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Chapter 49: Nikki
Last Updated:
2022-06-23 14:02:31Related chapters
Withstanding the Odds Chapter 50: Bronson
The blare of the horn sounds as Rand swerves in and out of the congested traffic. I type a quick message to Bethany at which I get an instant reply from her."Glad to be home?" Nikki asks from beside me and I turn and look over at her smile. Damn this woman is beautiful."Yes, although I hate that we have to get back into a new routine so soon." The trip went longer than I would have liked, not giving us much time to rest before work begins for the both us tomorrow morning.I'm not exactly ready to share her with the world just yet."Well, at least we have the rest of the day to relax." My eyes find hers once again.Nikki has been in a good mood since coming back from her previous foster mother's home. When Rand called me and told me where she went, I felt horrible for making a big deal out of her leaving. I told her she was free to roam and knowing she most likely went to get some kind of clarity, made me feel worse.I want to ask her why she went there, why after all these years did
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 51: Bronson
Nikki and I walk into the building, and I give a small wave to Gary, the doorman as he greets me a personal hello while eyeing Nikki up and down. I give him a look of warning at which I receive a courteous nod and follow Nikki to the elevator breathing in a fresh breath of air once we get back into my penthouse."Sir, I'll go through the entire floor and report back here." I nod my head at Rand and watch as Nikki snickers at his authoritative action. Rand's job is to keep me safe and with that comes the occasional checking of the entire floor before I can even rest my head."He's particular." She mutters, but I hear her it all the same."You could say that.""So, where did you find him, Afghanistan?" A chuckle leaves my body because even I don't exactly know where Rand comes from."He was my grandfathers' driver for years before he passed." I state then begin slowly walking into the penthouse. I know Rand won't find anything and I don't necessarily like where this conversation is going
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 52: Nikki
I've been crying inside my room for well over an hour now. It started with anger and has now morphed into something I have not felt since my aunt came to me one fall afternoon to explain, that my life wouldn't never be the same. I felt hopeless that day, I felt lonely and afraid and those emotions are mimicked this very moment, enhanced by the feeling of stupidity.He has a fiancé. Someone he plans to someday marry.And she's stunningly beautiful.A frustrated groan leaves my chest as I sit up and wipe at the stray tears that flow down my cheeks. I've been hidden up here in my room for over an hour. To say I was devastated to learn that not only was Bronson seeing someone else, but that he intends on marrying the woman, would be an understatement. It's the woman from the charity event, the one woman that appeared on his phone.How could I have been so stupid? Never once did I think he was engaged; never once did he mention her.Broken. I feel completely broken.Now everything makes sen
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 53: Bronson
"Who the hell was that woman Bronson?"Silence."Well, are you going to answer me?" I shut my eyes when the bedroom to Nikki's door slams shut and blow out a frustrated breath when Cassandra rounds the corner and stands right in front of me. Her dark hair and dark eyes used to once allure me, now I only compare them to the angelic face of the stubborn woman now upset and embarrassed right upstairs.I should have told her about Cassandra form the beginning. Why didn't I?"Bronson.""She's a friend.""A friend?" She asks. Her lips pouty and her perfume aggravating my senses. She has always acted like a spoiled brat, made herself seem like the victim and although, I suppose in this instance she is, her attitude is not warranted. "I think you owe me more than that Bronson."Another frustrated breath leaves my body as I walk over towards the kitchen and pull out my bourbon. Cassandra joins me a moment later and I place a tumbler down for her as well, filling hers just the way she l
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 54: Bronson
I stand and walk back over towards the kitchen, picking up my not forgotten drink. I down the rest of the glass, then pour another, downing that one seconds later. Cassandra stays rooted in her spot, but her head is swiveled towards me. I do not have a choice but to lie to her. To lie to myself. Nikki is too good for me, and if I give in to my urges, it will only consume and destroy her. She is destined for greater, better things than what I can possibly give her."Nicole may have misconstrued her own emotions. I was her rescuer, nothing more, and by not telling her about you, it may have confused things further.""So, you didn't tell her about being married in less than six months?" I stay silent, giving Cassandra the only answer she needs.Cassandra stands and begins marching up the stairs, her footsteps loud and angered and like a fool, I stand there watching her. It isn't until I realize that I need to fix this now, before it goes further, do I run up the stairs and grab her arm
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 55: Nikki
The walk to the Serendin Atlas is a long and draining one. It takes me well over two hours of nonstop walking and when the sun went well past the skyscrapers, and the cold rain began seeping into my clothing, I was more than ready to turn around and be home.Instead I continued walking towards my ultimate goal of seeing my brother, in fear that if I turned around and went back to the penthouse, I would walk into an image that would leave me a blubbering mess.I couldn't take much more of what I saw before I left."Nikki?" I hear a deep voice call out to me as I enter the old abandoned hotel and run when I see it's Brody sitting at the top landing of the first stairwell. My body envelopes his as he dips his head down and engulfs me in a long hug. It feels like it's been years since I have seen Brody and although it has only been a few weeks, it's the longest we've been apart since our parents died."Brody." I cry out and I suddenly can no longer hold in my emotions. Everything I have be
