Balotelli-Bale Series Book #4: THE OTHER MAN PART 1

Chapter 51: A Present For Timmy

"...even the wicked love..."

Nick's POV
7am in the morning.

I haven't slept a wink all night. I couldn't stop hearing Kei crying. I dint know if I'm remembering her cries when I broke up with her or if it's my conscience -I didn't even know I have one- guilt tripping me for what I have done to her.

I keep telling myself that other than doing this for Maddie, I'm doing it for Kei. I'm saving her from Margaux and from Mancini by leaving her. But even with these reasons, I can still hear her crying. It's breaking my heart and soon I won't even have any pieces left to pick up.

I can hear movement outside. I pushed the curtains open to see police cars pulling up on my driveway.

"Timmy? Really Timmy? At 7am in the fucking morning!" I wondered out loud. I hurried out of my room rushing downstairs to see the concerned faces of my grandfather, Helena, my mother and father. "The police-"

"We know. Do you have anything you need to hide?" Helena asked me.

I ran back upstairs. I have a gun in the safe. I had it the night I went to Jason's. I didn't fire it but I can't let Timmy have it. When I opened the safe I almost passed out from shock. There's no gun.

"Nicko!" I heard my mom calling me. "Nicko, your dad wants to open the door. They are knocking like they will take it down. What's wrong?" She knelt beside me. "Why are you staring into an empty safe?"

"I'm missing a gun."

"Maybe you misplaced it."

"No I didn't. It was here.'

"Nicko," she rested her palm on the side of my arm. "It's all right. Sometimes when alcohol messes with the mind it is possible to forget certain things. Come on down. Your dad is waiting."

I followed her back downstairs.

"All good?" Dad asked me.

"Yes."

There's a door bell but someone is hanging against the door.

My father opened it. "What?"

"Is Nickolas Bale home?"

"Who are you?" My father asked.

"Detective Tim Rowland. This is a warrant to search the premises." My father blocked the doorway to keep him from entering.

"You will stand there until I read the warrant." He told him firmly. Timmy didn't protest. Dad has that effect on people. He gives orders and people follow. He took his sweet time to look through it. When he was satisfied he folded it. "Detective, if you turn this household upside down... if even one painting on the wall is left crooked... I won't forget. Not a spoon out of place! Is that clear?"

I wish I could see Timmy's face right now.

"Yes sir." He sounds so confused.

"Then you may come in. Take off your shoes. All of you."

He stood beside the door, arms folded behind his back and legs slightly spread. He watched them trickling in. There's one with mismatched socks.

"Good morning Nickolas. Is this your family?"

"No Timmy! They are the seven dwarfs!"

"It's always fun talking to you. All of you will stay put, no one moves. Ma'am, can we look inside the bag?"

Helena has a handbag. She arrived a few minutes ago. "Do you want to borrow a tampon detective?" Helena asked him.

My mother burst out laughing. It's a mean laughter. She's even pointing and the rest of us just can't contain ourselves.