by Jones, P. A.
I scowled at that bastard, Gerome. I wanted to kill him, but knowing the whereabouts of the money was essential, too. I closed my eyes for a second.
It had been a busy day. The moment we’d stepped out in Philadelphia, we had been searching for this bastard. Place after place, we searched for him. The contact of Gavin gave us his current whereabouts, but when we reached that place he was already gone. It had happened three times in a row, but this time we found him.
But when we found him, going inside a hotel, he saw us and started running. We had to chase him and give him the beating of his life. He ran fast, but he couldn’t outrun three of us.
I looked at him; he was panting with a bleeding nose. The nose wasn’t enough. I wanted to see his face covered in blood, completely.
“Why did you do that?” I jumped on him, catching his collar. Peterson again pulled me back.
“Tristan, wait for a moment. We don’t want to get any cops here. We will take him to a hotel room and then we will see where the money is.” Gavin said.
“There is no money. Everything was spent for my daughter’s operation,” Gerome replied, his voice was shaking.
“What the fuck? Your so-called son is getting taken away from his mother and you are telling about a dau…” I realized what he was saying. I turned to face him. With my grip on his neck, I said, “What do you mean by daughter? What did you do with that money, jerk?” I was losing it. The more I was away from knowing about the money, the more he was driving me insane, it never happened with me, but thinking about Nikki’s face when she lost Stephen drove me nuts.
“The money, Tristan. I’m sorry, but I had’ to do it with Nikki. Otherwise, he would have killed my daughter. My daughter is getting operated on for a heart transplant and she needed that money.” Tears fell down his cheeks. Seeing a man crying was painful.
“What daughter? You only have one son, and that's also in danger.” I squeezed his jaw in my hand. “Do you even know how much pain your wife is in? Do you even care?”
“The two years I was gone, I’d married a pretty Mexican woman. I have’ a daughter with her, and she is sick, very sick. She needed a heart transplant. I had’ no money. Everything Nikki’s dad gave me had vanished and I couldn’t ask him for more money. I was doomed.” He started sobbing, his words gone awry. “And then he came up with a proposal.” His chin jutted up.
I looked in his green eyes. I saw something moving there.
“Gavin, can you pull some strings and get the complete info on this jerk?” I asked Gavin.
He nodded and walked away.
“Tell me about everything. Who came and what proposal? Why did you come back in her life when you had married another woman?” It was all confusing. I was on the brink of losing my calm again. Because of this jerk, I was apart from my love. The woman who could change my life was pushed away because of this man’s lie. And now he was telling another lie.
“Mr. Shaun. The lawyer Nikki is facing against.”
My hands dropped his chin. It was a shocker for me. I couldn’t believe that could be true. Why would Shaun contact Gerome and how did he know him in the first place?
“Tell me, Gerome, what really happened back there? What did he ask you? And how did he know you?” I asked.
“He came to me one day with lots of cash and promised to give more if I worked for him. He wanted me to get back with, Nikki. And make sure she couldn’t get the company back on the track.”
“But why would he want that? Why would he want to keep Stephen away from Nikki.” I still couldn’t understand the motive behind this all.
“He wants the power.” Gerome wiped the blood from his nose. “He wants to control the whole Jordan industries, and he can do that only when Stephen is under his influence.”
It made sense; Shaun would completely control the Jordan empire if he is the custodian of Stephen.
“And then you made sure that Nikki ’didn't take the company uphill’.” I completed his plan.
“Yes, but then you came and you made sure that she got the money. I even gave money to the players on our team to make sure we lose,” Gerome said.
“You jerk. I should kill you for this.”
“I deserve it, Tristan, but I can’t get your money back. It’s gone. When you won the tournament, Shaun threatened me that he wouldn’t give me any money. And I had’ no choice but to run with the money to save my daughter. You would have done the same if you were in my place, Tristan. You would have done the same for Stephen," he cried.
“And now I’m going to kill you.” I tightened my grip on his neck.
“Tristan, come on. Let's wait for Gavin to get back with info on him.” Peterson pulled me back.
“Let’s take him to the hotel room.” I grabbed Gerome’s arm and dragged him along with me. I was going to take every penny out of his pocket. I was going to make sure Stephen stayed with Nikki.
***
Gavin entered the hotel room. We didn’t plan to stay so we booked only one suite.
“Did you find anything?” I asked him.
His eyes darted to Gerome and then back to me. “He is telling the truth. He'd transferred all the money to a Mexican account and that belongs to a hospital. I checked it in detail and apparently he is having a life there with someone named Paula. I’m sorry, bro, we can’t get that money back. It’s gone out of the country.”
“Fuck, fuck.” I lost all my hope. The money was gone and there was no way to get it back. I'd failed Nikki big time. I looked back at Gerome. I wanted to kill him right there only, but I lost my interest. Nothing was going to change things for Nikki and Stephen.
I walked out of the room onto the balcony. The traffic was flowing on the roads, but I’d lost all my hope. Everything was on the verge of being lost and I couldn’t do anything to save it.
