Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 58: Chapter 58

ASHER

The office has never felt so serene. The last two weeks of work while Josh’s suspension held were a slice of heaven. I didn’t even realize how much I enjoyed work before that bastard showed up.

It was utterly refreshing to be reminded just how close father and I used to be. We had our lunch together and laughed at our silly attempts at dry humor. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was enough in father’s eyes. I will forever treasure those days as I hope father will.

Josh is back now and the stench of his presence is responsible for the big scowl on my face. Why didn’t he get at least a month? I personally want to curl my hands around his neck and snuff the life out of him for attempting to take mine. I will never forgive him for that and for hurting Ashton in the process.

However, I know father is watching me to see how I relate with his other son, especially given my temperament and Josh’s wrongs against Ashton and I. Father would not be expecting me to be the bigger person. He would expect me to make a move on his ostensibly hapless son but I won’t give either of them the satisfaction.

Rather than barge into his office and yell expletives at him, I rap gently on Josh’s door and stroll in like the boss that I am. It’s so strange to see him meekly seated behind his desk and working for a change instead of hopping between offices with a gigantic chip on his shoulder and bothering everyone else.

His face sags when his eyes meet mine. I bet I am the last person he expects to pay him a visit after his suspension. He reclines in his chair and sighs.

"What do you want?"

A low chuckle escapes my lips. "I need to take a photo of you behind your desk. It’s rarer than an eclipse of the sun." I take a picture with my phone and laugh at the image. "You look like a steaming pile of horse shit trampled beneath the feet of elephants in a stampede."

"So, you’re here to gloat."

"Oh yes." I affirm, slipping my phone into my pocket. "It’s amazing how much work I can get done when I don’t have to worry about running into your ugly face. I already cleared my plate for a few days to come. With lots of free time on my hands, I figured I’d make your life more miserable than it already is by informing you directly that a two-week suspension is not enough punishment for attempting to take a life."

My lips curl with mischief. "I’ve retrieved the real CCTV footage of the club, well, mostly the part where you tried to stab me in a murderous rage. Just remember what your fate will be when I decide to release that video. All the money in your piggy bank and your useless last name will not be able to spare you the trauma of being an ex-convict."

Josh slowly rises to his feet. His eyes are hazed with shock but he makes an effort to hide the intimidation and dread behind them.

"You’re not going to release anything! Dad already had this matter handled. The video footage was confiscated and destroyed. You’re bluffing. You don’t have anything and even if you do, you can’t touch a hair on my head." I burst into an animated laugh as his fear seeps through the cracks in his false demeanor.

"I am Asher Rollins. I don’t bluff, Josh Randall. I’ve been serving under my father since I was eight and I have learnt quite a number of things from him. One of them is to never leave any traces if you’re going to get your hands dirty by running afoul to the law. The second you hurt my brother and fled the scene, I made securing the evidence my top priority. The fact that my brother was bleeding in that room wasn’t the distraction you hoped it would be. I got the actual tape before joining others at the hospital because I knew you would arrange to have it doctored or destroyed."

"Father won’t let you."

"And how exactly is he going to stop me? He knows better than to come pleading for your sorry excuse of a life to be spared. I will get my pint of blood one way or another from you, Josh Randall. You have messed with the wrong quads. By the time I am don juicing you of all the potential opportunities that accrue to you as father’s son, I will leave you to hang dry with the gem in my possession. Just you wait."

Josh exhales and dabs his sweaty brow. "What do you want? What will make you stop and destroy the evidence? Out with it!"

"You must be more stupid than I thought." I lash at him with a fiery look in my eyes. "What could you possibly use a bargaining chip that will top the satisfaction I will get from all the damage I can cause you with the evidence I have in my possession?"

"You would be surprised." Josh replies with a smug look.

My phone starts ringing just then. "Get your ass back to work." I order him. "You have a lot to do around here."

I step out of the office and head towards mine but before I can take the call, it ends. I redial Ashton’s number and he picks up almost immediately. He doesn’t let me say a single word but hurriedly mentions that I abandon everything and head over to Ashley’s. Then he hangs up before I can ask for more details.

