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Once they parked outside of the bakery, Gloria kept in all her composure. It was her time to take the lead for this. Just a simple little talk about money. And if memory served, she hoped it was the same person she thought of running the bakery. "Got it. He can wait." Thankfully, Migs was understanding on what the hell she did. Maybe she'll visit later--

Focus, Gloria. Focus.

Following Gianni out of the car, she gave a wave to the old woman outside the entrance. "Buonasera, miss." she greeted. "Can I go inside to talk to the manager?" She looked at Gianni, tossing a wink in his direction.

Gianni caught the wink of Gloria's eyes, perhaps needing him to keep the woman here while she handled things elsewhere. He gave a slight nod, trusting her to handle business. "Oh yes, of course dear. My son, he is in the kitchen at the moment. His name is Alberto."

"So, Mrs. Larella, talk to me how have things been going? Is that old bitch Sustan still causing problems at the bingo hall?" For the time being, Gianni would keep her preoccupied and kept up front to where she wouldn't be able to hear anything that happened in the back...well that is as long as things didn't get too loud.

She was glad that Gianni had to focus on the road, otherwise this little story-telling would go into a very quick lecture or him wondering why she's still talking to Miguel. Yet they've been friends for years. Quickly texting Miguel back with a text he'll respond with the same speed, she kept her attention back to Gianni and his tale, setting her phone in the middle of them. "You jumped off a ramp!?" Gloria gasped in excitement. "That. Is. Awesome. I bet Dad was really impressed."

Down the street, she could see the bakery. And just like she predicted, Miguel responded with a text. Her fingers fought the itch to reply to him.

"Funny enough, he advised against it, but hey, it all worked out." Soon enough they had arrived at their destination, and now it was Gloria's turn to take the lead and handle business. "Alright kid, time to focus up. So whoever this is you're talkin' to, they gotta wait." Gianni then grabbed Gloria's phone and placed it in his suit pocket. "Business first, so get your game face on."

Gianni got himself out of the car and then locked it before heading inside the business. Once in he greeted a nice older woman who sat near the entrance. "There goes my favorite Nonaa" The mobster with a smile on his face as he leaned down to hug the woman.

She could almost see it now, Gianni having a casual day when her father practically threw his life for a tailspin. All the while being the calm one in the situation. Personally, she thought Gianni would be, but he had a gun to his head, so maybe now. Gloria could feel herself laughing along with him. "You helped him?"

Before she could ask for more details, her phone pinged off with a text. And he knew more whose damn notification sound it was. Miguel Madrazo...

"Sorry about that." she said, glancing on her phone as it showed an icon of his face with words she didn't look at.

Before Gianni could respond to her question, he also heard the sound of her phone notification. Curiously he wanted to look over and see who it was...but for now, he needed to keep both eyes on the road. "You damn right, I helped him. Not about to get myself killed for being a fuckin' wise-guy." And with that choice began Gianni's first highspeed getaway from the police.

"And let me you, first a first timer....my first getaway wasn't half bad. I had the police crashing into each other, flipping their cars over, hell I even jumped my first ramp."

One of the upsides of Los Santos' long-ass red lights was the opportunity for the two of them to have conversations. Though usually they were brief, this was one conversation she'd keep inside her back pocket. As he went through the client, her facial expression shifted from intrigue, to annoyance, to a slight snicker at how some people were. "Let me guess: random guy was Daddy." She chuckled, while imagining the whole scenario. All these years she thought Gianni and her father were just really good business partners, with him being a chauffuer. Never knew it went deeper than that.

#violentusinpace #💵 Gianni Bertelli

"Bingo!" Gianni laughed thinking back to that very day, one could debate that it was that moment where his life would take a new path, and things as he knew would forever change. "Your father though, despite the circumstances was surprisingly calm, it was almost like he knew he was going to get away with it." And maybe, just maybe, it was something Gianni knew as well back then.

