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TWG:R
~Endless Possibilities Arc~
Chapter 109: Liberty City Isaribi Chronicles 16
Liberty City, 2008. You could say I was different in my post-Lost days, physically the same, but not mentally. You could say I basically shed the biker in me for the most part in my wardrobe. I also was driving instead of riding motorcycles more often than not. If anything, I did encourage Niko to hang out with Bernie Crane a bit more. If anything, Niko needed a friend to help him cope with his war issues. While I would end up missing out on clipping some Russian blackmailers, I'd end up joining on what was supposed to be a peaceful boat ride.
[Buoys Ahoy]
"You know Bernie, you still got it!" Isaribi said as she clipped another Russian. "You boat like you never left the army."
"I'm not too proud of it." Bernie remarked.
"Bernie, given the circumstances…you should be." Niko said reloading his gun. "Besides, that's the last of them."
"I really was hoping this could be peaceful." Bernie said forlornly.
"Look on the bright side, less Russians that rat Dimitri has in his pockets." Niko snarked. "Less problems for Dawkins."
"Not going to lie, I still think it's royally fucked you're doing this with him. Taking aside his political views, he is a married guy. I may not have a lot of morals, but I do at least value marriage." Isaribi said as Bernie and Niko gave her a look. "What? The man has a family that'll suffer from the fallout. Plus, given he's a political slimeball…what's stopping him from fucking Bernie over to save his own ass? If it's shitty enough to cheat…you know."
I think Niko looked relieved that it was me saying that and not him. Bernie knew I was not speaking of malice but genuine worry for his safety. We'd return to the docks. I'd get paid for the work, but Niko would be gifted something. A car. However, I immediately recognized the car. Was I going to tell him it's bugged? Well, no…I'd just remove the bug myself the moment I could as I wasn't going to ruin Niko's good mood getting that Infernus. When he left with it to go pay Kate a visit, I joined Luis Lopez on a job for Bulgarin.
[Dropping In]
If someone told me I would be parachuting into a building to commit an act of mass murder on some Russians, I'd tell you that I was crazy. Now I'd say it's par for the life you live as a rogue.
"You know we're going to have to kill everyone in here if we're going to walk out of here and not get hunted by every agency in Liberty?" Isaribi said, firing at a few security guards.
"Yeah, very much aware. You got a handle on their security footage." Luis said, blowing away a mook with a shotgun.
"Already have it handled." Isaribi said working on their computer system. "And done. Their system's fucked along with their backup."
Isaribi shot the PC as an added measure to start a fire.
Finding Marki was no issue at all. You'd think he'd try to do a better job convincing us to let him live, but when he went on about some little Latina girl he thought was legal…we just shot him right out of the window. We parachuted right out of the building down to a moving truck driven by Timurr.
"Shit. That was nuts."
I can't believe I did that for four thousand dollars. For a man offering opportunity, Bulgarin's a cheap-ass bum. Regardless, I ended up having to go back to Alderney to lay low after that shitshow to which I ended up getting a text from Ray to meet him, Niko, and Phil at their depot.
[Truck Hustle]
"Sorry, I'm late. Traffic was a bitch." Isaribi said, coming in.
"You didn't miss much." Ray snarked.
"But what am I in for?" Isaribi asked.
"You're helping Niko with getting a truck…the Triads think their heroin is cursed." Phil mused.
Oh no, it definitely was cursed. I just didn't fully realize that myself until long after that job. Regardless, I had to play point guard on my Hellfury while Niko handled the actual risk of jacking the truck. Regardless, the pay was far better once we made the drop. Now you'd think things with the Pegorinos were smooth sailing, but they weren't. Aside from my many issues with the 'don', it was the fact that he treated me dismissively like I wasn't capable. Even with Phil recommending me to the Fixer for work…I didn't think of the Pegorinos for much. Why should I? Their leader was a maroon.
[Pegorino's Pride]
Because when he did call for a job, he essentially put me on feckless grunt work. As slimy as Ray is, even he knew that I was capable. But alas, Jimmy Pegorino decided in his infinite wisdom….to have him play babysitter for his wife. So here I was…in some grocery store playing bodyguard.
