The Price They Paid

by CzechKris91

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

38. Deconstruction for Beginners

Season's Greetings!

After a rather amazing response- I knew I needed to get the next chapter out. Only problem? It took off and wanted to be hella long and demanded certain things were addressed before Christmas break gets here. I will have to work through it this year, plus we are moving this week (joy), but I wanted to ensure I got something out to everyone before Christmas.

Also this is a difficult time of year for me. So if the story gets dark…er, you know why.

And way to go Cowboys! Extended fam still doesn't get it, but I love it. Maybe a bit too much. But eh.

Without anymore interruptions- Here is the next chapter! In all it's glory and length. Don't expect this to become the norm now… lol

aaaaaa

Georgi hated leaving the room Kate and Bernie were resting in, but he needed to walk off all his pent-up antsy energy and start other tasks that had been left unattended for too long. Mallorie had, thankfully, decided to go back to the appointed apartment where a comfy bed and husband awaited her return, and Gordon just had to ask permission to get in a couple hours of sleep before he resumed post once more.

He had reluctantly agreed to his request. Which then left him alone with the slumbering forms healing in their respected hospital gurneys.

The silence was ear unbearable. It was closing in on him the longer he sat in the cold metal chair, twisting his inner fears into scenarios he didn't dare think on. Dark, evil… Death. People close to him being tortured for hours on end just to be killed anyway for their cooperation. The scowl at seeing his fellow captains just take all the inflicted pain-

bleeding out from jagged injuries…

Then Kate jumping in the way of the bullet meant for him- he desperately fighting against his binds, willing them to break, to be able to catch her fall- but relentlessly had to watch her crumble down to her knees between his lifeless comrades, a hand outstretched in front of her dripping with the rich red of her blood, more of it soaking through the green sweater on her back where he saw the exit wound…

Her fear-stricken eyes looking up to him from where her head lulled into the junction of Aleksei's knee, rigidness greeting her waning face, the silent question of why kept forming upon quivering lips till they no longer had the vigor to repeat again…

A machine loudly chimed in the room and jerked Georgi free from the decent his mind had started, preventing him from glaring up to the person bound to exterminate him last. His whole body trembled as he worked the images away- 'They aren't real. Just your imagination running away from you…'

The sigh that left his lips warned him otherwise.

His hollow eyes looked up to see which piece of equipment kept up the obnoxious BEEP, BEEP. The large IV bag was empty and needed either replacing or to be taken out. The doctor did say she could be unhooked completely from everything once the medicine was fully in her system. With an exhausted huff, and a motivating shove, Georgi stood to get the tools needed to remove her triaged IV line…

'God how much stuff did you need to survive? What more do I need to get…?'

Her limp hand struggled to brush her fingertips over his soaked boot, but dropped shy of the slicked grain, to forever rest a hair-width close to his rubber sole. The strain vanishing from her once lively figure. Her other hand protectively resting over her lower abdomen below the entrance wound.

With the reserves of her soul she softened her eyes into one last goodbye- One of forgiveness and longing for peace…

Shadowed blue eyes landed on the perfectly placed clean sheet on the counter next to Kate's bed. Forcing curiosity to the surface, he titled his head to guess as to what was on top, he carefully moved around the table his laptop rested on to see gauze, alcohol wipes, self-adhesive bandage roll, and a packaged new IV pick line. He felt his lips shift in a thoughtful half smile. His fingers deftly trailing over the syringe labeled to get Kate calmed down and back to a deep sleep.

"Alright Kate. Let's get you unhooked and comfortable." Georgi faintly smiled as he picked up the gauze and the roll of bandages. With a renewed bolstered energy to help Kate, he quickly walked to the side of the bed with the blood transfusion machine to check for the inserted needle. The plastic line was capped off and limply dangling off the cushy bed. With trained and somewhat unsure fingers he set to work on slipping the needle free, flushing the line first so her blood wouldn't try to backfill into the tubing.

That was something he wouldn't be prepared to see in bold, bright, vivid color. Kate's blood had yet to be spilled in his presence. Blood bruises and marks from strangulation he had managed without discourse. Even having to insert a needle hastily in her arm to give her the antidote hadn't fazed him. But he was still under Kenny's practiced persona, one that had cracked and slightly surrendered when he lifted Kate up and away from his kill. Her eyes let everything be seen and it hit him in his unmovable soul.

He was way too deep, and he knew it. Both Niko and Kate had literally exposed how his life was wrong and needed changing. Kate especially had him ready to lay down his weapons and begin building a life of his own. Her kindness, openness, and nurturing light coated him with a protection he had failed to see. She was beating the darkness away the longer he stayed by her side. The protector was getting a dose of his own medicine.

"I have seen that look cross many faces when it comes to my comrade's chosen, Kate." A gravely low voice in Russian bounced off the walls and caused Georgi to grab his pistol and look around wildly for the intruder.

"I clearly am of no threat, Georgi. But I could go for an increase in pain medicine." Florian cleared his throat forcefully coughing unbearably. His accusatory eyes that were slightly fogged with all the medicine he was on glinted in the low-lit room.

"I can manage that. How are you feeling otherwise? Do I need to get the doctor and surgeon in here for an evaluation?" Georgi tucked the pistol away feeling dumb for jumping into action- he was the only other person awake in the room. A room he had secured with a deadbolt and a warning label on the outside to deter everyone from disturbing Kate's healing.

"My, my, my. Did you forget that I was stabbed multiple times, shot, and then fell into the river?" Florian deceivingly grinned wickedly as he raised the hospital bed for him to get a better view of Kate and Georgi. Stopping his bed when pain lashed down his spine and had him struggling to hide the outward appearance of being in agony.

"No. No I haven't. It's a miracle that someone pulled you from the river. We don't know the person- no one within our ranks saved you from drowning." Georgi stiffly ambled over to the IV tree by Bernie and shifted the bags and lines to the side to reset the morphine drip to a higher amount. He had been bothered that someone had intervened in the ambush and vanished without a trace. His men wouldn't lie about something like this. His teeth grinded on each other as the missing knowledge burned within.

"I…" Florian flopped back on the pillow and stared up at the ceiling. Flashes of a figure diving in the river in his direction blurred into obscurity. He had blacked out holding out hope that the person with an oddly shaped head would get to him and pull him free. The fogged words from a single person's deep, coaxing voice…

Rest easy comrade…

The welcoming, comforting, and firm grip to his arm before it all faded into darkness.

But not before the pounding of several feet approaching him pulled him back into the hazy blinding sunlight. Men huddled around his prone body tugged at him to remember an important conversation, "I remember- I can see an outline of a person swimming madly down to me, which I must have conjured Niko subconsciously, before it all goes black…"

Florian glared to the wall to focus his mind. 'Those… Come on. Remember the voice. It- It sounds almost familiar…'

'But then… Georgi, Mal, and Roman… Come on! Focus on what was being said!'

"That must have been scary. I have never been in that situation. And I can confirm it was not Niko." Georgie looked over the other half-filled bags of fluids checking to see if any of them were in dire need of being refilled. He glanced down to the reflective, pensive expression on Bernie's face and paused in holding the next bag to inspect. It was a completely different emotion that flashed in his eyes that had Georgi giving him his undivided attention. 'Oh… shit… Did you forget the entire conversation we had in your hospital room?'

"When you run for cover and abandon your fellow men who were getting slaughtered… You tend to brush off everything else that happens. I do not get scared. I survived once more, and I will keep up my end of the oath. Just need to… Be able to leave this fucking bed." Florian's voice had dropped into a serious nature, his facial features plunging down into a hurtful scowl, before lighting back up into the carefree vision he adhered to; letting out a cheerful chuckle that turned into a coughing fit. "Fuck that shit hurts."

The duality was changing back and forth inside him and neither side wanted to take control. Florian wanted to get the facts as to why Kate was lying in a comfortable looking hospital bed, tucked in under fluffy sheets- with Niko's jacket draped over her abdomen. Bernie tried to reject asking questions as something was telling him he already knew all the answers. But both sides confided with one pressing question-

'How is Kate doing?'

"It is going to be a few days before sitting up unassisted can occur. The stab wound got close to your spine and nicked a very important vein. Knowing you, you will probably scoff at the timetable and end up walking the halls on your own. It is what I would do. Finish the mission, yes?" Georgi let his arms fall from the IV equipment to rest on the bedrail of Bernie's bed. It was rather astonishing he was even awake this early. It had stunned him how well he looked in the hospital room with Mal and Roman close by. Surely his injuries were screaming at him to go back to sleep to heal. He gently smiled somberly at Niko's best friend and nodded at the silent question.

He was watching over Kate like a hawk to ensure nothing came her way…

'Aw damnit, I gotta let him know again!' Georgi dropped his chin to his chest and groaned heavily, letting his shoulders sag under the weight of his new task. It felt impossible to voice the words of Kate's condition. The first time had been clinical and factual. But this time? While allowed to be freely expressing himself? Tears threatened to build, and he reigned in his emotions to be away from the surface. He had given far worse news to people before.

'But you are not the man you were under Kenny…'

"Tell me her condition. Now." Florian barked out forcing the bed higher, turning to take in all the machines around her bed, the blood transfusion boxy metal device stilled his rapid search of her condition. 'She must have lost blood, lots of it to require a blood transfusion. And the missing bags from the IV tree is concerning. Kate should be on constant fluids after having a procedure done like that!'

His eyes drifted over the peaceful relaxed face with frizzy curled baby hairs sticking out wildly around her. Almost as if she wore a crown. The reddened cheeks showing her healthy glow. As he lowered his eyes from her breathtaking face, he angled his head when he recognized Niko's signature jacket... Which was almost always on his comrade… So why-?

A whole new wave of sweltering, suffocating questions raced to be answered.

