up on the Prime Minister of Britian?" Ivo chuckled as he lightly punched Sergei's shoulder, "Or the time you fell off the submarine coming back from one of your binge trips with Pavel?"
"That- That time with Pavel. That's not the same." Sergei waved off his friend and smiled when Anton joined them.
"Any time with Pavel is a good story. So what's the ETA on this?" Anton jerked his head to the side to let Johnny know he could let his men join in the fun and listen in.
"Well once I reach the right RPMs we can get this bird in the sky. M press the record button on the laptop over there." Bob used his chin to indicate what machine she needed to access as he took hold of the controls and began to thrust the drone down the paved street in hopes of getting it off the ground before a vehicle decided to barrel down the empty road at night. The whine grew louder before softening as the engine and blades fell in synch and the drone zipped forward, gliding up into the night sky and out of everyone's line of sight.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd get to see something like that up close…" Johnny was in awe and let Ashely fall into his arms as they both searched the skies to see if they could spot it amongst the inky blackness, "Quiet as hell too."
"Well it's a stealth bomber. Not loaded- of course. Just got the finest camera on the planet attached to it…" Bob zoned out of the conversation and focused to navigating the drone and mapping out the streets and locations he figured Trevor would be at. The trailer would be first, then the bar, and then the liquor store they believed was a front for his meth lab. He glanced at Karen when she tapped his shoulder and held out his headset to listen in to air traffic controllers.
"Probably best to not have the military scramble jets tonight, hm?" She smiled at him and slipped the headset on over his ears, adjusting it with his slight movements. She picked up the spare one and kept one of the earmuffs against her head so she could still hear the conversations taking place just outside the Humvee.
"Baby it's getting late, and I'm fading fast. Can we head back home?" Ashley yawned listlessly and put her weight more into Johnny's chest so he would get her point. It was way past midnight, and the sun wasn't too far off from starting its trek skyward.
"Yeah. Alright. Have Niko text me the address once it's been picked. We will be there ready to rock and roll. Just say the word." Johnny lifted his fist in Anton's direction and fist bumped him. They were now one step closer to getting rid of a rather long overdue problem. And for once he felt like he could take a deep breath and not feel so jittery. His hands would sweat and shake every time he tried to find a solution to Trevor.
And now here was his solution within Niko.
He waved to the other men and the female in the back of the truck and made his way over to his bike. His men trailed closely behind, mirroring his movements to keep him safe and guarded from any unforeseen threats. It was crazy at times to reflect on just how far he and Niko and come. From basic nobody's to someone. Someone with power and responsibility. It was daunting to say the least.
His bike roared to life, as did the other four bikes in the parking lot, and The Lost rolled out to their home base- completely missing the people watching them with binoculars in the distance.
aaaaaa
"Oh! Hey! Um… Georgi, yes? I swear I am better at names than this. It's got to be my pregnancy brain." Mal whispered when the door to Kate, and now Bernie's, room opened slowly. She sleepily shifted within the somewhat uncomfortable high backed chair placed between her two friend's beds and drifted her hand lovingly over her baby bump.
"You are correct ma'a-" Georgi started to be formal and instinctually ducked when Mallorie lurched forward as if to grab her shoe. He threw his hands up in surrender, "Forgive me. It's a habit. My mother always said to use my manners… No matter how much it irked someone." He lifted his head from his defensive position to see a blank look upon her face.
"I… You will have to forgive me as well. If your mother took the effort and energy to raise you right, I shouldn't shun it. I should embrace it! So tell me about her!" Mal dropped back into a more relaxed position, even if her back was killing her from the firm, plastic covered foam cushions on the seat.
"My mother?" Georgi let out a dry chuckle and shook his head, "God I haven't spoken about her in years." Silently he moved to one of the many cabinets lining the wall and pulled out a couple of pillows and went to work on adding new pillowcases to them, letting his work guide the conversation more than his mind, "She was beautiful. Young. Vibrant. Much like you and Kate I would assume. My father was the blonde haired, blue eyed one. But my mum? She had fiery red hair…"
Georgi moved around the room grabbing other blankets to help comfort Mallorie within the rather stiff looking chair, "From what I can remember, she would sing to us every night- but not before forcing us to dance with her. There would be nightly raids where we lived. Father was away on service almost all the time. But it was a good, happy life while it lasted…" He lowered down in front of Mallorie and tucked the pillows along her sides, under her arms, and carefully wrapped the blanket over her legs, "But I am drained of sad memories and hardships. I am making new memories to replace the bad. And while it can surface some of those harder to reach corners of my mind when you ask about my mother, it with a peacefulness that I can reflect on my time back home." He patted her knees and stood up to return to his own watchful chair within the room.
