Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 111: Chapter 111

ASHER

No one is home when I storm into the mansion and by no one, I mean everyone who gives a fuck about Demi; mother and my brothers. I am not surprised to find father home but the surprise kicks in when he isn’t in his study but in his bedroom.

Even with the lights turned on, his room has a dark hue to it. I find him on his couch, sipping a glass of chardonnay. The fury simmering inside me erupts like a volcano at the small smile playing on his lips when I barge into his room. He must have been expecting me. He must find everything humorous.

"How could you, father? How could you do such a thing?"

Carefully, he sets his glass down and adjust his spectacles on the bridge of his nose. "Do what, Asher?"

"With all due respect, father, playing ignorant doesn’t suit you. You know exactly what I am talking about!"

"As a matter of fact, son, I don’t. I did a couple of things today, some even involving you so unless you clarify, I’m afraid I won’t be able to follow."

Very typical of him. "Nessa confessed everything. You asked her to keep me distracted while you orchestrated Demi’s attack. Do you deny it?"

"Why would I? I did in fact send men after her to do something you clearly don’t have the balls to do. Tell me, Asher, what was your grand plan for getting rid of that thing Demi was carrying? How long had you known she was pregnant?" At my silence, he shakes his head. "I thought you were very much like me and didn’t flinch when doing what needs to be done. Are you suddenly developing a conscience?"

"I was handling it!" I snarl angrily. "You shouldn’t have interfered. Now, she’s all battered and bruised in the hospital and my brothers are asking questions and pointing fingers at me! If you had let me handle things my way, Ashley would never have found out about that baby. Demi would have terminated it quietly."

"You’re so confident she would have, aren’t you?"

"Yes, I am. You seem to be forgetting how persuasive I can be, father." I rake my hand through my hair. "This is exactly why we don’t confide in you about anything. You don’t think about the ripple effect of the action you’re about to take before you take it. How do you think they’re all going to take it after today? Aren’t you the least bit worried that they will never forgive you for this, especially Ashton and Ashley?"

"Well, who’s going to tell them I had anything to do with this?" He inclines his head as a sly smile tugs at the side of his lips.

"What?"

"Come on, Asher. You know me better than that. I just told you earlier today that I was trying to bridge the gap between my sons and I. Do you honestly think I’ll let you go blabbing to them that I had something to do with Demi’s condition even if they won’t believe you? I can’t let your mother think I just robbed her of the chance to be a grandmother."

My head is spinning slowly now. I can’t believe what he is insinuating. "You want me to take the fall for this."

He gets up on his feet and pats my shoulder. "If you’re going to take over Rollins Empire one day, you have to learn to be comfortable with not being liked. You’ll make tough decisions and be put in tough situations just like you find yourself right now but remember, it’s for the greater good. I managed to tackle the problem with Demi within an hour of being informed about it. Think of every other snag you and I can effectively deal with for good?"

"My brothers will hate me." I croak out in despair.

"Oh, they’ll get over it. I haven’t died from their hatred, have I? They have a lot of maturing to do, Asher. You can’t be too hung up on their feelings towards you. You are their big brother. This is what it means to be a leader. It’s a position that is secretly admired by many but when you assume that position, you realize that it can be quite difficult and unsavory most times."

I drop on the couch and cover my face with my hands.

"What if I can’t do this? What if I can’t take the blame on your behalf?"

Father’s face is drained of all humor as the words leave my lips.

"I don’t think you have an option here. I am aware you hired some men to tail Demi today. My men ran them off the road. I can easily guess what you hired them to do. Duncan already has their address. It wouldn’t be an uphill task getting them to confess to hurting Demi, would it? I’m sure I can top whatever you paid them."

How can he be so evil? He had all this figured out in just a few hours?

Father sits next to me with a hand on my shoulder. I want to rip it apart given how much I loathe him right now.

"Think about it, Asher. Even if you manage to convince them that you didn’t actually hurt Demi, how will you explain the men you hired to go after Demi? Who will believe that you merely wanted to coax her? The only thing everyone will see is that I beat you to something you wanted to do. How does that help either of us? Look, I am asking you to take the blame because it’s the only way you and I can get away with this easily. Your brothers and your mother will eventually forgive you like they always do. As for me, it won’t be that easy, not with your mother. Do you want to find the dining table missing a member? The atmosphere in the house will be frigid once they all ostracize me."

I massage my temples as a loud ringing sound echoes in my head. I need my pills. I can’t deal with this without the goddamn pills. I stand and stagger towards the door. As I grab the knob, a single thought occurs to me. When I spin around to face him, father is back in his original position with his wine glass in his hand.

