Chapter 80: Chapter 80:

Nicole POV

"So far, these are the only evidences I have against Tigress" Claire tells me and I look at all the photos in my hand. They were of Tigress peddling drugs to people and some had her taking the drugs.

"How did you get all these?" I ask astonished and Claire flashes me her pearly whites.

"I have my ways"

"This is enough evidence to get Tigress rotting in jail" I tell her as I gather the six photographs spread out in front of me.

"Are you sure you wanna do this? It could be very difficult! Tigress is really smart" Claire says and takes a sip of her glass of water in front of her.

"She has to pay for what she did to me! No one messes with the Andersons! Especially me, Nicole"

Claire chuckles

"I like that! So tough"

I feel much better and safer now that am in Claire's house but I hope Jake is safe. What if Tigress did something to him? What if she killed him? No! I cannot bear to lose Jake! Besides, she wouldn't do that because Kate wouldn't allow her to.

"And I forgot to show you! This is Tigress's boss! The man behind everything" Claire alerts pointing to a man in one of the photographs. He was in a dark suit and he had grey hair. His eyes were brown and he wasn't so tall and not so short either.

"So this is the boss huh?"

Claire smiles.

"I don't know if I should involve the boss in this too"

"That's the problem Nikki! You are dealing with a whole syndicate here! Why don't you just let her be and  fight your way back to school?"

"I can't because Jake has the evidence of Tigress framing me! And I need to get him out of there"

Claire sighs and there is a knock on the door. Her parents were not around and her brother had left just a few minutes ago.

"It must be Cody" she says giddily and I'm gobsmacked.

"Cody? What is Cody doing here?"

"We errr....we kind of decided to hang out today so I've gotta go"

"Claire? Is there something you aren't telling me?"

She giggles.

"I'll tell you when I get back"

I watch her dash to the front door. She fixes her hair and wears her mittens before opening the door. Cody stood behind in all his glory with a bouquet of lilies in his hands. He was wearing a  red turtleneck shirt with a brown jacket that hung loosely around him with a pair of black boots and a pair of jeans. His dark hair was gelled to perfection and his amber eyes gave this unusual spark when he saw Claire. Claire melts and I smile. If only Jake and I could be this way. No fights, no enemies, just us.

He hands the lilies to her and pecks her cheek. I see her blush and she shuts the door. I sigh as I'm the only one left in the house. Maybe I should go out too? Or I should call Alec and give him Claire's address? I really need someone to talk to. I don't have Alec's number off head. Its only Aaron's number that I have stored in my long term memory and he is dead! I cannot call him. I heave a sigh of frustration. I've never been without my phone before! It really is painful when you do not have your phone! I'm sure Claire took hers along.

I just drum on the table lazily with my long fingernails thinking of ways to get someone to help us. I'm positive that Tigress has all her guards all over the neighborhood searching for me and the amount of snow is increasing everyday. The weather is getting colder and its not good for my condition.

I just play with a tag I found on Jake's hoodie just to let the time pass. I give out a sigh of frustration when I look at the time. I feel like going out. I thought Claire would be back soon but no. I'll just disguise myself and go to Alec's house. Yeah that's it.

I get up. But how would I leave if I don't know this neighborhood well? I will just give it a shot. Its better than sitting here idle. I need to start working. I slip into Claire's bedroom and look through her stuff. I don't have my stuff here because they are at Jake's apartment. I don't think Claire would mind if I look through her stuff.

I pick up a yellow scarf and tie it around my neck. I remove Jake's hoodie because that is the only thing they can use to identify me and slip on a maroon hoodie . I wear my mittens and a pair of socks. Then I slipped on Claire's boot.

I look at myself in the mirror and I look different a bit. I put on my hood and leave Claire's bedroom after writing a small note for Claire telling her I'm off to Alec's house. I walk confidently out of the house and get on the streets. The first person I see is Tigress and I quickly cringe and bend my head to hide my face pretending to look at something on the floor. I feel her gaze on me and my stomach churns. Does she know it's me? I start walking quickly bumping into a few people as I do so. I shouldn't have left the house! I'm such a risk taker!