"Is that why you are so drawn to Kate?" Mallorie swallowed the lump down in her throat and relished in the comfort the pillows and blankets were bringing her. She had come into the room to watch over her friends while her fried emotions kept sleep at bay. Too much was compounding in at once, and sometimes just the quiet of hearing them breathe soothed her troubled soul.
"I haven't thought of my mother in over seven years. It uh. Too painful for the longest time. There is a saying, gets lost in translation, but your first love is always your mom. And when I came here and began working for Kenny it took a lot of the suffering away. I had purpose. A way to protect someone and… I don't know. Fix the mistakes I made in not saving my own mother?" Georgi's eyes settled on the peacefully slumbering form of Kate and dropped his head back against the top of his chair, slumping down further, "You know? Niko warned me about you and how you do this to people." He slyly lowered his eyes and didn't miss the rather fond and knowing look that bloomed on her face.
"I have a tendency to get people to open up. It's a gift, sweetie. But you really might want to start digging up some of those past joys and start letting yourself enjoy life. Kate rambles on and on about you. I almost feel like I'm getting replaced." She laughed when he sat up and looked horrified, "Cool your pants mister. I think she lived so sheltered and alone for so long that she will latch on and hold on with everything she has once someone gives her the chance. That's why I am…"
Mallorie paused and turned to her side to look at her new best friend, and who she hopes will one day be like her sister, "I could see her being so thrilled at the idea of- of starting a family. You know? Being happy with Niko, the big loveable idiota, and I don't know. I know my own emotions are probably spilling out everywhere. But I can't let this break her! She has come so far from this timid and scared little girl, into her own path in life." Mallorie tisked as she forced herself to look up at the ceiling and blink the tears rapidly away. She jolted at the sound of a metal chair being shoved backwards.
"If I know one thing- If I can remember one thing about my mom. It's that she was a fighter through and through. I can. I can see that in Kate. I see it in you. Between you, Roman, Bernie, me… Niko- Hell the entire Bratva is wanting to bring in flowers and food for her! She will have support, help, and love. That you will not have to worry about!" Georgi knelt down before his Pakhan's family and grasped her hands, letting her fingers clench into his own in desperation.
"I have an idea, but I will need your help with it." Mallorie kept her voice low as if conspiring with a partner in crime.
"Name it." Georgi nodded encouragingly and let her hands grip his own tightly.
"Those flowers and food? Can we take them to where she is staying? Decorate the place? Possibly? I know some people see it as insensitive and all. But I know Kate loves the outdoors. Had something to do with her brother Derrick. If maybe we can bring her a small comfort or- or distraction. I don't know. What do you think?" She leaned forward and widened her eyes, imploring him to be honest and truthful. She liked to imagine a room full of plants, flowers, delectable treats just waiting and at the ready to come to. A clean space that smells like the garden that has been freshly tilled. Bathroom set and at the ready for a steamy hot bubble bath.
"I think I know an entire community of women and children who would be thrilled to help out with this plan of yours. Especially a young little man who just so happens to claim to be her best friend." Georgi smiled when Mallorie let out a watery sounding laugh and let her settle back down in her chair. He could see the shadows and doubt swirling within her and he hated it.
"I used to be so scared of Kenny and his men… Now I can't even fathom why anymore…" Mallorie whispered as she let a couple of tears fall. It was the honest truth. The name Petrovic used to produce knee weaking fear. Now she could laugh at anyone scared of the men like Georgi before her.
"Just because we show the world a mask, doesn't mean there isn't someone below it- wishing and wanting something different. Symbols and facades can do the work of an entire army just by the fear they induce. But by seeing through the veil, you can see we are all just people trying to live our life the only way we know how." He brushed his thumbs over the backs of her hands hoping to quell the build up of raw emotion she was working through.
"What will you do when Kenny wakes?" She hiccupped while trying to slow the tears that seemed to just never end anymore. His hands were warm, soft, and soothing as he helped to calm her down and walk her back from the ledge.
"Simple. Leave."
aaaaaa
So this last section with Georgi and Mal was going to be the start of the next chapter, but since I've had it written and edited for so long- eh. Why not. Nice little cap off.
This story will get done. Promise. I have big, and I mean OVER THE TOP CRAZY BIG, ideas and outlines. Some super dark and goes one way. Then some that are midground and just high octane. And nice and fluffy. But I think y'all know me. Nice and fluffy tends to get shoved to the side for action somehow. XD
As for my personal life… Fluffy and heartfelt is going to be hard to write. I'm going to leave it at that. Depression and mental illness are real y'all. And it sucks.
BUT! Up next! ACTION-MANIA IN SANDY SHORES! I see you Trevor.