Chapter 9: 4 Years Later/Dumb Decisions
Tommy had recently sold his Nebula for $10,000. While the car was worth significantly more, he opted to sell it on the black market, uncertain about the potential repercussions of such a decision. Eager to elevate his lifestyle, he wanted to purchase a new car—something far more luxurious. After some consideration, he decided on an Albany Presidente.
The Albany Presidente is a mid-size executive sports sedan, renowned for its blend of style and performance. According to the Auto Eroticar website, the Presidente boasts a formidable 4.5-liter V10 engine, which is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive configuration. While the acceleration is decent, the car tends to feel sluggish on inclines due to its weight. Handling is adequate, though it experiences mild understeer because of the hefty engine positioned up front. The suspension system is relatively soft, providing a comfortable ride by absorbing bumps in the road. Its braking system is above average, with ABS standard across the entire lineup, ensuring a safe driving experience.
At the moment, Tommy was dressed casually in a blue-striped Blagueurs track hoodie, gray Blagueurs wide pants, and a pair of stylish black Gnocchi sneakers. He pulled over to the side of the road, spritzing some of Le Chien's "Magma d'or" on his neck before glancing at his Crowex watch. Looking toward the entrance of the house, he muttered, "Where the hell is she? She said she was already ready." With a frustrated huff, he leaned on the horn twice.
A few moments later, the front door swung open, and Tonya rushed out. The chilly air swirled around them, the wind blowing briskly and dark clouds gathering overhead—an unusual sight for Los Santos. She was dressed in an orange and yellow Güffy track hoodie, black Trey Baker sweatpants, and a pair of black Squash sneakers.
She dashed over and hopped into the passenger seat beside him. "There you are!" Tommy sighed.
"Sorry," she replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Can't a girl take a piss before a date?"
"Well, shit..." he said, playfully licking his lips and stroking his chin. "Say so next time; I wanna watch."
Tonya shot him a disgusted look. "Seriously? You're so weird. I'm into freaky shit, but not piss play. You should know." She shook her head, clearly unimpressed.
"I'm just joking," he snorted, a grin spreading across his face.
She rolled her eyes again, fastening her seatbelt. "Let's just go already."
As they drove through the streets of Los Santos, they chatted about everything and nothing. "So, what's the plan for tonight?" Tonya asked, glancing at him with a mischievous smile.
"I thought we could hit up Burger Shot at the Vespucci Canals," Tommy suggested.
"Sounds good to me," she replied.
After a short drive filled with laughter and light banter, they arrived at Burger Shot. Tommy parked the Albany Presidente, turned off the engine, and locked the doors with a satisfying click. They hopped out and walked inside, the familiar aroma of fast food wafting through the air.
As they stood in line, Tommy glanced at the menu, his stomach growling in anticipation. When they reached the counter, he confidently ordered, "I'll have a Money Shot Meal. That's a large E-Cola, a burger, and large fries. How much is that?"
"That'll be $6.99," the cashier replied.
Tommy turned to Tonya. "What do you want?"
"I'll take a Torpedo Meal," she said, her eyes lighting up at the thought of food. "That comes with a sandwich, ketchup, mayo, and a large E-Cola."
"Are you sure that's all you want?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, I'm sure," she affirmed, crossing her arms.
"Then you ain't gonna eat my fries, right?" he teased, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
Tonya sighed dramatically. "No, I won't eat your fuckin' fries. Happy?"
"Very," he chuckled, shaking his head in amusement as they moved to the side to wait for their food.
A few minutes later, they received their meals and found an empty table to sit down at. As they dug into their food, Tommy took a bite of his burger, savoring the combination of flavors. "So, how was your day?" he asked, trying to keep the conversation flowing.
"It was alright. Just work, the usual." Tonya replied, wiping her hands on a napkin.
Despite her earlier declaration, Tonya couldn't resist reaching over to snatch a fry from Tommy's pile. He looked at her, a knowing smirk on his face as she took a bite of her sandwich, inconspicuously munching on his fries as well.