Beep. Beep. Beep. BEEP… beep…

"Bernie-"

"Florian."

"Florian. It is not something I believe I should share with you. Niko can explain it upon his return-" A startled trained silent gasp left his mouth at being cut off violently. A pistol he had not seen from his previous searches of the room pointed at his head, the ever-growing grasp to his wrist was causing it to tingle and go numb. He did not dare to show anything to someone not officially raked within the Bratva. He was unsure on how much Bernie remembered other than what happened to him on the pier and river.

"I am not the patient man from before. I demand to know the current status of everyone and be updated on what's happening!" Florian gritted out from his angry clenched jaw. He had shoved upright at being denied his answers, and lifted his pistol, while grabbing Georgi's wrist to hold him in place. The slowly fading indifference on Georgi's face shook his raised arm.

He was fading on the inside with the painfilled eyes that searched his own. Had they lost? Did the oath bearer pass on? Just what went down?! 'Are my friends dead? Am I running away again? Leaving them for slaughter?! Fuck.' His rage surged to the surface to cling on Georgi's unmoving position of being locked in place. There was zero flinches. No indication whatsoever.

But the building regret and loss cracked Georgi's face, writhing into one of remorse and failure.

'Don't… Oh God. Oh… Niko?' The raging, heated, angry flood receded to have fear crash down in a powerful wave. His grip loosened on Georgi's wrist, and he desperately leaned around Georgi to stare at Kate once more, hiding the painful wince. To maybe decipher why Georgi looked so distraught. A curling, coiling, darken voice flitted through him. 'She has Niks jacket over where- over…'

"Florian this is the love of my life. I am going to one day marry her. And it is possible she is carrying my child. You have missed a lot since the ambush." Niko's voice reverently spoke with Kate tucked to him, eyes alight with everlasting love and hope.

The bleary memory shook him to his core. He pinned Georgi with a ferocious glare,

"Делал. (Delal).

Она. (Ona).

Терять. (Teryat).

Малыш?! (Malysh?)"

Each word was punctuated. Deadly in their consequences. He refused to believe it. Something that horrific couldn't have befallen the love of Niko's life. The longer he looked up into pitiful sorrow, he knew the answer- no matter how much he wanted to deny it.

There was an overwhelming rise in his inner instability, that he ran away to not be the one to deal with that writhing heap. His other side could oversee it. Or so he thought…

"Florian-"

"Bernie…" A haggard large exhale shuddered the form before him. Defeat slouching his body. The utter disbelief clinging on to hope. There could be another different outcome…

"Bernie…" Georgi took a long breath and let it go; anger, rage, regret, fear, doubt, and finally a deeply seeded sadness drifted free. It would be uplifting to openly tell someone the news and not fear their response. Especially to someone he had previously told. He somehow found the courage and strength to direct the gun away from his head and down to the high-quality sheets Kenny demanded be ready in his private hospital room. He reached out and took Bernie's hand into his own, squeezing it to hopefully lessen what was about to be spoken. He felt a shaky, hardened grip return the squeeze, not letting go or pulling away.

Georgi attempted to clear his throat, but it came out as a broken dry sob, "I will accept the burden that would have been Pakhan's… He doesn't deserve to keep repeating the- the um." He faltered harshly. The words were lodged in his throat, cutting off his airways. The burn of the tears grew in intensity. 'Say it. Answer him!'

"Да, Она потеряла ребенка (Da, Ona poteryala rebenka)…" He closed his eyes. Kate had lost the life growing inside her. It was so hard to say baby… It made it more real- a higher level of pain with the picture of a small innocent bundle of joy nestled in Kate's arms, lifeless… Her agony would never leave his soul. He let out a rush of air and desperately tried to stop the tear from falling… The lone drop of water broke free and traced over his prominent cheek bones, dipping down to disperse on his lips.

'Yes Florian… She lost the baby.'

Things started to snap into place in his scattered mind. The conversation sounded familiar, yet more emotionally charged. The pain that radiated in his chest was reaching the level of no longer being able to hide his thoughts and emotions. Bernie picked up his pistol and flicked the safety switch, dropping the gun between his legs. On autopilot his hand covered the one person's hand that was integrating into their inner circle of friends. With a failing façade he looked up into the unsure eyes of Georgi,

"You have… told me before. It's so vague. Hard to recollect. Forgive me for putting you through the hurt of having to tell someone- or to repeat it." Bernie tried to comfort the man before him that was doing his best to bury everything down deep, "Niko tends to do what you are attempting. He was locked away for so long that his true self is hard to find. Do not follow in his path. You are among friends; It is okay to let go."

Georgi felt a buzz in his pocket. His job took hold and he let one more tear fall, "Thank you… But being second in command tends to need my attention most. I have to keep the line of communication going with Anton and Niko. If you will excuse me, I will answer my messages in the hall. Give you some private time with Kate?" His fingers applied a thankful force to Bernie's hand silently asking him for permission to leave the room.

"Go. I will protect Kate to my dying breath-"

"It is Высочество (vysochestvo)." Georgi interrupted Ber-Florian to let him understand just how high up her title put her. She was equal to Pakhan. Her words come second to Niko. People would fawn and fall to their knees in her presence once they knew what she could possibly do for them. 'It will be a weakness of hers I will need to train her on…'

Georgi thoughtfully glanced over his shoulder to see her shimmy down further in the blankets. A frustrated huff mixed with aggravated grumbling filled the room. His airways trapped the air as he began to panic. He was so not ready to face her yet. But one reassuring statement echoed in his soul…

He would give his life to make sure she lived. No matter the circumstances. It was his deep sealed promise to Niko- Pakhan.

'And to myself… Kate you don't know the distress you have wrought on my soul…'

"Ah oh my, she will hate that title." Bernie giggled at the image he made of her blowing her top after being told she was basically Your Highness, Your grace, Princess, Future Queen, etc. His smile just kept growing as more and more titles formed and gave him delicious ways to annoy his friend and have a little fun. His eyes glowed with the knowledge as he slowly leaned around Georgi again to see his stand-in-girlfriend.

Kate weakly pulled her red and black splotched arm out from the warmth that surrounded her to feel for the edge of his much-loved jacket. Somewhere in the unreasoning fog she somehow knew it would be close by- She just needed to find it!

Georgi swiftly left Bernie's side to help her out. Carefully, so she wouldn't brush upon his hand, he shifted the worn-down brown leather jacket up the covers till her fingertips eagerly bunched in to yank it up to under her chin.

His smile was hard to hide with her childish nature when in LaLa land. She was his to protect and guide within their Bratva now. He would reinforce her to handle the weight of power her new position placed her in.

'She is going to explode in anger when she finds out… I wonder if Aleksei would be all for setting up a betting pool…'

"Pakhan instructed that we never let her know what her title is in English." Georgi softly spoke in Russian to Bernie before pulling his vibrating phone free to glance at the sender. 'Odd. Why is Aleksei texting me? Ears must be ringing, heh.'

Movement caught his eye and had to fight back his laughter fiercely with the way Kate was getting frustrated by not being able to get her arm back under the fluffy blankets without Niko's jacket falling out of place.

Georgi shook his head and maneuvered around her bed, only to freeze. Would she know it wasn't Niko helping? Would she panic immediately, and he would have to administer the medicine? Would any variety of touch be welcomed?

Shakily he reached out to clasp the back of the jacket with one hand and lifted the numerous blankets out from under her trapped arm. She sighed happily and turned her face in his direction to smile lovingly. The smile that normally stopped Pakhan's heart.

Which he swore his heart just stopped in his ribcage.

Her dainty fingers trailed over his fingers that held the blanket, sluggishly moving up them to cup his immobile wrist. Her smile only bloomed with the subconscious understanding that she was in safe hands. That safety had her letting go to get comfortable, chin rubbing back and forth against the grain of her desired jacket.

Without thinking he curled his index finger and with the softest, forgiving of touches affectionately traced over her fading scar.

'I will ensure you have fun at Clara Krow Bridal & Boutique with Clara herself. And then the next day you and Mal can catch up as you get pampered.'

Bernie watched the loving care Georgi gave to Kate. It tore at him in two directions, for completely different and lame reasons. His lighter side was jumping for joy and praising Georgi in his thoughtful and forward thinking of her needs. But… Lord did he give it his best to remain Bernie.

Florian was pacing at the bit. He was agitated and couldn't shake the violent protectiveness he held for his comrade's soon to be wife. Only Niko was allowed to touch her so. 'And of course me, I did claim her as my pretend girlfriend. Those "dates" should be interesting…'

He charred as he stared at Georgi's continuous stroking of Kate's now breath-taking facial expression. It irked him that it wasn't him giving her comfort. Letting her know Niko was on his way and once more would surround her in loving arms. He scoffed and rolled his eyes, there would be time to set things right. 'Might as well respond before he gets suspicious of me.'

"I'm sure he has. Now hurry along Капитан (Kapitan; Captain). She will be safe under my watch. Nothing will happen to her so long as I have my gun, knife, and air in my lungs. I too follow a sworn oath." Bernie's cheerful voice was missing, and bled back to the inner darkness of Florian to let Georgi know he would be diligent with caring for Kate.

A spare loaded magazine was tossed to him, and he easily caught it, forcing the flinch not to show with how painful it was to lift his arm. Their eyes met and it was like they could somehow read each other's thoughts in the heated moment.

'Not a hair on her head will be hurt.'

'I am trusting you… I do not wish to leave, but as you have said I have responsibilities to the Bratva.'

'Go, Pakhan would be disappointed if you slack off.'