"Excuse me" someone says and I look up to see a man in dark suit. I swallow hard as I recognised him as the man who chased me the last time. Oh my God!

"It's you! You are coming with me" he says and grabs my hand.

"Help!" I shout.

"Shut up! You shouldn't have left home! What a stubborn daughter you are"

He was pretending to be my father so that no one will help me.

"Help me please! He is not my dad!"

"Shut up and get in the car!"

Tears sting my eyes. I push him and ran.

"Hey! Come here!" He yells running after me. I can't believe this is happening to me again.

I swerve through the crowd of people and quickly find a shop. I dash into it and hide behind the shelves. The man enters looking around. I take a deep breath and move further hiding behind the shelves as I do watching him closely. He is still searching for me.

I follow a couple out of the shop and I quickly ran. Then I heard the man's voice again

"Hey! Stop!"

My heart beats against my ribcage and I run faster but he catches me again.

"You are going home with me!"

"Leave me alone!"

He drags me to a lone place with the white Mercedes parked. He opens the door and  pushes me in. Then he got into the driver's seat and he drives and I look for something to stop him before we get back to Tigress's house. I finally lay hands on an empty bottle of champagne and hit him in the head. He  passes out and I throw him out of the car into the streets and occupy the driver's seat. I step on the accelerator but I didn't know where I was going.

°~•~•°

I come across my car and Jake's car parked at the side of the road. That means I'm nearing our neighborhood. I speed up and pass my house. I couldn't take my eyes off it. The house I have lived in since childhood and was wrongly kicked out of it because of Tigress. I clutch the steering wheel tighter. I loved the feel of the car. The ride was smooth.  I hear the tyres screech against the asphalt and the engine roars.

"That's it baby! Almost there" I purr.

I finally pull up in the driveway and get down. I  remove the hood and flip my hair. I walk briskly into the house. Its still freezing outside and I knock lightly on the front door. I hope they are there. I ring the doorbell when the door doesn't open and hug myself. I felt so cold.

I finally hear someone unlock the door and Alec's tired face appears when he swings the door open.

"Nikki?" He asks astounded to see me.

"Alec" I reply and walk into the house. I couldn't stand the cold anymore and I watch him close the door and face me with a dazed expression.

"Where have you been? Where is Jake? We have been calling both of you for days now and my dad is so worried"

"I need your help! Jake needs us"

Alec scrunches his eyebrows and looks at me.

"Why? Did something bad happen to him?"

I hear glass shatter onto the floor and Jake's dad is standing there with his lips parted. There are broken pieces of glass on the floor with water making its way on the floor.

"What happened to Jake? What happened to my son?" He asks with worry evident in his voice.

"He is okay Mr Winters! Relax"

"We have been searching for him for days! Where is he? Tell me!" Mr Winters demands.

"Dad relax! She already told you he is fine" Alec speaks up trying to calm his dad. Mr Winters takes a deep breath and ruffles his hair.

"Let's go talk in my study" he states and Alec follows him. I follow too.

Alec and I sit in front of Mr Winters.

"Where is Jake?" He asks

"Tigress's house"

"Who is Tigress?" Mr Winters asks and Alec chuckles a bit

"She was a friend of mine but then we became enemies" I tell him.

"So, what is Jake doing at her house?"Alec asks inquisitively

" she kidnapped both of us but then I managed to escape and we have to get Jake out of there"

"Why did she kidnap both of you?" Mr Winters asks

"She wanted me to pay for something I did. That's why. And,she kidnapped Jake because of Kate. "

Alec scoffs.

"Who is Kate?"

"His ex girlfriend" Alec replies.

"Makes sense now! But we need to get Jake out of that house. We have to go on a trip and nothing should stop us now!"Mr Winters states

"I know! Jake told me" I reply

"But dad, Tigress is a drug dealer and its gonna be difficult! She has guards and all those stuff you could think of" Alec interjects.

"Don't worry about that! I've got some evidence about her" I say placing the six photographs in front of them. They look at it.

"I got it from Claire and I also found out she had a hand in framing Jake and  I"

Alec and his dad look at the photographs and I point the boss out just the way Claire did earlier today.