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 56: Nikki
"It's just hard you know? Being away from home. I really wanted to come home and knowing you were here, I had to see you. To make sure you're okay.""Thanks Nik, but I'm fine. I really am. Jail was hard but, Mick and Alfonso were able to get me out. I only wish I weren't walking around on eggshells around everyone here."I nod my head in understanding. Mick and Alfonso may have gotten him out, but the Bandits don't trust anyone that could easily come back to our home after speaking with the authorities. It's never happened before, and given the fact that Brody is the one that f*cked up the grand scheme in the first place, it's a true wonder why Mick hasn't gotten rid of him."I'm sorry Brody.""You shouldn't be. It was me that messed everything up. I was so out of my mind that night, and when I saw that a**hole's hand on you, I didn't know what came over me." His face turns dark and angered, as if something has set him off inside his mind. He recovers quickly, as if the thought alone c
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 57: Bronson
Me: I need you to track down Nikki.Rand: Got itMe: And Rand?Rand: Sir?Me: If she is upset, and no longer wishes to come back home.... I will understand.Rand: Yes Sir.Blowing out a necessary deep breath, I place my phone down and stare at the crackling of the fireplace. The orange and red flames carry over like waves through a surfer's board.I take another pull of my bourbon and rub my temples when the damning headache returns with a powerful thud. Sitting up to place my glass down on the small coffee table, I groan when I feel the pain of sitting in this chair for over three hours resonate through my back.It has been hours since Nikki has left, and Mr. Gilsh has made me aware. Hours of wondering if she has chosen to leave this place and go back to her original home with the criminals, she calls the Bandits. I haven't slept. I cannot, not when I know she isn't safe, safe here, in this building. Down the hall from me.A door closes from the front of the penthouse and I sit up, no
Last Updated : 2022-06-23
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Withstanding the Odds Chapter 108: Epilogue-Nikki
My feet pound the pavement as I look back and notice him catching up to me. A small giggle leaves my breath as I force through my weariness and begin to run faster."Damn it Nicole." He shouts but I cough out a laugh and continue running.After another ten minutes of running, my feet finally give my legs the message and I'm forced to pull off to the side and lay onto the grass, begging for breath as I shield my eyes from the golden sun.Eight months.It's been eight months since everything went down in Bronson's office, and when I look back, it feels like a different life altogether. Bronson and I have been going strong. There are times we have moments of relapse, mainly me when I assume he doesn't trust me, but he assures me, that after I practically threw myself into his penthouse knowing there was danger, there is no mistrust in our relationship."Did you really think you could outrun me?" I look up and smile when I see the glorious face of Bronson Fortworth. He's just as hands
Withstanding the Odds Chapter 107: Bronson
I feel heavy, my eyes lids try and open but it's no use. I can hear someone beside me, shifting uncontrollably in their seat, only to curse when something drops on the ground beside them. I moan, trying like hell to get rid of my unconscious stupor, only to stop when I feel her come closer, whispering things in my ear to calm me."I'm here Bronson. I'm safe." My body softens, hearing the horrors my mind has been churning around as unanswered questions was killing me. I needed her safe, I needed to know she was okay. I fall asleep, relishing in the fact that she is beside me.The next time my brain connects the dots of conscious living, my eyes finally get the memo and blink open a few times. I'm in pain, a good amount, but I force myself to look around the room and watch as Nikki's body, thrown haphazardly over a couple of chairs thrown together to make a bed, rises up and lower back down. I watcher breath for what feels like hours, then finally shift enough to make a groan erupt fro
Withstanding the Odds Chapter 106: Nikki
Everything happens quickly, too quickly for me to connect each fragmented dot. A large body lands atop of mine, making the both of us grunt out in pain. I look up and hear another gun go off, this one much closer than the last and my eyes widen when I realize not only is Bronson on top of me, but he's been shot."Bronson!" I panic, pushing him off me, and placing him onto the ground. Rand runs over as well as I check over Bronson's body, trying to figure out where the pool of blood under us is coming from."Nikki." He grunts out, but I place my fingers down on his lips, stopping him from whatever pathetic last-minute speech he wants to give me. I will not let him die. I can't lose anyone else."Stop, just save it, you're getting out of here, do you hear me? Rand I are going to take you to a hospital and get you help." Bronson's hand reaches out and gently rests on my cheek. A single tear falls from my eye, something I don't even realize as time stands still.We're given our own mom
Withstanding the Odds Chapter 105: Bronson
