Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 17: Chapter 17

ASHAL

In the pretty slice of a bright Tuesday afternoon in Danvarr, I watch a red Ferrari 488 GTB zip across the open car track, a few paces ahead of. a grey Lamborghini Huracan. Ashton and I are seated on the tenth row, watching our brothers settle their grievances behind the wheels of supercars. It's all Ashton's idea as he posits that the adrenaline rush of racing each other on a racetrack with NO speed limits should be more effective than bitching and throwing punches at each other.

Before this, we watched our brothers yell at each other for six minutes. Asher was pissed that Ashley derailed from the plan by helping Anna at Demi's behest. Ashley blamed him for his stupid idea of questioning Demi in her bedroom which scared the shit out of her and forced her to seek revenge by uploading the video which Asher filmed and sent to Demi. Ashton had originally intervened to keep our brothers from throwing punches until he heard Ashley had impersonated him in questioning Demi and there's a chance Demi now thinks Ashton is capable of rape.

It took a lot of willpower to for Ashton to not draw the first blood. Thankfully, he showed admirable restraint and took the fight to the racetrack.

The rule is simple; whoever loses the race by coming in last after three laps gets to apologize to the winner and never bring up the matter ever again.

With a cloud of dust and dirt in their wake, both cars thunder for the finish line.

"My bet is on Asher." I quip, eyeing the Lamborghini. "He has always been the most competitive. He'll never let us live it down if he wins."

Ashton gives a half-smile. "True, but never underestimate a man desperate to prove himself. This win will just be another bragging right for Asher but for Ashley, it might revalidate his self-esteem."

Ashton smirks as the Porsche tears through the finish line with a hairsbreadth.

"Ooh, Asher's going to be livid." I chant.

"Yup."

While we head to the outfields, I register the dissatisfied look on Asher's face as he slams his car door hard. Ashley allows a ghost of a smile to tint his face as he walks up to us.

"Great job." Ashton congratulates him, shaking his hand in a firm grip. I give Ashley a fist bump before we all turn to the sore loser who is now blaming his race car for his loss.

"You owe me an apology."

Asher grits his teeth at Ashley. Ego battles with integrity and ego wins. "I don't mind apologizing and I will but we can't gloss over the fact that you fucked up in Brellis." Both of them regurgitate the bone of contention and defensively apportion blames. Ashton walks around them to go check on the condition of the cars, leaving me to deal with it all.

I let out a frustrated breath. I have been actively trying to avoid combustible situations like this between us brothers. That way, I can keep my demon in check and maybe father won't regard me as a ticking bomb. Hard as I try, I can't stand the heated looks they continue to give each other as their voices go up a notch. Sighing, I dump the can of beer in my hand and range myself between them.

"That's enough."

don't have to shout. I only have to act like I want to get involved and they'll break it up. Memories of our last, shameful fight lives rent free in all our heads, especially Asher's.

you listened to her ex-boyfriend's fucking interview? She's got something against us. Before she came into this family, we never fought with each other. We adhered to the quad codes. We worked like a single unit. Now, she's trying to tear us all apart by getting

getting her out of the family but only as Ashal earlier suggested. No rape threats or scares." His breath comes out in hitching gasps as a painful memory flit in his eyes. Closing a hand over his mouth, he leans on the trunk of the Porsche. "I'm such a hypocrite. I should have known better than to do that. She was...I couldn't keep blaming her for leaking the video in order to protect herself. I DROVE HER TO THE EDGE, Asher. I couldn't deny my own

way to wriggle out of this mess too and reinstate herself as Danvarr's innocent sweetheart. With

haven't been able to look at Asher's face without feeling the unpleasant sting of betrayal.

"I do."

before striding off as well. I watch them leave, a reasonable distance between their shoulders. Then Asher edges close and hooks an arm around Ashley's shoulders. The image warms my heart. When

squaring my shoulders. Ashton's been paying a little more attention to me ever since I attempted to drown myself. While it might be sweet of him as a brother to care so deeply for me, I can't help but find it suffocating. I literally grew up under watchful eyes. Everyone in the family has always looked at me extra-long or extra hard no matter how much I kept my distance or tried to be invisible. Right now, I don't want to hold

do a few laps with this baby first." He gives the Porsche

See you later then" I say,

I halt in my tracks as he steps up to me. Please don't be weird, I mutter silent prayers in my heart. Don't ask if I have breathing problems or post traumatic stress disorder. Don't give me a lecture on how to beat my condition. If I have to stand one more

"How's Olivia?"

blink twice, surprised at his interest. "Olivia? She's fine. W-We're fine." And because he continues to stare at me under the peaks of his quirked brows, I

that's good." Ashton appears to have more questions on his tongue. "Um, does she ever go

"Friends?"

Ash. No one's going to hear it from my

knows I have relaxed some of father's rules regarding Olivia's situation. It's been almost a year and she has been suffocating in the four

only has one friend and they go out for dinner once a week to

he heard? Has Olivia been talking to Eliana about her condition of living? I ponder over the possibility of her fooling the guards or losing them during her dinner dates with Eliana as I make my way home. The anger slowly starts

I need a new trump card if

mother in the living room the moment

wanted to see

her room. She's expecting you." I clench my jaw. "I know you don't like to get too close but I am sure everything will be fine. Think of it as damage control. She's family now and whatever her ex does to ruin her image will hurt us if we don't nip it in the bud quickly. Your father won't be pleased." She sighs. "She refuses to be around any of your brothers right now. I don't know why but she was on the brink of tears when she begged me to ask

being around her right now will give her the creeps. However, I wish I didn't have to do this. Ever since she joined our family, I have actively tried to keep my distance from Demi. The reason runs beyond hiding

see what

my cheek. "Thank you,

room. Her eyes are trained at the blank wall, glassy and empty. She sits in the dip of the bed, cradling a pillow between her thighs. Her ink black hair tumbles over her thin shoulders. She says nothing when I call her name and merely cranes her neck to stare at me as I step into her line of vision. Her eyes drill

"It's Ashal."

"Is it?" My breath hitches as she pins me with a sad gaze. Her eyes are a rich brown

I say the gentleman by popular vote." A weak smile seeps into her face. "C'mon, I need to prep you for your response to

am seamlessly switching between Ashley's charm with a good