Chapter 15
Nikki
“We will run with him. Can't we do that?” I asked, wiping my tears away. I’d wiped them again and again, but still there was plenty of water left in my body to continue crying for hours.
My eyes darted to the little kid playing with the toy. He didn’t even know he was going away from me. How would he live without me? Who would he call his mother? Who would take care of him when he is sick?
“Jesus, please save my child from these bastards.” I looked up, but no help was coming from him anywhere. God must be angry at me. He must be punishing me for the sins I'd done in previous life. But why would he punish that little kid too?’
How could I let them take away piece of my heart? How could that bastard Shaun do that to me?“If he wants the money, the power, let him take that. But for God’s sake, please don’t take me away from him. I’ll die without him, Tristan.” I begged him.
He just hugged me tightly. After returning from Philadelphia, he had been like this, quiet and lost in his own thoughts. He was helpless, like me. I knew he loved Stephen as much I did, but he couldn’t save him from legal things.
“I wish I could do that, Nikki. I’m so sorry, dear,” Tristan answered in a low voice. “But don’t worry, babe. I’ll fight till my last breath and get him back for you. I’ll do anything, even if I’ve to steal him from that jerk.”
“I want him with me, Tristan.” I picked him up and hugged him to my heart. He started crying because of the force I squeezed him with.
Tristan took him away from me. For the first time I saw tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Nikki. I couldn’t do anything for you. I failed you.” A lone tear fell down. He kept saying he’d failed me. Actually, he was the reason I was still standing. If it wasn’t for him standing with me, I would have taken the drugs again. I couldn’t tell him how many times I felt like going back on that path when he wasn’t with me. But he had shown me the way life could be and I clung to those memories and kept myself sane.
“No, Tristan. I’m the fool who believed in Gerome again. And I’m getting punished for that foolishness now. If I never had gone on that path, I would have been with you
and Stephen.”
“No, Nikki, you had gone through a lot already and I hadn’t been there for you when you needed me.”
“Promise me you won’t go away from me. I’ll die if I lose you as well.” I was afraid that he would go somewhere, leaving me alone.
“No, babe.” He wrapped me in his arms and brushed his lips on my forehead.“I won’t leave you in my lifetime.”
“Thanks, Tristan.” My arms wrapped around his back in a tight hug.
***
Tristan
I watched her walking like a zombie, her shoulders down, eyes scratching the ground, neck bent like it was broken. But I couldn’t do anything. Her son, our son was going away from us. It was the fourth day of the hearing and the judge was hell-bent on giving custody to the Shaun’s firm. Peterson tried hard; he showed profound pictures of Nikki and Stephen’s love and how much Stephen needed his mom. But nothing worked against the argument of Shaun when he opened the case file where Nikki went to jail for drug addiction. That single file grew past our all defense and the case collapsed on us.
Today was the last day of the case and everybody knew what the result would be.
She opened the door and I followed her. The courtroom was small; only a few people were allowed in. It was a special hearing and Shaun had made sure that press wasn’t there. Maybe he was trying to hide everything.
“Good evening, Nikki Jordan.” Shaun came forward and greeted her.
“I know what you did with the help of Gerome. Now don’t act like you did nothing.” Nikki frowned at him.
He smirked at her. “It doesn’t matter if you can’t prove anything, Nikki. At the end of the day, the money is in my hands.”
“Don’t forget Stephen will get that money when he turns eighteen and you can’t stop her meeting him wherever he is.” I stormed in to save Nikki’s sanity. If that person spoke a word more, Nikki would have slapped him. And that would put our side in more trouble.
“We will see about that. Sixteen years, Nikki, Stephen will be in my custody. If I can make your company lose everything and wind up like this, I can put a restraining order on you anytime.” He laughed like a wicked man.
The money and power was at the bottom of all of this. But the complete Jordan business was so big that I could never think of offering that kind of money to Shaun. In other words, I'd failed her. I'd failed her big time.
“Gentleman, let’s sit down for the hearing.” Peterson came from the other side. Even he looked hopeless.
The judge came in and everybody stood. Though I wanted to walk out of there, I stood up. Because I wanted to be with Nikki and support her in every downfall, every bad time. I had’ to make sure she got out fine from this.
“The defense may proceed, "the judge declared.
“Your honor, before you give your judgment, I want you to look at Nikki first. Look at her blue eyes, which haven’t stopped crying from the day this case was put on. I want you to look at the face of that kid, which has been so confused from the day he was put under the court’s custody. Look at them once more, sir, and then take your decision.” Peterson sat down.
“I don’t have anything to add, but before looking at them, look at the case file, sir. This lady was addicted to drugs and who knows she will start taking drugs again…”
“I won’t take drugs anymore. But for God's sake, don’t take my son away.” Nikki screamed in the court. She couldn’t hold it in anymore.
Shaun looked at her for a moment.”“What if she sells the stocks of the company for drugs? What if she sells the kid for drugs? Please make your decision based on these points, your honor.” Shaun sat back on his chair. His lips held a faint smile. I knew he was happy for destroying Nikki. I wished I’d had a knife. I would have cut his throat right there.
