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Description
Part 1 - The Recruitment
Chapter 3: The Phoenix
10:00pm, Saturday, a nightclub in the uptown suburbs, Los Santos

When Michael finally accepted to join the crew, he didn’t expect his first job would be a god damn errand boy. He looked at his phone, reading the text his new boss sent him. Good luck! Michael didn’t know what to think of Geoff, the man had a friendliness to him that was uncommon among gang bosses. He cleared Michael and Lindsay’s name and gave them a new apartment. But there was also something about him, something Michael couldn’t quite put his finger on. And he hated not knowing what it was.

I cannot fucking believe I am doing this. Fucking hell. Why can’t he do it, they’re meant to be good friends. Fuck. He tucked his phone away in his pocket and made his way towards the nightclub across the road. People stood outside either smoking or drinking or lining up. A young woman spat at the security guard standing outside when he told her to leave. During the day the suburb bustled with the rich, famous and elegant, at night it was the drunk, stoned and horny. The security guard eyed off Michael as he stepped up to the door.

“Michael Jones. I’m on the list,” Michael held his head high. He was a twig compared to the towering security guard.

“Get in line,” the guard snickered.

Michael crossed his arms. “Check the list.”

“Get in line.”

“I’m fucking VIP, so check the list.”

“You don’t look fucking VIP.”

“Well I god damn am.”

“Hmm, I deal with scum bags like you every night, claiming they’re on the VIP list when they never are. So save us the trouble and get in line.”

Michael snarled as he pulled out his wallet and showed the guard his driver’s license. “Here’s proof I am Michael Jones. A friend got me on the VIP list. A very important and powerful friend. So check the fucking list.”

The guard narrowed his eyes at the younger man. “Who’s the friend?”

“A friend,” Michael growled. They glared at each other for a minute or so before the guard checked his clipboard. He sighed when he saw Michael’s name on the list.

“Yeah, you’re on the list. The one time…” the guard mumbled as he let Michael through. “Don’t cause any trouble.”

“I can’t promise that,” Michael sneered. As soon as he stepped into the large nightclub he was hit with loud techno music and the thick smell of alcohol, drugs and sweat. He scanned the room, taking it all in. It was as generic as nightclubs go, bar on the left, lounging and smoking area on the right, dance area in the middle, lights flashing rapidly, and people grinding on each other. Michael pulled out his phone and looked at the image Geoff sent him of the next recruit.

“Alright,” he said with a sigh as he tucked his phone into his jeans pocket. He made his way through the crowd to the bar, glancing at the various high or drunk faces. How the fuck am I going to find him in a place like this? He leaned against the bar, surveying the room.

“Can I get you anything sir?” asked the blonde bartender behind the counter.

Michael gave her a quick glance. “No, I’m good thanks.”

“You come to a bar and not order anything?” the bartender smiled.

“I’m looking for someone.”

“Oh, aren’t we all.”

“Uh, maybe you can help me?” Michael pulled out his phone and showed the bartender the picture of the new recruit. “Have you seen him?”

The bartender grinned. “Yeah, I know him. He’s a regular. Quite the ladies’ man. It’s a shame he’s a dirty criminal.”

Michael put the phone away. “Is he here?”

“I think so…Why?”

“Personal reasons.”

“Is this more crime business? Because the boss made it clear that he doesn’t want any more trouble. He paid off his debt.”

“Help me find him and I won’t cause trouble.”

The bartender frowned. “Who are you?”

“Help me find him.”

The bartender narrowed her eyes. “What are you going to do?”

“Nothing,” Michael ran his fingers through his hair, “Look, if you can’t help me, I’ll find someone who can.”

The bartender chewed her cheek. “If I help you, what will I get in return?”

“I won’t shoot up the place.”

“You’re not the only person to threaten me with that.”

“And I’m sure I won’t be the last,” Michael faced the woman, leaning against the counter, “Do you recognise my face?”

The bartender leaned in close. “Hmm, there is a familiarity to it.”

“Did you hear about the massacre a couple of weeks back?”

“Everyone heard about that.”

“So, I ask again, do you recognise my face?” The bartender studied him. He smiled when realisation crossed her face and she leaned back. “Don’t bother getting anyone. I promise to leave as soon as I’m done with my friend and not cause any problems, if you help me find him.” The bartender glanced over to a private corner in the lounge area. Michael looked over his shoulder, then returning his gaze to the woman. “Thank you for your help.” He pulled ten dollars out of his wallet and chucked it onto the counter. “For your silence.”

***

Fucking really?

Michael couldn’t believe it. He glanced between his phone and the young man sitting in the private corner of the lounge. He was flirting with every woman in hearing distance. A few sat next to him, captivated by his English accent and the occasional buck that was passed to them. This is the guy Geoff so desperately wanted? He looks like a sleaze ball. Michael grumbled and stepped towards the young man.

