"I was beholden to some very dangerous people. They wished Niko gone. I did try to convince them otherwise and they agreed that if he came into their fold that they would abandon this plan to kill him. But Niko had no interest in throwing his lot in with them."

He reached for the bottle and poured himself a second glass.

"I did try to protect him."

But not nearly enough. And not at the expense of his own safety.