The judge looked at everyone . “Please be seated…”
“Your honor, if you allow me. I would like to say something here…” A sound came from behind us.
Everybody turned their eyes to that person. It was Gerome.
“And who are you?”the judge asked.
“I’m the father of Stephen, "he replied.
Chapter 16
Tristan
I watched him in shock. His nose was covered in a bandage, and that was because of me. But why was he here and what did he want?
I saw Shaun stand up. His face was tense and he didn’t seem to like the sudden entrance of Gerome.
“Your honor, we should proceed with your decision. The gentleman doesn’t have anything to do with this and we should hear your decision first.”
My eyes darted to Peterson; he was looking at me. I signaled him to oppose Shaun.
“Your honor, I’m sorry for the last minute call. But Gerome is our witness in this case, and I would like you to hear him once before giving your decision.”
“Mr. Peterson, you are making a mockery of the court here. When the decision is pending, you don’t bring any witnesses; they should be presented when asked.” Shaun’s voice cracked.
“Your owner, I’m the dreadful father of the kid whose custody is in question. And I’ve few points to discuss with you, only if you agree to let me present it.” Gerome was clear and confident.
The judge looked at him and then at Peterson and Shaun. “I think the father of the child should have a say. But I would like to see the proof that you are his father," the judge said.
“I’ll produce them to you in half an hour, your honor,” Peterson replied quickly.
“Okay, the court is adjourned for half an hour.” The judge walked out.
***
“I hope you have something positive to say in court,” I whispered to Gerome as we walked inside the court again. Peterson, with the help of Gavin, somehow managed to get the DNA report and birth certificate the Stephen. And it was clear that Gerome was his biological father.
“Wait and watch.” A smirk was visible on Gerome’s face. “I’ll make sure that bastard doesn’t get a single penny of Nikki’s money.”
The judge came in few minutes and court started it’s hearing again.
“Your honor, here are the reports from the Central Medical hospital. These should be enough to prove that he is the biological father of Stephen,” Peterson said.
“Before you start the hearing, your honor, I would like to ask Gerome where he was for the past two-and-half years when his wife needed him. When his son needed him most?” Shaun asked.
“To answer you, Mr. Shaun, is that I know I’m a dickhead. I abandoned Nikki for most of her pregnancy. But there was a reason for that.” He took a pause. Took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his tears. “Your honor, Nikki is a good wife. But, unfortunately, her dad wasn’t a good father. He made me go away from her. He threatened me with my life.”
“Your honor, we should ask him proof for this all. We can’t just trust his babbling.” Shaun tried to cut him off.
“Mr. Shaun, I would suggest that you seat down and speak when asked.”The judge scowled at him. “It looks like you are too impatient to let him speak his words.”
“I’m sorry.” Shaun sat down.
“Please continue, Mr. Gerome," the judge asked him.
“Your honor, if you have any doubts, please check the last eight months’ newspapers. I’m there everywhere. When Nikki’s dad died, I flew back here and have been with Nikki for the last eight months. I’d been there when Stephen and she needed me most. I know how much she loves him and she will vouch for my words, too. Now, I know you have problems for giving custody to Nikki, because of her drug issue. But you shouldn’t have any problems in giving custody to me.” He dropped the bomb.
Nikki clenched my hand tightly. I looked at her; she was looking at Gerome in horror. Even I didn’t know what he was talking about and why he was trying to take Stephen’s custody.
“That’s a twist to the case. But, it is a valid point. I’ll need some time to verify the details. The court is again adjourned for half an hour and I’ll be giving the f
inal decision when we resume.” The judge walked away.
Chapter 17
Tristan
“The boy is yours, Nikki. I couldn’t let Shaun take Stephen away from you. Not after I realized how much Stephen mean to both of you,” Gerome assured me and Nikki as we walked out.
“Thanks a lot, Gerome. For doing what you did today.” I shook hands with him. The court had decided in his favor and given custody to Gerome.
“You taught me that, Tristan. I know how much it hurts to see your child in danger. I know I wasn’t around and I’m not the right person to be his dad, but I’m sure you’ll understand my actions someday.”
“I don’t care how much money you took from me. I just want to thank you for giving back Stephen to me.” Nikki hugged Gerome.
“You deserved it, Nikki. You gave me a second chance. And I did what is right,” Gerome said.
I could see a good heart at the bottom of that jerk.
“Peterson, what’re the chances that Shaun will put the case next court again?”
“Well, he was given six months to file a case for an appeal. I think he will file it,” Peterson replied.
“Don’t worry. I’m going to move here for six months, without my wife and child, and I can always be available when you need me,” Gerome replied.
“Yes, if he just keeps showing in media how much he loves Nikki and Stephen, we will get a hold of the case,” Peterson added.
“That’s a deal, then.” Gerome extended his hand again.
“Yes.”Nikki and I both grabbed his hand. He was making up for his sins and it was good for both of us.
Chapter 18
Two months later.
Nikki
I took the key out of my purse and opened the door. It was the first anniversary of our first meeting and Tristan didn’t even remember it. On top of that, he didn’t even answer my call from the morning and didn’t even bother to tell me what he was doing for the whole day.