Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 90: Chapter 90

ASHTON

"What did you say?"

Cree shakes her head. "I told you. You wouldn’t believe me." She hisses a breath. "Nicci and I go way back. We met while auditioning to be the poster girl for an ad back when we were teenagers and became good friends. Something happened between us and we lost communication. I stumbled into one of her loyal friends during one of my audition gigs and he sent my contact to Nicci who called me. I guessed she wanted to gloat over how successful she’s become compared to my own shitty life. She promised to forgive and forget the wrong I did to her and even help me out with a good job if I was willing to loan her my acting skills. The rest is history."

Nicola is responsible for tormenting Ashley? How did she know about Tobias and for how long has she known? The second I ask myself the question, the answer comes flooding in. She was with Ashley for years as a couple. He was completely smitten by her.

Their relationship coincidentally kicked off during the peak of Nicola’s career. At that time, Ashley was still dealing with major PTSD while building his brand as a fashion designer. I can only imagine that he must have accidentally mentioned Tobias while spending the night with Nicci as a result of his nightmares. I have been around him when his sleep is plagued by a nightmare. He blurts out A LOT and most of what he says are supposed to be secrets.

How could Nicola hurt him like this? What does she stand to gain by torturing the man she claims to love?

"Why would Nicola do such a thing to a man she claims to love?" I ask Cree.

"I told you. I didn’t ask questions. That was Nicci’s one rule."

I guess I’ll have to leave it to Ashley to figure that out himself.

"Cyril is going to give you your phone and you’re going to call Nicola. I want you to call her and talk to her about her schemes as Shay. I want to confirm your little story." Cree sighs as her phone is brought to her. She quickly dials Nicci’s line. "Turn on the loudspeaker, please."

"She must be pissed at me. I have been avoiding her calls due to the Billion-Err incident." Nicola finally picks up and Cree clears her throat nervously. "Hi Nicci."

"Where the hell have you been?"

"I’m sorry. I meant to call you but with everything on the media, I’ve just been dealing with a lot."

"What’s this story about you and Ashal? You’re going off the rails here, Cree. Your instruction regarding him ended with the blind date. Are you seriously seeing him?" I can’t believe I am hearing Nicola’s voice.

"He’s been helping me Nicci; the job, the apartment. Was I supposed to say no to all of that?"

"I paid you well enough."

"Yes, but he is willing to set me up for a lifetime. I am not stupid. I know what I am doing. Once I get enough resources to set myself up, I’ll end it." Cree avoids my eyes as she explains. I can’t tell if she’s telling the truth or telling lies. Nicola laughs derisively.

"No, you won’t. Women hardly walk away from the quads. Don’t think you can lie to me. I don’t care if you’re desperate to taste one of them. Do whatever you want to do as long as he’s not my Ashley and you don’t fuck up my plans. If you do any of the aforementioned, I won’t spare you, Cree Baxter. You have no idea what I’ll do so it’ll be in your best interest if you don’t test me." Cree gazes up at me.

"I hear you loud and clear, Nicola Grey. You’re not to be trifled with." Nicci hangs up on her. "Was that enough proof for you?"

I close a hand over my mouth.

"You have Shay. I’ll do whatever I can to get you as much proof as you deem necessary."

"Now, you’re ready to implicate someone?"

"That bitch played me. She left clues just so fingers will point inevitably in my direction as a culpable suspect. She used me to distract you guys from ever suspecting her. Now that I think about it, she told me about Mi Rey as a term of endearment and claimed it never fails to weaken you quads. She insisted that whenever I showed up to deliver a note to do any of her dirty work, I should make sure I am seen. It never made sense to me why she wanted that, especially when I could easily have delivered her message and made a clean exit. She told me to seduce a bunch of guys who I later came to realize work for you and your brothers. I had no idea about that Oliver guy or Nicci chatting him up. She wanted you all to have a culprit as far removed from her as possible. I was such a fool not to ask questions but not anymore." Her eyes narrow angrily. "I’ll help you take her down. Just tell me what you need."

Wordlessly, I turn around and start heading for the door.

"Hey, wait! What about me? You promised you wouldn’t harm me. ASHTON!!! YOU NEED ME TO LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR REAL PARENTS. YOUR REAL FAMILY IS STILL OUT THERE!!!!"

I freeze by the door.

"Your real family," Cree continues breathing heavily, "they’re not all lost. You have a sibling out there! Someone who has the same blood running through your veins! Someone who can share stories about what your real father was like."