Brody goes down, and I barely hear anything outside the scream Nikki unleashes. My head swivels over to Mick whose face is sporting a bored expression.Sick bastard. I may not have liked the asshole that had no problem watching his sister get pummeled, but to kill him so easily?"Brody! No." Nikki's tears flow as she stares at the vacant spot beside me that makes up where her brother once was. Her struggle becomes a problem when she attempts to get out of Mick's hold, calling him every name in the book. "You son of a b*tch. I'm going to make sure you suffer for that.""Stupid girl. It's your fault he's in this situation to begin with." Mick angrily shouts. I look over from them back to Charles, who is starring at them with shock. Brody was expendable and I think he is beginning to realize that he is as well."Do you see it now Charles? He has no plans of continuing on with you. He's already gotten rid of one expendable person, who do you think is next?" Rand speaks up once again, h
Withstanding the Odds Chapter 104: Nikki
How do I get myself into these situations. Granted, I should have known better than barging in here when Mick practically left Alfonso on the ground of the Serendin as a dare to me, but my heart strings were completely pulled for Bronson. I frankly, blame the love-stricken tool I've come to be, but this? This situation is just plain comical.Mick's arms tighten around my chest and neck as he halls me up and cuts the ties off my waist and arms. I'm no longer in the chair but with the large knife in his right hand and a gun in his left, I'm still very much at his mercy.The moment we heard Rand coming inside the penthouse, seconds before the yelling began, we knew the tables had turned. I just never thought it would end in a shootout."Think about this Mr. Reynolds. This will not end the way you expect it to." Rand states as he enters even further into the room. He came inside, Brody tugged discretely in front of him as if using him as a human shield. I wanted to scream at him, but he
Withstanding the Odds Chapter 103: Bronson
I can't watch this. My body is rigid as I hear the noises of Charles's grunts. It's lasted for what feels like hours, but I know it's only begun because Nikki can still keep in the yelps and screams, I know she wants to unleash.I was a fool. A pathetic fool to think Nikki wouldn't bother showing up. When Charles and Mick, along with her deplorable brother ambushed me, attempting to get me hand over all of my money from the new companies I had acquired, I had an ace up my sleeve. I wasn't going to give them anything, they would have to kill me first, something they wouldn't do if they wanted to get paid.But then Mick had a plan. Get Nikki here. He knew, deep down he knew I would have fought him tooth and nail, which is why when they told me about leaving their informant Alfonso down at the Serendin for all to see, I hoped Nikki was still angry enough with me that she wouldn't bother showing.I was a fool.I cringe when I finally hear her weakened murmur, the humming vibration each
Withstanding the Odds Chapter 102: Nikki
Fuzzy. Everything is fuzzy, clearing only when I give a few dry blinks. The first thing that comes into my vision is Bronson. Relief flows through me as I see him staring blankly at me. His head is titled, as If tired from holding it up at an awkward angle and the blood that was coming from his face has now dried all over his shirt. His eyes glance me over, and once he sees that I am awake, he sits up startled and looks around the room, then back to me."Nikki?"I nod my head, not knowing what else to do, and that's when all the blanks fill in. I'm sitting in a chair, same as Bronson. My hands are tied to the arms of the chair with zip ties and around my waist and legs are a tight rope cutting into the skin. I shake my head and close my eyes, making a mental note of how I feel.My head is hurting, but not a skull splitting kind of pain. My hands and legs hurt, most likely from how tight my ties are, and my lips feel swollen, in desperate need of water."Bronson?" I answer his worri
Withstanding the Odds Chapter 101
After what feels like years later, I finally arrive at Bronson's penthouse. I throw some loose bills that were waddled up in my bra at the cab driver, not entirely sure it's even enough, and run up the few steps and inside the building. I notice the doorman looking at me strangely, but I'm thankful when he doesn't stop me. He must have seen me enter enough times with Bronson to recognize me.By the time the elevator dings and my sore muscles enter the penthouse, I'm shocked by what I see. It's quiet, eerily so, and as I look around, I don't see anything out of place, aside from the way it looked yesterday after Bronson destroyed it. Rand told me that Bronson hung up quickly, and that he thought he heard some kind of scuffle, but I'm not sure if Rand is here. I don't call out either of their names, just in case I'm not the only one here, instead, I move into the living area, making my way closer and closer towards the study area.Entering the kitchen, I look around more, noting the em
Withstanding the Odds Chapter 100: Nikki
The cab driver was humming a familiar song as I hopped in and gave him the address. I knew I couldn't run all the way back to the penthouse and with Brody, Mick and Charles already ahead of me, I knew I needed a quick ride there."So, you new to New York?" He asks and I fight the urge to tell him off and roll my eyes."No, I live here. Now please, step on it, it's an emergency." I state then sit back and pull my phone from my back pocket. I need to call Rand and tell him what I know. He answers immediately, sounding out of breath and worry struck me hard. "Rand?""It's Bronson, I was on the phone with him and then suddenly it turned off. I heard what sounded like a scuffle, I'm on my way to him now but I'm in traffic, where are you?"I couldn't answer him fast enough, my mind was reeling on all the information he just threw at me. Bronson was hurt. Does he know that for sure? Was he watching the footage? I shook my head and tried to keep my thoughts about me. I couldn't jeopardize