"The way I saw it, if I didn't help him...I get a bullet in the head and this guy goes to jail. And if I did help him, I probably go to jail, but I don't end up dead." And with those options, back then it was a no-brainer. "So, guess what the hell I did?"

"Figured it's not your first." She wasn't knowledgeable on much of her mentor's past, but she knew that he knew her father for as long as she was alive. Ever since she became a made woman, she went from hesitant about not coming home to knowing it was an everyday possibility. And it wasn't her first time threatening a man.

The car stopped at a traffic light, and Gloria took the time to wipe her fingers from the sauce of the wings. When she heard him describe it, she couldn't believe it. Gray eyes blink in surprise. "You were just a simple cab driver and Daddy just interrupted your shift? Tell me more."

#💵 Gianni Bertelli #violentusinpace

"Yup, it was a Tuesday if I'm correct. And let me tell you, it was one of the worst days I ever had." Gianni explained how his first wave of clients were some of the rudest and most selfish people he had ever met. Even the old people he would drop off near the church....terrible. "So after about hours of driving people, and barely even making ten dollars, I figured I'd take myself a little break."

As soon as the light turned green, Gianni continued their drive. "I was sipping on coffee, and not even fifteen minutes into my break, here comes this random guy hopping into my cab, bag full of money and now pointing a gun to head saying: "Aye, don't say shit, just drive us the hell outta here."

As Gianni began to drive off, Gloria took a bite of the wings, kicking her feet with joy at the rich buttery taste of the lemon pepper sauce. When he laughed regarding her switch of tone, she could feel heat rising to her cheeks. Switching tones was something she did a lot in middle school or high school. It was now on occasion she'd let the old her come out sometimes. "I love lemon pepper, okay? It's my favorite seasoning on wings. Please don't tell Angelo about my code switching."

"I'm good. But I was a little worried about you. I didn't even know about the gun until I heard it fall." She appreciated him checking in on her. The first time she saw things turn south was when she was first made, and she didn't really know what to do. It scared her. Now she could handle herself. "But you? Are you okay?"

#violentusinpace #💵gianni bertelli

"I won't tell a soul." And Gianni was a man of his word, if it was one thing a person should have and keep true to themselves...it was their word. "Eh, I'm fine. Not my first time staring death in the face." From the countless jobs they've had, to walking out of the house every single day...he knew there was a chance one way or another he'd end up dead.

"I ever tell you about my first run-in with your old man? I wasn't fixing cars at the time like I am now, at the time I was just a regular old cab driver. I was waiting around to find my next customer...and next thing I know, your dad jumps in my cab while he's on the run."

She followed him out towards the front, sitting at a nearby table as Gianni stashed away the cash. About a good few thousand dollars is enough to keep funds going. Maybe she can convince her father to stop investing in this Cluckin' Bell. Once Nicky returned to the front, she gave a warm smile. "Thank you so much." Much as she wanted to sock the guy for nearly pulling a gun, she was happy that she got some decent service.

"My god, I love lemon pepper. At least give me the recipe later on." Gloria got up and shook the young boy's hand before heading out to the car, holding the bag up like a trophy. "Booyyy, we got lemon pepper wings!" She opened the box, and she swore she saw Heaven appear the sight of the wings. "Next destination, man".

Gianni gave the boy one final handshake before he and Gloria left the place. "Don't forget what I said kid, you're better than this place." And so once they were back in his car, Gianni turned the music back on and began driving to their next pickup location. "Never heard you talk like that before, I take it those wings are looking real good huh?" He asked laughing a small bit as they continued driving.

"How you feeling though? I kinda had a feeling shit was going to hit the fan, but just didn't expect it to happen so fast." He knew she was capable of handling herself in difficult situations, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Gloria glanced over at the unconscious owner, smacking him in the back of the head for good measure. Resting her elbow on top of Randy's head, she contemplated the idea. Since they were going to be out for a majority of the day, a little food wouldn't hurt. She gave a nod in his direction.

