Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 73: Chapter 73

DEMI

"She called you to say that?" Eliana asks in astonishment. We are at her dainty apartment downtown which she shares with her boyfriend, Taylor. While we huddle up on the couch, he steps out to go walk their golden retriever, Cash.

Eliana clucks her tongue. "She can’t mean that. I don’t know what is going on with her but it smells fishy to me. I didn’t misread the situation. It’s like you said. I am grown and I can tell when a woman is feeling suffocated or trapped in a relationship."

"What was she like before she met this person?"

"A wild bird. Olivia clubbed like it was her second home. She was so much fun, very vocal and confident. Whenever she walks into a room, everyone would know her within two minutes. It wasn’t just about her beauty and fashion sense; she was very sociable with a beautiful laugh. She makes friends pretty easily."

Adjusting her reading glasses, Eliana’s demeanor drops. "I always hung out with her. The day she invited me to the club where she met her boyfriend, I was sick so I declined. That was the last time I saw Olivia for at least eight months. Whenever I called her phone, it was switched off. Her family weren’t saying anything meaningful too. Once, her dad told me she travelled to further her studies and the very same day, Maddie told me Olivia went out of town for a job. That’s when I knew something was off."

I sip my juice and drop it ceremoniously on the small table.

"Has she called you since you spoke to her in the car? Have you two spoken again?"

"No. I think I am blocked for now. She must be pissed at me for surprising her like that with you on the phone. She’ll probably reach out again when she’s at her lowest or when he pesters her to sift information from me, whichever happens first." She bites down on her lower lip. "Are you still going to try and help her? You know she only said those things because he probably told her to, right?"

"I don’t know how to help a person who doesn’t want to be helped, Eli. Besides, Olivia is the only one who can tell me how I can help her out. She knows this guy by name and face. We’ve got nothing. I’m not sure how I can be of any help."

The doorbell chimes and I wonder how Taylor is back so soon and why he would be using the doorbell in his own house when he’s got his keys.

"I thought about that," Eliana tells me, dropping her glass too and shuffling towards the door. "And I invited someone over."

"Who?"

When she welcomes her guest, the young, bright eyed lady steps cautiously into Eliana’s cozy apartment and gives it a double take. If she is impressed or disappointed, I can’t tell. She tilts her head when her eyes fall on me. They double in size. She recognizes me.

"This is Demi Rollins." Eliana begins with the introductions, pointing at me. I stand to my feet and beam at the lady. "Demi, this is Maddie Dunn, Olivia’s younger sister."

Maddie Dunn? Interesting.

"Hi, Maddie. It’s a pleasure to meet you." Maddie stares at my outstretched before taking it in a firm grip. The corner of her lips quirk up in a half smile.

I know she recognizes me, not just as the daughter-in-law of the famous Rollins family but as the sister-in-law of the man holding her sister captive. Her eyes continue to search mine intently. Is she looking for clues to see if I know Ashal’s secret? This might not be fun.

"You didn’t tell me you had company." She says when Eliana ushers her to a seat. The latter laughs softly with curious eyes on her. She also didn’t mention to me that she was expecting Maddie to join us.

"I didn’t want you to change your mind. I know you don’t like talking about Liv or her boyfriend but you have to hear me out. Liv always wanted me to find Demi here. She told me Demi is one person that can help her. I don’t know what that means. However, when I finally met up with Demi and got Liv on the phone, she hung up the moment I mentioned that Demi was with me. That was very strange."

Maddie’s piercing gaze continue to study me like I am a mystery novel. "She said that?"

"She did. It took a lot to finally find Demi and for Olivia to act like that was very strange indeed. Like that wasn’t enough, she called Demi a few days ago and threatened her over the phone, warning her not to bother with our rescue mission. I know that wasn’t Olivia speaking. Her crazy boyfriend must have put her to it."

Maddie exhales. "If Liv says she’s fine, that’s because she’s fine. Why can’t you let this go, Eliana? What exactly is she going to do?" She asks, jutting her chin towards me. Her eyes wheel to me. "What do you know about my sister beyond what Eliana has told you?"

She is gauging me now. I am certain she’s unsure if Ashal sent me here as a spy on Eliana or if I am truly clueless about the entire situation and genuinely want to help out however I can.