A short message pops in right after and this has me rushing for the elevator. Nessa’s anxious calls and Demi’s surprised stare don’t slow me down. The message had mentioned a name my brothers and I haven’t uttered in years.

I power through traffic like it’s a Mad Max Fury Road movie, cop a ticket for speeding before arriving at Ashley’s. It’s no surprise that Ashton and Ashal’s cars are already in the parking lot. The elevator is occupied so I sprint up the stairs in giant strides of three till I reach the second floor.

The minute I burst through the door, my eyes scan the room for Ashley. He is sitting on a couch in his office, his hands clenched on his knees. His shoulders are tensed. His eyes are a little misty and it is my guess that a few tears have flowed from them.

He reminds me of the weepy, whiny little eight years old boy he was years back, too afraid to speak or share the horror being done to him by a man who was meant to protect him. Ashton and Ashal are seated on either side of him.

"Where is it?"

where a large bouquet of fresh flowers sits. The moment I draw close, Ashton hovers behind me. I

the company and they confirmed that one of their messengers reported being attacked and his bike stolen." Ashton fluffs his hair and grinds his teeth

with a grim look. "But what they do know is what Tobias was doing to Ash. They know it was Ashley that was hurt. For that reason, they blame

after he died. His wife already remarried. He had two sons and a daughter. One

"Well, clearly, someone who knows everything that happened has and they’re trying to torment our brother. We can’t allow that. Ashley has come a

says to our surprise. He pulls himself up and wipes his face. I rush to him

the emotional tumult you just went through. Leave everything to us. We’ll uncover the person or people behind this unfunny joke.

and nods

him in for a

"I don’t need..."

asking." I

panicked. It’s only normal given the shock of seeing..." He struggles a bit, "...his name again after so long. I have had some time to pull myself together. Whoever did this wanted to scare me. They’ll return for sure to play more mind games. I don’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me shaking like a leaf. I didn’t do anything wrong. It was all self-defense. Besides, I doubt they have any concrete proof. This might just be their ploy to get me to admit some guilt over what happened. If I take on a new bodyguard, I’d only be announcing to them that they’ve

when Ashal places a firm hand on my

checked the flower

"And this room?"

that."

scan. "There’s a fucking spy app in here." I disable it. "Do you know how this could have happened? Who

than my own wife and she has accepted her place in my life. Demi barely sticks around me. Plus, she’s not the jealous type to actually go this far. I have no clue who could have installed

to see the footage from the camera. It’s just as Ashton had explained. The

His body is fully covered in an all-black leather pants and jacket. Even his hands are masked by black

breath as I am unable to

to Duncan and see what

pulling the laptop closer. He rewinds the video and freezes the image at

I ask him as

jacket is slim fitted. That’s why it’s a little snug on him. Right here, just as he turns, can you see

and that walk is indeed feminine." I lock eyes with Ashton’s narrowed

***

"Don’t start, Ash."

Your phone was bugged. These two women are the closest to you and could have had the opportunity to plant that spy app. A woman clearly delivered the flowers. Why aren’t you guys seeing this from my standpoint?" I query Ashley and the rest of my

make Demi a culprit. It’s just fucking obvious that

in her office? Did you see her leave before you came here? How could

"She left Ashley just before his lunch with William. She could have returned

to return in five days’ time to try the new dress I am making. If she had anything to do with

right now. "I’m just saying both women fit the physique of the courier from the video. Can we just agree to take them into consideration while we are looking into this? Ashley, you literally just got assaulted. We are not trusting anyone right now. It could

challenge me. When they all remain silent, I head to the fridge and return with some

forget this for now and talk about something else." My eyes track towards Ashal. "Did you talk to Olivia about the comment on Billion-Err? It can’t be a coincidence that someone meticulously mentioned her full name

she was in an abusive relationship. However, Liv never clarified or even mentioned who she was in a relationship with, let alone the fact that she is actually married. She doesn’t think any of her family members could have done it either. Father already threatened them

we know how to

while back. I could get Olivia to reach out to her once more to figure out if she is really behind

that. I don’t know if it’s the

I blink my eyes. My

"Are you okay, Asher?"

at

of fixing our problems

chuckle at that. "I’ll rest when I’m dead,