Chapter 49 Nikki
“Maggie was my foster mom, one of them anyways. She was the only one to actually give a damn about me and my brother.”
“I’m sorry Nikki.” Rolling my eyes, I sit up and eye him through the rearview once again. Rand is a good-looking man; his bald head and dark eyes make him look scary, but one could also dispute that to being rugged. But his pity is what has my anger spiking so drastically.
“I don’t need sympathy Rand. I’m sure it’s not the first time you’ve looked into my past. Just because you found one of my foster families and feel bad for the poor orphan girl doesn’t mean you have to suddenly start being nice to me.”
He’s quiet at first, just continues to drive as we get closer and closer to the hotel. I don’t ask about Bronson; I know he must have told him. I have enough to say to Bronson, many of those involving apologies. I start nodding off, the day of walking and long conversation with Maggie getting the best of me but chirp up when I hear Rand speak again.
“Have you kept in touch with any of them?” I think he’s talking about the Bandits and for a moment I panic, but then he clears his throat again and clarifies. “Your foster families I mean. Do you keep in touch with any of them?”
“No.” My eyes find his in the mirror and stay on them for a while. Rand pulls into the small underground parking structure and parks where he did earlier this morning. “Why are you asking me that Rand?”
He shrugs but doesn’t take his eyes off me. We sit like two idiots inside the SUV in the dark. Finally, I roll my eyes and break the tension with the truth.
“He was a drunk, a disgusting pig of a man.” I start and watch as Rand shifts again. “Brody and I had been only staying with him a short time. He was our last foster parent, the only we needed to have until we both turned eighteen. He always ranted on and on about having to put up with two teenagers that weren’t his.”
I shut my eyes and remember the past like it was yesterday. I can still remember the hateful things he would mutter. Brody and I were the only foster kids he had and like many others, he was only in it for the check. We never even saw the money dedicated to us. Barlow Grant hated us, and the night he took it out on Brody’s ribs, we knew it was time to leave.
It was the last time we lived in a home.
“And then you ran?”
“No, then we escaped.”
Rand’s eyes leave mine from the mirror and look forward. I mimic his pose and watch as both Landen and Jim approach, Bronson directly behind him. I thought I would see anger, I thought he would hate me for no doubt worrying him. Instead, Bronson’ smiles, opens my door and helps me out.
“Bronson, I’m sorry that I–"
“No, Nikki. I’m sorry.” I give him a weak smile at which he returns. “Now, let’s get you inside. I want to hear all about your day.”
“What about yours?” I ask as he leads me away from the SUV and inside the hotel foyer. “Did you get the deal?”
Bronson turns and lifts my chin with his fingers. “Thanks to you Nikki, I did.”
“What did I do?” Damn, I love his hands on me.
“You’re you, Miss Myers. You’re simply you.”
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