"As you have said, so it shall be done. Be watchful over the current head of the Bratva." Georgi dropped that news at Bernie's bedside and made his way toward to the rocky folding table to collect his belongings. It technically was true. With Pakhan out of state, on a mission that was bound to go dark any minute, she would assume power till Niko's return. 'Not gonna let her know this of course…'

Georgie nodded toward Bernie and slightly saluted him, acknowledging him as Kate's protector till he could return. He gathered his laptop, notebook, and the printed security footage in his arms. He would drop it off in his room and get the mission report.

He quietly approached the door and stopped when his hand landed on the doorknob. He had yet to salute the interim head of the Bratva. Georgi turned around and started to salute but was interrupted.

"Technically you are the head that yields the burden. She is incapacitated." Florian lifted and adjusted the bed to an upright position, with clear aim to the only entrance and exit to the room. The belittling grunt left his vacant face; his eyes shifting to him from Kate's sound asleep body.

Georgi felt the dangerous static light up on his spine. The restraint needed to not draw his weapon was barely hanging on, clinging to the man Kenny molded him to be. Everything at the surface dropped to his feet as he was hit with the news.

'I am Pakhan…?'

"Do as the boss would conduct orders and place people into action. This is covered." Florian ignored the screaming pain in his body to give a proper bow of his head.

"Good. I will return after setting out tasks and daily jobs." Georgi's mind was alight with thoughts on who could figure out who killed Roy's men, check in on Vasil, have a few of his men clean out the tucked away garden for Vanya's funeral, carry out Mallorie's request, and then figure out Pakhan's request to find a fall guy… And who could explain to him how Boris managed to escape at the perfect timing with the security cam outage.

More importantly how did two people, one still greatly injured, get out unscathed?

Georgi shook the thoughts free. He would stop by his room, respond to Aleksei, then check in with the sups on specific jobs. His day was going to be extremely overloaded and depriving him of more sleep. Which was beginning to show its impatience-ness.

The door clicked behind him and his phone once more vibrated in his pocket to remind him he had a message. 'Fine! Just what do you want Aleksei? Better not be another round of… Amusing photos or videos of Pakhan. Well. Those are okay. Could use a laugh or two.'

He tried as he might not to smile or chuckle at the video Aleksei sent him of Niko swaying and horribly dancing up on a stage with six barely clothed strippers. He tucked his laptop and papers under his arm and fished out his phone. He started to walk down the hall in the direction of his bedroom, but halted when he opened Aleksei's message and read the words he couldn't possibly be seeing.

'Mission new ETA, timeline no-go.
Area secured. Орел waiting pos.
Anton for details. Ch4- going dark -Alek'

"New ETA and plan?" Georgi tapped the side of his phone and grew agitated. Just what had them changing the agreed upon mission? It was vital he knew their positions in case it all went to shit- He could at least have a starting point to come to their rescue.

"And why the fuck can't he tell me? I don't care if he is going dark! If he sent this stupid update then he should have the damn explained update on him and sent!" Georgi groaned loudly and flipped though his contacts to get to Anton's. 'He better have a good reason for why this whole mission is fucked…'

He grumbled out profanities in Russian and English as he trudged through the hall and down to his room- The one closest to Kenny's apartment with enough space to keep sound from reaching him. He shoved his phone back into his pocket and fished around for his key.

"Can't even leave them for one fucking mission on their own to watch over Pakhan and get to the target following the plan in place…" He grumbled out harshly and wanted to tear into Anton the second the call connected to each other.

The door shoved open with the lock being freed and allowed the seething Georgi into a neat and very organized unit. He followed his normal routine and removed his boots by the door, placed his laptop on the kitchen counter to be charged, paperwork going facedown next to it, and headed to his normal cushioned chair facing the door.

"Alright Anton this better be fucking good!" Georgi slumped back into his chair heavily and removed his phone clicking down to their last message to send him a new one. He closed his eyes as their last conversation popped up. Anton was worried for his son and why Lova kept leaving their apartment. The anger immediately dispersed from him, and a calmer set of fingers typed out a more professional text.

'Clean up here.
Vanya on to Undertaker.
Funeral timeline?
-G'

He pressed send and started on another one directly aimed at Anton.

'Your son will need you upon return.

Высочество (Vysochestvo) is still out.

Nothing on the security cams.

ETA on mission?

-G'

"пожалуйста (pozhaluysta ; Please). Не попадайте в еще большие неприятности. (Ne popadayte v yeshche bol'shiye nepriyatnosti ; Don't get into more trouble out there.)" He whispered to no one but himself while resting his head on the back of his chair. He rolled to be able to see the bright sunshine as it started to transform into another spectacular sunset, ones only Liberty City could produce in the winter.

The flutter that usually accompanied him at the start of a critical mission cramped his stomach. There was nothing he could do but hope and wish for the best, optimal end result. Anton and Aleksei knew their roles and would defend Niko to the end. Hell he had trained both of them on mental strength to keep going even when your body wanted to pass out. If he could trust anyone to take care of the mission it was those two. Or Rami. Though he tended to just shoot first and ask no questions after.

He had weighed the options out with Anton while he held watch in the motel. When to exactly break protocol to kill Trevor and enact the escape path method to the plane. Or simply wait it all out and keep the peace, with no need to get violent. From the stories he had heard, the small amount that got back to him, it sounded like Trevor was a loose cannon with no allegiance to anyone. Much like Pavel. A third party to every clash between mafias. Only deciding who to back when the fighting reached his doorstep...

Or the dollar amount hit his approval.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and let go of the tension that twisted his muscles. Everything would be okay and before he knew it he would hopefully be working with Pakhan on a plan of action to propose to Kate. Now those scenarios were a balm to his jumbled brain and hemorrhaging heart. The happiness and peace once more would be extremely intense then it would have been. Kenny would wake, resuming power. He would escort Niko and Kate home, attend their wedding, then find a place close by them to live. Be the silent protector even without the title required to provide that level of care.

A soft, comforting ocean breeze brushed over his face as the sway of fragrant tall grass caressed his legs. The excited laughter of Kate spilling out to mingle with the sounds off the cliffs in Ireland, only to answer with an echo of their own, Niko smiling and shaking his head in exasperation.

It was a perfect vision of the future.

"Be safe… and get back to Kate in one, unscathed piece." Georgi whispered out into his apartment unit and sunk down further into his favorite chair to get a few minutes of solitude and tranquility. Those breaks were needed desperately from time to time. Otherwise he would have gone mad years ago.

The quiet stillness hummed around him, dropping him into a meditative state; relief massaging its way over him. Clanking of utensils down in the kitchen barely reached his ears. They would be prepping food to cook for dinner soon. His mouth salivated at the idea of a warm meal. He hadn't really had much of anything over the past forty-eight hours. And the joy of beating everyone in line to be served first and quickly bloomed a genuine smile on his face.

'Ah the power of being in charge…'

He drummed his blank phone against his knee. He didn't really expect an answer from Anton. Aleksei had given the phrase to cut all contact till they reached out to him with the coded all safe text message. Plus there was absolutely no way their radio communication could reach the East Coast from Sandy Shores.

He lifted his watch into his line of sight and twisted the dial to begin the countdown for when he expected the mission to be complete. He could make it through the next several hours without any worry… Then he'd have cause to panic if they didn't reach out within the conformed timeline.

With a confirming nod he rose to get going on the other disregarded jobs. They needed to be done as the ones in charge of them were all with Pakhan tracking down Trevor. 'But first food and coffee. That is priority number one.'

A buzz in his hand had him casually looking down to read the message as he started to walk toward his apartment door, thoughts of his desired dishes bouncing around and adding to his building hunger-

'Warning. Critical status.
Pakhan K.
Pakhan has a side piece.
We are fucked.
-Ant'

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

aaaaaa

Niko had to cogently thrust his attention back to the mission at hand. He was not a lost soul wandering in the limbo between an unaccepting Heaven and an all too welcoming Hell. His fingers tapped in sequential order, cigarette burning closer to the filter, in reflective thought. 'What hidden skills do you possess? Can you handle yourself in a one-on-one match with me, or will my second need to interfere? Any loyalty or attachment to any organization… or person?'

His thoughts wandered listlessly in every direction and watched with eagle-eyed precision to see just what Trevor was made of.

Trevor took an extensive scope of the room. Rifles, handguns, and the completely random chef's knife from the swaying bartender were all fixated on him. Rapid escape plans ran through his mind till he settled on one that would guarantee success- mostly. 'It worked in the past anyway.. Soooo stab that guy, shoot the other two guarding the bar…'

"Jumping over the bar, knocking over Keith, and using the cover to get to hidden trap door won't work." Niko raised his hand and took the last drag of the stained cigarette, lowering it to the surface of the table to extinguish the dying flame. He didn't even bother to look up to him when he nailed the plan Trevor was working on. He was transfixed on the ash that scattered with his twisting of the cig on the table.

"Nuh-Huh! You can't take mine!" Trevor laughed in a twisted and scary way, "What? YOU thinkin' 'bout takin' my truck?"

"It has crossed my mind, yes-"

"Got the open back for extra shooters, open view when drivin' 'er."

"Wider tires for better traction on sand and loose dirt. A desired vehicle for getting to the airstrip."

"But she ain't goin' nowhere! I got an relationship with that red beauty. You don't wanna kno' what we've done below the stars. If you-er get what I mean." Trevor let a lewd smile grace his face, eyebrows wagging suggestively, and slightly pointed toward Johnny, "He'd kno-"

"Shut the FUCK UP Trevor!" Johnny roared from his place, taking aim at Trevor's head, finger seconds away from riddling his body with bullets. This was his moment! He had reached his limit of listening to Trevor overtalk him for the last time, "The Lost don't need the likes of you nomore!"

A hand landed on the middle of his back. It didn't move. Didn't need to. Johnny knew it was Niko silently asking him to calm down and chill. To concede to his decisions and let the head of the table manage the situation.

