Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 90

ASHTON

"What did you say?"

Cree shakes her head. "I told you. You wouldn’t believe me." She hisses a breath. "Nicci and I go way back. We met while auditioning to be the poster girl for an ad back when we were teenagers and became good friends. Something happened between us and we lost communication. I stumbled into one of her loyal friends during one of my audition gigs and he sent my contact to Nicci who called me. I guessed she wanted to gloat over how successful she’s become compared to my own shitty life. She promised to forgive and forget the wrong I did to her and even help me out with a good job if I was willing to loan her my acting skills. The rest is history."

Nicola is responsible for tormenting Ashley? How did she know about Tobias and for how long has she known? The second I ask myself the question, the answer comes flooding in. She was with Ashley for years as a couple. He was completely smitten by her.

Their relationship coincidentally kicked off during the peak of Nicola’s career. At that time, Ashley was still dealing with major PTSD while building his brand as a fashion designer. I can only imagine that he must have accidentally mentioned Tobias while spending the night with Nicci as a result of his nightmares. I have been around him when his sleep is plagued by a nightmare. He blurts out A LOT and most of what he says are supposed to be secrets.

How could Nicola hurt him like this? What does she stand to gain by torturing the man she claims to love?

"Why would Nicola do such a thing to a man she claims to love?" I ask Cree.

"I told you. I didn’t ask questions. That was Nicci’s one rule."

I guess I’ll have to leave it to Ashley to figure that out himself.

"Cyril is going to give you your phone and you’re going to call Nicola. I want you to call her and talk to her about her schemes as Shay. I want to confirm your little story." Cree sighs as her phone is brought to her. She quickly dials Nicci’s line. "Turn on the loudspeaker, please."

"She must be pissed at me. I have been avoiding her calls due to the Billion-Err incident." Nicola finally picks up and Cree clears her throat nervously. "Hi Nicci."

"Where the hell have you been?"

"I’m sorry. I meant to call you but with everything on the media, I’ve just been dealing with a lot."

"What’s this story about you and Ashal? You’re going off the rails here, Cree. Your instruction regarding him ended with the blind date. Are you seriously seeing him?" I can’t believe I am hearing Nicola’s voice.

"He’s been helping me Nicci; the job, the apartment. Was I supposed to say no to all of that?"

"I paid you well enough."

"Yes, but he is willing to set me up for a lifetime. I am not stupid. I know what I am doing. Once I get enough resources to set myself up, I’ll end it." Cree avoids my eyes as she explains. I can’t tell if she’s telling the truth or telling lies. Nicola laughs derisively.

"No, you won’t. Women hardly walk away from the quads. Don’t think you can lie to me. I don’t care if you’re desperate to taste one of them. Do whatever you want to do as long as he’s not my Ashley and you don’t fuck up my plans. If you do any of the aforementioned, I won’t spare you, Cree Baxter. You have no idea what I’ll do so it’ll be in your best interest if you don’t test me." Cree gazes up at me.

"I hear you loud and clear, Nicola Grey. You’re not to be trifled with." Nicci hangs up on her. "Was that enough proof for you?"

I close a hand over my mouth.

"You have Shay. I’ll do whatever I can to get you as much proof as you deem necessary."

"Now, you’re ready to implicate someone?"

"That bitch played me. She left clues just so fingers will point inevitably in my direction as a culpable suspect. She used me to distract you guys from ever suspecting her. Now that I think about it, she told me about Mi Rey as a term of endearment and claimed it never fails to weaken you quads. She insisted that whenever I showed up to deliver a note to do any of her dirty work, I should make sure I am seen. It never made sense to me why she wanted that, especially when I could easily have delivered her message and made a clean exit. She told me to seduce a bunch of guys who I later came to realize work for you and your brothers. I had no idea about that Oliver guy or Nicci chatting him up. She wanted you all to have a culprit as far removed from her as possible. I was such a fool not to ask questions but not anymore." Her eyes narrow angrily. "I’ll help you take her down. Just tell me what you need."

Wordlessly, I turn around and start heading for the door.

"Hey, wait! What about me? You promised you wouldn’t harm me. ASHTON!!! YOU NEED ME TO LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR REAL PARENTS. YOUR REAL FAMILY IS STILL OUT THERE!!!!"

I freeze by the door.

"Your real family," Cree continues breathing heavily, "they’re not all lost. You have a sibling out there! Someone who has the same blood running through your veins! Someone who can share stories about what your real father was like."

