Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 102: Chapter 102

ASHTON

"Where are you? I am sorting out flowers and interior décor with your mom and a horde of her friends. She’s sweet but I really wish you were here with me to take the edge off. It’s our engagement party tomorrow, Ashton. Can’t you try to be more present?"

I turn around and glance at Keith who is stroking a horse in the stable. "I’m sorry, Mila. I know I promised to help but I’m a little tied up handling some business. I’ll try to swing by as soon as I can."

"Ashton, your noticeable absence during the preparations isn’t scoring you any points with my dad. Do you really have no plan to try to be friends with him, even for me?" I only exhale tiredly. "I made dinner reservations for the three of us at the underwater restaurant here in Rollins Towers. It’s by seven pm. You can’t be late. I’ll inform Gris too so he can remind you. Promise me you’ll be here."

"I promise." I reply before she hangs up.

I return to Keith who continues to pay attention to his horse like I am not here. Paul and Collette, his parents are inside the house.

Keith hadn’t wanted to grant me this audience. After he tore up Zoe’s picture and threw it into the fireplace during my first visit, he demanded I leave his family alone. He was very vulgar with hatred glistening in his eyes.

I found it interesting given that we had never met before that day yet he oozed such anger and contempt for me. That can only mean that my little sister might have shared some of her horrible past with him. He knows something about father and his treatment of my biological family. I intend to sift out that information as well as a way of identifying Zoe from her over protective foster brother, Keith.

"What do you want with my sister?" Keith asks dryly, turning to me. "The only reason I granted you this audience is because I want to know that much."

"I think you already know." We lock eyes for a moment.

"No, Mr. Rollins, I don’t. I don’t know why an heir of the Rollins Group would come to my parents’ farmhouse to ask questions about my foster sister. What are the odds that a billionaire will come here looking for no other than Zoe, a nobody." He quits brushing his horse’s mane and dusts his hands. "Mom mentioned that you made a promise to find Zoe and give her a better life. I’d like to know more about that. Who did you make the promise to? How are they related to Zoe? Why do you want to help Zoe?"

So many questions, I think to myself.

"You’ll get all the answers you want once you get me another picture of Zoe, Keith or at least tell me why you tore up the last one the second you saw me." I edge close to his horse, admiring it. "I’m fairly certain you did that because you know something your parents don’t."

"Something like what?"

"That’s for you to tell and for me to find out."

"You’re wasting your time, and mine. I don’t have the information you seek. My sister was a very private person even amongst our family. She kept to herself most times. We gave her grace about it because she had had a rough childhood."

"That doesn’t explain why you don’t want me to see what she looks like."

"I don’t want you putting your men to work to find her when I don’t know why you want to. Wherever Zoe is, I know she just wants to lead a quiet life without looking over her shoulder every two minutes. My sister has suffered too much to have a powerful man like you bothering her with your charity which she clearly wouldn’t be interested in so if that’s the reason you’re here, again, you’re wasting your time."

"Was that what she was like while she lived with your family? Was she always looking over her shoulder?"

My sincere question catches him off guard. If he felt Zoe was afraid of something or someone, then maybe he might have tried to dig around for more information about her, information she wouldn’t share with him, so he could better protect her. Did he find out about father? Is that why he loathes me?

"Yes. Zoe was always tense and paranoid. She wouldn’t say why. She lived like someone on the run."

"What did you do when she refused to share?"

"What could I have done? I let her be and hoped she was overreacting."

"I doubt that. You seem very protective of her. You don’t strike me as a brother who would have sat idly by while his sister lived like that. Even after she destroyed the pictures you took of her, you drew her in her sleep so why am I to believe that you simply sat on your hands when Zoe refused to share anything about her troubled past?" Keith’s eyebrows knit together in a frown. I got him with that one.

He peels off his gloves. "You also appear to know more than you’re letting on, Mr. Rollins. This social call is more than a charity case, right? You’re not here to assist an orphan. There are so many orphanages that would worship the ground you walk on if you make a generous deposit but you prefer to be here on a sunny day, away from the multiple businesses you run, asking dumb questions about a young girl." His eyes darken. "What exactly is it about Zoe that’s got you so invested? You can fool my parents with the charity crap but not me! Why Zoe? Why are you looking for her?"

"You know where she is!" I decipher from his eyes. "You’ve been keeping an eye on her!"

"WHY ZOE???" He repeats firmly.

I can’t tell him the details of how Zoe and I are related. Even my brother, Ashal couldn’t believe that story so I am refraining from sharing the details with just about anyone. I don’t want father to get a whiff of it either.

I stare into Keith’s eyes. If he knows the truth, then he must be worried that I am working with father to find and harm Zoe. He must think that I am not aware that Zoe is my biological sister. Is he trying to test my loyalty to my kin before divulging more information? It’s hard to tell.

I back away from him. "If I told you, would you help me find her?"