"Disrespect is not taken lightly." Niko coldly spoke from his seated position, left hand holding a handgun at Trevor unwavering.

They all stared at one another. Johnny still refusing to lower his weapon. Anton locked on target. And Niko's handgun that looked to be carrying a hefty caliber than the one tucked into Trevor's jean waist.

"Understood?" Niko's voice thickened with his heavy accent. The one that had Kate turning to jelly in his arms, willing for him to take charge… Giving her trust and faith in him to take care of her in whatever way he saw fit. Hooded eyes full of lust, and more prominently love flowed through the pleasure haze connecting them to burn through him the longer he paused his next move.

Their eyes met and the words just tumbled out at once. He couldn't stop them even if he tried.

"Волим те (Volim te)"

She smiled up to him and felt the tears prick the corners of her eyes. "Niko, while I could spend hours a day listening to you speak your beautiful language, I only know like three words. Those ones are new to me."

"They are foreign to me too.-One day, I will tell you what they mean."

"Vo-li-m te. I say that right?"

The weight of having his confession pulled free from him by the warm light that brightened the darkness away to let her trusting eyes connect with his own. An unknown expression that was meant for him and only him, searched him out. It was the first time he stepped forward out of the darkness.

He carved, no, selfishly desired- no.

He lived off the strong beam of a future that extinguished the life he had walked. This was where freedom truly grew and flourished. All the love in the world-

A love built and patiently waiting for him to take hold…

It all reflected in her eyes.

'She had responded immediately without even needing to think it over. She anchored herself to my soul… Her place will never fade completely within me.'

She had him shifting the end of the barrel upwards in a sign of backing away. Giving Trevor one last chance to act right.

'She will always stay your hand… You know this right?'

His one eye scarcely twitched as he tucked the pistol away in his ruined dress pants. He would come to that bridge when he was ready. Niko patted Johnny's back and relaxed back down into the chair when Johnny lowered his weapon to the surface of the table.

"Ahhh… Alright yeah. I see how it is… Yeah… ureee… Your watchdog a decent shot?" Trevor lofted his voice and took on an air of wonder, nodding his head toward the last person still unnervingly taking aim at him. It was a complete one-eighty from the threatening, violent raised voice. He focused in on Anton who had yet to move from his stationary position. Made sense to him that this person would light up the bar with precision. But with how much exactness was an unknown.

"You wish for the answer to that question?" Niko leaned back into his chair, arm returning to its restful position between him and a standing Johnny. He wagged his fingers of the other hand, and had people sag to an at ease position- but still ready to jump into action should they need to.

Johnny did a double take at how unthreatening Niko was and the appearance that he just didn't care to be here in the first place. It was slightly creating a miffed feeling inside. Niko could at least show some level of partnership or power. He was insulted for fucks sake!

Just being lax was not how Johnny envisioned this meet. He saw blood, gunfire, actual fire, car chases- the works! The typical Liberty City showdown. So clearly something else was on Niko's mind, other than tearing down Trevor and fixing the situation…

His mind briefly thought back to the redhead woman he had seen from time to time tucked into Niko's side. 'Kate! That's right…' No wonder he had a sharp tone and had deflected the small talk. He meant business so he could get back to LC and her.

He grunted at Niko's question and bent over to pick up his chair to sit in, rolling his eyes once he was out of eyesight of the boss. He definitely did not need Niko's ire at this moment. 'Not like Anton would shoot the guy…'

"Mmmm. I think I had your girl bent over the counter this morning. Looked kinda like that." Trevor smirked at the rigidness that locked up the biker, he started mimicking a thrusting of his hips. Raised his hand to slap the ass of the imaginary girl in front of him, "Yeah… Oh yeah. Don't even need to-"

The sound of a rifle firing off flashed like wildfire and encompassed the entire space. Trevor froze at once, wanting to jump with the movement of his loose shirt under his raised arm. Was he hit? Did it nick him? An internal check was frantically flowing through him for any pain or wounds.

He had to look at his shirt. Nothing was adding up. He maneuvered his arm to the side and held out his shirt to assess what had caused it to move in the motionless air of the bar. Even his disrespectful display didn't move his clothing in the slightest. He tilted his head down and comically did an inspection.

A perfect singular hole penetrated his shirt. Front and back. Through and through just below the junction of his shoulder and armpit.

"I believe that answers your question. The next time you insult my leader of operations out here in this godforsaken place, I WILL have him move that hole over to the left. Я ясно выражаюсь? (YA yasno vyrazhayus'? ; Do I make myself clear?!)" Niko's voice gradually rose in volume in order to be the only sound in the shabby bar. His slip into Russian had The Lost members realigning their shot toward Trevor, completely awestruck at how Anton managed to shoot that close and not hit his body.

"Yes, Pakhan. My next round will be less harmless." Anton spoke from his unyielding firing position. His scope moved a couple of inches to the left and trained his rifle over the heart- his kill shot.

Johnny now understood Niko's out of character behavior. It was hiding and masking the explosive rage beneath. He righted his chair and sat down next to his boss, almost leaning out of the aura leaking from the tattered, bloodied, and wrinkled dress shirt sagging off a solid body made up of years of skirmishes. He completely dismissed Trevor's stab at him. He knew one hundred percent that Ashley was back in their trailer fast asleep after hitting the pipe too hard.

'She is loyal to me… I know it. We've worked through all that… Right?'

A minor cord wound around his throat. Just enough to have his trust falter. He glanced to Niko beside him and let his loyalty reassure him that everything was perfectly fine between Ashley and him.

"My assumption is you do not understand who you are fucking with, without a care in the world. All I have to do is raise my hand and you will be a bloodied mess on the floor that Keith will need to deal with." Niko did a once over of Trevor again trying to see if any of his words got through to him. He jerked all of his fingers to the side to disarm everyone in the room, Anton continued to refuse of course.

A quick image of Kate bleeding out from his own round and collapsing down next to his kill, the face of Trevor replacing the blank one, the scene nearing completion. But why was his mind torturing him like this at the high-strung meeting he was conducting?

Just as quick as it appeared, it vanished in the same manner.

"Mmm- I guess I am supposed to know who you are? Some random person showing up to my shithole? I do not like to eat where I shit. And I got one on the way." Trevor lowered his arm and locked his face back to the irate person he had become. He had nearly been killed. And for what purpose?! He had never once seen this man anywhere.

"I will make this easy for you. Take a seat and listen, listen carefully, then you may leave to go take a shit or whatever." Niko grumbled the last few words, annoyed at the allegory Trevor poorly made. He gestured to the sole chair across the table and started a timer in his head. If it went out? Well. Keith might have to stay late with all the cleaning he would need to do.

'Why are you even giving this asshole a chance? He insulted Johnny colorfully. That's grounds for termination! You want him to catch wind of Kate and start pestering you with vile imagery?' The assassin lurked just behind his eyes giving Niko everything he needed to pull off this mission-

'NO! Don't let your fragmented thoughts get the better of you now!'

"Hey now, don't you want to play? We just want to have some fun!"The video moved and focused on Kate, who was being held down by the man he had shot. Tears streamed from her eyes, and she shook her head rapidly trying to get away from the person's hand that was holding the phone. The hand patted her cheek a couple of times causing both of the men to laugh at her struggles.

"This guy Niko ain't comin'. It's just you and us!"The hand drifted down to her breasts, and he tweaked a nipple before slapping the breast hard, making Kate scream at the pain."You get her wet yet? I'm waiting for my turn shithead!"

"No she's being a real cock block. Why don't you give her a taste huh?" The man on top of her roughly cut a piece of her nightshirt away causing a small slice to form on her pale skin. The video moved wildly as the man holding the camera took hold of the cloth. The image going to the floor of the bedroom. The sound of a zipper being undone came next.

"No please. Don't do this." Kate's voice was panicked and rushed. Rustling could be heard, the image jerking back and forth.

The video ended cutting to black.

"Annnnnddd what if I refuse this wobbly chair?" Trevor pointed to the chair innocently tucked under the edge of the table. He let his strange cadence continue, but on the inside he was studying the man who allegedly held an abundance of reach and power.

A sickness drowned Niko, assassin and all.

The assassin was displeased with the quick dispatching he had given the two men in the McReary house. Knowing now how important they were to what was happening at current, he longed to go back and spend delectable days bleeding them dry.

Those forbidden thoughts and imagery were not allowed to haunt him. He couldn't handle the crushing rage… or the limitless, permanent torment of not saving Kate sooner and stopping them from killing Ma. Never, not once, had these violating made up scenarios she went through interrupt his spoiling of her beautiful body.

'Niko come on! Banish it! Direct this toward Trevor. Use it!'

"That chair will save your life and give you possibilities you never dreamed of. The Petrovic Bratva is offering you a seat at the table. Disrespect my proposition and it will cease effectively- consequently immediately." Niko grew cold and could feel Death's breath gliding over his neck and up to his opened near miss.

Words of truth tickled his ears. 'Kill him. The pistol is only a swift move of the arm. Rifle is at your feet. Anton is at your command. Use him… He is a threat to you, your Bratva, your friends, your family, and more importantly Kate… You know what to do… Go on.'

His heart slowed into a steady beat. His hands instantly lost the stiff feeling. The room tunneled and focused solely on Trevor and his next move. He worked through Death's plans and landed on one that would be instant gratification. An idea both he and the fallen angel resting on his shoulders could agree on.

'Take the seat…'

"Never heard of ya. What uhh possibilities we talking 'bout? I gots me a rather uuhh unleashed way of dreamin', you know what I mean, eh?" Trevor looked down to the chair and for the life of him tried to figure out where he had heard the name Petrovic. A faint warning from a random person had let him know to not mess with them. Kindof like Madrazo's crew. Right?

