America, Niko heard stories about this place way back home a land of opportunity, freedom, and riches. Growing up he didn't have much he was from a poor village somewhere in Europe. When the war came like all the men from his village he fought in it. The war changed him he did things that he wasn't particularly proud off and when it was all over unable to face the monster that he had become instead of returning home Niko fell in with some bad people, did bad things, ended up in prison for a bit then started working for a man, Ray Bulgarin. He worked smuggling guns, drugs, and people across the Adriatic. One day the ship sunk and Niko swam for his life he lived but everything and everyone on that ship was gone Bulgarin was angry. He thought Niko did it on purpose and hunted down Niko all over Europe Niko though managed to escape.

Now as the boat pulled into Ellis Island Niko couldn't believe his eyes. He finally made it a new beginning for him in a new strange land. He had a cousin here Roman who lived in Chicago for the last ten years he kept sending him letters about how he made it in America and had money whether or not it was true Niko would soon find out. He took a train from New York to Chicago saw the rest of the country pass by through the window during the ride then finally arrived at Chicago Union station. He waited outside for his cousin to show up as he saw the rest of the passengers getting picked up by family and friends finally Roman showed up when it was dark and everyone else was gone.

"Niko my cousin! I can't believe you're here! Welcome to America."

His breath smelled like Alcohol

"Woah cousin are you drunk?"

"Maybe just a touch you should probably drive..."

"Yeah I guess I should"

"MY COUSIN IS HERE!"

Niko drove Roman to his "Mansion" it turned out everything that his cousin told him in those letters was a lie as he figured. It turned out the "Mansion" was some shitty apartment over on the North side above a grocery store. He had no pretty women, no nice fancy cars, and no money. Niko wasn't surprised as he lay down in the hard bed that night. It wasn't all that bad once you got past the thought of sleeping next to rats and all the cockroaches Niko survived worse back home and in the war. Roman had a cab depot that he ran nearby he didn't earn much but it helped pay the bills.

In the morning Niko with nothing to do decided to walk over to the cab depot get to know the neighborhood a bit more.  He had some breakfast at a diner nearby his English was pretty good for someone not from here he ordered some eggs, bacon, and pancakes. The waitress stared at him Niko stared back and smiled at her when it was time to pay his bill she slipped him her number. When he made it to the cab depot though he heard a commotion inside two men were arguing with Roman.

"You haven't paid your debts fat man, lots of people are angry. Especially Saratoga."

"You don't wanna piss off Saratoga do you now?"

Niko walks in and tackles Ray to the floor then twists his arm

"YOU WANT SOME TOO?" He yells at Vinnie who is now helping Ray up. "COME BACK HERE AGAIN AND YOU'RE DEAD!"

Vinnie and Ray leave and Niko looks at Roman

"What's wrong with you?" Niko said "You owe money to some people?"

"That's how thing's work in this country. You borrow some money and people want it back later."

Niko helped Roman clean up the place a bit

"I think they'll be back though and it won't be a beating next time. You pissed them off they'll want blood next."

The next day Niko woke up next to the waitress he called her after what happened at the cab depot and because Roman worked all night they had the entire apartment to themselves he showered then sent her home. Niko then took another stroll through the neighborhood he was thinking about what he could do for work he could end up working in a factory, or doing construction, he had no idea. The truth was he had no skills all he knew was killing.

He promised himself that he wouldn't kill anymore he couldn't go back to that... that monster that he used to be. No over here things would be different he would get a decent job maybe become a trash collector and live a quiet life. Maybe meet a girl, start a family, settle down. As he turned the corner he heard some shouting the voices sounded familiar. It was Roman along with Vinnie and Ray they weren't gonna leave them alone and Ray had a Knife they came back for blood.

"MOTHERFUCKERS!" Niko shouted as he ran to help Roman. He was cornered by Vinnie and Ray Niko looked at Ray first he had a Knife. In his experience knives were tricky more dangerous than guns. The guy holding the knife depending on how crazy he was could end your life in seconds. Niko ducked as Ray swung the knife at him just missing him by an inch. Niko hit him hard in his face then twice in his chest and Ray lost the knife. Niko picked it up then stabbed Ray in his throat and head Ray was dead. Vinnie saw in horror and ran Niko ran after him Vinnie managed to run into an abandoned building. He ran up to the roof and had nowhere to go.

"You kill me now you do know that Saratoga will just come after you right?"

"I'll take my chances!"

Niko lunged at Vinnie and stabbed him a bunch of times all over his body killing him. Then he threw him off the building he heard a splash as they building was close to the water. He stood still for a moment disappointed he broke his promise to himself he wouldn't kill he said things would be different. Now he just killed two gangsters working for a guy called Saratoga who was probably connected and works for some more dangerous people. He also put his cousins life in danger why did I come here? he was already regretting it.

Word spread around pretty quickly people started noticing Niko giving him stares whenever he would walk down the street, shop owners would flip their store signs from open to closed and the waitress stopped seeing Niko. Worse the criminals who ran the neighborhood knew Niko's name and he knew the guy in charge Saratoga. Saratoga worked for The Regime and was close to BrotherHec word on the street was that BrotherHec couldn't stand Saratoga and only kept Saratoga around because he was banging Saratoga's sister.

Saratoga hung around a local bar and Niko paid him a visit walking inside he saw Saratoga sitting in the back like he was expecting him he called Niko over and invited him over.