"No! I’ll never betray Zoe like that but I may be able to answer some of the questions you might have."

"Only Zoe can answer the questions I have so how does that work for us?"

"Good bye, Mr. Rollins." He eyes me and makes a beeline for the house.

"Keith, wait!"

"What?"

I exhale deeply as I catch up with him. I don’t want to regret this. He is the surest link I have to Zoe and I am running out of time here. If things go south after I tell him the truth, I’ll have to resort to threatening him with the lives of his parents even though I’d hate to do that.

"What?" He repeats.

Keith. I can be a very dangerous man if I please. This stays between us." He doesn’t flinch at my threat. I

"Related in what way?"

"She’s my sister."

minute, Keith stares at me quietly. He doesn’t look surprised. He already knew. He keeps staring into my soul.

elaborate how Zoe is related

"No." I reply stiffly.

don’t expect me to share personal details of my sister’s life with any

more at this time. I need to find Zoe and confirm the truth

questions satisfactorily and convince me that I am not putting my

have you begging for the lives of your loved ones by now. I have the money, the means and the men

"Why aren’t you?"

I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want to find my little sister and end her loneliness in this world. I just learnt of her existence and it’s killing me that she’s been living such a rough life all alone for years. I

with your brothers and

know Zoe actually exists and is safe. I was worried about raising their hopes too early. Once I am reunited

me for

dissatisfied expression, he smirks. "You’ll work with my schedule if you

thought crosses my mind. Can I protect Zoe from father if I find her? What if I am putting her life in danger by looking for her? Duncan might be on my tail. Would father really hurt my sister again? I wish my brothers were all in on this.

parked in front of St. Lucy’s church. What is she doing back here? I wonder as I pull into the church as well. This was where we had our drunken, night wedding. I know I shouldn’t have pulled

double in size at the sight of me. I bet

"Ashton." She breathes softly.

a few seconds longer than okay. I tear my eyes away from hers. "I uh, saw your car. Wondered why you stopped by." A nervous chuckle follows. "How are you? Does your nose still hurt?"

"It’s all healed up."

Another awkward silence

you here? I thought this would be the one place you’d hate

by and...I couldn’t continue without stopping." Her wistful eyes find mine again. "I guess I needed

heart beats rapidly in my chest. "Actually, I wanted to see if the priest would be available to

my explanation. I could have thought about a million other nicer things to say

silly of me. Of course that’s why you’re here." She avoids my eyes. "I

"Yeah. Drive safely."

till she pulls away. I hate that I did that

day, I must be

my head and come face

I bet he doesn’t know the last Rollins

wife leave

no, she’s not my wife

you boys all look the same. She’s a good woman. Comes here

I ask in surprise. I thought this was her first

any time, Ashton. Your sister-in-law finds some kind of peace here. She has been

was crying out

you here?"

to compose my thoughts. Demi was crying. That’s all I can think

gone far. She isn’t much of a fast driver. I need to find her. I don’t know what I’ll say when I do but

Is she still sick. I pull over but before I can go

are

utters weakly. "I just

hiding something. I reach through her window to feel her neck with my hand. Her temperature is normal. She flinches at my touch and stares at me with wide eyes. "Get down. I’m taking you to the hospital. You don’t look fine

okay? I guess I have been stressed

from the car, Demi. We’re

eyes flare with anger. "I said I’m fine and even if I wasn’t, I am an adult. I

that to me? The temper in her eyes cool off briefly to allow guilt seep in. She rolls up her window and drives away. What was that? Why was she making such a fuss about a quick hospital visit? Does she hate

No! Ashley said the tests came back negative. What are the chances that three tests came out all wrong? My eyes drift back into the distance where the dust raised by Demi’s zooming car has barely settled. Did Demi lie to Ashley

and her father, I keep thinking about Demi. I have to find out the truth somehow. If she

Mila nudges me. "What?"

asked you a

at Hugh Spellman who

sorry sir. I

this dinner." He eyes his daughter who dips her eyes to her food. "Why exactly are you marrying THIS brother

Please. I’m not going over this with you

discussing me?

know you don’t love her so spare me that lame lie. Did daddy threaten to cut you off

my cutlery. "Love? I didn’t think that mattered to you, Hugh." Beside me, Mila’s eyes widen in shock at the way I addressed her father on first name basis. "You are so eager to pass her off to my brother, Asher, even though you know he doesn’t love her. You are okay with him marrying her because he was asked to so why do you have

UNTIL you don’t feel like it anymore which can be five

her wine glass to her lips. I can tell she’s very uncomfortable right now. I feel her hand on my thigh, trying to urge me to back off this fight with

Try to make peace with that. You might not like me but she does and I like her too. Love isn’t everything. We have both consented to this union

answered your question, how about you answer one of mine?" I lean back on my chair. "Why exactly are you not okay with Mila doing car races?" Hugh’s face hardens.

Mila begs in a low voice. Her father turns his dark eyes to