'Please sit. I can't- Death is pressing down on my will to stop. I don't want to disappoint Kate…' His inner pleading was almost insufferable. It clawed, tore at his insides to not shoot Trevor. It wasn't his fault he was unaware of the hierarchy. But if he knows…

"An endless job that pays good and gives you protection from rival gangs and mafias. Not that I'm inclined to provide any safety net- you must be able to handle your battles alone. Ex-military, pilot, wanted criminal in I believe seven states, some in Canada- You have quite the ledger." Niko let out a breath evenly and silently. He would show his cards one at a time, when the moment called for it. No need to give up all the information when it can be weaponized to his will.

'Hush now. Death does not like to be denied of a kill. Get ready to pull that pistol free! Don't sit asshole. Just keep standing right there in one place.'

Kate deliberately shook her head no, eyes wide as saucers, beseeching- imploring to him to change his mind. Her pale face lost its focus as she placed a dripping red hand over her heart.

'Ugh! Alright one last chance, then I'm done offering chance after chance.'

He tilted his head toward Johnny and again waved his arm and hand over the table, asking for him to join them. Niko fell back into the laidback persona. He trusted Anton to cover him. Or… 'Is he truly willing to defend me now that I know he knows what happened in the motel room?' He rotated his face upwards so he could spot Anton from the corner of his eye.

Anton adjusted his fingers to release the strain and moved his sight back to having the crosshairs over Trevor's heart. He glanced down to his boss at the movement and gave him a minute nod to the question he could see building on Pakhan's face.

No matter what he did, his men would defend him relentlessly.

'I will defend you.'

A weird contrast to the life he lived. Constantly having to look over his shoulder and expecting the next fight to show. There was no rest or assurance that allowed him to sleep deeply or have prolonged sleep.

'They are at your command. Never forget this. You spot any sign of hesitance to obey your order, kick them out and let Aleksei hunt them down.'

"Huh. Alright, you totally captured my attention. More the curiosity as to why I'm clearly a threat to you. That sound 'bout right?" Trevor placed his hands on the back of the chair to glare at Niko. For a random mafia to track him down and get The Lost to help cage him in a small space? It didn't go unwarranted that he had somewhere crossed the line and hindered their operations.

Though he wanted to laugh at his choice of backup. The Angels of Death were impatiently waiting to destroy the motorcycle club permanently.

He shrugged when he couldn't connect the dots. Heavily placed hands on the back of the chair gave him balance to lean over it to invade the personal space of Niko and Johnny. Make them uncomfortable. Uneasy. It was what he knew how to do, proficiently. Keep everyone guessing and on their toes around him. He relished in seeing the fear in people's eyes he created. A high like no other.

"I have a supply line that goes to The Lost to distribute and sell as I see fit. And you keep destroying those crates. The enlarging debt you have caused has come to my attention. Most of these insignificant squabbles are dealt with by the head of the mafia of my choosing. But since they are still in the process of establishing points of interest, I must fly out to the most disgusting looking town, be in the presence of a reeking man- When all I want to do is be at home with all the fires put to rest.

So yes you are an inconvenience in my work. And you think you're a threat? I know what it is like to be the most wanted man in the country and others. You have been flagged and on the wall of every FIB and IAA office." Niko shifted forward and crossed his arms on the table mirroring Trevor's tactics.

"Pffft puh-lease. Ain't no way you know that!" Trevor rolled his eyes to blankly stare at Johnny, "What? You wishin' to join the ranks buddy?"

"I have people on the inside. There is nowhere I cannot reach." Niko spoke callously and lifted his right hand to jerk Trevor's face back to facing him, ring flashing in the flooding sunlight from a broken window, "Sit. Or leave. You choose."

Trevor weighed his options. This was starting to look like a serious situation. He had to agree with the fact that he had and still is blowing up crates or setting them on fire. It was hilarious to see Johnny meltdown over another loss of whatever was inside the crates. Now he knew it was something of value- which means a hefty price tag- and required a rather lucrative paycheck. Steady income.

The blade was tipping in one direction, headed to fall off the balance point.

He scrapped the chair out and plopped down to the seat, shoving the hand away from his chin, pinning it to the table.

"I'm sitting now. So start this offer or whatever it is."

aaaaaa

Georgi slammed his door shut, the ricochet rattling the walls as he stormed off to the gym or the courtyard or anywhere that would stop adding to his new laceration across him, created by the simple typed out words from Anton. He had to work out this gushing wound. Stem it from taking over his control- ending his life. People stumbled to be out of his charging pace, bowing their heads while trembling head to toe, salutes rushing to be completed.

He cared less as to if people were giving him the proper acknowledgement. Nothing, absolutely nothing, mattered right this moment to him. He wanted to punch the wall as he turned the corner, main stairway catching his eye. His brain moved his body as he couldn't make up where he wanted to be right now. Completely lost to the red haze that clouded his vision. The extensive wrath that wanted to choke him out. The gut-wrenching torment he felt for Kate.

He felt like he couldn't breathe or walk anymore!

The mission was in critical status.

Pakhan outweighed Kenny.

Niko has a side piece.

And they were all severely fucked.

An angry scream bubbled and boiled up his throat just as he shoved the metal push double doors to the gym open. Snapping them into the cool concrete whitewashed walls. Memories recoiled inside him at the way he intruded into a safe space within the compound. This was not the room for unforgivable ire.

Students gathered around on the raised springboard gymnastics exercise floor, eyes glued to their instructor's blocks and throw away checks. The teacher was pretend fighting with two of the other higher-ranking students, exposing openings, praising their successes, and correcting their form as they transitioned from position to position after a strike. They hadn't heard the smash of the doors, too enraptured with the learning experience before them.

Georgi's eyes followed the movement easily as he approached the felt floor, ignoring the teenaged kids running the obstacle course around the perimeter of the huge room. Jumping over padded foam blocks, climbing up random objects, needing to make snap decisions to keep fleeing the instructor. Escape exercise as they deemed it.

This room held so many fond and painful memories for him. Now it would add deeply hurt and all-encompassing indignation. He prayed it was just a joke or an incorrectly typed text. His mind just wouldn't picture Niko doing anything to harm Kate. Especially sleeping around or giving the same level of treatment to Kate to someone else. They were textbook puppy love in his eyes and the tiniest of thoughts about one of them intentionally harming the other was just wrong! Inconceivable!

Niko wasn't one to betray loyalty. And Kate would rather die than hurt Niko.

Georgi had pillared that statement in his mind in order to conform to the new Head of the Bratva. If Niko was a sloppy mess, at least he could count on loyalty. He could manage bullshit and mistakes, but so long as he kept practicing what he preached, he could forgive some of the messes he created. But now? His brain hissed at him.

The stabbing electricity shot everywhere inside, and he turned on his heel toward the locker rooms. The only way he could calm down enough to think would be to beat the shit out of a punching bag. The door opened as a couple of young-looking men laughing and joking around exited, the last one emerged slowly and held the door open with a bowed head. Georgi stopped in front of the male and lifted his face up from the bowed position, burying his scowl at the deep purple and swollen shut eye.

"Do not let this set you back. Fight harder through the pain to reach a new height of strength. Let the scars show and proudly proclaim you won in the end." Georgi released the man's chin and patted the shoulder of the arm holding the door open, "There will be more injuries to come when you continue to open this shoulder for attack."

"да (da, yes), советник (sovetnik, counselor/advisor)." The man saluted Georgi properly and bowed his head once more in entrenched respect.

"Go on. Don't keep your instructor waiting. I doubt you want to add a hundred pushups to your daily training." Georgi took hold of the door and shooed him on, "Wait. What is your name Солдат (Soldat, Solider)?"

In mid-step the man turned around and held his closed fist over his heart, "Абрам. (Abram)."

"It will be interesting to watch your growth Abram. Eyes are on you now to fix your mistakes. There is no room for error when in the field." Georgi nodded to Abram and left him to decide how to take his words. It was always rewarding to see someone complete their training from start to finish and then get placed into a specialized field. Follow in the footsteps of the ones now protecting the boss.

His mind began to wander through all the harsh treatment he endured in order to perfect their signature fighting style... Before having to go through hell to learn another style. And another. And another. Till they all could seamlessly flow through them all when in hand-to-hand combat. Knife fighting, shooting, sniping- those all came after a person graduates.

Only those who could land a hit or knock down their instructor moved on.

"I remember that look wandering through the rows of lockers in order to snap you out of another loss." A chuckle filled the room, followed by the metal clanking of a locker being shut, "What? You think I didn't notice the sulk and mope you forced us all to endure? Good lord was it annoying!" A bright and cheerful face poked around the corner of a row of lockers and smiled in Georgi's direction, before realizing the state his friend was in.

"Sooo? Spill. You only ever come here to vent. So you might as well start. I'll get the gloves and tape." The man stood at the end of the row and crossed his arms over his chest. He slouched into a cold, locked locker and lifted his eyebrow in waiting, "What? Pakhan hand over the ring? That would put my bet close to the jackpot."

"I can get it all. You just finished your workout. Dinner is in forty minutes. Don't bother Anatoly. Really." 'As much as I need you right this second to balance me out, I don't want to keep you from your girl.' Georgi sucked in air greedily and exhaled just as fast. He planned to focus on his breathing while changing clothes and preparing to box on his own. He would find his way out of the chaos and become centered once more. The last thing he wanted to do was verbalize the text message that was running on loop in his head.

"Geo. Come on. Change and meet me in the ring. Tis' the only way to get that ugly frown off your face!" Anatoly laughed outright and turned to head to the back office to get a spare pair of gloves, tape, and mouthguard he had stashed away for such an occasion. He knew Georgi in and out and was always there for him when his job got to be too much to handle. And it looked like today was starting off like shit.

