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?"

of fresh flowers sits. The

He kept his helmet on the whole time. I called 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 in

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

two sons and a daughter. One of the sons

trying to torment our brother. We can’t allow that. Ashley has come a long way from that painful period in his life. We can’t let him go

up and wipes his face. I rush to him and take his face in my hands." I’m alright, Asher. I’m much better

went through. Leave everything to us. We’ll uncover the person or people behind this unfunny joke. I just need you to promise me you’ll talk to Dr. Welsh about

shifts uncomfortably and nods at

in for a tight hug. "You’re getting a

"I don’t need..."

I

know 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

to the flowers instantly when Ashal places a

flower for

"And this room?"

handled that." Ashton

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

reason to. We hang out more often than my own wife and she has accepted her place

the footage from the camera. It’s just as Ashton had explained. The messenger keeps their helmet on the whole time

moment of hesitation and a nervous scanning of the room before the person leaves. His body is fully covered in an all-black leather pants and jacket. Even his hands

cuss under my breath as I am unable to

Duncan and see what

closer. He rewinds

as his eyes narrow with

just when he turns to scan the room. "The jacket is slim fitted. That’s why it’s a little snug on him. Right here, just as he turns, can you see that protrusion?" Ashton plays back the video for us all to watch again

protrusion is actually a right boob and that walk is indeed feminine." I lock

***

"Don’t start, Ash."

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 brothers

make Demi a culprit. It’s just fucking

asks. "Didn’t Nessa say Demi is in her office? Did you see her leave before you came here? How could she have delivered the flowers and returned back to

left Ashley just before his lunch with William. She could have returned to drop the flowers off while he

I was inviting William over. She left to return in five days’ time to try the new dress I am making. If she had anything to do with this, she would have arranged it to be delivered at a time when I won’t likely be in my office, not when she is certain she would run into

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 have been either of them

I head to the fridge

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 and the fact that she

an abusive relationship. However, Liv never clarified or even mentioned

know

Olivia to reach out to her once more to figure out if she

and I fucking need you all to see that. I don’t know if it’s the women or the events and shocking revelations over the past few weeks that’s poked holes in our system but we need to fix this mess.

blink my eyes. My symptoms have been raging

"Are you okay, Asher?"

work trying to garner pity. I just fucking hate seeing his face at work. Father is holding back from comforting

my shoulder. "If you get out of your own way, you’d realize the burden of fixing our problems

at that. "I’ll rest when I’m dead,