Niko was doing some jobs for Billy Walsh it turned out Billy was connected with Joey Ducks a capo working under -Santos-. Work was good they'd hijack a couple trucks, interrogate a couple of union leaders, and of course kill a couple people. Eventually Niko got a bit fed up with Joey, the pay was horrible and the last job he did almost got him and Billy killed furious Niko walks into the back of Joey's store. Upon entering he sees Joey smoking a cigarette and laughing on the phone.

Joey stopped laughing when Niko walked in "Where the fuck have you been?" he asked him.

"Where the fuck have I been? I don't know but... TRYING NOT TO DIE OR GET CAUGHT WITH WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH WORTH OF COCAINE!"

On the last job he did for Joey Niko was doing a deal for him sell him 20 keys of cocaine to some guys from out of town. Turned out the guys from out of town were actually members of New York's finest and it was a sting operation. Niko managed to keep the drugs and somehow escaped but he was tired of this doing favors for people and nothing in return.

"Woah why the hostility?"

"I keep doing these favors for you and you pay shit and what do I get? Shot at everytime and lucky to be alive. It's the same with everybody in this fucking city I'm done with this either you do some favors for me or I'm out of here."

Niko was serious. He was ready to put all this behind him and move out into the country somewhere to live a boring life. He was a hard man to find so if they wanted him dead it'd be difficult to track him.

"I know what's this about that guy... isn't it? Look I said I have connections I can find him for you."

"I have connections isn't good enough I need a guarantee. A gurantee that you'll find him I know he's out here in this city somewhere. So either you tell me that you'll do it or I'm out of here."

"Fine I'll find him for you. What's his name?"

"Florian Cravic."

"Florian Cravic?" Joey started laughing. "Don't worry I'll find him for you. Just remember it is a big city."

"Good call me when you do."

Niko left. The next morning the phone rung and he picked up.

"Hey Niko, I did some digging around and I found out where that Florian guy lives."

Niko couldn't believe it after all those years of searching It was finally over. Florian Cravic the one that betrayed him and his friends that day all those years ago will meet his end today. He'll finally get the closure that he wanted.

"So where is he?"

"An apartment on the Upper West side. Your days of searching are over my friend."

Niko hung up and immediately called up Roman. Roman needed to be there he wanted to share this moment with his cousin

"Roman wait for me outside the Taxi depot I'm coming to pick you up."

Niko in his Model T arrived at the Taxi depot where he saw Roman waiting for him outside. He was trying to flirt with a woman before getting slapped.

"Get in."

As soon as Roman got into the car Niko hit the gas and started driving like a crazy man

"Niko Slow the fuck down what are you trying to do kill us? What's going on are we in danger cousin?"

"This is it cousin they found Florian this will all be over soon."

"So you're going to kill him? I worry for you, Niko. Sometimes you just got to let the hate go. Will killing him really make you feel better?"

They rode in silence for the rest of the trip until they got to the address. Those words stuck with Niko the entire trip would killing Florian really make him feel better? What happens after all this is over and Florian is dead?. Niko finally stopped the car and got out Florian's apartment was a real fancy place too after all these years Florian must have done well for himself.

"This is it cousin it all ends here."

They entered the building, there was a nice fountain in the lobby and a doorman. He greeted Niko and Roman as they entered but they ignored him. Joey told Niko that Florian lived on the 5th floor and they took the elevator. Apartment 5B Niko took out his Colt 1911 and knocked on the door.

"Florian! Florian I've come for you!"

Niko knocked the door down and he heard someone running inside the apartment

"Go away!" the voice said in a girlish voice.

Niko made it to the bedroom and saw a man crouching down.

"Florian is that you?"

"Niko?"

Niko couldn't believe it Florian Cravic right before his eyes. But something was different about him his clothes, his voice, his apartment. This was Florian Cravic alright but not the same Florian that he grew up with.

"What happened to you?"

"Well umm... I'm just being ME! Is that Roman? God you've gained some pounds."

"I've come to ask you some questions Florian."

"It wasn't me. That's why you're here you've come to kill me. I wouldn't do that I'd never even think about selling out my friends. How could you even think that. Since you're then it wasn't you either. It must have been Darko."

Niko lowered his gun. He felt empty all those years searching at least he knew it wasn't Florian.

"Florian..I"

"It's Bernie now. Bernie Crane after I came here I took on a new identity. I'm in love now too it's doomed. He's married and in politics.  He's the deputy mayor."

"Bryce Dawkins?" Roman asked "No way. No way"

"It's been nice catching up with you Florian err I mean Bernie but we have to go."

"See you Niko. We should hang out some time."

Niko left the apartment he couldn't believe it another dead end. At least he knew that Florian didn't do it. Darko Brevic was responsible and he was going to hunt him down and make him pay.

"So...Florian has changed."

"He has.."

"He's moved on Niko you should too. What are you going to do now?"

"Darko may not be in New York but he's out there cousin. I'm going to find him and make him pay for what he did to ne to me, Florian, and the rest of the boys from the village. We know that he's the one that did it now. I need some time alone now cousin I'll see you later."

Niko spent the rest of the day walking the streets of New York. He needed some alone time even in a big city like this he could feel alone. Later in his apartment as he was about to smoke a cigarette the phone rung it was his friends from First Liberty Construction.

"So I hear you found the big bad wolf you were after Bernie Crane."

"Fuck you at least you could have told me."

"Look, I was in the army. I know it gets lonely. I know what it feels like to get close to a man. I'm not here to reunite you with your old army buddies. I helped you once but I'll help you again. I'll call you when we need you."

The man hung up and Niko smashed his phone. Starting the search all over from square one...again.