“Are you Gavin Free?” Michael asked, yelling out over the overly loud music and chatter.

The man glanced up. “Who’s asking?” There was a slur to his words.

“I’ve been sent by a mutual friend of ours. Can we,” Michael glanced at the people around him, “can we find somewhere more private?”

“Hey! I know you!” Gavin grinned and pointed at him, “You were on the news! You were in that robbery!”

“And you’re the kid of a famous CEO. Let’s go.”

“This guy,” Gavin smiled at the people around him, “this guy is crazy! Ha! Did you see him on the news? Insane!” He burst into laughter. He’s fucking drunk, fucking great.

“Geoff Ramsey sent me.”

Gavin’s mouth clamed shut and he stared at Michael. The corner of his lip twitched upward. “Really? Good old Geoff? Haven’t seen him in a while. Well, excuse me ladies, I have some business to attend to.” He stood, pulled a roll of money out of his inner jacket pocket, and threw it on the lounge. He turned to Michael and grinned. “I’m all yours.”

***

Gavin reeked of alcohol and cigarette smoke. The stench of urine and puke in the alley way they stood in next to the nightclub didn’t help. Michael studied the younger man as he thought. He’s swaying so much he’s about to pass out. If he wasn’t a friend of Geoff I’d let him break his skull on the ground.

“So… Geoff wants me to join his flashy new crew?” Gavin tapped his finger on his lips, “It’s tempting. Very tempting.”

“Are you in or am I just wasting my time,” Michael growled, hands shoved into his jacket pockets.

Gavin grinned. “You don’t like me much, do you?”

“What on earth gave you that idea?” Michael replied bitterly.

“You know the old saying, ‘never judge a book by its cover!’”

“That kind of thinking almost got me killed several times.”

“But you’re alive, hey?”

“Because of skill and experience. Being kind and compassionate will get you killed in this business.” Gavin pouted. “Geoff seems to understand that as well. So he must want you for whatever skills you have, and not your positive attitude.”

“Damn right he does. I got skills and connections,” Gavin crossed his arms and puffed out his chest.

“I’m sure you fucking do,” Michael replied dryly, “But, are you in or not.”

Gavin eyed off Michael for a good whole minute before extending out his hand. Michael took it, shaking it quickly. “I’m in, for good old Geoff.” His hand was burning hot. Michael sneered and pulled his hand back. This guy is a fucking prick. He better stay the hell out of my way.

Description
Part 1 - The Recruitment
Chapter 3: The Phoenix
10:00pm, Saturday, a nightclub in the uptown suburbs, Los Santos

When Michael finally accepted to join the crew, he didn’t expect his first job would be a god damn errand boy. He looked at his phone, reading the text his new boss sent him. Good luck! Michael didn’t know what to think of Geoff, the man had a friendliness to him that was uncommon among gang bosses. He cleared Michael and Lindsay’s name and gave them a new apartment. But there was also something about him, something Michael couldn’t quite put his finger on. And he hated not knowing what it was.

I cannot fucking believe I am doing this. Fucking hell. Why can’t he do it, they’re meant to be good friends. Fuck. He tucked his phone away in his pocket and made his way towards the nightclub across the road. People stood outside either smoking or drinking or lining up. A young woman spat at the security guard standing outside when he told her to leave. During the day the suburb bustled with the rich, famous and elegant, at night it was the drunk, stoned and horny. The security guard eyed off Michael as he stepped up to the door.

“Michael Jones. I’m on the list,” Michael held his head high. He was a twig compared to the towering security guard.

“Get in line,” the guard snickered.

Michael crossed his arms. “Check the list.”

“Get in line.”

“I’m fucking VIP, so check the list.”

“You don’t look fucking VIP.”

“Well I god damn am.”

“Hmm, I deal with scum bags like you every night, claiming they’re on the VIP list when they never are. So save us the trouble and get in line.”

Michael snarled as he pulled out his wallet and showed the guard his driver’s license. “Here’s proof I am Michael Jones. A friend got me on the VIP list. A very important and powerful friend. So check the fucking list.”

The guard narrowed his eyes at the younger man. “Who’s the friend?”

“A friend,” Michael growled. They glared at each other for a minute or so before the guard checked his clipboard. He sighed when he saw Michael’s name on the list.

“Yeah, you’re on the list. The one time…” the guard mumbled as he let Michael through. “Don’t cause any trouble.”

“I can’t promise that,” Michael sneered. As soon as he stepped into the large nightclub he was hit with loud techno music and the thick smell of alcohol, drugs and sweat. He scanned the room, taking it all in. It was as generic as nightclubs go, bar on the left, lounging and smoking area on the right, dance area in the middle, lights flashing rapidly, and people grinding on each other. Michael pulled out his phone and looked at the image Geoff sent him of the next recruit.