'Might just win that bet after all!' Anatoly smirked as he shifted a couple of gym mats to the side in the office space, listening intently to hear Georgi either confirm or deny his statement.

"Since you asked so nicely…- asshole." Georgi rolled his eyes but inside was truly thankful to have Anatoly there to unload on. It was the outstretched hand to help pull him up from the growing darkness. The easy, unprofessional back and forth banter. His escape from the title he carried proudly. Georgi could only snort when he heard what sounded like giddy skipping, "And NO! Pakhan remains in power. Don't question the head of the table." 'Which isn't exactly stable right this second…'

"Mmm if I'm the asshole then you're Pakhan's bitch! The one in power currently of course!" Anatoly let out a hoot as a sneaker came flying over the top of the lockers to hit the metal frame leading to the storage room slash office, "Not really a dismissal Geo!"

"At least I'm not a swinger! You dumb-shit. Can't even decide who to fuck today." Georgi laughed wholly for the first time in what felt like weeks. When in truth it was only a day. Kate was pulling this side more and more to the surface that it was getting difficult to not cross the line when in public. He needed to not show the world his attachments and thoughts. It would only endanger those he was affectionate with- and that couldn't be allowed to happen…

His shoe smacked against the bench before bouncing off to the titled floor- causing both of them to laugh louder, "I'll show you a dismissal!" Georgi's snort echoed in the room before they both fell into another round ruckus laughter. 'Come on now! Shove it all down! Don't let your steeled spine and stony face crumble!'

"You! Oh you! You-" Anatoly managed to get out between chuckles and wheezing, tears forming in his eyes for so many reasons. The natural friendship that spanned between them for years that always could be picked up from where they left off. The fact that he too needed Georgi and was thankful for the turn of his day. And to mourn the man Georgi used to be before Kenny shut off the annoying, but comical personality. Getting to hear his voice lift and belly laugh again was breaking his heart while also squeezing it back together.

"Can't even come up with a good comeback? Shit I guess you really are stuck on the fence!" Georgi wiped away the happy tears and started to change into the boxing outfit he stored in his old, retired locker. He was scrambling to keep their teasing going. He needed to constantly be talking or he'd break down completely. And that was not an option while in a common area of the compound. He would not let himself slip up too much. His boss was counting on him to keep everything together! 'As if he even cares to keep things together! What the fuck was he even thinking? And who in the world could possibly get Niko to shift his attention off of Kate?!'

The scowl wanted to drop so bad from his face. The anger just kept receding leaving him open and raw. The face he showed the world would not return to him. Not with the news he couldn't break down or get answers to immediately. 'Not without possibly putting them in danger… Remember radio silence. They went dark for a reason…'

"You'd be my sugar baby on days where I need spoiling, like an old flame just yearning to ignite once more! Or! Do the spoiling! But alas this ass is taken for the moment. Yet… I could be persuaded to, oh, you know, swing on over to a different field of play!" Anatoly giggled knowing full well he was a sucker for the woman he was currently dating. Possibly getting serious with. He waved the thoughts off and picked up the ready-made bag of Georgi's boxing equipment. He always had one on hand just in case his friend wandered on in. More like several as his eyes traveled over the mound of ready-made go-bags.

"You know I'm not allowed to have attachments with советник (sovetnik, advisor) title hanging over my head. I am practically married to Kenny and not getting any of the benefits." Georgi half-heartedly chuckled softly as he pulled the tank top over his head, the bold, large, symbol of the Bratva stitched in over where his heart brutally beat uncontrollably. The embroidered Cyrillic letters spelling out his rank beautifully arched over the crest, proclaiming him as important.

'Wait! What did he just say? An old flame… Yearning to ignite…

Oh. Fuck.

Niko no… Come on now…

You let Karen seduce you?!'

Georgi buried his face into his hands and silently lowered down to the long bench and started to hyperventilate. Opening his eyes wasn't a possibility, for when he did all he could see was an indifferent Niko mirroring Kenny after a rendezvous with some random lady. Kate being ignorant of it all because her loyalty went to Niko first- above all else. It ate at his insides causing a sickening shudder to rock his body.

"And you- You throw what you have away for the IAA…?" Georgi whispered so low in Russian his voice simply died once parted from his quivering lips. He reached for his rage and felt nothing. He reached for his resentment, and again felt nothing. The shoving of sorrow and bitter acceptance was building in a sadistic manner. Unchecked was a dangerous thing when it came to him.

Georgi's lash outs were never dry. Someone ended up bleeding and in the hospital.

'Or dead.'

Coldness, a wet weighted blanket, slapped down on his shoulders. Forcing his eyes to glass over and freeze with the darkest, blankest of stares.

He was losing it. His control was breaking away too easily-

And it terrified him.

"Wouldn't be so much as an attachment- more like a booty-call, да (da, yes)?" Anatoly threw the strap of the bag over his shoulder and closed the door to the office. No one else should need anything of importance from the tiny room. Afterall it was his workspace. His heartwarming eyes landed on the plaque with his name spelled out. His low title of Партнер before инструктор Анатолий (instructor Anatoliy) always left a chip in his shoulder. But he was overjoyed that Georgi got the position over him. He could handle Partner Instructor.

"I could light the fireplace, sprawl out that ridiculous fur rug you hate in front of the crackling fire, champagne bubbling away in our glasses as we lean toward one another… Then magically kiss and tear one another's clothes off in the most scrumptious of ways. Oh Geo, I think I'm swooning!" Anatoly let out a booming round of laughter before noticing he was the only one laughing.

"G?" Anatoly emerged into the row of lockers that held Georgi's prized one and froze. "Oh Geo! What has happened?!" He dropped the bag to his feet and hurried forward to straddle the bench, pulling his friend into a frantic hug, "My Pakhan! You are shaking. Let me help. You know I'm here for you G."

Georgi simply leaned into his friend's embrace and let the shaking, hazardous breathing, hushed tears, and need to be held out. Arms tightened around him, and he broke. All it took was one sign of affection and it ripped him to pieces. Broke the dwindling resolve that refused to heal and retore itself. And this was only his friend. There was no chance he could face Kate now…

"Oliy- I. I…? I can't be Kenny's puppet! I just can't! The- Th- The title has finally crushed me." Georgi turned his face into Anatoly's neck and returned the fierce hug, "I'm… I… I'm so lost right now!"

"Shhhh. It's all going to be okay. There was not a red sun rising this morning. There is nothing to fear." Anatoly started to gently rock his best friend and caress the lengthy blonde, dull, losing its curl, hair. He held back his snarky comment about needing to trim his locks and maybe dye it again. Now was not the time for jesting. He needed to calm Georgi down, get him talking about what was going on, and what caused him to retreat like this.

"Red sky at night, sailors' delight. Red sky at morning, sailors take warning." Georgi mumbled the fable in Russian and let the soothing rocking motion drift his negativity away. But the coldness remained in place. Locking down all the rest as it dripped in thick trails from his hunched shoulders.

"That's it…

Bright blue the sky,

Sun up on high – " Anatoly whispered smiling when Georgi started to relax and shift with the recognition of the words softly hummed. He was flying through his normal tactics in his mind on what would be best for the man struggling with reality in his arms. It was so far out of character that it was starting to fill him with fear for what was to come in the next few days.

"May there always be sunshine…

May there always be blue skies…"

Georgi recalled the nursery song his mother used to sing to him every night to fall asleep. It had been a miracle to find someone else who still enjoyed the warning lyrics from the song. He could almost hear his mother's lulling, tender voice as she would stroke over his hair till he drifted off to dreams unknown. Her loving smile and gentle hands longed to be with him once more- The coldness flinched at such a memory.

"Peace must be won,

Dark clouds must not hide the sun."

Anatoly sung the last few lines of the song in a hushed tone and titled to be able to find his friend's face, gently rubbing his knuckles down over Georgi's cheek, "You coming back to me?"

"You gonna have to spoil me first before I cave." Georgi shook his head and lowered his eyes to rest on the blue and red stripped lockers, "I um-"

"Don't ruin this for me. You know I am dying to do something with your once gorgeous locks!" Anatoly barked out surprised laughter when he was skillfully plopped down to the cold titled flooring, "Oooowww don't be such a sourpuss!"

"You love me for it." Georgi winked at his friend, rose from the bench gracefully, and headed toward the waiting duffle bag, "But I do get rather ruffled when people take forever to get going!" He felt lighter- more like himself. The one who could problem solve, protect his wards, give out orders, oversee bullshit, and have fun all at the same time. He sighed lightly and began to walk toward the wooden swing door. He'd get in a decent workout with his friend, then get back to defusing fires within the compound and beyond.

'And figure out if Niko really did cheat on Kate with Karen. It will divide the compound…'

That perked the coldness to try at taking hold again.

"Maybe. My love does have its limits when not reciprocated." Anatoly scurried to his feet and raced to walk side by side with his best friend. He nudged Georgi's shoulder with his own before taking a few steps ahead to push the door open, "My dear, dear советник (sovetnik). I believe the center ring awaits your presence." He bowed lowly in an almost mocking manner.

"You await my punches…" Georgi struggled with the smile as he lightly shoved Anatoly's head toward the door to walk by, "I require your graceful presence to grip thyn bag-ith in the conduction of the tale old form of boxing, boxin-ith, box-, boxith- screw it. Get your ass over there and hold the punching bag for me while I unload some bullshit updates." Georgi smirked and jerked his head toward the empty boxing ring, eyes gleaming in happiness when Anatoly roll waved his hand down as he ridiculously curtsied.