"I'll take a Wingmeal please." she shouted, pulling out her phone to see where the heck the bakery was. They were in Strawberry . . . the Bakery was somewhere in Vespucci. Ah, she knew the guy from high school. "What about you, what are you getting?"

Cluckin Bell wasn't exactly Gianni's favorite place to eat, so all of the food on the menu wasn't really anything he'd liked. "Nothing's really sticking me at the moment." Perhaps he'd get himself a drink and be okay with that. "Don't be too long Nicky, we got shit to do." Gianni got up and went to place their cash into his car, putting them into a briefcase he kept in his trunk.

Soon after about 12 minutes, Nicky returned back to the front. "Here is your Wingmeal Gloria. I also made you and G something a little special." He said before placing the boxes on the table. "I hope you like lemon pepper, I even put some new sauce on there for you, never been served before. And honestly, probably never will after today."

"Let me go get some rope or something." Gloria said, walking over towards Randy's desk, pulling open the drawer to find something. Pens, Cluckin Bell secret menu items they took away, papers on overdue bills, some phone numbers to some questionable women. A nice wad of cash, which Gloria discreetly took, leaving a good 300 for the boy opening the safe. Aha! Tape. Duct tape as a matter of fact. Grabbing the chair, she wheeled it over, picking up the man, and setting him in the chair. And using the roll of tape to wrap around him and the chair, going as far as tying his arms to the sides to keep him there. "There we are."

What followed next was the sound of a beep, as the safe opened, inside were about six stacks of cash, and a small pistol. "Well, would you look at that, there goes our money, plus some." Gianni handed Gloria the shotgun and moved beside Nicky; he grabbed five of the stacks and handed the last one to the employee. "Do yourself a favor Nicky, and get the hell out of this place, for your own sake."

"Yeah G, I think I'll take that advice." The young employee then stood to his feet, making his way back to the front. "Um, can you both stay here for a moment? Like I said, I wanna hook you both up with something." Gianni simply shrugged as he looked over to Gloria, and then took himself a seat at a table as the boy went to the kitchen. "What do you think? Free food maybe?"

The look on Randy's face was practically priceless, from the fear in his wide eyes to the shock of her pinning him to the wall. She didn't want to take the risk of him running or attacking, so of course had to get the upper hand. As he struggled to breathe, she pressed a little bit harder on his neck, making a clicking sound with her tongue.

"You're pretty fucking stupid to do something like that. Trying to kill your way out of paying us? Oh no no, that won't do. How will Tony think about that?" That made him squeal in terror at the idea. Tony was many things, but he would never let such bullshit like this to happen. When she heard Gianni's voice, she didn't move. Not until she was given the order to do so.

"All right." Stepping back, but not before she gave Randy a final slap in the face. With that she walked right next to Gianni, standing beside him. "Testa de cazzo.."

"G, wait!" Nicky standing in between his employer and the mobster. "Listen, is my boss a piece of shit? Yes. But he kinda signs my paychecks...so could you just like...tie him up or something? Please?" The boy's eyes were scared at this very moment, doing his best to plead his employer's case. Gianni was hesitant at first, but supposed the boy was right, after all...you can't collect money from a dead man, or a closed-down business. "Fine, but I want you to open that safe in the meantime." Nodding the boy went over to the safe, punching in the code to open it.

What followed next was the sound of a thud, as Randy's body hit the ground after being socked in the face. "Help me tie this guy up Gloria, we'll sit him in his chair or some shit."

Gloria's hand twitched beside her purse, but she suppressed her trigger happy side. Violence was only necessary should it come unexpected, as Gianni had often told her. She took a long look around the office, at the diplomas, the A rating of the Coop, the Employee of the Month awards Randy had accumulated over the years. Typical white man, with the same stench of importance, but he's also scared of losing his life. "You know how nice my father is, Randy. He gives you a week extension like he does with everyone in this city. You should have had it ready by the time we pulled up."

