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Chapter 87: Nikki
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2022-06-23 14:02:31Related chapters
Withstanding the Odds Chapter 88: Bronson
It's Christmas day, a day for celebrating, a day for joy and blessings, but a day I would normally spend behind my desk at work while I watched the semi empty streets of New York go about their holiday routine.But this Christmas is different, and as I turn and my eyes land on Nikki's naked body, the blanket riding low below her hip, I reflect on why. Nikki being in my life has changed it for the batter and although last night was one of the hardest nights of my life, I know I wouldn't have made it without her beside me.Last night was difficult. To hear my father, mutter the words that have scared me since I was a child and learned just how devastating childhood cancer could truly be. Clara was in the hospital and she was there because her cancer was not only back, it was fighting her with everything it had.I can recall her feeling weaker later in the evening on Christmas Eve, but I chalked it up to the normality of having cancer for the third time in her short life.It wasn't fa
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 89: Bronson
"I'm sorry Bronson." She lightly laughs then shakes her head. "Here I am crying on Christmas morning. Are you sure you wouldn't want to go see your sister?""She doesn't want anyone at the hospital just yet. She told us all she needs her space, and I'll respect her wishes for now. Today, is about the two of us making a new out of the darkness of our past."She nods her heads and I kiss her again. Standing up, I walk over to my nightstand, pulling out the red pathetically wrapped Christmas present that I had made for her. I walk back over to her and place it down on her lap."You got me something?""Of course I did." Did she assume I wouldn't?"It's just that… I know you didn't always celebrate it with....""Nikki, you mean so much more than anything before you. I wanted to get you something not because of the holiday, but to show you how much I have changed."Watching her rip into it like a child has me chuckling under my breath and when her breathing hitches as she pulls out th
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 90: Bronson
I look over at Nikki whose eyes continuously travel from me to the book I hold firm in my grasp. I know what this is, I know what this means, but I don't exactly know how she acquired it. Like the little mind reader Nikki is, she reads me well and answer my nonverbal question."Your mom helped with most of it, and Anderson filled in the rest. Your family wanted you to have a piece of the remaining parts of their life that you missed out on. Your father.... he wrote something on the inside. I didn't look, I think that's something you should read alone, but if you want, I can be here when you do."Her voice sounds so distance, so lost, and I know she is wondering if she made the right decision with this gift. I lean forward and kiss her soft lips, then smile. "This is perfect Nikki. Thank you."I look back down, and open the front page, laughing when I spot the first picture, the picture of my parents wedding. This photo meant so much to my mother, she always told us she knew our fath
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 91: Nikki
It's been three days since our amazing holiday. Three days of pure and relinquished bliss. Three days of holding onto a potentially dangerous secret. Bronson still does not know about Anabe, he doesn't know about my role in coming here in the very beginning and I fear that once he finds out, we will be over.I know I have no choice. He needs to know, and I have to get him to understand the severity in the situation, but I have no idea where to start. I'm being a coward, I know that, and given that Bronson is the thing I lose when this all blows up in my face, is the reason for my cowardly motives.My decision today of telling Rand before Bronson is exactly that. Cowardly.Bronson left for work over an hour ago, and although I still have until Monday before work begins for me, everything could go wrong between then and now. This is the moment I must take advantage of.Only I have no idea how to do that.I call Rand praying it does not go to voicemail and breath out a breath of reli
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 92: Nikki
"And he cornered you at your work?" Rand asks. I can sense his anger growing as I retell him the story of what transpired at work the other day. I haven't been back home, haven't spoken to Bronson, all I can think of in this moment, is solving our major issue at hand.Alexander Anabe.He is the reason I am here, in front of Rand at this moment."Yes.""Sh*t" He mutters then begins pacing. His wife, bless her heart, is actually quite calm. She hums a beautiful tone as she waters a few plants around the home. She's offered me lemonade and fresh homemade peanut butter cookies. I think if I weren't so worried about Bronson and what Anabe's threat could potentially mean, I would laugh at just how different she is than her husband."We have to tell Bronson, Rand. We have to let him know what's going on. We cannot wait any longer.""We need time Nikki. If we tell him now, he could very well still be in danger. Bronson will react in ranger and fear, and do something stupid, like go after
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 93: Nikki
Rushing past the doorman, I take the elevator up to the penthouse, my body anxious to get to Bronson.After Rand and I spotted him drunkenly incoherent at the breakfast bar, Rand had called him, only to have it go straight to voicemail. We couldn't hear Bronson, but we made out a few words like, backstabbing and traitor. Not understanding what must have clearly went down, there was only one thing I could do. Got to him.I told Rand to stay there, while I spoke with Bronson alone. It was clear he had sent Nadia home, and I didn't know if Anabe or Brody and Mick were following me. The last thing we needed was to throw them off by showing me with Rand. He was my ace in the hole and I needed him hidden for now.My foot bounces anxiously as the elevator takes me up and I ponder in my head for the hundredth time, what could have possibly happened. Rand went back into the video and saw that it was Bronson that destroyed the penthouse. It was hard watching as he destroyed everything around
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 94: Nikki
No.... please God no."Did you honestly believe that I wouldn't find out?" He walks past me, and I turn to spot him going into the study. His feet are bare and with the glass surrounding each step in his course, I run over and stop him from moving. My hand is on his chest and my eyes down casted on the floor where I can spot trails of blood."Bronson, please, the glass, you need to put something on your feet."Pushing my hands off him, I get thrown off balance, landing harshly on the glass covered flooring. I scream out when the glass cuts through the palms of my hand. For a moment, Bronson looks worried, he reaches out and lifts me up, expressing concern when his eyes travel my body and pulls my palms out to observe, but something ticks inside him, a bomb goes off in his mind and he quickly pulls away from me again."I want you out of here.""Bronson.""You lied Nikki. You lied to me about everything.""How did–""Anabe came and spoke to me. He told me everything, about you an
Last Updated : 2022-06-23Withstanding the Odds Chapter 95: Nikki
I don't notice where I am walking until I look up and spot the Serendin Atlas in front of me. How ironic that Bronson kicked me out and this is the first place I turn, the place that is currently trying to destroy him, destroying me along the way. I didn't know where to go, I could have stayed on the streets or even strapped myself inside a rundown hotel until the morning where I would undoubtedly go over and try speaking with Bronson again.The words he spewed at me come returning to the forefront of my mind and I cringe at his last statement about my parents. The pain registers from back when my aunt came out of her house in tears to explain to me and Brody that our parents were gone and never coming back. Since that moment, I have always wanted to make them proud. I wanted them to know that I was taking care of Brody and keeping us safe, but Bronson was right. I failed them. I haven't kept us safe, neither of us have our high school diplomas, Brody is constantly high and I'm a f*ck
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
