Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 94

ASHER

[She took the bait. He’s with her now] Kira texts me.

[Good job]

[Drinks later? You promised]

[Fine. I’ll text you the location]

[No need. My mom will be away all night. We can hang out at my house. More private]

This bitch is bold, I think. Is she really suggesting what I think she’s suggesting? I bet her mom is in on it too. Where could she possibly be going tonight? I shake my head with a laugh. Whatever.

[Sounds good]

The door in front of me swings open and I tuck my phone away.

"Hi." Anna’s surprise turns to a slight frown as she sees me. "You’ve got to work on your excited face when you see me. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were expecting someone else."

"How did you know I was home? You didn’t call."

"Yeah, I stopped by your work place and was told it’s your off day. I thought I’d surprise you." When I lean down to peck her cheek, she moves inside. What’s with the attitude? "Were you really expecting someone else?" I ask, trailing after her.

"Demi. She should be here by now but she’s not taking her calls or texting me back. We planned to spend the day together."

I incline my head. "I’m guessing I am not welcome here then."

"No." She plunks down on her couch and blows her hair out of her face. "I didn’t mean it like that. I am just worried about her. She was close to her phone a few minutes ago, and read my text. I don’t know why she hasn’t replied yet. Her phone was ringing earlier but now it’s switched off. Don’t you find that weird?"

I edge close to her. "I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe she wants to spend the day in bed with her husband and doesn’t know how to cancel on you." Taking her hands, I pull her up. "If you’re smart, you’d take advantage of my presence here given how much I had to move things around to be here with you." This time, she allows me to relish her lips and returns my kiss with fervor.

"You should have called. Demi could walk in any minute. She might see you here."

"No, she wouldn’t." I say emphatically.

"What? How are you so sure?" She asks, easing back.

"I mean, she wouldn’t see me even if she arrives. I’ll just hide or something."

"And your car?"

"Parked down the street corner like you always ask."

"Your perfume. It won’t leave my house or my body for at least the next three hours. Demi will know for sure that I’ve had a man here, YOU. She knows your scent." She moves away from me but I pull her back.

"What’s going on? Did I do something wrong? Why the cold shoulder?"

I can tell she’s keeping something from me. My phone beeps and when I check, it’s a photo from Iman. Demi is sprawled on his carpet with a broken nose. I slip the phone back into my pocket and face Anna. "Nothing important." I tell her when she eyes me suspiciously. "Tell me, what can I do to make up for whatever I’ve done to upset you?"

"You can go visit doctor Ezra right now."

Oh crap. I guessed as much. She won’t let this go.

"I will. I’m handling it."

"No, you’re not. You keep avoiding it despite my promise to be there with you through it all. Clearly, you’re prepared to lose your life. I am not going to force you anymore, Asher. You’re grown. You can do whatever you want but I don’t want to be around when it gets worse and the consequences start playing out. I won’t be able to stand it. I already went through that trauma with my dad so forgive me but I won’t be around you then."

Her words have never hurt me until now. "Is this reverse psychology? You’re trying to pretend like you wouldn’t care about me dying but it’s too late for that. I know you care."

She slaps my hand away when I try to touch her hair. "I’m not pretending not to care. I care and that’s why I am telling you beforehand not to expect me by your side when your tumor becomes malignant. I won’t go through that with anyone else. Once is enough for anyone, Asher. I won’t." She leaves me to go to her bathroom.

Why is she saying all this to me right now? I leave her to text Iman.

[What’s going on over there? Anything yet?]

[She’s knocked out cold. I only hit her once]

I grit my teeth. The fool. I didn’t ask him to beat her up. I asked him to get her to confess her true intentions for my family. I have to resort to such drastic measures to expose her before Ashley decides he wants to keep Demi for life or even have babies with her. I can’t have that.

I frown at Iman’s tactics. Couldn’t he have found a way to get Demi to talk without throwing his fist at the weak woman? What if he kills her?

[You better pray she’s okay. I never asked you to hit her like that. She dies or suffers major health challenge as a result of your action and I’ll make sure you go down alone]

When I head towards the bathroom, Anna opens the door and frowns at finding me outside her door.

"You have to tell me what’s really going on. You’re not making a lot of sense right now..."my eyes stray behind her and catch a glimpse of her trash bin. Is that what I think it is? When my eyes return to her face, it dims with understanding. Now, I get why she’s being like this. "You didn’t have to go through all this labor to kick me out of your life, you know. You could have just been straight with me. I am not desperate."

"What are you talking about?"

"I’ll let you be but first, I’d like to know who the father is."

"What?"

"Enough, Anna. We’re adults here. No need to get weird about it. You don’t want to talk about the pregnancy, fine but let me know if you need my help getting the father to take up his responsibility. It’s the least I can do for old times’ sake." Anna whirls towards the bathroom and her eyes double in size at the sight of the pregnancy test strips with two bold lines in her trash bin.

"No. no. It’s not what you’re thinking, Asher. I’m not pregnant."

Why the fuck is she still lying? It’s plain as the nose on my face. "Whatever you say." She grabs my arm when I head for the door. Now she’s acting desperate.