"Ah Master! I shalt be ever joyous to receive-ith your venting!" Anatoly quietly laughed knowing there were other classes going on in the gym and he needed to shorten his fondness toward Georgi in front of other higher ups and students. He could see the tenderness in Georgi bleed away to be the unapproachable leader he presented the Bratva, with a hint pleading in his eyes to continue their acting out.

"Cut it out alright. You're embarrassing me." Georgi halfheartedly rose his voice to a girly standard and over exaggerated the back of his hand to his forehead move. He held the pose and waited for Anatoly's squirming to reach its tipping point. He would protect these few moments with his friend and cage them up to be his emergency lifeline when Niko returned to the compound. 'But he isn't Pakhan here…'

'I am.' Georgi felt the icy grip take hold and knew there was no way out. He would shove it all to the side and handle it like he did with Kenny. That was what his job title required. And he lived and died by the rules in place of ranking within the kingdom Kenny built. The small taste of sitting at the top was intoxicating- for both meanings.

"Stop. You know I must show fidelity in your personal space and follow the rules. Do not get me in trouble!" Anatoly nervously clutched his hands together and rapidly looked around the room to see if anyone had spotted them. He couldn't afford to be tattled on and have his job placed in jeopardy.

"Can't get in trouble while I am acting Pakhan." Georgi turned on his heel when his friend's knees wobbled and finally gave out. He knew his friend would follow along once the shock wore off. The workout of the year was awaiting him, and he shivered in anticipation. Nothing was going to bother him till he worked some of this chaotic energy off.

aaaaaa

A blade landed on the flat side of the arm that dared to touch Niko, "Do. Not. Touch. Him. Respect the hand that feeds or I will saw it off with a dull dinner knife." Anton had darted around the table within a blink of an eye when he suspected Trevor's move. He would not fail in his job.

'Not like I did with Kate…'

"Geez he always so tightly strung?" Trevor let out a humorous laugh from his seated position and pointed at Anton with his unhindered hand. He obeyed the over-the-top response and released the hand he pinned to the table.

"Only when commanded to." Niko nodded his thanks to his second and motioned him back to his firing spot. The close calls were another tactic to get Trevor moving into the direction he wanted. Baiting the mouse toward the poisoned cheese. He didn't care what happened to Trevor once the DOA swung in, or the IAA, or whoever, so long as his lucrative line of business stayed intact and unopposed.

"Just like an attack dog huh? Anywhooo let's talk money first." Trevor glared at Anton as he moved back toward Niko's blind spot and took up aim toward him. He was getting annoyed at having people threaten him, when it was really the other way around. He wasn't lying when he said the Angles of Death wanted to wipe Johnny and his gang off the face of the planet. With an aggravated huff he stroked over where the knife had dug in, trying to remove the sleep feeling that had taken over his hand.

His eyes darted down to the table when he thought he heard a motorcycle backfire. But quickly recovered when no other noise followed it, pursing his lips when the thought of a certain motorcycle club bargaining in on this bizarre meet…

'Ah fuck. Gonna have to cut this meeting short!'

"That comes last. Don't you want to know who you will be working with to gain stacks of money from?" Niko noticed the shift in attitude and body language. He was picking up on the preparedness to duck or run build along Trevor's arms. Niko blinked a couple of times and glanced at the two bikers standing guard on post on the smarmy windows. They simply shrugged to him after another rapid assessment of the dusty, what could be deemed as a parking lot, and major roadway out front.

Something wasn't right. They had sat here for too long.

It was a mistake and he immediately turned in his chair to openly stare at his second and communicate his thoughts without voicing them. Anton lowered his weapon as it dawned on him as well. It never bode well to stay in one place too long when in enemy territory. Kenny must have overstayed his welcome in LS and was what got him cornered…

"What? I no longer interesting to you?" Trevor's voice evened out and grew serious, with an undertone of warning. The movement and renewed buzz in the room had him on edge. He didn't give a shit about anyone in the bar, well- maybe Keith, and he studied the placement and layout of everyone in the room again.

"Did you know we'd be meeting in this bar today?" Niko snapped his eyes down to his protection and lifted up his vest. Anton dropped his rifle to dangle at his side and practically took over for Niko to basically 'dress' him. Patches, attachments, and straps were rushed into place, ignoring the poor state his shirt was in underneath the bright, bold lettering of Pakhan. The roar of a motorcycle stilled everyone within the decrepit bar, "Answer me. Did you know the head of the Petrovic Bratva was going to confront you?"

Niko felt around his vest to identify where his rifle was, his back up pistols, extra magazines, grenades, smoke, communications radio. He slipped the earpiece into his ear and got it seated correctly. Anton clicked the radio dial on his shoulder over to channel 4 and opened the line, before doing the same for himself.

"…-ayday, Mayday. Repeat. Mayday, Mayday. It's a trap! Confirm message!" Aleksei's voice frantically came blasting through the static filled line and got Niko and Anton moving.

"Johnny!" Niko called out as more motorcycles could be heard approaching from different directions, "It's an ambush!" He was hauled to his feet by Anton and shoved in the direction of the wooden bar-top entrance.

"Cover your positions, then head out the back to get to your bikes!" Johnny called out strongly to his men as he swore under his breath. He should've known Trevor would side with the Angels of Death on today of all days. It wasn't so far out of the norm to connect the dots with why the rival gang was charging the lone bar in Sandy Shores.

"Shit. Sounds like a few people are pissed at you John Boy." Trevor laughed as he leaned back into his wobbly chair, "And maybe I did and maybe I didn't. What's it to you?!" The sly understanding and deception gleamed in Trevor's eyes as he watched Niko be dragged toward the bar and where the escape hatch rested.

Anton halted and turned to lift his rifle, firing off in Trevor's direction.

The bullet tore through the air next to Trevor's head just as a barrage of bullets sprayed the entire entrance side of the building.

People scrambled for cover and to put as much obstacles between the bullets and their bodies. Johnny flipped the table over and took cover, yanking on Trevor's leg as he attempted to run to the back of the bar, "You dumb-shit! Look at what you've caused now!" Johnny was ripe with fury. Just when he thought this was going to be civil in the terms of underground mafias went, an ambush put the balance of peace in danger.

What if Niko got hit? What if they all got killed? Would Liberty City rain hell down on the rest of Sandy Shores in revenge?

Trevor crawled behind the table when he realized running for it wasn't an option anymore as bullets continued to shoot in every direction, splintering wood, and shattering glasses above the bar, "Fuckers! They took out my lunch!"

Niko army crawled between the bar and the backbar, using his rifle to keep his arms and hands out of the sea of broken glass. He spotted a few intact bottles of high proof liquor and pulled himself under the nearest shelf to cut part of what was left of his sleeves away from his already ruined dress shirt. 'Hopefully Roy wasn't expecting to get any of the clothes back…'

Niko popped the dried-out cork free from one jug and took a heavy swig, nearly spitting all of it out when the hot liquid hit his tongue, "Fuck! What the fuck is this shit?!" He gagged and rubbed his lips across his arm to lessen the intense burn he was feeling all over. Heat scorched over his skin and through his stomach, warming and igniting the flames to rage through the enemy forces outside. It was a jumpstart to his still slightly hungover system.

He crammed the torn cloth down inside the jug, sealing the opening closed with a knotted section of his torn sleeve, securing it in place to soak the cloth in alcohol. He repeated the process from the other couple of jugs he could reach, keeping the vodka one for himself. He rolled to his back and downed a few gulps of the vodka and closed his eyes, letting the sounds, voices, and chaos around him calm and guide him for his next couple of moves.

The vodka merrily went down and charged his fingers with a renewed fight and excitement to start eliminating enemies without hinderance or interruptions. He took in a deep breath of gunpowder, broken wood, and stale alcohol. Not exactly the welcoming committee of scents, but it would do in this moment. Niko rolled back into the open space behind the bar, splinters of wood flying sporadically from where a bullet stuck the shabby manufactured bar. He picked up a jagged two by four and swept the glass away in order to move down further toward the now missing front door.

"Anton, windows!" Niko shouted in Russian and rose to a squatted position, pulling a lighter free from the dirty apron of Keith, who was cowering next to the cooler and minifridge. He lit the ends of the cloth and glanced over his shoulder to wait for his second's move.

Anton barely made out his boss' voice, but recognized what he was making out of the littered bottles of liquor. When a semi pause in gunfire presented itself, Anton jumped to his feet and made quick work of the two front facing windows, creating the widest opening he could make, changing out his empty mag for a new one, silently walking toward his boss' location.

Niko rose to his feet with the nudge of Anton's foot, flipped the bottle around in his hand, and chucked the burning cloth stuffed liquor through the window. Instantly repeating it to the other window and finally two more through the door. People began screaming in terror and pain as the bottles nearly exploded and ruptured fire in all directions. Coating bikes, jackets, and dried wood of the front porch.

Niko didn't wait for permission and leapt over the bar and ran toward the overturned table. He slid into the safe space and gripped the front of Trevor's shirt, "I don't give a shit if you knew or not. But you are now under my protection to get me out of this targeted building and to MY stolen plane. Let's go!" He ducked slightly when he heard a metal object bounce nearby and roll into view.

"BOSS GRENADE!" Anton screamed in concern.

Trevor spun himself and Niko to change places- shoving Niko backwards into Johnny's body. He lunged for the metal sphere, clutching it in his fist as he rolled to his feet and chucked it out the front door mere seconds before it exploded. The shockwave knocked Trevor off his feet and toward the back of the falling apart building. As well as all of the still intact furniture, shards of glass, chunks of wood, and precious bottles of alcohol.

Noise vanished to be replaced by a high pitch ringing. The familiarity of it all jogged Niko's mind from the daze and into war mode. His comrades needed him to lead them to freedom. To get them out of danger. He sat up from his sprawled position over Johnny and sat with his back to the overturned table. He didn't want to admit it, but the shockwave had agitated all of his old wounds, including the renewed bleeding one on the side of his head.