"Nothing more than what Eliana has told me."

Maddie, we need your help if we must band together to save your sister." When Maddie rolls her eyes, Eliana continues nonetheless. "Liv is too scared to tell me anything. I am sure you know who her boyfriend is, his name, what he looks like and possibly his address where Liv resides with him.

fires at me. She’s venting her frustration on me as a representative of the family she loathes to the core. "If my sister was

"Maddie, Demi doesn’t really..."

really is. What’s his name, Maddie?" I ask, matching her defiance. If she’s not spineless as she’s trying to prove,

how best to deal with the situation. I have very powerful in-laws as you

bait and drop Ashal’s name. If she proves to me that she’s willing to work with me to save her sister, then

if they turn you down?" She asks me. "What if they don’t want to support your charity work or refuse to

More derisive laughter.

surrounded by people who do and I know how to work them. Let’s get something straight however. I am not here because I have a lot of free time on my hands. I am here out of a sense of duty to a fellow woman whom I have reasons to believe needs saving. Are you going to tell me his name or not?" Maddie blinks in surprise at

connected as you claim, you should have no problem finding

be slowing us down but whatever. She’s your sister, not

the wealthy families in Danvarr." She begins with a smirk. "He’s the poster boy for the most eligible bachelor. He’s devilishly handsome with a very low ranking on Danvarr’s most scandalous CEOs list. He runs a media and entertainment company and is on the cusp of being voted CEO of the year." Her eyes hold my gaze for another

guess but I will not let Maddie hear it from my mouth. I can’t trust her yet and I won’t give her the satisfaction of absolving herself of the blame if rescuing

time Olivia’s name was mentioned cursorily online, they must have been threatened which is why Maddie is being careful not

names come to mind but like you, I won’t be dropping any until I have them fact-checked. I’ll warn you though that you had better be sure of the descriptions you just

won’t. You are a Rollins after all." She sips her juice and watches me

you say your sister is just

"Is there a

she’s going through with him, whether it’s a case of domestic abuse or house arrest or worse. However, if

don’t know the specifics. Liv is very private. If their relationship status has changed, she didn’t tell

help out. All I see is her dilly-dallying around the issue. I don’t have a

your security personnel to run a probability scan or

A LIFE too. I am not devoting a hundred and ten percent of my time to a ’maybe’ type situation. I know you know the answers to all the questions we have. If you are not willing to push forward fast by giving me specific details so we

so sorry. Maddie can come across as

there and talk to me so disparagingly simply because I offered to help. Maybe Olivia is doing just fine if her sister isn’t taking any of this seriously. I’m sorry for wasting

"My best to Olivia and her happy life." I note how the

no right to talk to me like that. She’s no braver than Olivia. She just pretends to be. If she is, she would have boldly declared Ashal’s

jogging after me. She taps on my glass and gestures that I roll down my window. With

"WHAT?"

"IT’S ASHAL ROLLINS."

didn’t know that already but because I didn’t expect her

"What?"

ROLLINS, YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW. I SWEAR IT. Now, are you going to

***

down my body as I make my way home. Maddie had somberly brought me up to speed on Olivia and Ashal’s relationship. The details she shared with me don’t sound anything like the Ashal I know. No, I just can’t reconcile that image with the

the brothers is capable of hurting someone out of anger, I’ll give it to Asher. Even so, he has a great capability for restraint. Unless he can get away with it, Asher wouldn’t risk

fist at guys who deserve it. Ashley is not much of a physical brawl kind of guy. He’d rather hire hands to do the dirty work for him than risk

to be harmless, I have always

you’ve got to be mistaken." I had

"I’m not."

calmest and sweetest guy you’d ever meet. He can’t beat up a woman to a bloody mess. He’s not got it

train and leave my family to hang dry which is why I insisted she was wrong. She would have to give me

her in his penthouse and hidden from everyone else for two years now. At first, they claimed they didn’t trust Olivia not to tell the world what their ostensibly perfect son had done to her. When she tried to convince them to annul the marriage and set her free after signing an NDA, they still wouldn’t let her go. Ashal even started gaslighting her about being in love with her and wanting their marriage to work. That was when his mother made it about Ashal’s desires and

Maddie. I just can’t. Ashal is not a sick person. He’s