//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend // Story: Great To Visit, Even Better To Leave // by Bronycommander //------------------------------// Chapter 11: Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend They got out. Two of Dimitri’s men were outside. “Dimitri has one thing to say: ‘Get out of Liberty now and the kid lives’. And to make sure you obey.” He shot their tires before they fled in a car. “Oh god! We can’t let her in the hands of the Russians!” Sofia was worried. An Enforcer and a police Cruiser stopped next to them after only a few minutes had passed. “I heard what happened! Get in! We will get her back!” Aiden said as Carl entered the Enforcer and Sofia the Cruiser. “We found out that she’s being held at Charge Island. We go in by chopper.” The driver of the Enforcer explained. “Good. Death from above.” Carl liked the plan. Carl piloted the Annihilator to Charge Island. His co-pilot had an AA-12 shotgun, the support gunner an M249 and the submachine gunner an FN90. Silver Spoon was gagged and tied up. “What do you want from me?” she asked through her restrains. “Don’t worry, as long as your parents obey, you will not be harmed. What in the?” Her captor looked up when he heard a helicopter. “LCPD. Freeze!” An Annihilator landed and NOOSE agents got out. “Damn! Get her out of here!” Another Russian grabbed her and carried her to a catwalk. The NOOSE team was fighting their way through the Russians easily. Carl was filled with anger, having enough. Carl spotted a man that tried to run away. He chased him until he stopped and turned around. “Where is she?!” Wagner screamed. “She’s upstairs, resting...in peace. Would you like to join her?” the Russian asked cold. “If you hurt her…!” “Comrade, I assure you she didn’t feel a thing. Unfortunately, the same will not be said of you.” He was about to fire an AA-12 shotgun with explosive ammo but the support gunner had the faster trigger finger, shooting the goon in the head. “He’s down.” “Upstairs, now!” Carl made a sign to move up. At a catwalk, a goon used Silver as shield. “Let her go, you’re trapped. We’ll let you go if you let her go.” “I’m screwed either way. If I don’t give you the child, you kill me here. I do give you the child, Mr. Bulgarin kills me later. Screw you all!” He was about to execute her but Carl reacted fast and killed him with a clean headshot. “Silver, you alright?” Carl asked with worry. “Papa!” Silver hugged him crying. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?” She cried just more. He patted her. “I’m here for you, sweetie.” Hey, look!” the shotgunner pointed something out. Niko and Packie were talking with a man, while three armed men sneaked up. “That’s the man who ordered my kidnapping!” Silver identified him. “…And you have been trying to rob the thieves to rob me. Kill them all!" the man screamed and drove away as Niko and Packie went to cover. “You!” Another goon yelled but Carl killed him with his sidearm with a shot to the chest. “Go! Go! To the chopper!” They fought their way through reinforcements. Silver stayed in cover but trembled. It pained Carl to see her like this. Most of the goons were focused on Niko and Packie, however. They crossed their ways. “Cops ahead!” Packie was about to fire but recognized Carl and Silver. “What are you doing here?” “Silver got kidnapped by Dimitri and another guy, we freed her. And you?” Wagner asked in return. “Getting something that belongs to us.” Niko reloaded his AK. “Incoming!” the support gunner fired at three cars that were stopping on the ground. He took out the driver of the first car, the shotgunner blew up the second and Niko killed the driver of the third car. Carl, Packie and the submachine gunner took out the rest. “See you later.” Carl entered the chopper with Silver and his men. He flew to the helipad at Meadows Park. Aiden and Sofia were already here. “Mama!” Silver ran into her mother’s arms. “Shh, you’re safe now.” “Everything went well.” Aiden was glad that it went so well. “No.” Some guy called Bulgarin busted up the rescue. We had to fight our way through goons of him.” Carl replied exhausted. “Bulgarin? Ray Bulgarin? I thought he’s dead. Back from the dead, I guess.” Aiden was surprised. Carl’s phone ringed. “Wagner, I want to introduce you and your buddy to Jon Gravelli, head of the Gambetti family, He needs help.” It was the contact form, Liberty Paper, again. “I don’t want to do get problems with the mob.” The officer knew who this man was, not wanting to get into more trouble than he already was. “Don’t worry, this job is a bodyguard job, not a contract killer. He’s in Schottler Medical Center. Tell him you were sent by a mutual friend. He’s expecting you.” “That was that agent, Aiden. He has another job for us.” “Great.” Aiden deadpanned, rolling his eyes. “You three, watch my wife, okay?” Carl asked his squad members. “Of course.” The shotgunner said. “What about the 69th Street Diner, sweetheart? Mason and Emma love it too.” Sophia suggested. “Yes, Mama.” Silver Spoon smiled. The American woman called her friend, who agreed and they met at the Street Diner, enjoying some French fries, the children chatted together. “That was really a nice idea from you. I always loved to come here as a kid.” Emily said with a smile. “Thank you, I loved it too. Simple, yet so cozy.” “Excuse me, Ma’am?” A young voice asked and they turned around to see a man walking towards them. He was tall, messy blonde hair, wore a white t-shirt, torn jeans, construction boots, and fingerless gloves and his eyes were blue. Overall, he looked intimidating but his expression was friendly. “Uh, yes?” Sophia asked, slightly surprised. “I hard your daughter had suffered unpleasant things in the past, I’m a vigilante and wanted to offer my services, should you need them.” He reached for what looked like a card with his phone number. “Thank you, but I’m not interested.” “If you should change your mind, call me.” He then looked at Silver. I hope you like this present.” The man revealed a black leather vest with the inscription “Lost MC” on the back. “Thank you! The filly said with glee, looking at the vest with