Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 45: Chapter 45

DEMI

"Are you sure you got the full name right? When I mentioned it, Ashton didn’t have much of a reaction. It almost felt like he had never heard of the name before. He carried on like I didn’t just drop a bomb on him."

Liam scoffs. "I guess he’s a sterling actor. It’s either that or he already knew Olivia had already tried to contact you so it was no shock to him." He quirks a brow at me. "Do you think Ashton might have gotten close enough to delete Olivia’s text and contact number from your phone at any point in time? I need you to think hard."

I don’t have to. Ashton has my passcode. He might have snuck in while I was asleep and used my fingerprint to unlock my phone. He seems like he can pull such a thing off. Yet, I keep my theory to myself. If Ashton did do it, I’ll find out myself.

"The only time I was completely knocked out and unaware of my surroundings was the night I passed out drunk in front of the quads. If anyone wanted to get into my phone, that was the perfect chance. However, I don’t recall much about that night after I conked out. I don’t even know who carried me to my room."

Liam sighs. "It could have been any one of them." Shaking his head, he waves his hand dismissively. "That’s not important right now. What’s important is that Olivia Dunn exists and she is the secret wife of Ashal Rollins. If she’s being hidden away at the penthouse, there has to be a big secret the Rollins family is trying to keep under wraps. Olivia is in the best position to tells us everything."

Memories of Ashal come to my mind. We had so much fun picking out our new cars. He’s the sweetest, easygoing guy I ever met. Hence, I am having a hard time reconciling that personality with the truth unfolding in front of me. Even worse is the fact that everyone in the family is privy to the secret about Olivia, even mom and Ashton!

"I casually mentioned visiting the penthouse and Ashal flipped. If Olivia was simply living there as a spouse he wasn’t proud of, I don’t think he would have considered my visit such a big deal. Based on his reaction, I’m certain there’s more to it, like domestic abuse or worse. He told me it’s his play pen for him and his brothers."

The minute I voice those words, my heat sinks. "Liam, what if Olivia is being abused by all four brothers? When I was dragged to the penthouse, they had also threated to sexually assault me as a group. If the penthouse is their play pen, such a sick act might be their idea of fun." Just thinking about it makes me want to retch.

"I wouldn’t put it past those quads." Liam’s lips curve distastefully.

I instantly regret my hypothesis. Would Ashton really agree to be a part of something like that? I recall that he had insinuated something similar in my ears when I had been trying to coax Ashal to let me visit the penthouse. He had whispered in my ear, and asked me, ’what do you think happens when you drop a cube of sugar in the midst of ants?’. Oh god, could Olivia really be the sugar in that analogy and the quads the ants? I feel sick to my stomach.

"Have you been to see Anna?" Liam asks, changing the topic on seeing my discomfort.

"Not yet. She called to inform me that she’s back in town now. I’ll stop by her place right after we’re done here." Hissing, I stare into my drink. "Do you know why she’s keeping it a secret from me? Do you think Asher might have threatened her to keep everything that happened a secret even from me?"

"I think you know the answer to your own question."

Poor Anna, I think. Why do my problems keeping rubbing off on her? The quads were never supposed to get too close to my loved ones but now they’ve infiltrated everything and everyone dear to me. One of them is even trying to permeate my heart.

"How long am I supposed to pretend I don’t know anything about her accident? What if she suspects that you might have gotten wind of it and told me?"

"Pay her a visit first and see if she still refrains from telling you. If she does and you suspect she’s doing so under duress, I’ll take it up from there."

"You’re going to run the story on Billion-Err?"

"Of course. Since we haven’t found any other solid evidence that can hit that family where it hurts, we’ll just have to settle for pricking their egos and making small dents in their reputation with mini stories every now and then."

He has a point. I look outside the window and follow the rattling journey of an old mini-van down the narrow street. The air inside the bookstore is cool and placid. Itching for a distraction as Liam refocuses on his laptop, I stroll towards the shelves and run my fingers through the stems of dusty paperbacks. The new sales boy at the counter isn’t doing Mr. Rahl’s business any justice. He is always too invested in his video games or music to bother about dusting books.