I grit my teeth. She’ll say anything at this point to save her skin. She’s contradicting herself. How can I have a sibling if my biological parents died right after having my brothers and I? I don’t bother to clarify with Cree. I am mentally exhausted and too emotionally drained to entertain more of her crap.

"Cyril, shut her up."

"NO! WAIT! I’M NOT LYING!"

I block out her lies and don’t look back till I get to my car. Rather than going home directly, I take a few turns, driving around just to let off some steam. Why do our loved ones have to be the ones that cause us the most pain? How is Ashley supposed to take this shocking revelation? He will be in denial at first for sure but after he lets the truth sit for some time, he’ll also realize, like I have, that the truth was staring us in the face this whole time.

Why were we quick to rule Nicci out? She was there all along. She had to know his deepest secret. She could have easily gotten our numbers from Ashley’s phone. She’s desperate enough to toy with him, especially if she feels jilted by him as a result of his marriage to Demi. Her career is almost up in flames due to her relationship with him. Everyone calls her his side piece and attributes her success in the modeling industry to nothing more than her illicit affair with Ashley. She must be vengeful.

How could we not see right through her? She had the motive all along!

When I finally make it home, it’s late. I trundle into the mansion and find Demi and father talking near his study. It’s a strange sight. Even through the haze of anger, my curiosity heightens. What does he want with her? I already agreed to do his bidding. Is he seriously going behind my back to threaten her?

The surge of anger inside me shatters the restraint I’ve had concerning Demi in the last couple of weeks. My emotions get the best of me and I make my way towards them only for Demi to shudder and throw up in father’s face.

"Oh my god. I’m so sorry, father." She pleads frightfully, staring around helplessly for assistance. Her eyes meet mine. Immediately, I rush forward just as father wipes his face with his handkerchief. While Demi isn’t looking, his hand reels back to slap her face but gets stopped midair by me. Demi turns to see father’s reaction and my response.

"Don’t get involved." Father breathes through clenched teeth.

"It was an accident. Don’t hit her." I reply with a deep look he understands as a reminder of our agreement earlier today. He drops his hand and glowers at Demi. "No one throws up at people intentionally." I turn to Demi who is shaking with fear. "Are you okay?" She’s so emotional right now.

"I am so sorry, father." She pleads with folded hands. "I must have had something to eat that didn’t sit well with my stomach. I didn’t mean to throw up on you."

"You’re always full of lame excuses. You always have something to dump on me every time we meet. The last time, it was wine and now..." He scrunches his nose irritably.

"Go get cleaned up, father, and please, forgive her." I implore him. Father retreats to use the bathroom in his study. Alone, Demi continues to shake in my arms. "What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?" She looks pale. She pulls away from my grasp and dries her eyes.

"I’ll be fine. I’ve just been stressed lately. Thank you for helping with father. I really appreciate the timing." She withdraws towards the elevator while I watch her go, her shoulders sagged with exhaustion. It feels more mental than physical. "And Ashton, congrats on your engagement." She adds flatly before using the elevator.

My walls start to crumble but I struggle to keep them up. I can’t go back on my word. I am not like father. With anger still pumping hot in my blood, I text my brothers on our group chat. Thankfully, they’re where I need them to be. I take the stairs all the way to the second floor and find everyone kicking back on the sofa, listening to music and drinking.

"Congrats on getting engaged." Asher quips with a dash of sarcasm in his tone.

"Father’s planning yours next." I return but unfortunately, the light of cheer in his eyes don’t go off. Wow. Hugh was right after all. Asher will literally do whatever it takes to keep father happy even if it means marrying a bride recommended for him. Maybe I should take Hugh up on his offer and set Asher up with Mila.

"I was just about to call it a night. What’s up?" Ashal asks. Ashley stops playing pool and stares up at me. I have their undivided attention.

"Cree finally talked."

"She did?" Ashley’s eyes brighten with curiosity. "I knew she would eventually. She would have owned up to her crime earlier if you hadn’t insisted on playing the nice guy and having her held up in that house instead of a holding cell." He returns to his game of pool. "Inform the police. Have her transferred first thing tomorrow."

"She’s not Shay!" I burst his bubble. "She was only paid to do Shay’s bidding and cover Shay’s tracks."

"Cut off the suspense, Ash, you’re not in a theatre production." Asher snaps impatiently. "Who the fuck is the real blackmailer? Tell me you got a name." I ignore him to watch Ashley’s face when I say it.

