//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Hostile Negotiation // Story: Great To Visit, Even Better To Leave // by Bronycommander //------------------------------// Chapter 7: Hostile Negotiation Niko and his backup fought their way up. He shot an explosive barrel with his AK-47, killing three goons. His backup killed two other goons with headshots, blood splattered from their heads as they hit the ground. “Come on, test me! Test me!” Niko taunted in a fit of rage. “You will pay for what you’ve done!” He killed a hostile that was upstairs. “No one messes with my family. You will not harm my cousin!” “Yeah, that’s right! Nobody harms a friend of Dwayne and gets away with it!” a goon of Dwayne killed a mobster with his Micro SMG. Moving up the stairs, the other goon covered Niko with his pistol. “I'm leaving here with Roman!” Niko screamed in anger as he killed a Russian that was wounded by his pistol backup by perforating him with bullets. “Take my cousin, will you?” They fought their way up. “Cousin, I knew you’d come for me!” Roman yelled relieved. Silver Spoon on the other hand was just terrified, not able to process what was going on, just wanting it to end as the screams were too much for her. “Think you a big hero. This was a trap, punk.” The kidnapper taunted. “Get up there, Niko! Quickly!” Roman yelled in fear. A mobster took cover in the room where Roman was, but Niko rolled a grenade in to kill him. “Make them suffer, cousin!” Roman shouted before his kidnapper took him as shield. “Please, no!” “You are Niko Bellic. Turn around and walk away or your cousin is dead.” The kidnapper demanded But Roman’s relative was too much in rage to do that, he aimed at the hostage taker’s head and fired a shot from his AK, blood splatted and the Russian fell backwards to the ground, letting go of Roman. They embraced. “Thank you, cousin. You saved my life.” “We should get out of here.” He turned to his backup. “Thanks for your help. Give Dwayne my thanks.” “Will do, Niko.” They left. “Wait, Niko! I wasn’t the only one who got kidnapped.” Roman pointed to Silver Spoon. She was shaking, and terribly afraid. Tears fell from her eyes. As Niko approached her to untie her, she pleaded, “Please don’t hurt me! To take their lives was enough! I don’t want to die!” Her fear reminded him when he saw the 50 children in the village. They had the same fear back then. “I will not harm you. I am here to save you.” He untied her. She hugged him tightly and cried herself to sleep. “This is the girl who was with us in the basement, right?” The war veteran asked. “Yes, Cousin. Mallorie and I told you her story.” “That’s right. Poor kid. She’d seen more out here than she should have.” “There’s a car. Take me home cousin.” They walked outside and got in a Bobcat. Roman gently laid the sleeping filly on his leap. “We have reports of shots fired at the warehouse off Lompoc, Bohan, Industrial.” The Police scanner reported. “What happened, Roman? You have been gambling. I’ll give you some money. How are you in debt?” The Serbian wondered. “There are cycles, cousin. You must lose a little to win a lot. Come on. My cards were not good.” “Roman…” Niko couldn’t believe it. “That man knew Dimitri. He was trying to make me give you up to him. I would never…” “Of course you would not. Dimitri has taken this too far. But how did she get into this?” “She witnessed my kidnapping. He wants you dead. Bohan is not safe. I’m going to get us a place in Algonquin.“ “Are you okay?” Niko asked concerned. “I’m used to taking these beatings, Niko. I almost expect it now. Wherever I go there are people who want to kill me. Men, who will kidnap me. I’ll never marry Mallorie. I won’t be able to sleep with another college girl. There is a knife hanging over me. A clock is ticking.” At Mallorie’s house, they talked about their next move outside the Bobcat, as Silver Spoon was still asleep. “Man, this is out of control.” Roman was helpless. “I know.” “What are we going to do?” “I don’t know.” Niko tried to think. “We are going to die. I don’t want to die, man. Not like this.” They argued so loud the young pony woke up. “Ugh, can you