"I could tell you came ready for action…and he just snubbed you." Angie mused as she put in groceries. "He'll probably want you to be his sugar baby."
"Angie, fuck that. I pop fuckers for a living before I do that. Plus, aside from the fact he's married, the man's a tryhard." Isaribi remarked. "He acts like he's got something to constantly prove."
Angie laughed at that.
"Yeah…well when you leave across the state…you're eager to prove you can match up." Angie remarked as Isaribi moved the cart. "But you're an attractive enough looking young lady, why even live a life like this?"
"My upbringing stacked the deck against me really having a normal life. And the one chance that it could have happened ended in tragedy." Isaribi said wistfully. "But at this point, I don't think I want a normal life…or at least I'm not ready to come down off the life I'm living now."
After paying for the groceries, Angie had loaded the groceries in Isaribi's Sultan RS.
I had driven us back right as Niko had returned with a shot up car and Pegorino steaming mad. I'd get an explanation, but the thing that irked me was the fact that said two guys I just met a while ago were clipped. Not due to ineptitude, but their boss's own plan.
"Hold you, you agreed to a meeting at a place that screamed ambush….you didn't check if they had even sent someone to stand…and you got the nerve to shit on your guys who clearly gave their lives to protect you." Isaribi said, raising an eyebrow. "Mr. Pegorino, that's-"
"That's enough. I just got back from a potential stab at my life…I don't need a lecture. I have a wife for that." Jimmy stated as Angie rolled his eyes.
"As if you listen to me." Angie snarked. "Now, help with the groceries."
"Niko. Anthony. Handle that…I need to lay down."
"This greasy motherfucker." Isaribi thought as he went inside.
I only stuck around to help because I gave a damn about Niko. You could tell he wasn't pleased to be doing this too. That was my week…doing bitch jobs for Pegorino. The only real excitement was doing the jobs for The Fixer. It got to where I was picking up dry cleaning for Pegorino's mistress. Hoo boy, the mistress. Now is she a bad person? Well, compared to myself and the criminals, no…she's basically a chick basically being Pegorino's plaything. Pegorino was a slimy piece of shit, but…he had a good taste in picking a Goomah. God, I feel fucking dirty even saying that…
Susanna Vianblaco was what Isaribi found to be a mirror to herself in a way. She too was a girl barely an adult and out of school trying to make it in life. Isaribi had to admit that Susanna was pretty cute.
Average height and build, a delicate, almost porcelain-like face. High cheekbones, soft jawline, and a slightly rounded chin. She was basically an Italian Snow White.
"Your sugar daddy got you this." Isaribi said, handing it to her.
I think Susanna didn't know what to think of me at first, not that I blame her. I was her complete opposite, but you know what they…they do attract. I didn't tell a damn shred of guilt when I started fucking her. She was sweet too…we bonded over being orphans all alone. We actually became pretty fast friends. Susanna was a breath of fresh air. The irony was lost on me, but Susanna essentially replaced Estelle in the trio that me and Danica had.
"I can't believe he has you doing stuff like this…I can get my own dry cleaning." Susanna stated taking it. "I'm so sorry, girl."
Isaribi slapped Susanna's behind.
"I get that butt…so I'm not complaining."
At the very least, Pegorino did keep her in a decent apartment even if the neighborhood was absolute shit.
"So does Angie know?" Susanna asked.
"Nah. I'd tell her, but he's still paying me so he's lucky." Isaribi said. "But are you doing anything tonight? I work at the Maisonette 9."
"I've never been clubbing before…I guess I've always been a bit of a homebody." Susanna mused. "That's why Pegorino likes me so much."
"He sees you as a domesticated house cat. Not that there's anything wrong with me being a homebody, but let's be honest…he is basically taking advantage of you. Did he really poach you from high school?" Isaribi said. "I assumed…"
"And you assume right…since senior year. He's the reason I have a license in the first place." Susanna said.
