Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 196: Chapter 196

ASHER

Keith is having a field day while I enquire about Skylar’s whereabout. I can’t believe she’s already managed to evade me shortly after claiming to be visiting Keith.

"What do you mean you have nothing to say to me?"

He throws a casual glance around his property, lets his eyes settle on a bleating sheep. "Exactly what you heard, Ash Rollins. I think you should be on your way. Your presence is irritating my sheep." He enjoys a glib look. "Why on earth would you not know where your only sister is, by the way? It’s only been what, a couple of weeks and she’s already sick of all four of you? He clucks his tongue at me. "I knew it wouldn’t be long before she saw you guys for who you truly are, get back her senses and return where she belongs."

I grit my teeth to rein in the punch at the tip of my clenched fists. How did Ashton put up with this clown for so long?

"You claim to be the best big brother yet she keeps shutting you out. From what I see, you’re no more than a stand-in big brother." That part claws at his pride if the veins jutting out of his temples are any indication.

"You’re right. I shouldn’t have come here." I throw on my sunglasses and give the farm a onceover. "Skylar probably needs some time to adjust to her new reality. That’s all this is. She’ll reach out to me when she’s ready."

On my way back to the office, Ashal’s call comes in.

"Did you find her?"

"I told you to sit this one out. I’ll handle it. You’ve got shit to deal with yourself. Focus on that." Silence hums between us. It’s been weeks and the topic still feels uncomfortable to broach. "How is she?"

"She still hasn’t said a word to me, but at least she manages to take her drugs and her meals."

"That’s a relief." Ashley’s call beeps in. "I’ve got to go. See you at home." I answer Ashley’s call right after dropping Ashal’s. "You guys can’t go a day without talking to me, can you?"

"We’ve got a problem." He replies in a clipped, cold tone that dries up my humor. Chills run down my spine when he explains everything to me. "Get here as fast as you can. I’ll call Ashton too..."

"No!" I counter him. "Leave that to me."

While driving down to the meeting venue, I stifle the urge to curse. At this point, I certainly won’t be bragging when I say I do the best job at cleaning my brothers’ messes than all of them combined. What the fuck was Ashton thinking by not running his little ’fix up’ by me? I could have seen this coming given how poorly he handled it.

"Shit!" I finally curse, slamming both hands on my steering wheel. This is the last thing my family needs right now, after the whole debacle with our birthday party.

Sure, we won hearts again but a scandal like this will topple everything we’ve struggled to restore. Our company might not survive a second hit in such a short timeframe. I can’t let this happen. I can’t let that vengeful cop blast my world all over again.

***

Ashton is characteristically late to the meeting and even after he arrives, he appears distracted, constantly checking his phone.

"I’m going to need everyone to turn off their damn cellphones." I blurt out, eyes tailored at Ashton. "This is too serious to be sidetracked by anything else." As a show of leadership, I turn my phone off and toss it on the table between us. Then I arch my brow towards my brothers, expecting no different from them.

Sighing, Ashton drops his right after Ashley. Then, I turn to Iman. For the duration of this meeting, I’ll try not to lash out at him for showing his face in front of my family again after my clear warning.

"Tell us everything you know."

Clearing his throat, he goes ahead to explain how he heard the rumor from the grapevine while out drinking himself to stupor in a local bar.

"That’s it?" I lean back in my seat with impatient eyes. "You heard a rumor at a bar? You don’t even recall the name or face of the person who said it?" I glance at Ashley. "That’s the story you bought?"

"I thought it was worth investigating." Ashley replies.

"I left no crumbs." Ashton adds defensively, staring daggers at Iman. "There’s no amount of digging that would point to any of us as a suspect in the cop’s brother’s death. The evidence is either inexistent or it was fabricated." Then at me, "I told you this was a waste of my bloody time. Everything this guy says is a goddamn lie."

to ask you one last time. Was this half-baked gossip a ruse to get an audience with us or do you have some actual proof to back up

his chair.

"Where?"

was at the

happened at Bottle Haven Bar." He

your pathetic lies?" When he

deal with his bullshit, but not

know what I

little angrier than usual.

you’ll hear from me. Till then, watch yourself." I shove him towards the exit of the lounge and return to my brothers. Iman might be lying about the cop or he might not. Either way, I fully intend to investigate it before it comes back to bite

for Ashton, Ashley swoops in to answer just

me from my own company and handing

little too late to drop my hands from Ashton’s shoulders. Realizing I hadn’t directed the question at him but Ashton, Ashley chuckles dryly, swirling his tonic

I’ll be fine, thanks for not

that? Father’s

both hands in his pockets. "You know, it’s quite ironic that father’s reason for not being able to trust me with managing MY company is because according to him, I lack the ability to rein

is that supposed to mean?"

wild decisions just because of her, decisions that threatened to impact negatively on your family and the business yet I am the one who’s being tossed out of my company for having one

in spite of your feelings. Last I checked, MY company is still

"I understand everyone is a little on edge but fighting is the last thing we need right now. Ashley, I’ll speak with father. I’m certain he’s bluffing. He knows what an outrage it’ll cause if you’re removed from the company. You’re not just the face of the brand; you ARE the brand. My guess is he made an empty threat to snap you

stable your company has been. We both know Gris is your best hire. If you didn’t have him making you look good, I bet you won’t be so smug about your numbers either. My advice? The business should never be allowed to suffer no matter what you’re dealing with.

his eyes to

your progress from now on and trust me, if you prove incompetent for

to each

keep an eye out for Sky. Let me know if you guys hear anything." Ashley says while leaving. Ashton nods at me and follows suit. I watch

"Did you find her?"

"Not yet, sir."

the urge to curse. Skylar has always been good at hiding. I can’t blame my best guys for being outwitted by a girl who has spent the better part of her life living in the shadows. I end the

right to know after she had stalled for days? I have a ton of questions and her answers will largely influence my next

That’s all you really care about." She had blurted out accusatorily. "You shouldn’t have bothered with the caring brother act. Strapping me to a chair and

a step back and let her cool

are you, Skylar?" I mumble

***

Even when I indulge in meetings with father and Josh, he makes no mention of hiring a manager for Ashley’s company. I decide to give it a rest. I’m sure if he truly plans to make that move, he’d involve

I rap on his door, hoping to

about it." The model posed Denzel with shiny caramel skin stretches out a hand to me. Hesitantly,

an intimidating resume and already shared some great ideas on

for one?" I pretend not to be privy of

seat for now. Thanks to him, Denzel has a lot of work to do to get

to make decisions about my brothers’ companies without me? You already hired someone

his feet.

I reply through gritted teeth. Josh takes father’s subtle cue and plunks back down on his seat. "Denzel, please excuse my father and I.

father. "So, is that it? The second

"Of course not, Asher..."

is this? How could you do such a thing to Ashley after