A GTA Story: Welcome to G-block!!!

After finishing his food, Leon left the restaurant and made his way to the hotel reception. Approaching the desk, he greeted the receptionist with his usual casual smile. "Hey, could you arrange a car for me? I've got to be somewhere in like 15 minutes." He asked, pointing at the imaginary watch on his face. 

The receptionist smiled, finding his action funny, and nodded. "Of course, Mr. Green. The driving service is included since you stay in one of our premium suites. I'll have a car prepared for you right away."

While waiting, Leon sat on one of the couches in the reception, glancing around the luxurious lobby. Seeing people come and go with some glancing at him from time to time, he started getting irritated and couldn't help but mutter to himself, "I need to get myself a vehicle. Can't be waiting for people forever." He said and promised that he'd stop procrastinating and visit a dealership later today.

About five minutes later, the receptionist walked up to him and informed him that the car was ready. Leon gave her a quick thanks before stepping outside, where a sleek black sedan waited for him. He climbed in and gave the driver Victor's address. The driver put the postal code on the GPS and sped through traffic under Leon's urging. He had received another message from Victor telling him that they were all waiting for him. So, he needed to get there in a hurry. 

The ride through the streets of District 10 was quick and uneventful. Leon spent most of it scrolling through his phone, responding to texts, and mentally preparing for whatever Victor wanted to discuss. Within minutes, they arrived at Victor's place. Leon stepped out, nodded at the driver, and walked up to the door. He rang the bell and waited, tapping his foot lightly against the porch.

It didn't take long for Victor to answer the door. He opened it with a slight smile, motioning Leon inside. "Took you long enough."

"Blame the hotel service, not me," Leon replied with a grin as he stepped into the house. 

As he stepped in, the unfamiliar sight of Victor's living room greeted him. He had never been here before as the latter bought it about four months ago while he was still in the military. So, it was his first time being here. As he walked in, Kane and Perro were already lounging on the couch, but sitting across from them was an unfamiliar face. The man looked up as Leon entered, giving him a brief nod.

Seeing Leon's confusion, Victor gestured toward the man as he spoke. "Leon, this is Gustavo Gonzalez. We just call him Gustavo. He's one of the members of the crew I told you about."

Hearing what his brother said, Leon extended a hand as he sized up Gustavo. The latter was a little more serious in demeanor compared to Perro's lively energy, but he didn't seem stiff or overly formal. His laid-back attitude was reminiscent of Kane's, though Gustavo will be more engaged in the conversations compared to Kane who will sporadically speak and listen most of the time.

"Nice to meet you," Leon said as they shook hands.

"Likewise," Gustavo replied with a small smile. "I've heard a lot about you." He continued, glancing at Kane and Victor.

Seeing that, Leon chuckled. "Hope it's all good." He responded

"Mostly," Gustavo said, his smile widening slightly, obviously joking with Leon who laughed with him. 

Kane chimed in from his seat, "Don't let his serious face fool you. He's a chill guy—he just likes to act like the responsible one sometimes."

Smiling at those words, Leon took a seat, silently observing how the others interacted with Gustavo and it felt quite natural. It was clear that even though Gustavo was new to him, he fit in well with the group. As they started chatting, Leon felt a sense of relief. He was afraid some people in the group would feel out of place, but he could tell that these guys truly had chemistry. So, he relaxed and enjoyed the convo while Victor got himself something to drink.

After all five of them settled into their seats, Victor began, "Alright, since everyone knows we roll together now, we need to make it official. We need a flag to represent ourselves."

Leon nodded, leaning back into his seat. "Yeah, for real. Not having one is annoying. Do you know what bugged me the most yesterday? I couldn't empty the pockets of the guys we downed. Back in the military, looting the enemies' pockets was how we all made money. I amassed quite a fortune doing that."

Kane raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "So that's how you got all that money, huh? Running pockets like a scavenger?"

Leon grinned, unbothered by the jab. "Pretty much. Grabbing guns and flipping them was a nice hustle. I didn't make as much as you guys, though. I mean, manufacturing and selling the hardware yourselves? Different level. But hey, a couple hundred grand here and there isn't bad for a solo operation."

Victor leaned back in his chair with a smirk. "Well, we'll have to hit up the Angels later today and sort out our gang roles. The sooner, the better."

Kane nodded in agreement. "Facts. Knowing you and Leon, it's only a matter of time before y'all get into some drama. Might as well make sure we can profit from it when it happens."

That sparked laughter around the room. Even Gustavo, who had been quietly observing, chuckled at Kane's remark.

Leon shot Kane a mock glare. "You're acting like you ain't gonna be right there with us."

"That's different," Kane said with a shrug. "I just don't let people mess with my brothers. Simple as that."

Victor clapped his hands, bringing the conversation back on track. "Alright, so if we're rolling together, we need a name. Something solid that represents us."

That kicked off a heated debate as each of them threw out suggestions. Leon leaned toward something intimidating, while Victor preferred something easy to remember. Perro's suggestions were either over-the-top or outright hilarious, prompting groans and laughter from the group. Kane, true to his laid-back nature, only chimed in occasionally, while Gustavo offered a few well-thought-out ideas.