My eyes stray to him through a curtain of books and sure enough, he is on his phone. However, he seems to be on call with someone, whispering and craning his neck to peer in the direction of the table where Liam and I are currently occupying. It’s a bit suspicious. Why is he whispering into the phone and looking at us? Who could he be talking to?

I pop out from the corner and startle him. His phone almost slips out of his fingers but his good reflexes save the day.

"I d-didn’t see you t-there." He feigns a smile to distract me from his deft attempt to hide his phone under the counter. It finally disappears into his back pocket.

"You’re a little jumpy today...."

"It’s Lucas."

nod. This isn’t the first time he’s been stealing glances at Liam and I. "I hope everything

once more towards Liam who joins us in the

Lucas has been up to no good. He must know who I am now and for him to make such a statement

grabbing my hand. Just as he pulls the door open, we bump into three ladies coincidentally entering the store. When I scan their faces and recognize one, Lucas’ broad smile tells me

who we’ve got here; Demi Branson in the flesh." Nicola tuts her tongue as she stares at Liam’s hand

all." True to his word, he elbows his way through them and exits the store. Outside, he gives me a quick glance before getting into his car and driving away.

a gentleman. He left you and took off. Is that the tenor of your affair? He can’t hold your hands in public?" She slaps her forehead

you done embarrassing

you think you are to cheat on Ashely? You come here

attached I am to this bookstore." I round up on her now and whisper in

anger by telling him the stunt his side piece tried to pull today. I’m feeling rather generous today, you see. My mother-in-law just gifted me that beautiful car outside so I am in a good mood. You should have the sense to keep your face hidden knowing what you are, Nicola, not just for your own self-respect or to please my husband but for the success of your own father’s political aspiration. I wonder how he’ll manage to rear his head in

in her

to her like that, you..." The big mouthed lady falls silent at the raise of

Lucas a steely look that will surely make him worry about losing his job before exiting the store. Through the glass doors, Nicola and her lackeys watch me settle

overly confident woman whom they have just failed to intimidate. What they don’t see is my

By the time I arrive, I am feeling more relaxed and steadier. I grab the goodies and head over to the entrance. I’m certain Anna would be shocked by my new ride.

can’t make out much of the details of the argument but I recognize Anna’s voice. The second speaker appears to be a man. When he raises

"ANNA? ANNA!"

as I feared. Iman stands in her small apartment, looming like a

"Anna, are you alright?"

hear you come in." Iman watches me under the dome of his bushy eyebrows. I glare icily at him. What could he possibly want with

is he doing here?" I ask, jerking a chin towards Iman. My face is flushed with anger. I can’t even bear

has guts." He ignores Anna’s pleas and approaches me menacingly. I refuse to budge from my place at the door till Iman’s breath fans my face. He sniffs the nape of

the hell away

control those brothers now? Do they come running at the snap of your fingers? I know they

a bit. Behind him, Anna goes pale. In one leap, she streams across

forgive her, Iman. She didn’t mean to. She’s

bloodshot eyes smokes away the cold fury in mine. He shoves Anna to

her, Iman closes a hand over my neck and slams my back against the wall. My legs dangle mid-air. Slowly, my vision starts to become spotty as I choke for breath. Anna’s weak voice continues to plead on my behalf but Iman chooses to

YOU? I’LL KILL YOU,

last ounce of strength in me, I plow my knee into his groin. He buckles as the slice of pain shoots up his body. Coughing, I manage to crawl blindly away from him only to be yanked back by the tail of my

the top of her lungs, holding up her phone. "I just texted Asher Rollins and he is five minutes out too. He’s coming here with the police. If you don’t leave now, you’ll be

my hair in his

Oh my God, I’m

face to make certain she’s fine. "Are you okay?

death and you’re worried about me?" She

won’t be back. I’ll make sure he goes away for good this time." I say, hugging her

***

been smart enough to lie about the police and Asher being on their way, would I still be

why he wanted to hurt Asher in the first place and got pissed off when Anna tried to wheedle the information out of him which was the scene I had walked into. Iman must have been triggered by the sight of me and the

friend is still holding out on me. As I ride the elevator to my room with my shoes

probably deserved whatever his enemies have planned for him. I stroll across the drawing room