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
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
"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
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
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
Making my way down the stairs, I stop mid step when I notice Nadia, Bronson's chef, standing at the kitchen cooking something that smells like heaven. She's small, shorter than I am, and has a bob cut with highlights. She's wearing light makeup and is dressed in a cute white and black uniform. Both Bronson and Cassandra are nowhere to be seen and a relaxed breath fills me. The last thing I could have handled this morning was the man I was originally trying to set up and now trying to save, sitting with his fiancé on his lap feeding him grapes."Miss Myers. Good morning. I've made some breakfast, please help yourself." I nod my head at Nadia, pulling up the straps of my baby blue camisole that has seen better days. Taking a seat at the breakfast bar, I take in Bronson's kitchen, for once having a good look at it.The appliances seem to be brand new, the stainless-steel gleaming off each object. Marble countertops flow throughout the open space and the clear view cabinets compliment it
"Welcome back Mr. Fortworth." Jonathan states as I walk into his office. Although I have been gone for only a couple of weeks, it has felt like ages since I have been inside my building. I stopped by Jonathan's office before reaching my own to see how the merger is going that I left him in charge of."Thank you, Jonathan. Tell me, how are things going with the Blackwell Corporation deal? Have you spoken with Mr. Jorimo?""Yes sir. Everything is going according to plan. I actually have a meeting with Mr. Jorimo this afternoon to go over the final details of the merger."Good. You've done great work Jonathan." I turn to leave but stop when I notice his desk. He catches me studying the image of the framed photo and picks it and comes around his desk to show me."It's my son. He has Cerebral palsy." I look from the frame back over to him, watching as his eyes water. His son is young, couldn't be older than three, and a beautiful woman stands in the background smiling alongside him."And yo
The streets of New York are thriving as I bounce between one person after another. After Cassandra had gone upstairs to do whatever it is that she does, I finished my breakfast, ran up to my room to get dressed and ran out of the penthouse.I had to escape being in the same house as her. I wasn't going to allow her to see what her cruel words had done to me.After walking over thirty minutes, I stop when I spot an old run-down library and peer inside through the windows. I adore books, always have, but after joining with the Bandits, I had to limit myself on going any place unnecessary. It was bad enough authorities were now starting to recognize us, I didn't want them trailing where I normally go.So, books became afterthoughts for me, and I simply reread the ones I already had. Romance has always been the genre of choice and when I note that they have an enormous collection of the gritty, dirty, cheesy books, I head inside and take a look.It's busy inside, mostly children and their