After about twenty minutes, it became clear they couldn't reach a consensus. Victor sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, we'll come back to this later. For now, let's wrap this up."

Leon stretched and stood, cracking his knuckles. "Works for me. I'm heading to the dealership to get myself a V. I'm tired of waiting for people."

Victor raised an eyebrow. "Aight bet!"

After saying that, Victor headed to his garage and unlocked one of his cars, a sleek black coupe with tinted windows and custom rims. The engine roared to life as he pulled it out, and the five of them piled in.

With music blasting through the speakers, they cruised through the streets of District 10, rapping and singing along to the beats and even the reserved Gustavo joined in on the fun, throwing in a few jokes and banter as they drove.

A few minutes later, they pulled up to the dealership. The sleek, modern building gleamed in the sunlight, with rows of high-end cars on display behind its massive glass windows. Leon stepped out of the car, feeling a rush of excitement.

After stepping into the dealership, Leon took a moment to admire the sleek showroom filled with various models of cars, from high-end sports vehicles to rugged cruisers. The polished floors gleamed under the bright lights, and the air was thick with the scent of rubber and fresh paint. It wasn't long before a middle-aged man dressed in a sharp suit approached him. He had an air of professionalism mixed with genuine enthusiasm, clearly one of the top dealers in the establishment.

"Good morning," the dealer greeted, extending a hand. "Name's Mitchell. How can I assist you today?"

Leon shook his hand firmly. "Morning. I'm Leon. Looking to get my first V."

Mitchell's eyes lit up. "Ah, an exciting day then! Any particular idea of what you're looking for?"

Leon thought for a moment, then said, "I want something sleek but lowkey. Nothing too flashy—I want a bike to avoid standing out too much. But I need speed and control."

Mitchell nodded thoughtfully. "Understood. Sounds like a sportbike might be a good fit for you. They're lightweight, fast, and handle well. Follow me."

Leon nodded, signaling his trust in the dealer's expertise. Meanwhile, Victor, Perro, Kane, and Gustavo wandered off to explore other sections of the showroom, commenting and joking about the extravagant cars they saw.

Mitchell led Leon to a sleek round table equipped with advanced tech. Pressing a button underneath, a holographic projection flared to life, displaying a rotating menu of bikes. Swiping through the interface, Mitchell pulled up the sportbike category.

"These are some of our finest options," Mitchell began, highlighting each model as he explained their pros and cons. "This one here is great for long rides, excellent fuel efficiency. This one has better acceleration and top speed. And this—" he gestured to a particularly striking model—"is the BMW S1000RR. It's got a powerful engine, sharp handling, and a smooth ride."

Leon listened intently, asking questions here and there. After a bit of back-and-forth discussion, he made up his mind. "I'll go with the BMW S1000RR," he said, a small smile creeping onto his face. "But make it all black. Keep it clean."

"Excellent choice," Mitchell said with approval. "Let's finalize the paperwork."

Leon opened his holographic panel and navigated to his financial details. His balance showed a respectable $150k, the fruits of his missions and hard work in the military. While it was a solid amount, Leon knew that in District 10, especially among those with high connections, it wasn't much. People could blow through a million just on firearms alone. Still, it was enough for what he needed today.

The BMW S1000RR came with a price tag of $30,000. After accepting the purchase request, the amount was instantly debited from his account. Mitchell's voice cut through his thoughts. "Congratulations, Mr. Green. Your new bike is ready. Let me show you to it."

Mitchell guided him to the back of the dealership, where the freshly customized BMW S1000RR was parked. The bike was pristine, its all-black exterior glinting in the sunlight. Leon felt a surge of pride as Mitchell handed him the key fob. The engine was tuned, the tires were fresh, and the overall design screamed precision and power.

Leon swung his leg over the seat, gripping the handlebars and taking a moment to appreciate the machine. He revved the engine lightly, feeling the deep growl of power beneath him. Rolling the bike around to the front of the dealership, he honked lightly to call his friends over.

"Yo!" Victor called, grinning ear to ear. "What you feeling like now, huh?"

Perro let out a loud, exaggerated "Ohhhh!" as he circled the bike, admiring every angle. "This is clean, bro!"

Kane and Gustavo offered their congratulations. "Congrats on the first ride, man," Kane said with a rare smile.

"This sh!t looks good," Gustavo added. 

Leon, soaking up the energy, kicked the stand up and revved the engine again, making the whole area vibrate. His friends burst out laughing, and even a few onlookers near the dealership door couldn't help but chuckle. The joy and camaraderie were infectious.

After a few more jokes and celebrations, Leon mentioned he needed to store his car in a nearby public garage. The group waited patiently, enjoying the banter, until Leon returned. Once he was ready, Victor led the way, smoothly maneuvering his car out of the dealership's parking lot as they headed off to continue their day.

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- Gustavo Gonzalez

- Motorcycle (first V)