“Alright,” he said with a sigh as he tucked his phone into his jeans pocket. He made his way through the crowd to the bar, glancing at the various high or drunk faces. How the fuck am I going to find him in a place like this? He leaned against the bar, surveying the room.

“Can I get you anything sir?” asked the blonde bartender behind the counter.

Michael gave her a quick glance. “No, I’m good thanks.”

“You come to a bar and not order anything?” the bartender smiled.

“I’m looking for someone.”

“Oh, aren’t we all.”

“Uh, maybe you can help me?” Michael pulled out his phone and showed the bartender the picture of the new recruit. “Have you seen him?”

The bartender grinned. “Yeah, I know him. He’s a regular. Quite the ladies’ man. It’s a shame he’s a dirty criminal.”

Michael put the phone away. “Is he here?”

“I think so…Why?”

“Personal reasons.”

“Is this more crime business? Because the boss made it clear that he doesn’t want any more trouble. He paid off his debt.”

“Help me find him and I won’t cause trouble.”

The bartender frowned. “Who are you?”

“Help me find him.”

The bartender narrowed her eyes. “What are you going to do?”

“Nothing,” Michael ran his fingers through his hair, “Look, if you can’t help me, I’ll find someone who can.”

The bartender chewed her cheek. “If I help you, what will I get in return?”

“I won’t shoot up the place.”

“You’re not the only person to threaten me with that.”

“And I’m sure I won’t be the last,” Michael faced the woman, leaning against the counter, “Do you recognise my face?”

The bartender leaned in close. “Hmm, there is a familiarity to it.”

“Did you hear about the massacre a couple of weeks back?”

“Everyone heard about that.”

“So, I ask again, do you recognise my face?” The bartender studied him. He smiled when realisation crossed her face and she leaned back. “Don’t bother getting anyone. I promise to leave as soon as I’m done with my friend and not cause any problems, if you help me find him.” The bartender glanced over to a private corner in the lounge area. Michael looked over his shoulder, then returning his gaze to the woman. “Thank you for your help.” He pulled ten dollars out of his wallet and chucked it onto the counter. “For your silence.”

***

Fucking really?

Michael couldn’t believe it. He glanced between his phone and the young man sitting in the private corner of the lounge. He was flirting with every woman in hearing distance. A few sat next to him, captivated by his English accent and the occasional buck that was passed to them. This is the guy Geoff so desperately wanted? He looks like a sleaze ball. Michael grumbled and stepped towards the young man.

“Are you Gavin Free?” Michael asked, yelling out over the overly loud music and chatter.

The man glanced up. “Who’s asking?” There was a slur to his words.

“I’ve been sent by a mutual friend of ours. Can we,” Michael glanced at the people around him, “can we find somewhere more private?”

“Hey! I know you!” Gavin grinned and pointed at him, “You were on the news! You were in that robbery!”

“And you’re the kid of a famous CEO. Let’s go.”

“This guy,” Gavin smiled at the people around him, “this guy is crazy! Ha! Did you see him on the news? Insane!” He burst into laughter. He’s fucking drunk, fucking great.

“Geoff Ramsey sent me.”

Gavin’s mouth clamed shut and he stared at Michael. The corner of his lip twitched upward. “Really? Good old Geoff? Haven’t seen him in a while. Well, excuse me ladies, I have some business to attend to.” He stood, pulled a roll of money out of his inner jacket pocket, and threw it on the lounge. He turned to Michael and grinned. “I’m all yours.”

***

Gavin reeked of alcohol and cigarette smoke. The stench of urine and puke in the alley way they stood in next to the nightclub didn’t help. Michael studied the younger man as he thought. He’s swaying so much he’s about to pass out. If he wasn’t a friend of Geoff I’d let him break his skull on the ground.

“So… Geoff wants me to join his flashy new crew?” Gavin tapped his finger on his lips, “It’s tempting. Very tempting.”

“Are you in or am I just wasting my time,” Michael growled, hands shoved into his jacket pockets.

Gavin grinned. “You don’t like me much, do you?”

“What on earth gave you that idea?” Michael replied bitterly.

“You know the old saying, ‘never judge a book by its cover!’”

“That kind of thinking almost got me killed several times.”

“But you’re alive, hey?”

“Because of skill and experience. Being kind and compassionate will get you killed in this business.” Gavin pouted. “Geoff seems to understand that as well. So he must want you for whatever skills you have, and not your positive attitude.”

“Damn right he does. I got skills and connections,” Gavin crossed his arms and puffed out his chest.

“I’m sure you fucking do,” Michael replied dryly, “But, are you in or not.”

Gavin eyed off Michael for a good whole minute before extending out his hand. Michael took it, shaking it quickly. “I’m in, for good old Geoff.” His hand was burning hot. Michael sneered and pulled his hand back. This guy is a fucking prick. He better stay the hell out of my way.