Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 122: Chapter 122

ASHTON

"What the fuck happened? I thought you said you lost father. How did you not see him behind you? Why in the world was he following you in the first place?" I keep badgering Asher as he pulls up at Ashal’s second penthouse where we are crashing in the meantime. Asher gets out of his car with a forlorn look on his face but I am too livid to spare him a breath.

"ANSWER ME GODDAMMIT"

"Calm down, Ashton."

"Don’t tell me to calm down. Answer my questions!"

He runs a hand over his brows and expels a deep breath. "Look, father and I had a little tiff earlier in the day. We parted ways and I guess he felt guilty and wanted to make it up to me so he tracked my car GPS because I was too furious to return his calls."

All I can do is grit my teeth. "Didn’t he settle things with you at the HQ when you two met up? What was the need to follow you all the way to Adriana?"

"Look, I don’t know, okay? It’s Father. If I could decipher his motivations for doing a bunch of shit, I would be two steps ahead of him, don’t you think." He sighs loudly. "I pulled him over and registered my displeasure at being followed. I don’t think he would be doing that again for a while."

I don’t know what to make of this. "I should have listened to you and gone after Adriana. I worked too damn hard for us to lose the opportunity we had today."

"Has Keith called? What did he say?"

"He isn’t taking my calls any longer. My guess is he is furious. It was a big risk to plan that meeting with Adriana. He was counting on me. I messed it up and now our sister might no longer be interested in our reunion."

"Hey" Asher calls, grabbing my shoulder. "Don’t rush to conclusions. You found her the first time, didn’t you? You made the impossible happen. I am certain you will find a way around this snag. Brace up." I bob my head in agreement. His eyes track up the stony steps. "How’s Ashal? Is he much better?"

"I hope so. I have a bunch of questions that need prompt answers."

I lead the way into the penthouse and together, we take the stairs to one of the spare bedrooms where Ashal lays sprawled on the bed. He props himself up the moment we enter, a somber expression clouding his face.

"Hey man." Asher begins, edging close to him. Ashal inclines his head away from Asher’s hand which is extended to check his temperature.

"How are you feeling?" I ask him.

"I’m fine." He replies dryly. I know he knows why we’ve rounded up on him. Shrugging, he straightens his spine. It’s my guess that he is ready for our rapid-fire questions so I proceed. "Ok. Dead guy in your trunk. What else do you remember?"

"I told you all I recall."

"Don’t get cheeky." Asher reprimands him. "This is very serious, Ash. We might have managed to quell the storm with our contacts in the force this time around but this might come back to haunt us someday. Besides, father is growing very suspicious of all of us lately. He has been tailing us. If he gets a whiff of what you’ve done, he’ll have you thrown into a psychiatric facility for God knows how long."

"I get it. He already threatened me once."

"Good. Now, cut it out and cooperate with us." Asher adds.

He exhales. "I’m sorry. I’m a little bit shaken. I---I thought I was past that. I really thought the days of hurting people to the point of taking their lives was over." His voice breaks with emotion. Tears shimmer in his eyes. "I honestly don’t even recall talking to the guy much less following him. I don’t know what kind of interaction we had before I..."

"You don’t know if anyone saw you following the guy, Madeline perhaps?"

As I mention her name, I notice something wash over his features. He wrings his hands and shakes his head from side to side. I join him on the bed.

"Ashal, tell me the truth this time. What exactly is going on between you and Madeline Dunn? Are you in love with her? Is there a secret affair going on between..."

"NO." He denies too quickly, earning a suspicious stare from Asher and I. "No, it’s nothing like that, I promise."

"Then tell us exactly what’s going on." Asher presses, impatience simmering in his eyes.

"I am not in love with her. If anything, I think I thought I was because she reminds me so much of Olivia and has the same qualities I fancy in her sister. This whole confusion started when Elyon arranged blind dates for me, you know the one that led me to meet Cree? Maddie was one of them. I stood her up because obviously I wasn’t going to date Liv’s kid sister."

"And since then?" I ask.

off I planned to punish her the only way I knew how; by making her quit school and marry a loser. I was so obsessed with destroying her life that I made a lot of bad decisions I regret. These past few weeks,

killed her boyfriend after stalking him all day. That

kissed Madeline before?" We both stare in horror as Ashal stutters. "There it is."

an accident. She

for instance. I was drunk." I reply, tapping his knee before

done to alter the course of her life till now. It’s

whenever you saw her with her late boyfriend? Angry or worried?" My eyes dip to his clenching fists. "Never mind."

up. His obsession

I don’t

Ashal calls out to us.

yell at him in unison. He cradles his head

Asher out of the room and click the

on

"Where are you going?"

He needs a long session with his therapist for sure

will work but I hope it does. From everything Ashal has told me about their crumbling marriage, Olivia has mentally checked out. Still, she knows all about his condition and if she desperately wants an out, she should be

***

just ask

"Yes, I just did."

skills. I am eternally grateful for everything he has done for

about you in a way that he had never spoken of any woman for as long as I

dredged up our past relationship since I got busted for working with Shay aka Nicola. The last time we met, I was accusing

brothers put you up to this. Trust me,

"And why is that?"

will help take his mind off a certain other woman whom he isn’t ready to admit he has fallen for and right now, that’s what everyone wants, I

going through a rough time lately and could use your help as a woman he has nursed romantic feelings for. He needs the

"Don’t insult me, Ashton."

chime with raised hands. "I’m

start. Secondly, whatever it is I am supposed to be to him, it can’t be forced. If he doesn’t want me around, I’m gone. Thirdly, this has to be under wraps. I don’t want the spotlight

"Fair enough. Thanks Cree."

with your sister? Found her yet?"

it but I am super

has me leaping to my feet. Thankfully, a young man

wrong?" Cree asks

from my pocket. Keith hasn’t responded to me but

I have to be on my way. I’ll call you." I give her a pat on the shoulder before dashing out of the café. The media hadn’t hammered on the severity of the almost accident that Demi had because she hadn’t exactly fallen on her face. However, that doesn’t ease my panic. Who could have done something so malicious to her knowing she’s

you okay?

home." Demi replies

"I’m on my way."

and his men have already been sent out to find the culprit. Demi is seated in the living room while everyone else is up on their feet

attempted to hurt her?"

over to Demi and ask how she is faring. Ashley looks really

think someone else might know the truth about Demi and Nicci? Billion-Err has been going off speculating that Nicci’s disappearance is a move to disguise her pregnancy and now someone wants

phone. "It’s been confirmed. Nicola is still on the

she was behind this?" Ashley asks him.

trying to expose us. We all know Nicci isn’t a fan of this plan of yours. Is it really farfetched to suspect that she might have snuck back into the country and tried to hurt

don’t you think? How could she have beaten the guards securing her and left

know, Ashley. I am just trying to cover every base here." Asher grunts in frustration. I bet he is indeed frustrated with the way things are going awry lately. No one hates

silently seethes at the shift of his concern from her to his baby’s mother. Mila comes to

I thought you were supposed to be with

me to be hovering around her every second of

and nods in greeting

"Yes?" Father implores him.