Four Brothers and a Bride-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’m sorry, Keith. I got distracted." 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 make him retire back to chopping wood.

"I’m so sorry." I reiterate, rubbing my hands over my eyes after Keith leaves.

"It’s okay. I’m not a baby that constantly needs 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 her eyes. "You’re worried about your family. I get that."

I suck in a breath. "Keith’s still right. My family is chaotic. There’s always something going on, usually ugly stuff that puts us under a microscope. That’s hardly the kind of life you need right now." ƒreewebɳovel.com

"I don’t want any part of that." She immediately reaffirms. "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 think of me?"

Immediately, I take her hands, forcing her eyes back up. "They’re thrilled over your existence but we came to an understanding that if we all met with you at the same time, that might attract attention or put your quiet life at risk." I can tell from her eyes that she knows just what I mean by the last part.

"Asher works directly with father so his schedule is always tight. Ashley’s going through 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 promise that when it’s safe and we are able to shake off our bodyguards from tailing us, we will meet you as four brothers, not just me."

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

I scoop her hair out of her face. "When you feel comfortable, maybe you can share that part of your life with me, you 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 in her chair.

"Maybe one day." Her tone is clipped and cold. Her eyes red at the rims before she looks away. I hate to upset her.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you."

"Does he love you?"

"What?"

She turns to me 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?" The venom is undeniable in her voice.

Fear prickles over the rage as we stare at each other. She breaks eye contact first, leaping to her feet like her butt is on fire, then instantly regrets it when her ankle explodes with pain.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to speak of your father like that." She avoids my eyes and hands when they reach out to steady her. Is she afraid of me? I hold onto her despite the fright wracking through her small body. "I’m s-sorry." She repeats.

"Don’t be afraid, Adriana. I’ll never hurt you. I’m your brother and you, my little sister." I cup her face with my hands. "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 heard is true, I promise to make everyone involved pay for everything they did to alter the course of our destinies."

With my thumb, I pad off the tears before they roll down her cheeks. Adriana’s hands wrap around my body and lock like a vice as she hugs me tightly, sobbing onto my vest.

"You’re not alone anymore." I assure her with more kisses in her hair. "Your brothers are with you now and we love you."

"I love you too." She replies tearfully.

***

"I have no idea where 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 terrible character emanates from. It’s certainly not from her maternal family. I’m nothing like that..."

I hang up, irritated at Kira’s disgusting attitude towards her own cousin. Once again, I try Demi’s line but it’s switched off. Where could she be?

"Anna, come on now, you know exactly where she is."

Anna rolls her eyes at me. Of course, she’s mad at me and my family for Demi’s suffering. "Look, I am busy, okay? Even if I did know where to find 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. Tell Ashley to quit hassling me." She hisses before returning back to her position inside the honey pot restaurant.

I let out a sigh in my car. If anything, at least now I know Demi is fine. Anna 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 few seconds.

I make my way home and accost Trevor once more, barraging him with questions about the leaked photos.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Ashton but I can’t tell you which family member made me take them. I gave them my word."

I strap down the urge to give him another black eye because he’s obviously telling the truth. If he’s still under our payroll even after I pointed out to father that Trevor was the one who took the photos, then maybe father or one of my brothers ordered him to do so.

Maybe father or one of my brothers intentionally leaked the photos to discredit Demi or get rid of her permanently. They all have strong motives for wanting to punish Demi and it sickens me to think which one of them set this whole thing in motion.

As the media outrage for Demi shows no sign of stopping even after a week, I make a mental note to give the people of Danvarr something else to think about. Surprisingly, it didn’t take me long to make the decision.

I alight from my car in broad day light, sporting my natural black hair as I stop to get some coffee. I am dressed like my usual self to avoid any confusions with my brothers.

"Oh my God, isn’t that Ashton Rollins? Is he wearing a wig?"

I run a hand through my hair to reveal my scalp and stifle a smile when I hear subdued gasps of shock echo around the room. Pictures are silently taken.

"Maybe he dyed his hair black."

"No, it’s definitely his hair!" Someone disagrees. "If it was dyed, it would hardly be this perfect and healthy looking."

I continue to soak in the tirade going on around me and show no surprise when I am hounded by reporters outside the coffee shop.

"Ashton Rollins, is that a new look to differentiate yourselves from your brothers or a reveal of your natural hair?"

I ignore them as I make my way to my car, all the while flipping my curls out of my face to help them capture good pictures and video clips with which to make their conclusions later.

I am seated in my car, ignoring calls from my family members when the photos and videos of me sporting my dark hair breaks the internet. People are thrown into confusion as they fight with each other over my new look. A smile seeps into my cheek. At least Demi gets to catch a break from the trolling. That’s all I want.

I stare outside my car parked close to Mila’s beautiful duplex. I’ve been meaning to apologize to her for my awful behavior. She didn’t deserve the embarrassment I caused her in my bid to protect Demi.

I was too ashamed to call first, too worried she’d ignore me so I showed up at her home instead to apologize in person. It’s her day off. She might hurl abuses at me or have me kicked out of her property as she rightly should. I am mentally prepared for all that.

However, when I ignite my car to swerve towards her gate, my fingers freeze over my steering wheel. Mila’s gate swings open and I watch her hugging a guy before he gets in his car and drives out.

I could never forget the face of the man whom Demi flaunted in my face as her new lover.

What relationship did that two-timing bastard have with Mila?