Arched eyebrows lifted in surprise as she heard the common, the familiar sound of a shotgun falling to the ground. No pistol would ever make a loud sound. Then the *ding* when a certain boy's head hit the counter. All right, fuck being cordial. Grabbing the man by the back of his shirt, she yanked him away from the safe to pin him to the wall, her elbow tight against his neck. "Che palle you have, Randy. You must have a death wish or something!" she said with a light laugh.

Gianni kept the boy's head on the counter, a sigh of disappointment escaping through his lips. "Nicky, you're smarter than that, you know there's always a better choice for shit like this. Now look at the mess you fuckin caused."

"I'm sorry G, I really am. Listen, listen, listen...I can fix this, I can. YOu know? Let me help you, I-I know the password to the safe! I can even hook you both up with something nice." Gianni contemplated his options, the boy was no longer armed, and even if he did try something else Gianni would make sure to drop him just as fast. "Alright then, but I'm going with your ass. Everyone else, I suggest taking your food and leaving, the place is closed until further notice."

The customers wasted no time in running for the hills out of the building, one of them grabbing their meal baskets before leaving. Gianni followed behind the employee, shotgun in one hand as they made their way to Randy's office.

"Well, what do we have here?" Gianni sarcastically asks when he sees Randy being pressed against the wall by Gloria. "For shame on you good sir, having a kid handle your dirty work....let him go, Gloria, I wanna look this piece of shit in the face, before I kill him."

In response to the greeting, Gloria was cold, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Even though she could be generous and nice like her father, she wasn't in the mood for formalities. Her head tilted to the side, watching him literally sweat at the fact that he was late. "Not hungry yet." Call her the weird one, but sometimes after a really good routine of collecting cash, causing mayhem, she gets hungry. And occasionally, Cluckin' Bell or Up-n-Atom was the right place to eat. When the slap made contact with Randy's face, the woman didn't even flinch. He knew was in deep shit. Her eyes went towards that other patron again, watching him go back to eating his tenders and fries. Good boy.

"Got it." Gloria walked over to the door leading to the back, smiling warmly as she expected Randy to act like a gentleman.

"Yeah, sure thing Gianni." Randy's tone is a bit softer than before. "Hey um, Nicky...if you could, give our friend here a couple of free baskets...on the house." Randy then began walking toward the back to his office, Gloria followed right behind him. "Listen, I really appreciate you guys, I do. And I promise this'll never happen again. I swear it." Once there, the manager then kneeled to a single knee and slowly began to open his safe. "Yeah it'll just be-....NOW NICKY!"

The loud order could be heard from the front, the employee behind the counter reaching underneath him, and trying to quickly pull out what seemed like a loaded weapon. Yet Gianni was prepared for something like this to happen. Shoving the weapon out of his direction before I could fire, Gianni grabbed the employee's hair and began slamming his head into the counter. "Seriously Nicky? You were actually my favorite one here."

"I-I'm sorry G, the boss said I'd be out of a job if I didn't."

Gloria got out of the car then, keeping her small gun hidden. The minute she walked in, she was victim to the sound of that horrid commercial music, and the smell of old grease that probably needed a good change. Yet she kept her composure, glancing at Gianni's way when the sign soon read closed.

A patron looked up at them, confusion etched on his face. When his eyes caught on to Gloria, she gave a head nod of noticing him, then shook her head the same. He'd be an idiot to interfere in some of this shit, especially if he was packing heat. The other two patrons upon hearing Gianni talk, started to get their shit and go.

"Alright Randy, just give 'em the money, and you're good. No big deal, just kiss a few asses and you're home free." Wiping his face off, the general manager Randy Winslow, made his way out of his office and towards the front. "Hey! Gianni! Gloria! My two favorite business partners! How are yah? How's Mother Theresa doing?" The man was doing his best to hide his fear, Gianni able to see the bits of sweat dripping from his forehead. "Um, can I get you two something?" He was stalling.