Not that it makes Pegorino any less of a POS even if the age of consent in Alderney is sixteen. Regardless, I would show Susanna a bit of my world…and of Liberty. If anything, Pegorino's legal problems meant he wasn't around to be with her that much. I even taught her how to shoot. All and all, it was the levity I needed that I could never get with Kate. If anything, Susanna made me realize how much I dislike Kate. I basically just stopped pretending to have any desire to hang out with Katie…she had Niko anyway. Speaking of Niko…the next job from Pegorino came around. This time, Niko called me to join him on this.
[Payback]
"You're going to join him?" Susanna asked as Isaribi got her Spyde track top in place.
"For one, if we're hitting a bookie ring that means there's some serious cash to be snatched. Second, that asshole you call a sugar daddy…said we could keep the haul. Thirdly, Niko did make it clear to Jimmy that I was coming along." Isaribi stated before getting her duffel bag. "After we're done, how about we spend a bit of time in Liberty. Spa day. My treat."
"Just come back alive." Susanna said before Isaribi left.
Niko had picked me up and we were on our way.
"I can't believe how he treats you." Niko said annoyed. "Like you weren't in the fucking shit with me too."
"There's a plus side. For one, that side piece that Pegorino has is someone I've gotten close to." Isaribi remarked.
"I thought you didn't go after people in relati-"
"I don't. But Susanna's an exception. One, she doesn't really love him…she's basically his sexpet. She's doing it because she's like me…she's got no one…she's barely out of school." Isaribi explained as Niko raised an eyebrow.
"Pretty sure sleeping with her isn't going to end well." Niko noted.
"We're just friends…with benefits. We both happen to like cock enough that we don't really want to give that up." Isaribi joked. "And honestly, I needed a female friend. Kate's not exactly a good friend to me."
"She tries." Niko said defensively.
It was easy for him to say. We came up to the diner and followed them right to the meeting. Niko practically crashed the car through the showroom window before we opened fire.
"Come on…come on! I got your ultimi riti…right here!"
I might have left the Lost but I still used their weapons. Danica could still supply me with it even after she cut ties with Terry for good.
Using a pipe bomb, Isaribi blew open the safe door to expose all the money the Pavanos were aiming to hide.
Frankly, it was a pretty damn good payday. More than good. Excellent. I had ended up walking away with a quarter million and the Coquette that belonged to those mooks. The only thing that ruined the mood was that slimeball calling me to ask for a cut of the haul.
"Sorry, but I know enough about mob decorum to know you should have asked for a potential cut before assigning us the job. Plus not being Italian helps…goodbye Pegorino." Isaribi said before hanging up on him. "What an asshole."
I would take Susanna for a weekend trip to Liberty. I'd end up on my craziest job yet…fitting it'd be the last job I'd do with Luis for Yusuf. So what was it? Stealing a subway car. No, I am not kidding.
[For the Man Who Has Everything]
"I can't believe I'm fucking doing this!" Isaribi said shooting at helicopters left and right. "A subway car! A fucking subway car! Yusuf's insane!"
"I know!" Luis screamed.
"If anything, I get his desire to be authentic, but fuck me…I wouldn't have been been mad if he just bought a decommissioned subway car." Isaribi yelled as Luis shot down a few NOOSE agents.
"Fuck! I should have mentioned that." Luis growled. "Too late now!"
We made our way to the front and disconnected the coveted car…and here came Yusuf with the Skyhook to snatch it up. I held on for dear life but I'd be lying if the excitement was here.
"Have fun with it, you crazy fool!" Luis said as Isaribi and him were let off in a baseball field.
"See ya round!" Isaribi said waving goodbye.
"We should get out of here." Luis said as Isaribi pulled the facemask off. "Later."
I had Susanna pick me up. I had given her the Coquette I got from the job and she'd taken to driving more often. That weekend, I discovered that she had a talent for racing.
(A/N: Four missions left for Luis, and fourteen left for Niko. We're approaching the end of the Isaribi Chronicles and the end of the Pre-Online arc as a whole. To think it's also about to be 110 chapters. It's insane, but we're not done yet.)