She shrugged, a bite of fry in her mouth. "It's just too good."
Tommy chuckled, shaking his head. He's not mad though. She laughs, her eyes sparkling with mischief as they continued to enjoy their meal together.
———
Lamar Davis paced nervously in the dimly lit alley behind a rundown warehouse in the heart of Los Santos. He had just pulled off a heist that could change everything for him. Big Mike, the notorious plug who controlled the drug trade across Los Santos, Sandy Shores, Paleto Bay, Grapeseed, and even Las Venturas, had been expecting a routine meet-up. But Lamar had other plans. With the stash of cash he'd just swiped from Big Mike's operation, he felt a mix of adrenaline and fear coursing through his veins.
A sly grin crept across Lamar's face as he counted the stacks of cash, the crisp bills reflecting the fluorescent light from the street lamps. The thrill of the score was intoxicating, but he knew he needed to get out of sight fast. Big Mike was not a man to be trifled with, and Lamar had just made a powerful enemy.
With the money stuffed into a worn-out backpack, Lamar made his way over to Franklin's place. He needed to share the news, and he could use Franklin's help to figure out what to do next. As he arrived, he knocked quickly at the door, his heart racing with excitement and fear. Franklin opened the door, his expression shifting from casual curiosity to surprise at the sight of his friend.
"Yo, Lamar! What's up?" Franklin asked, stepping aside to let him in.
Lamar could hardly contain himself. "You're not gonna believe what I just did, nigga!" He threw the backpack onto the coffee table, watching as Franklin's eyes widened.
"What's in there?" Franklin asked suspiciously, taking a step closer.
Lamar opened the bag and began pulling out stacks of cash. "This right here? This is from Big Mike! I just ran off on the plug!"
Franklin's face went pale, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words. The weight of what Lamar had just done sank in. Big Mike was the kingpin of the drug business in the area, and this wasn't just a simple theft. "Lamar, are you fuckin' serious? You stole from Big Mike? Do you know what you just did?"
"Yeah, I know what I did! And it's about to change everything for us, man!" Lamar exclaimed, excitement bubbling over.
But Franklin wasn't sharing in the elation. "Lamar, you realize he's gonna come after you, right? And anyone connected to you. That includes me, and Tommy too. This ain't just some petty crime."
Lamar shrugged off Franklin's concern, but deep down, he knew Franklin was right. "Look, I'm gonna share some of this with you. We can figure it out together. You know how to stay low, right?"
Franklin shook his head, still in shock. "You think he's just gonna let this slide? He runs the whole operation! He's ruthless." Franklin's mind raced as he contemplated the implications of Lamar's actions. Big Mike had a reputation for making examples of those who crossed him.
"Just take your cut, nigga! And then we'll lay low for a bit. I'll go to Tommy tomorrow and we can come up with a plan," Lamar insisted, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
"Yeah, well, good luck with that," Franklin muttered, his mind still reeling. "I can't believe you did this, man."
Just as the tension hung thick in the air, Franklin's grandma entered the living room. "Franklin! Dinner's ready!" she called out, her voice breaking the moment. Franklin quickly tucked away the stacks of cash, hiding the evidence of their reckless scheme from her.
"Yeah, I'll be right there!" he replied, his mind racing with the consequences of Lamar's actions.
As his grandma walked back towards the kitchen, Franklin turned back to Lamar. "We gotta talk more about this later. Right now, you need to lay low. Big Mike will find out soon enough."
Lamar nodded, but he was still riding the high of his ill-gotten gains. "I'll call Tommy tomorrow. We'll figure something out. Just trust me, man!"
Franklin watched him leave, a mix of worry and frustration swirling in his gut. He knew that what Lamar had done would have serious repercussions, not just for him, but for everyone connected to him. As he walked into the kitchen, the delicious smell of dinner filled the air, but all he could think about was the trouble that was brewing.