guys please stop arguing? You woke me and I had such a nice dream.” She complained. “Sorry. I’m going to clean up. I have a nasty feeling I had a bit of an accident back there. And, Niko…” “What?” he deadpanned. “Thanks.” Roman walked in his home. “Can you get me back home?” Silver asked with hope. Niko looked on his phone. It was 6PM now. “Yes but it’s getting late. I suggest you stay with me this night and tomorrow I’ll bring you home. Is that ok…? Silver Spoon?” She yawned. “Yes.” He got into the Bobcat and drove to his Penthouse in Northwood. “What kind of music do you like?” “Radio Broker, please. If you don’t mind.” “Not at all. I like Radio Broker.” Radio Broker played Juliette & the Licks - Inside the Cage (David Gilmour Girls remix). Niko’s favorite radio stations were Liberty Rock Radio and Vladivostok FM, but he also deployed a like for Radio Broker. On the Northwood Heights Bridge he was in a traffic jam as he got an SMS from his cousin. Hey Cuz, thanks for saving me and her back there. I thought I’d played my last hand when that biker guy kidnapped me for the Russians. You’re a hero. Rom. At his Penthouse, Silver was amazed. “Wow! How did you afford this?” Niko scratched his back. “Well, the two men that helped me were sent by Dwayne, a friend of mine and the owner of this Penthouse. After its former Occupant died, he gave me the Penthouse.” He explained not wanting to tell what really happened. “Hello there.” The security guard in the lobby greeted. The filly’s eyes went wide as they left the elevator. The penthouse was lavish. It had a wide screen television, Jacuzzi, pool table and a punching bag. From the bedroom there was an open double-door which led out onto a wood and stone-floored patio. There were deck chairs and a sunshade, a hot tub and a gas barbecue outside with a gas canister. The Serbian man wasn’t much of a cook but still he managed to make some good scrambled eggs for the child. The filly smiled warmly. “Thanks, mister…” “Niko Bellic but Niko is just fine.” “Thank you, Niko. You saved my life in that warehouse.” “It was nothing. No one messes with my family and gets away with it. But it’s late and you should get some sleep.” “Yes Niko, I should. Goodnight.” She drifted off to sleep with a smile after climbing into the bed.. Niko had to smile himself. A cute and polite kid. Dimitri, you will pay! She was just an innocent bystander and you pulled her with in. Even Niko enjoyed her company. He walked on the patio and watched the beautiful sunset. Then his phone ringed. He had the flat line ring tone. It was Dimitri. “Niko, its Dimitri.” “I have nothing to say to you.” Bellic replied emotionless. “I nearly ran into your cousin and little friend the other day. My friends were hanging out with them. The party got busted up though before I got here.” “I wish you had been there. We could have had some fun.” Niko countered. “Not as much fun as I would have had with Roman and Silver Spoon, believe me.” Dimitri hung up. “Damn you, Dimitri!” Despite his rage, he also went to bed. Niko wrapped his arm around the kid. I promise I will bring you back to your parents and I will you protect from all harm. Sofia, lying on the couch, head lowered, sobbing about what had happened to Silver Spoon. “Honey, please, it wasn’t your fault.” Carl tried to comfort her. “It is my fault! I should have protected her!” His wife yelled, blaming herself. “If you tried to free her they would have killed you. And then what? Except that you would have lost your life, it hadn’t changed anything.” Carl countered. “Still, she must be scared to death, hungry and thirsty or dead.” Sofia feared for the worst. “Don’t say that. Aiden investigated reports of shots fired at a warehouse. There were many dead Russian mobsters. Someone must have saved her.” “You sure?” She asked with a small hint of hope. “Yes. Somethings tells me that she’s safe and sound.” It was strange but for safe reason, he felt that Silver Spoon was safe and sound. Sofia slowly started to smile. “You’re right. We must have faith. But for now, let’s have some sleep.” They both went to bed, not knowing that they would soon see her again.