Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 17

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."

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

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

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.

this guy, then Demi will find a way to wriggle out of this mess too and reinstate herself as Danvarr's innocent sweetheart. With every triumph she cops, it will only embolden her and make it more difficult

to look at Asher's face without feeling the unpleasant sting of betrayal. I can't get over that stump no matter how much

"I do."

I watch them leave, a reasonable distance between their shoulders. Then Asher edges close and hooks an arm around Ashley's shoulders.

leaving yet? I ask him, 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

do a few laps with this baby

later then" I say,

I have breathing problems or post traumatic stress disorder. Don't give me a lecture on

"How's Olivia?"

"Olivia? She's fine. W-We're fine." And because he continues to stare at me under the peaks of his

his tongue. "Um, does she ever go out by herself to say,

"Friends?"

one's going to hear it from my

been almost a year and she has been suffocating

one friend and they go out for dinner once

a close eye on her so she doesn't break her NDA by telling anyone the truth about her situation." His hand squeezes my shoulder. "I've heard some disturbing things." I concur with a nod before marching away. What has he heard? Has Olivia been talking

need a new trump card if I must deal with

the living room the

to

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

I wish I didn't have

what

my cheek. "Thank you,

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

"It's Ashal."

breath hitches as she pins me with a sad gaze. Her eyes are a rich brown color

or should 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 the ex-boyfriend and judging by how dejected you look, my work is

surprisingly easier to talk to her or maybe it's because I am

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