"Shay...is Nicola!"

A silent hush falls on the room at first as everyone takes their time to process it. Everyone turns to Ashley.

"That can’t be right."

"I thought so at first but it makes perfect sense now."

"No, Ashton, it can’t be." Ashley insists.

"Why can’t it? Can you say for certain that Nicola has no idea about Tobias, the reason for your struggle with PTSD?" Ashley’s lips move but he fails to find the words to contradict me. "Your nightmares. You must have had them around her. You must have said things that didn’t make sense to her, admitted to things, called a name as strange as Tobias Woodley, your dead childhood bodyguard."

Ashley holds his head in his hands and staggers backwards.

"This is no speculation, Ash. I made Cree call Nicci right in front of me and from the tenor of their conversation, everything Cree admitted checked out. Nicci used your weakness against you."

"But she loves me. Why would she do such a thing?"

"You’re right. She loves you and wants to be with you but then you got married and made her settle for being the sidepiece. That downgrade from being a girlfriend was damaging to her career. She has multiple reasons to be spiteful of you. She might still love you but she might also be hurting and eager to make you feel a few thorns of your own."

Asher snorts. "This is why I don’t keep the same woman around for long. They start to feel entitled."

"Cut it out, Asher." Ashal chides him. "This is hardly the time to get cocky."

Ashley grabs his keys. "I have to talk to her."

"No!" I reply, blocking his path. "Not right now. Not like this. You’re going to take a deep breath and sleep on it. You only need to remember that we finally caught the true culprit. Tomorrow, invite her over to your office and make sure the cameras are rolling when you confront her. We need her admission on tape."

"On tape? Are you planning to arrest her?" He leers at me. "This is a personal matter, Ashton. I’m sure whatever her reasons are, they aren’t as malicious as you all think. No one is laying a finger on her."

"Ashley! Asher calls.

"No! That’s enough. She’s lost everything, don’t you get it? Her career is as good as over if I don’t step in. Her father has abandoned her and she just opened up to me about how he hits her. She’s depressed over losing me as a boyfriend too. I can guess why she did what she did but I can’t layer this on top of everything else. She’ll contemplate suicide. I can’t live with myself if she hurts herself because of me."

He sighs heavily." The thought did cross my mind that she could be culpable but I chose to trust her."

"Keep talking." I prompt him.

"Back when we were together, my nightmares occurred almost every night, especially when Nicci wasn’t laying next to me. She helped me get over the worst of them. She was very sweet and understanding. She asked me about it and I confided in her. It was a long time ago and I was blindly in love with her. I trusted her. She taught me the affirmations I use today to quell the fear after a nightmare." He sinks into the nearest couch.

"Why do you think she went back on her word to keep your secret and hurt you like this?" I try steering him in the direction I need.

"My trauma always drew me back to her. Even after she hurt my feelings publicly, lied and levied the blame on me, I ran to her whenever my nightmares began. She nursed me. We...bonded. Lately, with Demi in the picture, I have been drifting away from her. She kept complaining that she felt like she was losing me to Demi. I didn’t do anything to allay her fears. That must be the reason she resorted to this. She must have hoped that, as usual, I’ll run back to her arms."

"Why didn’t you?" I ask the question on everyone’s minds. "If you aren’t running back to Nicci, who’s comforting you through...oh fuck me!" I cuss loudly as it dawns on me. "DEMI?"

"Tell me you didn’t open up to Demi about Tobias." Asher asks with a fake smile. "Tell me you didn’t fall blindly in love with your sketchy wife and offer our family’s secret to her on a platter of overrated marriage trust."

"I haven’t told her anything, okay? I told you the affirmations and working out helps." He avoids our eyes which tells me he is still hiding something.

"How about your nightmares? Have you had them around her?" I intentionally refrain from being specific about the nights they’ve been sharing together. Frankly, it’s still a little hard for me to digest. Ashley’s silence makes me throw my hands in the air.

"So, Demi might know about Tobias. Is that right?" Asher asks. "Great. Just great."

"If there’s something else, come out with it now, Ashley." I persist, seeing his eyes droop to his feet. "Don’t hold anything back."

"There’s nothing else. She might know, okay? I had a fit one time and woke up to find her in my room. She told me she gave me a cold compress and nursed me the entire night. When I asked specifically about saying anything weird during the night, she called it gibberish. I don’t know what she heard but she hasn’t asked any questions since then."