"So you're the new guy that's been screwing up my business huh?" Saratoga said he was an ugly man he was fat and bald but his body was very hairy he looked like a caveman that found some very expensive clothes.

"Hey I'm speaking to you." Saratoga said "You start screwing with my business messing up my income, People start laughing at me think I'm weak."

"Hahaha."

"That's the problem with you peasants you come to this country think you're the man over here but guess what."He slams his fists on the table "I'm the MAN AROUND HERE!"

Niko said nothing

"I hear your cousin owes me some money. Since you killed Vinnie and Ray you work for me now."

"What if I don't want to work for you?"

"Then I rip your cousins arms off and drop his body at the bottom of Lake Michigan don't play with me."

"Fine what do you want me to do?"

"There's this truck I want you to take for me and bring it to my warehouse. The truck is parked right next to Wrigley Field, It's an easy job I'm sure an idiot peasant like yourself won't screw it up."

Niko left the bar and went to locate the truck. He had to work for a guy like Saratoga he had no other option he'd probably be able to pay off his cousins debts this way. He's been down this road before though he knows that there is no way Roman will finish paying off his debts because when you deal with guys like Saratoga the debt always somehow mysteriously gets larger and larger. Niko knew because he used to be that guy but enough about debts he had a truck to steal.

It was pretty simple too simple he saw the truck parked across the street. Looked both ways made sure nobody was around then broke one of the windows and got inside the keys were still in too easy. He started the truck and as he got away so people started chasing after him.

"Hey that's property of Donovan's nobody steals from Don and gets away with it get him!"

They started shooting at the truck but Niko managed to get away safely aside from a couple bulletholes in the back the truck was fine and whatever it was carrying was also probably fine. Niko drove to the warehouse and dropped off the truck then went back to the bar where Saratoga was. Saratoga was paying his tab and on his way out when he saw Niko come in.

"You didn't screw up huh peasant? You did good now follow me we go for a walk."

Niko and Saratoga started walking around the neighborhood people around here feared Saratoga. Making way for him whenever he walked down the street, the grocery store owners offering him free fruits, children sang songs about him whenever he was coming "Hide your kids, hide your wife, Saratoga's about to take a life!"

"I'm going to go meet somebody!" Saratoga said

"Oh Really?" Niko said he was surprised how a guy like Saratoga could find a woman to date him everything about him was appalling. But then again if you have money and a reputation like Saratoga anything is possible.

"I met her last night at this party crazy night with BrotherHec."

"Who the hell is BrotherHec?"

"BrotherHec runs this place I kick up to him every week he's a good man no a great man. He treats me well."

Before Saratoga could continue rambling on a car pulls up next to him and shoots him twice killing him then speeds away. Niko is shocked and runs for his life whoever killed him was probably gonna come after him too.

It's been a day since Saratoga was shot but the news of his death spread around pretty fast and people thought that Niko was the one who did it. Niko didn't mind but Roman was terrified people were calling the apartment and the cab depot and hanging up. Niko found Roman hiding inside a trash can.

"Roman what are you doing here?"

"Are they there?"

"I think I'm being followed I saw some guys follow me the past five blocks. I thought I lost them so I'm hiding here until it's safe."

"You're being paranoid cousin nobody is following you."

"I'm being para...fuck you everything was fine before you showed up now I can't even go to work anymore, can't go to the poker games, can't even go to the grocery store."

Roman was right ever since Niko showed up he's been nothing but trouble. First he kills Vinnie and Ray now everyone thinks he killed Saratoga. Even if they weren't the best people they kicked up to BrotherHec who must be feeling the effects of Niko's actions with Vinnie, Ray, and Saratoga now gone his envelopes are a little lighter and he's getting less money. Guys like BrotherHec don't like it when someone starts messing with their money. They either had to pray that BrotherHec was a kind forgiving man or skip town and get the hell out of there immediately. Right now the latter sounded like a better option.

"Listen it's fine if BrotherHec or who-"

Before Niko could finish speaking he's knocked out. Niko wakes up in a dark basement tied up with a gag in his mouth he turns around and sees Roman also tied up then sees two men one of them pulls the gag out of his mouth and smacks him.

"Wake up asshole you've got a lot of explaining to do. You've been a bad boy Niko and the boss is pissed so tell me who are you working for?"

"My cousin Roman."

The man smacks Niko again

"That's not good enough."

"Okay your daddy likes it up the ass."

The man is furious and takes out a hacksaw then starts beating Niko with it just as he's about to cut off his arm he hears another man running down the stairs and shouting.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! My wife is fucking sleeping."

The man looked big, mean, and intimidating. As soon as he entered the basement the man who was beating Niko stopped and stood at attention this guy was probably the BrotherHec that Niko hearing a lot about recently.

"What the hell is going on here?"

"Nothing I'm just trying to find out more about this guy."

"So who is he?"

"His name is Niko Bellic he says he works for his cousin."

"So you were going to cut up a guy in my house, making all that noise, just to find out that he works for his cousin?"

BrotherHec looks at Niko

"So Niko Bellic you think it's okay to kill my employees?"

"If they're stupid assholes, yeah."

BrotherHec takes out a Colt 1911 pistol and shoots the guy that was beating up Niko with the Hacksaw earlier in the head.

"I agree."

BrotherHec then puts the gun away and looks at Niko again

"You're very lucky that I didn't really like Saratoga truth was he was an idiot, I only kept him around because I was banging his sister. But now Niko you work for me."