"Don't play dumb Randy, you know why we're here, you're a week past your payment date, and we're simply here to collect. With interest of course." The manager's eyes then widened. "Interest? Oh come on G, you know th-.." His sentence was cut short, by a hard slap across the face from Gianni's right hand as he didn't break contact with the two. "Randy, I like you, you're a smart guy, so I expect you to not finish that sentence....and take your ass in the back, and get us our money."

Gianni's eyes then look back for a short moment. "Gloria, go with him."

Gloria smiled warmly at how everything was going well for him. From what knowledge she gained through the years of knowing him was his love of cars, both old and 'retro,' then restoring them to higher quality for twice the market value. "That's amazing, Gianni. Maybe I can get my bike in for a tune-up maybe?" she joked.

Once they made it all the way to the Cluckin' Bell, a tiny little stand in the outlet area., she undid her seatbelt, opening her door slightly ajar to hear some loud music drown out the radio. "When have I ever not been careful?" She paused for a good few seconds before replying after, "That was rhetorical."

Gianni gave her a slight look, not a word being said yet it all coming from his face. "Yeah, exactly. Let's go." From the looks of things, business seemed slow today, with about two or three customers in the building. As they entered, Gianni simply closed the sign behind them to read closed. "Hey, Nicky! My favorite happy little chicken, how you doin'?" The employee that stood before Gianni couldn't have been any older than about 23, yet had a look of simply wanting to be anywhere else.

"So tell me, where's Randy?" Gianni leaned against the counter, his eyes glancing toward the back to an office which seemed closed. "Hey Randy! Get your white ass out here! Where's our money?"

At his mention that it'd mean a lot to her, she was well aware. Throughout the years of her sister going from someone she very highly looked up to, to a terrible fall from grace, she's still loved her no matter what has gone on. This was the same sister who gave her advice on boys, who helped her with makeup, who helped heal her heart when it was broken.

"Maybe I can get her her favorite snack bar, EgoChaser. She tells me every other time they don't have that candy bar, because they think sugar is also an addiction. I bet it's her nurse Lindsey saying that shit." She went off for a minute, before catching her breath. For a second, it almost sounded he spoke from experience, like his family member or friend had addiction. But she won't pry. Instead she'll change the subject, it was her way. "What about you? How's the remodeling business?"

"Business is going real good right now, I just got in contact with these two people from out of town, they're trying to make a deal on something big. Gianni had recently gotten into the world of car meets, a way of networking with some of the locals about new opportunities. "We've also started taking in motorcycles, not a lot of turn around with them, but whenever we get them in, it's a decent profit."

The two of them continued on the road to downtown Los Santos, twenty minutes passing until they had finally reached the Cluckin Bells. "Alright, let's get this money. But be careful, I got a tip the people here have started carrying behind the counter."

A week. Well, that was way past overdue. Ever since Gloris was made, she knew that her father was a somewhat patient man with his money, a few days maybe, but a week was a line. A line that was going to get crossed with a possible bullet. As the song began to play, she gave a light grin in his direction. She had to prove her worth still.

"I've been well. I got the business together, funds and all. I told you it's a real estate company. But I need a good working title name for it. One that says 'work with me', ya know?" She chuckled, until her expression shifted, gray eyes going towards the window to see houses zip on by. She dug her fingers into the fabric of her pants. "Yeah, unfortunately. I . . . may visit her sometime next week." It was no secret she was disappointed and angry at her sister for doing it. Toria'd say she was doing good, but somehow, she would fall off the damn wagon.

Gianni nodded in reassurance, remembering their first conversation about when Gloria brought the idea up to him. He wasn't sure exactly how she was going to make something like that work...but some way, somehow she was doing it. However, the mood of the car which started out as calm and relaxed....soon turned tense. The subject of Gloria's sister wasn't always an easy subject to bring up, at times it was easier just to not bring it up...but family is something you just don't forget about sometimes.

"I'm sure she'd appreciate it. I'm sure it means a lot to her." If it was one thing Gianni knew, was that getting clean wasn't easy. Going cold turkey was one of the hardest things for someone with an addiction. "You know she loves you, and I'm sure she's trying, it just takes time."