"I vote we interrogate her." Asher suggests.

"That will just be affirming whatever suspicions she might have." Ashal counters. "I vote we don’t hassle Demi. Like I did with the penthouse, we have to assuage her doubts somehow. She has dropped the suspicions about my penthouse, don’t you see? We have to find a way to exonerate Ashley of any link to Tobias’ death."

Everyone concurs to his plan. We reschedule a later date to brainstorm on how to execute Ashal’s suggestion.

"What else did Cree say? Is Nicci also responsible for texting you about our biological parents?" Ashal asks. The room goes still. Briefly, Cree’s outbursts as I left the house where she is being held at flits through my mind.

"No. She knows nothing about it. I don’t think Nicci is behind it either."

"What are we going to do about her?"

"She’s doing time of course." Asher replies Ashal.

"If Nicci isn’t going behind bars, I see no reason why Cree should." Ashal counters. "Let the poor woman go. She clearly did it to pay her bills. Life isn’t all rosy for everyone out there if you couldn’t already tell."

"I agree." I support Ashal.

Asher trades glances with Ashley and shrugs his shoulders lazily. "You all will never learn. Loose ends always come back to bite you in the ass." He finishes his drink and sets the glass down on the pool table with a flourish. "I guess we’ll have to settle for today’s win; unmasking Shay. Let’s call it a night, brothers."

He and Ashal give Ashley a reassuring pat on the shoulder before retiring to their rooms. I linger because I have something more on my mind to discuss with Ashley.

"Save the gloating for another day, Ash. I need to be left alone."

"I know that but I am not staying back to gloat." I edge close to him. "I just wanted to throw it out there that you didn’t have to go behind my back and get father to force me to get engaged to Mila just so you can feel secure in your marriage. Ashley, when will the distrust between us end?"

Ashley’s red eyes lock with mine. "Maybe when you and Demi stop keeping secrets from me like I am the third wheel in your relationship." He lurches to his feet and heads for the door.

"What are you talking about?"

"Why don’t you ask Mr. Fantasy."

My shoulders sag with shock as he walks away. Damn you, Asher, I mutter under my breath.

Before calling it a night, I call Cree.

"Thank you." She starts. "Cyril dropped me off in my apartment."

"Don’t thank me yet." I rub a hand over my face. I can’t believe I am going down this road again. "I spared you for a reason."

"I know."

"You lie to me once moving forward and you’ll be rotting in jail." She says nothing to that but breathes heavily on her end. "This stays between us. You can’t tell anyone else what you know about my biological parents. I’ll give you a sign to know it’s me whenever I bring up the topic."

"Understood."

"If my brothers ask..."

"I’ll play ignorant. Got it."

She’s quick. "What you said about me having a sibling, was that true or did you say that to save your own skin?"

"It was both true and said to save my skin. That was my trump card. You do have a sibling."

"How can I? You said my parents died."

"They died in the fire but the news article altered the real facts a bit. Your parents didn’t die shortly after having you and your brothers. You were all a few months old when they considered giving you up for adoption. They didn’t have much and taking care of four babies was challenging for them. Their home was in a dilapidated condition. Your father, Brett Rollins, gave them shelter in his old mansion and later offered to adopt you and your brothers for a hefty sum. Though they needed the money, your parents felt guilty about giving you all up so they dragged their feet for a few more months. Later, your mom fell pregnant again."

"What happened?"

"Your father tried to convince your parents that they could keep the new baby and give up the quads. He doubled the amount he was offering. When your real father refused, they were kicked out and sent back to their old home up on a hill. Brett didn’t stop however. He kept pestering them and even resorted to threats. Shortly after your mom gave birth with your father’s inexperienced assistance, she passed away due to their poor condition. Brett sent his men at night to abduct you and your brothers. Your father was helpless against them so he took the baby and fled. Shortly after, the news aired of the fire. Brett did it to bury the story so no one will suspect his wife’s sudden birth of quadruplets. He hunted your father for years to hide the secret forever."

I didn’t realize I was crying until my tears hit my chest.

"The baby?"

"Last my source heard, you father passed away when she turned sixteen. She went into foster care till she clocked eighteen. Nothing’s been heard of her ever since. I guess she got the memo and kept herself off Brett Rollins’ radar for self-preservation."

My voice shakes with emotion. "It’s a girl?"

"Yes. You have a little sister!"