Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 165: Chapter 165

ASHER

"Put it on loud speaker." I tell Ashton. The house falls silent as he takes the call.

"Where is he?" He asks coldly the second he takes the call.

"You know I can’t tell you that." Demi replies.

I ball my fists and grit my teeth. That bitch! It sucks to be right about her in this very situation. My brother is on the brink of death right now because we were all foolish enough to let Demi go. My heart breaks for Ashal when I recall him trying to free Demi just hours ago. He was actually concerned about her despite everything we’ve learnt about her past. How could she do something like that to the one brother that treated her right?

"Demi, please, let him go. I told you the truth. I AM THE ONE WHO KILLED YOUR FOLKS. If you need someone to blame or to take out your anger on, I won’t resist but please..." Ashton’s voice wavers with emotion. "Don’t hurt anyone else."

There’s a slight noise in the background before Demi responds. "If you want your family spared, I think you know what to do."

I nod to Duncan and sure enough, he is trying to track the call.

"I’ll hold a press conference and admit my guilt if that’s what you want. I’ll do anything you want but please, let me speak to Ashal just once. I need proof of life."

"Why? Because you need this call to last long enough for you to track it? I’m not stupid, Ashton. Even if you tried and discerned my location..." she hesitates, then adds, "Ashal will be dead the second your men invade this place. Is that what your family would prefer? Would you like to find his corpse instead?"

Mother closes a hand over her mouth to stifle her anguish.

"What can I do to have my brother back alive? Just say it!"

"Your birthday’s coming up soon, right? I need you to throw the biggest party your family has ever thrown. You’re going to invite everyone who matters in this country, from media personnel to A-list celebrities to politicians. I need the mansion jammed with the crème de la crème of society. That’s where you’ll make your big confession."

Of course, she’s going for the dramatic. I truly underestimated that wench.

"And how soon can I get Ashal back?" Ashton inquires.

"As soon as the confession is covered on national TV. If you try anything funny to foil this plan or to rescue your brother before I willingly release him, his lifeless body will be found in a gutter on the street."

"Demi...what if people don’t honor our invitation? You know the situation we’re in right now. What if we can’t get all the people you want to see at the party on such short notice? Our birthday is just in a few days."

"Do you have to ask? Ashal will die obviously. That’s what if. So, I suggest you find a way to get them there at all cost. Bribe them if you must but make sure the mansion is crawling with the elite or your brother will breathe his last on his birthday."

"But Demi..."

"One last thing, Ashton." Another pause. "I’ll be your date to the party. So, look your best."

up before he can get

sick twisted game is

her before she left today and I couldn’t discern her evil intentions. I thought I got through to her.

last thing we need right now is to point fingers

"Duncan?" Father calls.

to track it. The

to Ashton. "Mother’s right. Demi fooled us all. Don’t be hard on yourself. She even got me to doubt my doubts about her along

What if we do everything she asks and she still kills..." Ashley sinks into a sofa

Mother declares defiantly. "I’ll make sure she doesn’t, whatever

our encouraging words. He turns on his heel and heads for the door. I

where are

need to...I need

now. Who knows

from his face. "She wants me to play her sick revenge game. I’m sure she won’t try to harm me, not until the D-day

you at least have a

suits ready to tail

needs to

at Ashton. "At least take one of your sport cars. That should be faster than the minivan." Although he doesn’t say it, I can

him struggle not to break down in front of us hurts. I know he blames no one but himself. Not only was he directly connected to the death of Demi’s parents, he was also the one who married her into the family. Like that wasn’t enough, his blind love for her kept him from accepting the truth of my words. Now that everything has led us to this point where Ashal’s life

next to me. "I should go with him. He’s not going to self-harm, is

cuts but nothing fatal." I turn to him. "He’ll be fine. We have

we just going to do nothing until our birthday? We can’t trust

looks reassuringly at mother. "I know exactly where she

***

she slid my phone off me, I knew she was up to no good. I had her phone

Ashton left? It would have

sort through his feelings. I didn’t want to disrupt

Mother interjects.

the address. It’s a property that was bought by Liam Spellman

she lied about it?" Mother rubs away a nasty

to

and out for the next four days before your birthday. Duncan will keep track of Demi’s calls and messages. If she plans to hurt Ashal at any point, our men will swoop in. I already have people ready to pay off Liam’s neighbors in that area so

understanding.

him back. Don’t worry too

limit to her brutality." Mother sniffles. "I boasted about knowing what she was capable of. Do you think she took that as