"I’m not pregnant, Asher. I mean it. I can take a test right now and prove it to you."

"I think two tests is enough proof..."

"No, whatever you saw, that’s not mine." She bites down on her lips. "It’s my colleague from work. She wasn’t feeling well and came to spend some time with me. I am trying to make more friends for times like this when Demi can’t be bothered to return my calls. So, Sheila my friend was here two nights ago and complained of feeling dizzy and nauseous. We wanted to rule out the possibility so we got the test strips for her to take the test and it was confirmed positive. It’s not mine, I promise."

"It’s okay. I wouldn’t have judged you if it was yours, unless you allowed yourself get knocked up by that dumpster fire I met here weeks ago."

She chuckles. "Ben’s not so bad."

I trail a hand down her chin. "And what about me? Am I bad? Is that why you keep pushing me away?"

Her breath catches in her throat. Before she can respond, I capture her lips with mine and pull her down to the couch.

An hour later, I am waking up in bed with Anna. My buzzing phone thankfully doesn’t wake her. I shrug on my pants and head to the living room to take the call. Iman had better have good news for me.

"What? Is she awake?"

"Yes."

"Did she say anything on record?"

He huffs out a breath. "She didn’t get to. Your crazy brother got here somehow while I stepped out and rescued her. I thought you handled him. You said he wouldn’t show up. Apparently, she texted him before coming to my place. What have you been doing?"

"Hey, don’t you dare question me as a way of evading the subject of your incompetence. What the fuck is wrong with you? My brother clearly didn’t get there on time because I had him held up so why couldn’t you achieve anything in forty-five minutes? Why are you such a failure?"

"She passed out and you said not to hurt her further..."

I peek into the bedroom to ensure Anna is still fast asleep before responding. "I said not to kill or injure her fatally, you moron! There are so many ways to siphon information from a stubborn woman like that. Why did you hit her so hard in the first place? Couldn’t you have threatened her? Do you seriously have nothing on her? Couldn’t you have stripped her naked and made some kind of video? If you couldn’t get any information from her, you should have improvised and gotten something dirty of her to use in future. Do I have to think for you too?"

"I’m sorry."

"Sorry my foot. You’re not getting a farthing from me until you fix this mess. You better hurry out of there and go hide in the house I got you because Ashton will be back for your ass and this time, he won’t spare your life. IDIOT!"

I don’t know why I am still working with a moron like Iman. Maybe I’ll have to hire his friends from the bar that tried to assault me on his command. I think three idiots should be more productive than one, with the right pay.

My heart plummets to my stomach when I look outside the window and see Ashton’s car pulling up in front of Anna’s apartment. Demi is on the passenger seat next to him with a small band aid on the bridge of her nose.

What the fuck are they doing here?

***

Anna found a way to stall them while I hurried out the back of the house. When they asked, she merely explained that I stopped by to check on her as I normally do since the incident with Iman. That’s why my perfume was still lingering in the house. I warned her not to let Demi into the bedroom as she would have a hard time explaining way more than the perfume in there.

I needed that before I faced my ugly schedule for the day; a visit to Josh’s home. This is all father’s plan. After my altercation with Josh at the restaurant the last time we sat for lunch at Soul Foods, he has been devising plans to try and make Josh and I get along.

Today, we are to hang out for the afternoon and get things off our chest. Father insists because he knows that if I can accept Josh as my half-brother, then I can get the rest of the quads to accept him too. I know this plan will be a bust but I don’t mind giving father the satisfaction of thinking his plan for a wholesome family that involves Josh can ever be a reality. It will NEVER happen but what’s the harm in letting the old man think it can?

I am not surprised to find Josh living in fancy duplex in Brix estate, another luxurious part of town close to the HQ. Father obviously got it for him to overcompensate for his absence in his life. However, I am surprised to find his mother living with him. Then again, they practically live in each other’s pockets so it shouldn’t have surprised me.

Mrs. Randall smiles gaily as she welcomes me to her home. Josh walks up to me, a cocky grin on his face.

"I didn’t realize your mom lives here too."

"You live with your mom, don’t you?" He replies.

"Yeah, I do. My mom AND my dad. My dad likes to keep his family close you see." Mother and son grit their teeth in silence but I am hardly done with them. "I was just asking because I was worried for your mother here. Did you at least get her noise canceling headphones? I bet that’s the only way she can rest her old bones in peace when you sneak in your whores at night."

Josh gives a sly smile. "Forgive him mom. He’s jealous he’s not allowed to indulge himself as much as he would love to, especially at the mansion. There’s only one real woman at the mansion after all and she’s already married to Ashley so all Asher can do at night is jerk off to his secretary’s picture on his phone."

"Enough boys." Mrs. Randall pretends to not enjoy her son’s clapback.

"Real woman?" I laugh. "Do you think your late father considered the wife who fucked another man, bore his bastard son and lied to him for years about your paternity a real woman? No, I bet he’s still rolling in his grave and cursing himself for marrying a whore."

Mrs. Randall slaps me hard. "You will not come into my home and disrespect me like that!" She fumes.

