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Chapter 50: Bronson
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Withstanding 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
Withstanding 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
Withstanding 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
Withstanding 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
Withstanding 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
Withstanding 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
Withstanding 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
Withstanding the Odds Chapter 58: Nikki
My eyes blink open from the harsh sun pouring through the window. I try rolling over, trying to allow sleep to cover my unconscious once more, only to blink a few times at the small folded card laying gently beside my bed on the nightstand.Sitting up, I look around my room then rub my eyes, grabbing the card before plopping back down on the bed. Opening the card, I reread the words over and over again, not allowing them to immediately sink in.-I'm sorry Nicole. You deserve better.Hating he tears that have already begun threatening to reappear form last night, I close the card and put in inside the small drawer of the nightstand attempting to keep it away from my lingering thoughts of all things Bronson.I didn't think I would be able to sleep last night, not after everything that happened the moment I left the park after Brody shut himself off from me.Images from last night come rushing through my head at an alarming rate. I had begun walking back home to the penthouse when a car p
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