Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 54: Chapter 54

ASHTON

"You never told me what happened to your arm." Mila voices as she pulls me away.

"What?"

"Your left arm. Did you hurt it two weeks ago? I noticed you grimacing each time I touched it, even while we raced together last week. I saw the arm cast in your room too. You didn’t bring it up and I didn’t want to be the first one to ask."

How considerate of her. I flex my arm. "It’s all good." We get in the elevator. The moment the doors close, she clasps both hands behind my neck.

"You owe me two truths and one dare, remember? Tell me the truth about what really happened to your arm, please."

"You wouldn’t believe me if I told you."

"Try me."

Sighing, I proceed to tell her about the club fight and Josh stabbing me but I leave out details of the bone of contention. She goes pale with shock. The elevator stops and we step out.

"That snake! He had the guts to call you guys bullies and play the victim. I can’t believe he lied through his teeth. Gosh, I hope he gets fired for that."

"From your mouth to God’s ears." She chuckles and resumes her walk.

"Don’t you mean from your mouth to your dad’s ears? Why wait for God to do something you can easily sway your father to do? Josh hurt you and he lied about it! He further attempted to defame you and your brothers. Does Brett know the whole truth?"

We are on the second floor now. She pauses to look me in the eye with arms crossed on her chest. "There’s no way he would know about it and let that prick off without legal action."

"It’s fine. Josh already apologized to me so I let it go. He was drunk when he acted. It wasn’t malicious or anything. Besides, other than when he lets himself get lost in a bottle, he’s a fine employee who knows his onions."

Mila rolls her eyes. "Whatever you say."

Where are we going?" She flashes me a seductive smile.

"Where else? My room of course."

Last night was crazy and we had no choice but to accommodate a few personal guests in the spare bedrooms in the mansion.

"Come on!" She tugs at my arm and pulls me all the way to her room. "Don’t be a prude."

Inside, I run my hands through my hair and jam them in my pocket. When I turn to face her, she’s locking the door and stripping off her robe. I flash a palm and turn away.

"Mila, what are you doing?"

"Trying to confirm that you’re still THE Ashton Rollins and man enough."

"Man enough for what? Stop." Her hands are streaking across my body. I can feel the warmth from her naked skin. Her perky boobs are bouncing in her lacey bra. "Mila, seriously, cut it out." Instead, she tries to unbutton my shirt.

"Why? I get it that you were tired last night but you look really refreshed this morning. I just want to feel you."

"STOP!" I grab her hands and gently move her away from me. "Stop it, please. I am not in the mood for this."

Her sultry eyes fade to bewilderment. She sinks on the bed and shakes her head. "What is it, Ashton? What? Am I not pretty enough for you? You don’t find me sexy?"

"Of course not. Look at you."

"Is there someone else?"

"No."

"Then for the love of God, tell me why you invited me to the birthday party and couldn’t keep your hands off me last night but when I tried to pull you in here, you claimed fatigue. And this morning? What’s your excuse for this attitude right now? Am I a joke to you? Someone you can call on whenever you’re bored or need a woman on your arm to impress your father?"

That end part snaps something in my brain. "Don’t say that." I grind my teeth in annoyance.

"Which part?" Mila asks cockily, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back on the bed to glare at me. "Which part, Ashton?" She clucks her tongue. "You’re a selfish prick. You said you just wanted to be friends and I was down with that. Then you switched things up like last night, flirting with me like you were desperate to touch me. Why? Why did you lead me to believe you wanted this?"

I cover a hand over my mouth and shut my eyes. She’s right. That was selfish of me. To be frank, I did use her. The moment mom decided to throw Demi a birthday party and I caught a glimpse of the dress Ashley had picked for her, I knew I wasn’t going to be okay riding solo for the night.

a distraction. Then Demi came down the grand staircase looking so good she knocked the breath right out of me. Suddenly, it wasn’t enough to just flaunt Mila.

and chest all the while imagining someone else. Then I backed out when she tried to herd me to her bedroom.

so sorry. I had too

were doing. You also knew exactly who I was but you clung to me wishing

"What?"