I rub my cheek with a cocky smile. "It’s really bold of you and your bastard son to think you’re deserving of anyone’s respect given all the shameless things you’ve done to get where you are. My mom is the REAL woman, the WIFE, the MATRIACH of the Rollins empire and that will NEVER change. You can build castles in the air for all I care. My father will NEVER ditch my brothers and I because of this thing you bore for him. He doesn’t lack heirs and you will never take my mom’s place. You try it and my brothers and I will bury you where you stand. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating us or our mother!"

When Josh tries to say something, his mom puts a hand in front of him.

"Good boy. Listen to your mom and go lick a whore’s pussy. That’s apparently the only thing you’ve been taught after all." With a big smile, I bow deeply. "Thank you for having me in your home, Josh Randall’s mom. I really enjoyed my stay. Let’s do this again some other time." I walk away, enjoying their heated glares. Word will reach father and I don’t give a fuck.

Ashton’s call comes through.

"Where are you?"

"At Josh’s place. Why?"

"Josh Randall? What the fuck are you doing at his place?"

"Ask your father. He’s cooking up some twisted plot to get me to see his bastard son and not feel like plucking out Josh’s eyes. It will never work but I enjoy making father think he’s winning. I gave Josh and his mom reasons to wet their pillows tonight though, got a few things off my chest. You want something?"

"Demi was attacked by Iman. Tell me you don’t know anything about that." His tone is low and dangerously so.

"Why would I know anything about that? What are you accusing me of here, Ashton? Did Demi put the blame on me?" I match his rage through my tone. "How convenient. I am not a fan of our sister-in-law so if anything untoward happens to her, even a blast from her past, I must be behind it, right?"

I don’t know if Ashton believes me. "Demi didn’t say anything but I blame you regardless. You’ve allowed that punk to roam free ever since he attempted to take your life. It never made sense to me because you’re not the most forgiving man I know. You would never let Iman see the light of day unless you had some other use for him. Consider this a warning, Asher. Whatever your reason is for letting Iman get away with what he did, I will find out and I will find him. If he ever lays a finger on Demi again, you’ll have me to answer to!"

"How is she?" I chime in before he can hang up. I bet my question flusters him. "How’s Demi? Is she badly hurt?"

"Like you care."

"Believe it or not, I do, Ashton. Simply because I am not in love with her doesn’t mean I wish her harm, okay? Whether I like it or not, she’s still a part of our family and will be for some time yet. So, how is she?" Ashton breathes heavily.

"She’ll live." He replies after a brief pause. "He broke her nose so that equals 300 broken bones as payback."

"Woah, human adults don’t even have that much in their body."

"Exactly. He’s going to lose even the bones he doesn’t have." He hangs up before I can comment on that.

I sigh tiredly. "Oh Ashton, you fool. You’re so smitten by the wrong woman. You’ll only end up hurting yourself." I call Iman.

"Get the hell out of there and send me the numbers of your henchmen, the same ones you hired to beat me up...that’s none of your concern. Send their numbers or I’ll find them myself and have them bet you for fucking this up. Head over to the house downtown and lay low till I send for you again. There’s enough food and cash to last you at least two months. If you must go outside, wear a disguise so the street cameras don’t pick up your face. That’s the only way you can escape Ashton. Don’t say I didn’t warn you." I hang up just as father’s call comes through.

Shit. How many more people are calling to threaten me? Pick a number and get in line, I mutter to myself. With a long sigh, I take father’s call.

Despite giving back enough biting remarks to justify what I did at the home of his other family, I feel too angry and frustrated to make it through the rest of the day sober. My deal with Iman fell through and now I have to get a new bunch of fools to do the job and pray they don’t mess up too.

I can’t even feel good about mocking Josh and his mom because father is sorely disappointed in me. My thing with Anna is on a shaky ground because she can’t get past my health condition. I don’t need any reminders. I just need some more time to come to terms with my health situation and right now, denial is blissful.

I head into a random bar for a quick drink. I don’t even bother with sunglasses or any kind of disguise. I am pissed off enough to rearrange the jaw of any motherfucker that won’t respect themselves by being a nuisance to me.

The usual shocked stares follow as I make my way to the bartender. There’s a blondie at the bar, examining a shot of tequila. Her friend sits next to her, convincing her to drink and make merry.

I place my order. At her friend’s open-mouthed gasp on seeing me, blondie turns to look at me.

"Hello ladies." I work my most charming smile onto my face.

"Asher Rollins." Blondie breathes with a frightened stare. How the fuck can she tell? She slides off the stool and grabs her purse hurriedly before weaseling out of the bar amidst her friend’s calls.

"What’s wrong with her?" I ask her friend.

"I’m sorry. She’s an introvert and very shy. I guess she’s flustered by you. I’m Octavia."

I take the hand Octavia holds out. "Nice to meet you, Octavia. You can call me Ash."

I stare back at the door wondering why Blondie’s eyes looked so familiar and how she instantly recognized me as Asher even though we’ve never met before.

"Your friend, what’s her name?"

"It’s Skylar Sanders."

"Hmm. Skylar." I repeat, sipping my drink.