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.

my relationship with Cree before I could call it quits. It wrecked my marriage with Liv. I was so pissed 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, I have been trying to rectify my mistake and not destroy a young woman’s

stalking him all day.

Have you kissed Madeline before?" We both stare in horror as Ashal stutters. "There it is." Asher gives the side drawer a bad-tempered kick and runs a hand

accident.

usually how most love stories start bro, mine for instance. I was drunk." I reply, tapping his knee

protective of her because of everything I’ve done to alter the course

but it definitely is more than feeling protective. How did you feel whenever you saw her with her late boyfriend? Angry or worried?" My eyes dip to his clenching fists. "Never mind." I turn to Asher. "What are we

is fucked up. His obsession

think I don’t

to us.

UP!" We yell at him in unison. He

pull Asher out of the room and click

eye on him." I

"Where are you going?"

I can do about Ashal. He needs a long session with

but I hope it does. From everything Ashal has told me about their crumbling marriage, Olivia has mentally checked out. Still, she knows all

***

Did you just

"Yes, I just did."

for me was as a result of my acting skills. I am eternally grateful for everything he has done for

for him beyond gratitude the whole time you were together. He spoke a lot about you in a way that he had never spoken of any woman for as long as I can remember. All I am asking is that you try to see if there’s still anything between

last time we met, I was accusing your father of heinous crimes and Ashal didn’t believe

doesn’t matter if he suspects his brothers put you up to this. Trust me, he

"And why is that?"

a certain other woman whom he isn’t ready to admit he has fallen for and right

a rough time lately and could use your help as a woman he has nursed romantic feelings for. He needs the distraction. I’ll pay you if you want me

"Don’t insult me, Ashton."

chime with raised hands. "I’m very desperate

at best. I have a few conditions. Firstly, I’m going to tell him you put me up to this from the 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.

"Fair enough. Thanks Cree."

it going with your sister? Found her yet?" She asks, leaning to sip

working on it but I am super

flat screen TV displayed at a high point on the wall, airing the news. The clip of Demi being pushed by a stranger during one of her public outings has me leaping to my feet. Thankfully, a young man breaks her fall before

wrong?" Cree asks

to me but right now, I am more worried about Demi as if she’s actually

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

you okay?

Demi replies

"I’m on my way."

have already been sent out to find the culprit. Demi is seated in the living room while everyone else is up on their feet trying to make sense of the situation. Ashal is absent

could have attempted to hurt

go over to Demi and ask how she is

Nicci’s disappearance is a move to disguise her pregnancy and

phone. "It’s been confirmed. Nicola

she was behind this?" Ashley asks him. Asher merely

it yourself that someone who knows the truth might have been 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 your

beaten the guards securing her and left the island to

I don’t 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 when plans don’t go accordingly like

of his concern from her to his baby’s mother. Mila

you, Ashley? I thought you were supposed to be with

was going to pull a stunt like this? Besides, do you really expect me to be hovering around her every second of the day since she’s pregnant? Even Billion-Err has been talking about that, asking how many married men have the time to trail after their pregnant wives. I had

and nods

"Yes?" Father implores him.