having casual sex like you are used to. I just don’t appreciate being used as the next best thing till you get your dream girl. That’s

go to her and crouch on one knee. I cup her face with my hands. "I’m sorry I made you feel that way. I’m an asshole for that. I’ve a lot on my mind lately." It’s true. I’m still grappling with

make it up

apologizing a lot and making promises to me. That’s easy to do. How about you keep your word for a change? I’ve got one truth and a dare." She leans close to my face till our noses touch. "I dare you make love to me, here and

***

of the room to join my brothers in the gym.

yells the moment I walk in. Ashal stops doing bench presses and

"Where’s the fashion wiz?"

learning that Nicola spent the night here. She made a small scene when Nicci showed up for breakfast. Even mother couldn’t convince her to stay for her meal. Then

I repeat

William." Asher continues. "He went to the same university as us but he was a year younger. He and Ashley are close friends. I think our parents and his dad

remember William faintly from school. He had sometimes accidentally mistaken one of us for Ashley. I remember him greeting

"What about him?"

and also torn between entertaining the three. He’s been shuttling from one bedroom to another and trying to keep each one from running into each other." Asher’s smile turns mischievous as he watches me. "Apparently, you don’t have that problem. You and Mila were all over each other last night and this morning, I could clearly see lust in her

why you’ve been watching other people a lot. I can’t wait to watch your own show when Demi learns that the reason she couldn’t find her best friend at the party last night was because you whisked her away to your room to talk." I end with air quotes around

to it right now. My mind

in the game room. It’s just as Asher had said, the former’s countenance screams of a person who hasn’t been having a great day. He strolls in with a drink in his hand and plunks on

"Is Nicci gone?"

day seeing Demi squirm. Nicci too." I totally understand him. Father was also glad to discover Mila had passed the night here. It’s

a different question, I think. Ashley’s eyebrow wings up at me. "If father wasn’t interfering to keep

"Yes, I would."

Demi?"

she’s being. I suspect she’s trying to find a way to break my marriage so she and I can be official again." He sips from the bottle in his hand. "It’s crazy trying to keep my two worlds

me about it." Ashal mutters. We all turn to stare at him, me especially. I also need to

lady was?" His eyes flash at my directness. We all know that he seldom entertains women since Olivia

tell me you brought her here." Asher’s voice is cold and

Ashley says with a lazy smile. I go over and wrench

"Fine. That was Olivia."

I ask him. "How could you bring her

so why shouldn’t I have invited MY wife to a family party? It was a mask party with lots of security. I had my eyes on her too. She was sick of the penthouse and wished for some fresh air. I couldn’t think of a better place for the two of us to hang out without worrying that someone might see. We both had a swell time before I

with me last night. I had suspected that the voice was oddly familiar but didn’t pay too much attention to it. Then, I had seen Demi

Coupled with the low hum of the music, the drinks I had had and the face mask she had on at night, I couldn’t place

to anyone at the party. ANYONE!" Ashal refuses to

am sure she wasn’t trying to stir up any trouble

do you know

She told me everything. Why would she

all happy for where you and Olivia are right now

and Asher lifts both

give your relationship a shot, I naturally assumed that she did it to resign to her fate since her Asher" He says with air quotes, "had disappointed her and broken her heart. She turned to you, the next best option. You can’t be sure she’s genuine

"Test her?"

time. Show her a glimpse of hope of the two of them having a good life together because his plans for them have finally crystallized. With Asher as a viable option, let’s see if Olivia will stick to Ashal or welcome Asher back into her life. You’ve got to know the truth man especially since you trust her so much.

himself in third person but

a point." I concur. Ashal reaches for Ashley’s drink

that out of the way, I do have something to show you guys. I’m sorry I haven’t brought it up since the night I was stabbed. I didn’t take it seriously but

strange message I

you have the number traced?" Asher

just told you I didn’t

could have sent something like this?" Ashley shakes his head in wonder. "Could they really know about our biological parents?" Something in Ashley’s eyes is hopeful like mine have been for some days now. Asher recognizes this

throw us off his scent long enough for him

could be someone with actual intel on who

"C’mon now, how did this person suddenly know we’ve come to know about our adoption? Don’t you smell a

answers to your questions if we try to find out if this person really has the information they claim."

"I don’t like this."

favor of the majority. Asher drops back in his

things like this. Still, I can’t get over the hump of suspicion in my gut. He kept huge secrets from my brothers and I for years. It’s not abnormal for me