sparkling eyes. “It’s nothing. Have a nice day.” With that, he left. The two women looked at each other, not sure what to think of it. After a few seconds, they nodded, deciding to keep this for later. Carl and Aiden drove to the Medical Center. Carl told the guard, “We were sent by a mutual friend.” The guard pointed to Mr. Gravelli. He was born 1923 ledaded the Gambetti Family since 1978. In 2005, Gravelli was admitted to the Schottler Medical Center with a serious illness. Both cops had respect for him. “So you’re the two cops who are here to help.” Aiden replied, “That’s right, we-“ “Spare me, please, I’m an old man. I ain’t got much time left. Our mutual friend told me everything. Thank you. It reminds me of my family.” Jon laughed before he used his breathing device. “Our pleasure.” Carl said. “People are so damn vain. You, I, an old man facing the end… and I still care, care how I look, care that the pretty nurse has to clean me… it’s ridiculous.” Jon took another breath. “And I care about my legacy. I’ve worked hard for this, this line of work. Now some Russians think they can march in and take control of rackets my family has run for fifty years.” “You mean fifty years of you bleeding the city dry might finally come to an end?” Aiden asked. “I know, it’s a terrible tragedy.” Mr. Gravelli laughed before using his device again. “But if it wasn’t me, it would just be someone else. So it might be me.” “Yes.” “A good friend of mine is coming into town to give a speech on the new threat to Liberty City – Russian organized crime. I got a feeling some people ain’t gonna want that to happen. This guy who kidnapped our daughter, Dimitri Rascalov, has an interest in keeping this story out of the press. Our friend said you two have experience with protecting VIPs. Make sure he gets to City Hall. He’s coming from upstate. He’ll be at Grand Easton Terminal on Bismarck. Thank you.” They left, only to find the NOOSE team outside. “A man said you need us for VIP protection. He also said his men will watch your family.” The MG gunner explained. Carl noticed that they looked identical to his old teammates. “You look like my old team.” “We’re their brothers. I’m Conan, Jack’s brother; this is Frank, John’s brother and Nick, Ethan’s brother.” “They never told me that they had brothers. Anyway, let’s go.” Carl took the driver seat of the Enforcer. At the terminal, Carl asked a bodyguard, “You guys waiting for us?” “Yeah. Stay in convoy with us all the way to City Hall, alright?” “Sure.” They followed until they came to a detour at Luddite Row. “A detour here? Strange.” “I smell an ambush, Carl.” Nick was suspicious. It was confirmed as there was another roadblock, a construction worker looked up as they approached and drew a firearm. The crack of gunfire shook the street as one of the bodyguards fell to the ground with a yelp, clutching his bleeding chest. The cops covered Mr. Jefferson and got him into an alley. Niko was also a bodyguard, Carl and Aiden knew why. “If I get out of this, punks like Dimitri Rascalov are going to wish they never got off the boat here.” Mr. Jefferson commented. Aiden stayed with him; while the NOOSE team and Niko climbed on the top of a roof they were next to it to kill the Russians. The Russians killed all bodyguards as they had only pistols but Niko and the NOOSE agents took them all out one by one with their heavy weapons. Then, they escorted Mr. Jefferson to the Civic Citadel. four cars of the Russian tried to intercept them but the MG and the Shotgun of the Tactical Response team tore them apart as Nick and Frank were in the back of the Enforcer, the cars exploded in small fire balls. After Mr. Jefferson was safe, Carl got out of the Enforcer and Conan took the driver seat. “I’m going go home. See you later!” “See you, Carl. We will return to the station.” Aiden drove Carl home. Emily waited outside. “Our kids wanted to do a sleep over. They’re asleep already.” It was 8PM so it wasn’t surprising for them. “Okay. Goodnight.” Carl went inside. His heart melted at the sleeping kids. Sofia was reading the news. Bobby Jefferson, the Ex-Secretary of Security Enforcement, came to Liberty City in order to give a speech on the increasing threat of immigrant-led organized crime. However, Jefferson became a victim himself as his convoy was ambushed on the way to the Civic Citadel and he was nearly killed. Violent crime is becoming more and more prevalent in this city and people like Mr. Jefferson are asking why in highly paid speeches. The RICO statues and the pressure put on organized crime by new forms of surveillance has for years undermined the traditional criminal elements in this city. This void is being filled by hungry and ruthless criminals coming into our city from aboard." "It seems that, as in every industry, these new gangs need to succeed more desperately than their American counterparts and they are willing to pay a price for success that others are not. Mayor Ochoa has to keep to his word and do something about this problem. Until then, the helpless residents of Liberty City must remain at the mercy of these foreign thugs." The radio also had also news about it. “Weazel News, where the assassination attempt of the day is always brought to you by Al Dente's -- All the mamma-mia you can eat!” “Is anyone safe? Even our politicians are now under attack! He's the former Secretary of Security Enforcement, but Bobby Jefferson's motorcade was attacked while making its way from Grand Easton Terminal to the Civic Citadel, where Mr. Jefferson had long been scheduled to give a speech about organized crime. Courageously, Mr. Jefferson took to the stage after the attack and delivered the speech. The mayor vowed to make these new forms of organized crime a priority. Mr. Jefferson's speech was not a xenophobic rant; he praised hard-working immigrants, particularly one nameless man who ensured that he could deliver his speech. At the Civic Citadel, I'm Jenny Acorn, Weazel News.” “I do not feel safe anymore. I’m worried about their safety.” Carl kissed his wife. “Don’t worry. We’ll think of something.” They fell asleep unware, that the worst would yet come.