He felt around on the waist flap of his bulletproof vest and felt the cool metal greet him. He yanked the grenade free and pulled the pin, counting down in his head to cook the explosive. He spun to his side and lifted up to his knees, flinging the ball out the front door with perfect timing, "Frag out!", to exit the building and explode at the feet of his enemies

The explosion wasn't quite as powerful but would spare them a couple of seconds to get their escape plan into action.

Trevor and Niko both locked eyes, "Jump over the bar! Trap door!"

Their voices equally matched in intensity,

"Get moving!"

"You first!"

"My orders come firs-"

"Fine you badass, grenade throwing, mother fucker. Follow me." Trevor shoved to his feet and pulled on the shoulder strap of Niko's vest to put them in motion. They didn't have time to waste in a pissing match. Every second counted, "The tunnel will get us to the building by my truck."

"Johnny have your men leave out the back and ride off to get help. No questions. Move it!" Niko grabbed Johnny's arm and pulled him up as he took off after Trevor, jumping once more over the bar, landing next to Anton who was readying a few more Molotov's.

Anton briefly looked up to count his group to protect and frowned at Trevor's presence. He shoved any disapproval and doubts to the side. They were all in the fight for their respective lives. If partnering now got them out of this mess alive, then so be it. Maybe then they could come to an agreement. He listened as Johnny's men dashed out the back door and started up their motorcycles with a rambunctious roar.

"Can we trust him?" Anton took the lighter from the shaking Keith and eyed his boss, plan formulating in his mind.

"For now. Watch him for a double switch." Niko kicked the debris clear of the floor hatch and took one handle while Trevor took the other. He stopped lifting when a hand got extended to him and obscured his vision of the trap door handle.

"Look. Water under the bridge. You get me outta here bullet free, I'll work with whoever you want. This ain't goin' to be pretty." Trevor shoved his hand further in Niko's direction, "Partners?"

"Partners." Niko quickly shook Trevor's hand, "Niko, by the way, head of the Petrovic Bratva operating out of LC and abroad." Together they pulled the heavy door free to stare down into a dark pit.

"Eh Trevor Phillips. CEO of Phillips Enterprises." Trevor released Niko's hand and braced himself on the openings of the hatch, "Drop is 'bout four feet. Not a hard landing." Trevor explained as he readied to drop down into the darkness, "See you at the light at the end of the tunnel!" His form dived out of view and landed with a soft thud.

"Get out of there! New squad inbound! Rocket launchers spotted. Machine gun anchored to a heavily outfitted truck. Too many rifles to count. At least one-" The snap and crack of false thunder reverberated in the bar and caused both Niko and Anton to reach for their weapons, as Johnny paused to jump below- balancing on the edge. Niko shoved at Johnny's back to get him into cover at the recognized sound of a high caliber sniper round. "Sniper K.I.A. I believe that is one point Alek. Zero points Ant." Aleksei spoke over the comm link with a now light humorous cadence in his voice, "Ah make that two…"

Another louder clap of thunder had Niko nearly tossed into the underground tunnel. Anton took one last sweep of the bar to ensure their people were out and on their orders. He motioned for Keith to get moving but the man refused. Anton's eyeroll somewhat hurt as he jerked the man's shirt toward him and shoved the dude into the shaft, "Bar secured. About to even the count. Mister only has two K.I.A.s!" Anton pressed his earpiece closer to his ear and lips to ensure Aleksei could hear him.

"They in the bar! Hey! John Boy your time has come! The Angels of Death got you surrounded! Your boys leave you behind to just die?! What pathetic pieces of shit. Now come out, come out, wherever you are!" A country sounding man shouted out and sang. Footfalls moved closer to the bar and crossed the threshold. Anton balanced himself over the opening and threw the four bottles he had made at the people storming the front. Screams rent the air as flesh ignited with melted leather.

"Find me, find me, chase me down. You'll never catch me!" Anton sang in return, dropping down while pulling the hatch closed behind him. The crackle of the fire taking over the building spread out and grew in volume, only slightly muffled by the thick hatch door. A couple of explosions shook the door and spurred Anton on. Last thing he wanted was for the fire to get to him.

"You have to be the lamest assassin I have ever worked with." Aleksei's dry laugh came over the radio waves. Forcing Anton to chuckle as he hurried his steps down the tunnel, bracing his hand against the cool soil walls.

"And you two are the biggest dorks. Counting kills. Come on." Niko's lighthearted voice greeted his two men, before growing serious again, "Four bikes are blocking the exit of extraction point. They have Trevor's truck contained. Little help DarkAngel?" Niko used the binoculars found in the abandoned shack to scope out their exit path to the waiting red truck.

Trevor knelt next to him with his handgun in the ready position. Keith had dashed to the back of the building to find a hiding place, neither killer nor biker paid him any mind. Trevor tapped Niko's shoulder once he was done talking, "You got any more of those explosives? Might be able to rig it to a sticky bomb I got stashed in here."

"And do what exactly with it?" He lowered the goggles just enough to give Trevor a side glare. There were only humans standing around and he wasn't in the mood to hike the distance to the airfield, open for attack, because the wild man next to him wanted to blow up the truck.

"Seriously. Ain't much to target outside besides those fuckers you probably sicked on us." Johnny dropped down from scoping out the space where Trevor had lazily parked the truck.

"Hold DarkAngel. Got a plan formulating. Listen for my mark." Niko rushed out in Russian and gave Trevor his attention. He knew he would have to count on Trevor for the time being and hope this wasn't some long-winded way to capture him in the same manner as Kenny.

"Hang on fancy pants- Hey Ron need some help. Drive on by the old rest stop and let me know what you see. Kinda stuck in a situation, if you know what I mean." Trevor held his cell phone up to his ear and started to frown the longer he listened to the complaining and annoyed voice, "Either ask Wade to drive you or work through the fucking pain to come get me!" He raised his voice just enough to get his point across but not alert the Angels of Death members on the other side of the wall.

He ended the call and just expected them to follow his orders anyway, "Alright. My guy will drive past, the assholes out front will recognize them giving us a chance to leave; we rush out and attach the sticky to the larger looking bike out there, climb into my truck and hightail it outta here. And BAM! Dude gets his butthole cooked and knocks out the others as they chase after us. Cool?" Trevor cocked his head to the side to see if either of them understood the new plan of escape.

"Cool. Take point. Here." Niko handed over the last grenade he had and watched as Trevor crawled over to a tipped over broken crate to remove a hidden adhesive application for an explosive device.

"Normallllly I got some stashed C4. But this will work- should work. We will find out." Trevor studied the wiring and timer to rig the sphere to the tape instead of a nice block of C4. In theory the timer should yank the cooked grenade's pin and explode a split-second later. He tapped the clock face and wished he had someone more experienced with explosives… 'Michael would know how to rig this better…'

He shook his head free of thoughts of his dead friend and went back to work. Their window of escape would be small, and shrinking by the second the longer they waited behind cover. Eventually the other bikers would catch on that the weren't in the bar anymore and their men were dead instead.

"DarkAngel target the closest man to the truck. When ready take him out after a friendly vehicle passes. You in position?" Niko shifted his feet in his knelt position and nodded when Trevor and Johnny both joined him at his side. It was now or never, and he was looking forward to getting out of the killbox and start returning fire of his own.

"Oooh I like my nickname. Anton's can be PapaBear or something! Locking on target, on my mark!" Aleksei laughed softly, making sure to not let it disturb his aim. His aim wavered every time he took a deep breath or a rapid one. His boss was counting on him to take out his assigned target. Missing would ensure failure or death to the head of the Bratva.

'No pressure. Be steady now…' His eye watched as a two-seater beater of a truck barreled down the dusty road in the direction of the abandoned rest stop. His breathing slowed as he did last millisecond corrections in order to strike his target.

"Fuck you! You little-" Anton barked rather loudly from his position behind his boss, rifle going back and forth between the two closest men by the door to their hiding location.

"Men. Focus!" Niko flung his arm back and lightly punched Anton's knee, raising his binoculars to try to locate Aleksei's sniper nest.

"Yes Pakhan. Three- Taking out point man first, two… Truck almost-… One!"

The bullet charged the long distance rapidly, approaching the unsuspecting man holding position on the idle bike, now alert to the two men who had just sped past them, hand revving the engine to take off.

"Say до свидания (do svidaniya; goodbye) mister asshole." Niko patted Trevor's arm and dropped the binoculars to the dusty floor, as the man's head nearly snapped clean off the body, the thundering shockwave chasing after the spraying blood. The signal to escape had been rung.

aaaaaa

*in my best DragonBall Z narrator voice* Next time on "The Price They Paid"-

Niko attempts to escape Sandy Shores and San Andreas with the help of Trevor and others- while hopefully cementing the new deal and arraignment with Trevor Phillips Enterprises, or whatever he decides to call his company in the moment.

Meanwhile back in Liberty, Georgi takes his ultimate frustrations out on the poor innocent punching bag… Before his life truly gets beyond complicated.

Stay tuned to see the epic conclusion of the San Andreas arc!

*coughs horribly* Mmh. Forgive me there. LOL Sooooo? Good? Bad? Not meeting expectations? Let me know in the comments or private messaging. I truly, deeply, and wholeheartedly love the feedback from everyone. It motivates me in ways outside of writing in my life. I've tried my hardest to stick to a schedule of writing, reviewing, and then posting.

I will do my best to get the next chapter out before/on Christmas.

But if not! Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and a Joyous and Blessed Kwanzaa!

Happy Holidays everyone! Until next time on the exciting episode of "The Price They Paid"-

CzechKris