"I’ll do it." I tell him. He smiles and nods his head but I am far from done. "You’re going to give me the adoption papers to hand over to Ashton. It’s the least you can do for putting me in this predicament. I want to have a bargaining chip when Ashton comes after me. It’ll buy me time to explain myself and beg for forgiveness."

Father sets his lips in a hard line and thinks for a minute.

"Fine."

I watch him cross over to his bathroom and return a few minutes later. He passes me the document in an envelope. I didn’t realize he had another safe in his damn bathroom. I hastily rip it open and flip through the document. I can’t believe the papers exist. I stifle my relief and tuck the file under my arm before leaving.

My phone has been blowing up with Ashton’s call. I know it will be foolish to head to the hospital right now and be confronted by my brothers. I have to be smart about this.

Ashton must have impressed on the minds of everyone that I am behind it all. Ashley will be too distracted by his grief and worry for Demi to take his anger out on me. Ashal will be on mom watch while she processes everything that has happened.

from the hospital and try to defend myself. It might result in several blows and a black eye but if I can quell his temper, then I can get through to the rest of my

to meet me,

lake with the file in my hand. I watch him get down from his car

Ashton, you need

over his head as he gives me a punch in the face that sends me thudding to the ground with a broken nose.

BE CONSEQUENCES IF YOU PUT HER LIFE AT RISK BY LETTING THAT THUG

can

THAT RABID DOG ON HER? SHE HASN’T DONE ANYTHING TO YOU AND BECAUSE OF YOUR BASELESS ACCUSATIONS, YOU PUT HER LIFE IN DANGER. SHE LOST YOUR BROTHER’S CHILD! DID YOU EVEN STOP TO THINK ABOUT ASHLEY? GO SEE WHAT A MESS HE IS RIGHT NOW." His

sorry, man. I’m really

resurrect that lost

the ground. My body shudders

His arm is reeled back to deliver another blow. I don’t know if I can get through that and retain my consciousness. "The file, please, I need you to take a look at it. Just one minute, please." He continues to pin me with a hot glare, breathing heavily, "Please Ashton, just take a

me, walks back to grab the file that’s almost buried by sand. With his headlights beamed on him, he flips through the document. I watch his eyes cloud over as realization dawns. While he is distracted, I stagger to my feet and wipe the blood

I needed you to calm down a bit so I can get through to you." His red eyes lift from the document to my

you

responsible." I press my eyes shut and paraphrase. "No, what I mean is I am somewhat responsible. I was out with father this morning. He was asking a

"What?"

so. I found pregnancy sticks in Anna’s bathroom and she confirmed it belonged to a friend. When I checked, the said friend

father?" Ashton

I convinced him that I would handle it and by that I meant I would talk to

doesn’t believe me. I ignore the bitter truth and carry

don’t mind doing so with Ashley and Ashal but I needed one person to know the real truth. You have to believe me. I know I am the most culpable here but I am not as

grim face continues to glare at me. Finally, he stomps

didn’t plan on doing

My throat dries up.

and tell me you didn’t plan

swallow hard. "I’m sorry, Ashton. I wasn’t okay with it but my

expect another punch but it doesn’t come. Instead, Ashton grits

believe me." I can see it in his eyes. I know he knows father isn’t exactly a saint but I had expected him to make me his culprit and accuse me of trying to

myself. "I’m sorry. How is Demi coping? I would love to go to the hospital to check

makes the rage return

mean it, Ash. I want

me. "If you didn’t do this and Iman wasn’t behind it, then father must have sent some of

no thugs. If he wants to get work done, he’ll likely send men from our security detail even if they have to dress for the

chance father could have hired thugs to do

whisked me away, he sent men after Demi. He couldn’t have had the time to hire any thugs. Why would he hire thugs when he has a lot of men at his disposal to get their hands dirty for him?" I can tell there’s a lot on Ashton’s

dip to the file he must have forgotten was in his

in a safe in his bathroom, I guess. He knows that you searched his office. I convinced

continues to stare

"Something wrong?"

I have to tell

***

behind Ashton, my heart is far from being at ease. I know there’s still work to be done regarding the rest of my brothers.

Ashton as he walks through the door to Demi’s room. Outside, I run my hands over my face and expel a deep breath. Maybe I should go in

"Asher?"

lunging to my feet. Beyond the tears shimmering in her eyes, there are traces of anger. When

up a while back but

We have

had nothing to

"What?"

you?" She asks as tears roll down her eyes. "You heard Demi talking. You

didn’t do

knew, didn’t

you didn’t tell me? Instead, you sent your thugs

eyes damp with tears. Ashal is by her side. The look he gives me causes a fresh tear in my heart. While Ashton pulls Ashley away to calm his nerves, Ashal demands that I leave as my

Ashal. My head starts to

a bit

do you