Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 144: Chapter 144

ASHTON

I tear my eyes away from my phone, as difficult as that feels, to beam at my sister, Adriana, who’s galloping on a horse. Keith is somewhere at the back of the house, chopping firewood. His lovely parents went out of town to purchase some necessary items for the animals on the farm.

[She’s not at her aunt’s place or Anna’s] One of our men messages me.

I feel a ball of unease unfurl in my belly. Where else could Demi be? Was she at a motel? She’s been unreachable since she left the mansion two nights ago. She won’t even return my calls and texts.

I’ve been so worried especially as the online trolling and bullying keep intensifying. I think it was even covered somewhere on the news that she got pelted with raw eggs in public.

"Where in God’s name are you, Demi?" I mumble before letting out a short breath.

Is she mad at me too? Sure, she must be. Her hatred for my family must have crystallized with father’s action that night but that’s a topic for another day. I just want her to send me proof of life so my heart quits racing with nerves.

Ahead of me, Adriana finally finishes her laps. My eyes boggle with shock when her favorite house throws her off his back before she can get down. She lands face first in the dirt and yelps in pain.

"ADRIANA!" I move like a blur across the field and pick her up while her horse, Poo-bear, skips away.

"I’m fine." She assures me, closing a hand over mine after Keith applies First Aid to her bruised forehead and bandages to her sprained ankle. "Or at least, I will be once the splitting headache ebbs."

"You were supposed to be watching her!" Keith barks angrily at me. "What were you doing? She was on that horse for the first time in years, at your behest."

"Keith..."

"No." He silences his sister with a burning look before directing his blazing eyes back to me. "I entrusted her safety to you for a measly thirty minutes and this happens? How do you expect me to believe her life will be safe with you and your brothers if you all always have shit going on and keep spacing out?"

"Keith, please..." Adriana pleads.

Normally, I’d fight him on this but today, I realize bitterly that he isn’t wrong. I couldn’t even protect Demi whom I claim to be in love with. How can I keep my sister safe from father and everyone in the country that might want to hurt her?

I turn to my sister and plant a soft kiss on her hair. "I’m sorry. It won’t happen again." Keith’s eyes continue to flare with heat but seeing Adriana’s pleading ones

my hands

watching. It was an accident. Plus, he was wrong. No one made me do anything. I’ve missed riding my horse and wanted to bond with her again despite being out of practice. I saw the risk and took it anyway knowing how hotheaded and impatient Poo-bear can be." She chuckles, then winces as pain fizzes through

My family is chaotic. There’s always something going on, usually ugly

"I’m just glad to reconnect with my brothers after so many years." Her eyes drop to her thighs as she burrows her hands in them. "What do the others

if we all met with you at the same time,

stuff in his marriage. Ashal is just like you and not much of a fan for drama so he tries to steer clear of it. They ALL know I am here and want to be kept in the loop on how everything is going with you. I

warmly. "It feels strange to go from being a lone orphan to having four

know. Growing up in foster care, living in fear...our parents." Her eyes slant upwards at the last part. "I’d really love to know what happened to them." She withdraws, as expected, tilting back

red at the rims before she looks away.

didn’t mean

"Does he love you?"

"What?"

with cold eyes. "Your father. Does he love you all like sons or is that just the picture he paints for the country to see?"

stare at each other. She breaks eye contact first, leaping to her feet like her butt

when they reach out to steady

"I know how you feel about him and if what I’ve heard is true, then your feelings are justified. To answer your question, he’s way better at being a boss than a father." Her eyes crinkle in a thin smile while mine hardens. "If what I

tears before they roll down her cheeks. Adriana’s hands wrap around my body and lock like a

assure her with more kisses in her hair. "Your brothers

you too." She

***

is." Kira tells me over the phone on my way back from Keith’s place. "She never even bothered to stop by her first home after getting thrown out of her marital home. Imagine that. She should be ashamed and contrite for everything she’s done to her poor husband and your family. I have no idea where her

her own cousin. Once again, I try Demi’s line but it’s

come on now, you know exactly where

my best friend, why in the world would I tell you? You’ve all made her life a living hell. Have some sympathy and leave her alone. This is the last time I am entertaining questions from a quad on this matter.

is certainly in contact with her and if she’s being chill about Demi’s disappearance, then she must know exactly where Demi is and in what condition she is. The relief that floods my chest from that deduction lasts only a

way home and accost Trevor once more, barraging him with questions about