"This is great! We can send her to jail for kidnapping and for drug peddling" Mr Winters says delighted.

"It's still not so simple dad! She is a part of an organization"

"We need to get Jake back before 22nd!" His dad states firmly.

"I'll keep these photographs and file a report tomorrow"

"Dad! Don't you think you are rushing?"

"I don't think so"

"We need to gather more evidence"

"What other evidence do we need son? We have photographs! And a witness here!" His dad says and points to me.

"Your dad has a point Alec"

"Just cancel the trip dad!"

"No I can't! They are expecting me! I cannot fail them again"

Alec sighs and walks out of the study as his dad calls him.

"I'll talk to him"

Mr Winters just nods and I exit the office chasing Alec who didn't want to stop even though I called him multiple times.

"This is insane Nikki! We are dealing with a troop of drug dealers and you two are behaving as if we are dealing with a group inexperienced criminals!"Alec screams out.

" you are right! But the evidences we have against them are enough"

"God Nikki! We only know Tigress and the boss! We don't know the others!"

"What matters is that only Tigress gets arrested"

"What if she betrays the others and exposes them too?" Alec asks

"That would be unfortunate. That would mean we dealt with the whole troop"

"Nikki, this is—" Alec gets cut off by a loud ear piercing scream.

"Madison!" He yells and rushes to his room. I chase him and just stand awkwardly at the doorway as I watch Madison let out another scream.

"What is it?" Alec asks with worry and what seems like fear in his voice. I've never seen him looking so concerned.

"My tummy! It hurts" Madison says whiles taking deep breaths.

"Mom! " Alec yells. His mom was a retired nurse and she would obviously know what is happening to her.

His mom rushes into his room followed by Thomas, Lucas and Mr Winters.

"What is happening? Is she dying?" Lucas asks me.

"No she is not" I reply softly.

"Then why is she screaming like that?" Thomas asks

"She is just having pains! That's all! Let's go and do something else! Okay? Come on" I convince them and drag them out of the place to the hall.

They lie in the couch. Thomas picks his phone and Lucas reads a comic book. I tap my feet worriedly. I hope nothing bad happens to my unborn goddaughter and Madison.

The screams have stopped and I watch Alec and his parents walk out of the room disturbed.

"What happened?" I ask Alec as soon as his parents disperse.

"It was just a mild complication"

"Complication? I hope my goddaughter is alright?"

"My mom says she is alright! She gave her a sedative"

I sigh.

"Nothing is going to happen "I assure Alec and he gives me a small smile.

" since when did Madison move here?"

"She came here yesterday. My dad suggested it"

"Oh so will she be going on the trip?"

"I don't think so! Because of her condition, we might have to stay back"

"So you wouldn't go?"

"It depends"

Alec and I walk towards the hall which was currently occupied by his two little brothers.

"how many months more till my goddaughter's birth?"

"Like Four months more" Alec says and I gasp.

"So she is five months now?"

"Yes she is! December is her fifth month" Alec replies with a chuckle.

"Time flies so fast! That means my goddaughter would come out in ....." I trail off counting. "April?"

Alec nods.

"Well April isn't bad at all."

"My dad is April" Alec says proudly flashing his pearly whites at me.

"Then I'm sure he is going to adore her! Do you have a name for her yet?"

"No! I don't know what to name her"

I chuckle.

"Are you serious? We have millions of names in the world! And you do not have  a name yet?"

"Well it depends on Madison! We haven't really thought about that! But what do you suggest?"

"I don't know! Unless I see her when she is born"

Alec chuckles

"But maybe Madison wouldn't accept the name I give her"

Alec shrugs.

"But wait,you would leave in April" I say realising he would leave Washington DC in April! He said as soon as his daughter is born, he would leave the state. He nods.

I just sigh.

"But I would visit frequently" Alec promises.

"You have to!"

Hello,

How was this chapter? I hope you liked it! Do not forget to comment and share.

Please vote, vote, vote! Love y'all!😘

Please continue to stay safe! Practice all the safety precautions! Covid-19 is real! Save lives!💙😊.