Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 34: Chapter 34

ASHER

Ashton ranges himself between Demi and the door. His long rangy body and the face marred by a frown will look just as natural as a bouncer outside of the doors of a club. His eyes dart towards me again, brimming with heat. I suck in a breath through my teeth. This guy has been staring daggers at me all evening. I am starting to wonder if this is all because of Demi and the sight he just walked into.

"What’s going on here?" Ashton continues. His eyes fall back on Demi. "Why are you so quiet? Tell me what you’re doing in this room alone with him?"

"JESUS CHRIST ASHTON!" I can’t stand him any longer. I drop my drink and start towards them. "What the hell are you asking right now? If you’re fuming this much, what is Ashley supposed to do as her husband? You might look just like her husband but that doesn’t make you him, okay? Stop role swapping. Ashley knows Demi is here and he has no qualms about it. I don’t see why you should."

I give Demi a look. On cue, she tries to brush past Ashton and leave when he grips her arm.

"Oh, for goodness’ sake, let the woman go."

Why the hell is Demi looking like a scaredy cat right now? Her hands are even trembling a bit. She’s clearly acting up. She wasn’t this quiet or nervous when she approached me herself earlier to get me to change my mind about blackmailing her. I can’t believe she’s trying to fool Ashton with her theatrics.

I move forward and try to break Ashton’s grip. As sure as hell, he doesn’t budge.

"Demi, is he blackmailing you? What exactly were you doing here? Tell me."

"What do you mean by that?"

We all turn to find Ashley and Ashal walking up to us. Ashley has a conspicuous frown on his face s he steps up and wrenches Demi’s arm away from Ashton’s weakened grip. I am glad his timing is impeccable. What the hell took him so long? Ashley steers Demi behind him and looks at Ashton with a narrowed glare.

"Why do you assume that every other person talking to Demi in private has to be blackmailing her? What right do you have to act so protective and obsessive towards my own wife, Ashton?" He exchanges quick glances between Demi and Ashton. "Is there something both of you aren’t telling us? Are you fucking behind my back?"

"Ashley!" Demi cries.

"Is that what Asher’s been telling you?" Ashton asks.

"Asher doesn’t have to tell me anything." Ashley is nose to nose with Ashton now. "Everybody can see it, even Mila. All through dinner, you barely even looked at the woman on your arm. You kept your head bowed and the only person you deigned to look at when you raised your head was my wife! Do you even know how Mila got home tonight? You just left her at the table and went off to your room. I went to drop off YOUR guest. Everyone can see that you’ve got eyes for my wife."

This is way better than any TV show. I want to go back for my drink but I am afraid to miss a single arch of an eyebrow or the clenching of fists. Demi is getting impatient now. She steals a glance at me but all I do is wink at her.

"Ok, that’s enough you two." Ashal steps between them. Fucking hell. Why is he even here? Shouldn’t he be cooped up in his room, sobbing or something? Why did he choose this very night to rejoin us? He’s ruining such a good show.

Ashley gently moves Ashal to the side. "No. I have concerns and I will get to the bottom of them tonight."

"Stop it, Ashley." Demi tries again, coming in front of him and Ashton. "There’s nothing going on beyond Ashton’s genuine care for me." Her eyes are tearing up. "You all know how your brother is. Ashton cares deeply or he doesn’t care at all. He also gets violent when he wants to protect those he cares about. Ever since I joined this family, I’ve been through a lot. Asher has been dead set on witch hunting me. You, Ashley, have slowly gone back to your life," She pauses so everyone gets her drift. Ashley winces at that last part.

Demi sniffles. "Ashal was there for me until he got sick. I’ve been dealing with so much all by myself until Ashton noticed. He stops to ask how my day went or if I need help handling a problem. Simply because he is very intentional about making sure I get the help I am too afraid to seek doesn’t mean you get to judge us like that. I don’t see you being mad at Asher for trying to rape me the other day." Her angry eyes flashes at me.

Ashely is lost for words.

never confront him? Why are you attacking Ashton for no reason?" Demi buries her face in her hands and sighs.

eyes

my head

kindly asked him to make a quick stop by my aunt’s place so I can pick up a few things. Asher tried to kiss me and when I scolded him, he threatened to rape me again, saying neither my aunt nor Kira will breathe a word against him

her words when

was a really good story there, except you intentionally

looks betrayed. Of course, I told him about Demi’s pictures with Iman the night he brought her home from her aunt’s.

turned out to be smarter than we

the text threatening her with the pictures. I didn’t tell Ashley all the fine details of what transpired in Demi’s room, especially the part where I tried

her?" Ashley

and face my scarier brothers. "Demi here has been up to some shameful things despite knowing the difficulties our family has faced because of her. Right after father accepted her into the HQ, she dashed home to her real

now pretends to

to Iman?" Ashley

to see the pictures and I gladly show it to them on my phone. Ashal flushes with secondhand embarrassment

me on my way to the bookstore

threaten Demi.

a video too. Please ask her to show you the video. You’ll see me struggling. I could never do that to your family after everything you’ve done to save me

"She’s lying, as usual."

photo. Demi is clearly uncomfortable with what Iman was doing. I believe he forced himself on her." He chucks my phone on the pool table and Ashal grabs it, takes a deeper look and

off with it. Iman is clearly the one forcing the kiss. Demi appears to be shocked and helpless." Ashal offers

to strangle me. I was too scared to fight him alone in that alley. Please believe me." Her voice is edged with pity. I can’t believe how this night is suddenly swerving in Demi’s favor after all my hard work. That silly girl, Kira, hasn’t stopped blowing my phone asking for her reward. It’d be spineless of me

like when she is kissing a guy? Have you all locked lips with her before?" I intentionally let my eyes linger on Ashton. Big mistake. He is going to punch

ignores me and whips his head to Demi.

the week or

"What choices?" Ashley asks.

blackmail her into doing our will. For Ashley, that means making Demi stay away from Ashton and give her husband all the attention she

this one, wiping her tears. "He asked me to either quit working at the HQ," then she stares intently into Ashley’s eyes for the last part, "or divorce

"That’s

know he has a lot on his mind

you all think I am overreacting but I will prove you wrong. This woman is out to get our family and it’s my responsibility to stop her." I zero in on Demi’s pathetic crying face. "YOU MIGHT HAVE WON THE BATTLE TONIGHT BUT THE WAR STILL LOOMS. I’LL EXPOSE YOU LONG BEFORE YOU GET A

hand and tugging her away. Ashal retires to his room. Ashton won’t budge. I make for the door and

such a hypocrite,

How so?" I ask,

at the surface. "You’re a disgrace of a brother. You stand here talking about responsibility and protecting our

to have to be a little

the least you could have done was allow them to work out their marriage. Instead, you shamelessly snuck into her bed

to speak. "What the fuck are you talking about right now, Ash? Olivia was pregnant? Baby?

wants to divorce Demi earlier than their contract stipulates, that’s his call to

can’t believe Ashton thinks I hate my brothers. It