All Chapters of Withstanding the Odds: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

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

"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

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

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

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