Chapter 63 Bronson

My brain is a pile of jumbled mess. A groan leaves my mouth when I receive the text message from Landen telling me that he is on his way and that he has Nikki.
My feet march me towards the kitchen, where I take out the bottle of bourbon, forgoing the tumbler and take a drag. My eyes catch the items displayed all over my bar, and I force myself to turn around, facing the empty wall instead of looking deep into my past.
Why would she send me those items?
What the hell was she trying to prove?
The door opens and I breath out a breath of relief when Nikki rounds the corner looking like a tiger fresh out of its cage. When I got home and saw that not only was Cassandra gone, but as was Nikki, I immediately went and spoke with Nadia. She had informed that Cassandra said awful things to Nikki and Nikki left shortly afterwards.
I panicked. I went back and forth in my mind, wondering if I should just leave her alone, something I told myself I would do, or chase after her. But after the day I have had, leaving it alone, was not in my category. And judging by Nikki’s stare, she’s not too happy with my choice either.
“Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Nikki–"
“No.” She yells, cutting me off with her finger pointed right at me. “You don’t get to make an excuse for why you felt the need to drag me back to the penthouse like I’m some kind of lap dog. I was at a library for Christ sake, and you think you can beckon me with one of your lackeys?”
My eyes go towards the door where I spot Landen hiding out, looking down at his shoes as if they were the most interesting thing in the world.
Smart man.
“Well?”
“No. You’re right, I’m sorry Nikki. Something happened at work today and it threw my head for a loop. But that is no excuse for my controlling tendencies.”
She nods, looking flabbergasted that I would even offer an apology. This whole day has been one walking disaster after another and when I got home and found out exactly how Nikki was treated in my absence, I knew I needed to check on her, see her for myself.
“What happened at work?” Her tone is low in her question and I turn automatically and stare over at the mess I have made. Her gaze follows and takes in the small amounts of past I thought I had buried years go. She takes a step, but then stops and looks back up at me. “What are those things?”
“Pieces of my past.”
Nikki doesn’t do what I expect her to do. Instead of snooping and heading right for the items, she stands there, stranded in the island of her own dark past and then looks back to me and crosses her arms. “So, why did you feel the need to have Landen bring me home like some kind of bounty hunter?”
A snicker leaves me, but I quickly cover it when Nikki raises her eyebrows in determination. Damn this girl always managed to get a rise out of me and I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t enjoy the back and forth sarcastic banter.
“I was worried about you.”
“I’ve told you before Bronson, you don’t need to worry about me.”
“Nadia told me what Cassandra said to you earlier. When I got home, and found out, I needed to see you, to check on you. I didn’t know if you left because of her. Or me.”
Nikki looks to be pondering for a moment, but just smiles and crosses her arms. “I was pretty angry, and she did manage to piss me off, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“Good. Then do you want to tell me where you were?”
“At the library.”
“Library?”
“Yeah. I was getting some books for me to read.” A small smile traces her soft lips and she pushed down her arms and continues. “Did you know the last time I was in a library was before I moved here to New York?” I shake my head, flabbergasted that she is even speaking to me. I can tell she enjoyed her time there by how animated she is becoming and hate that I may have ruined that for her. “It was huge. A little run down, but the place was extremely busy, and they had books on every shelf.”
“Then maybe I will send out a generous donation to give it the updates it needs.”
“What?”
“I don’t just help out large business Nikki, some of the greatest businesses can start out the way you have described this library.”
“You would take it in? Just like that? Just because I spoke about it?” She moves closer to me and I force back the groan from smelling her perfume.
“You’re extremely intelligent Nikki, if you saw potential in this place, then it’s worth diving into. I trust you, with everything in me.” We’re close, close enough to do something we would both regret, but damn if I don’t want to reach out and touch her right now.
Nikki smiles, then turns her head towards the items on the bar. Narrowing her eyes at them. Sh speaks without looking at me. “So, you want to tell me what those are supposed to represent?”
“I told you, my past.”
“And what per se, do you plan on doing with them now that they are in your present?”
“I don’t know.” I state then turn towards the items too. “I just received them today while I was at work. They came as a delivery and I haven’t decided what it means or what to do with them.”
“Then you owe it to yourself to find out.” She looks back at me and moves in even closer. I feel her breathing, catch every moment of her air. “That’s what you taught me Bronson. That we owe it to ourselves to confront our past and move on. You were able to do that for me, now it’s my turn to help you.”
Before I can think, my lips crash down onto hers. I’m sure she is going to push away from me, to slap me and walk away. Instead, I’m met with as much urgency as I need, as much fiery passion as I’ve ever felt.
I finally break the kiss, breathing deep and hard as I watch Nikki do the same.
“Bronson–"
“I made a mistake Nikki. Its you I love, you’re the one I want to be with. I made a mistake with Cassandra. I’m in love with you.”