I grit my teeth. She’ll say anything at this point to save her skin. She’s contradicting herself. How can I have a sibling if my biological parents died right after having my brothers and I? I don’t bother to clarify with Cree. I am mentally exhausted and too emotionally drained to entertain more of her crap.

"Cyril, shut her up."

I’M NOT

just to let off some steam. Why do our loved ones have to be the ones that cause us the most pain? How is Ashley supposed to take this shocking revelation? He will be in denial at first for

out? She was there all along. She had to know his deepest secret. She could have easily gotten our numbers from Ashley’s phone. She’s desperate enough to toy with him, especially if she feels jilted by him as a result of his marriage to Demi. Her career is almost up in flames due to her relationship with him. Everyone calls her his side piece and attributes her success in the modeling industry to nothing more

could we not see right through her? She had

find Demi and father talking near his study. It’s a strange sight. Even through the haze of anger, my curiosity heightens. What does he want with her? I already agreed to do

shatters the restraint I’ve had concerning Demi in the last couple of weeks. My emotions get the best of me and I make my way towards them only for Demi to shudder

my god. I’m so sorry, father." She pleads frightfully, staring around helplessly for assistance. Her eyes meet mine. Immediately, I rush forward just as father wipes his face with his handkerchief. While Demi isn’t

involved." Father

drops his hand and glowers at Demi. "No one throws up at people intentionally." I turn to Demi

father." She pleads with folded hands. "I must have had something to eat that didn’t sit well with my stomach. I didn’t mean to

always have something to dump on me every time we meet. The

Demi continues to shake in my

appreciate the timing." She withdraws towards the elevator while I watch her go,

I can’t go back on my word. I am not like father. With anger still pumping hot in my blood, I text my brothers on our group chat. Thankfully, they’re where I need them to be. I take the stairs all the way to the second

getting engaged." Asher quips with a dash of sarcasm in his

it takes to keep father happy even if it means marrying a bride recommended for him. Maybe I should take Hugh up on his offer and set Asher

a night. What’s up?" Ashal asks. Ashley stops playing pool and stares up

"Cree finally talked."

knew she would eventually. She would have owned up to her crime earlier if you hadn’t insisted on playing the nice guy and having

only paid to do Shay’s bidding and cover Shay’s

you’re not in a theatre production." Asher snaps impatiently. "Who the fuck is the real blackmailer? Tell me you

"Shay...is Nicola!"

as everyone

"That can’t be right."

but it makes

can’t be."

about Tobias, the reason for your struggle with PTSD?" Ashley’s lips move but he fails to find the words to contradict me. "Your nightmares. You must have had them around her. You must have said things that didn’t make sense to her, admitted to things, called a name as strange as Tobias

his head in his

Cree call Nicci right in front of me and from the tenor of their conversation, everything Cree admitted checked out.

loves me. Why would

be with you but then you got married and made her settle for being the sidepiece. That downgrade from being a girlfriend was damaging to her career. She has multiple reasons to be spiteful of you. She might still love you but she might also be hurting and eager to make you feel

"This is why I don’t keep the same woman around for long. They

him. "This is hardly

keys. "I

sleep on it. You only need to remember that we finally

to arrest her?" He leers at me. "This is a personal matter, Ashton. I’m sure

"Ashley! Asher calls.

has abandoned her and she just opened up to me about how he hits her. She’s depressed

mind that she could

I

understanding. She asked me about it and I confided in her. It was a long time ago and I was blindly in love with her. I trusted her. She taught me the affirmations I use today to quell the fear after a nightmare." He

your secret and hurt you like

and levied the blame on me, I ran to her whenever my nightmares began. She nursed me. We...bonded. Lately, with Demi in the picture, I have been drifting away from her. She kept complaining that she felt like she was

didn’t you?" I ask the question on everyone’s minds. "If you aren’t running back to Nicci,

Tobias." Asher asks with a fake smile. "Tell me you didn’t fall blindly in love with your sketchy wife and offer our family’s secret to

haven’t told her anything, okay? I told you the affirmations and working out helps." He avoids our eyes

your nightmares? Have you had them around her?" I intentionally refrain from being specific about the nights they’ve been sharing together. Frankly, it’s still a little hard for me to digest. Ashley’s

Tobias. Is that right?"

else, come out with it now, Ashley." I persist, seeing his eyes droop to his feet. "Don’t

told me she gave me a cold compress and nursed me the entire night. When I asked specifically about

interrogate

Ashal counters. "I vote we don’t hassle Demi. Like I did with the penthouse, we have to assuage her doubts somehow. She has dropped the suspicions about

concurs to his plan. We reschedule a later date to brainstorm on how