Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 50

ASHER

It had to come out someday and maybe today isn’t exactly ideal but Ashley and I have been lugging this secret alone for far too long. My world has been falling to pieces ever since father broke his promise to me. I figured it’s time he feels a few thorns of his own.

Ashton doesn’t take it well and that is no surprise. He walks right out of the restaurant and knocks down one of the cameras of an annoying guy that got too close to his face to get a shot. The ruckus outside is wild. Thankfully, we are at a distant table from the handful of elite customers in here.

Father is mad that I could have stopped Ashton but refused to. He isn’t wrong. I need him to see that my brothers and I can very well destroy everything he’s built if he ever thinks of casting us away.

We helped him build Rollins Empire and with our popularity, we expedited its growth to the top. Blood or not, we’ve earned the right to be called sons. I won’t let father oust us of our rightful positions or snatch my birthright so easily.

"Did you enjoy that?" Father grunts. I polish off my steak and wipe my oily lips with my napkin before answering.

"Yeah, the steak was a ten out of ten."

"Don’t get cute with me, Asher. Why did you just sit there and watch your brother have a meltdown? You could have calmed him but you chose not to."

"Meltdown?" It’s laughable that he doesn’t know what Ashton’s meltdown looks like. "That wasn’t a meltdown, father. Ashton was holding back. If he had had a meltdown, the cops will already be here, as well as the firefighters." I dump my napkin. "You broke your promise to me. There’s no reason for me to keep mine. Enjoy your lunch with your precious son."

"Asher, please sit down."

Please? Is father really pleading right now. Did Christmas come early? Like my day can’t get any more surprising, father ignores Josh’s nudging and proceeds to bargain with me.

"Let’s talk, okay? At the office."

"No. No more empty promises. Put whatever you have to say in writing, preferably in your will. Until I see the changes, I’m going to let Ashton blow hot even if it ends up burning our empire to the ground. You better hurry if you don’t want to lose more than your son’s trust today. Ashal and mom are next."

The mention of the last two makes father break out in a sweat.

"Fine. I’ll call my lawyer. I’ll adjust my succession plan back to the way things were."

"Dad!" Josh pipes in protest.

"Not now, Josh. This is a serious matter." Father turns back to me. "Everything will be handled before the close of work, that I promise you but for now, I need you to get your brother before he causes far more damage than we can recover from. Please Asher!" I take my precious time thinking about it. "I give you my word. Please, think about your mother." It’s a sweet sight to see father desperate and less in control for a change.

"Fine, but if you fail to honor your word, then Ashton isn’t the only one you’ll have to worry about." Then in hushed tones, I lean close to him. "My brothers and I have given our lives to Rollins Empire. We’ve been working for you long before we were legally allowed to. We have paid the price with our sweat and blood. I dare you to sit there and tell me that we haven’t earned the right to be called your sons simply because a different blood flows in our veins! We are adopted and just as legitimate as your precious bastard over there."

When Josh tries to clapback, father hushes him. I tug my suit closer.

"He’ll never understand what we had to go through to get to this point but you do, you made us go through hell in our childhood. If anyone deserves preferential treatment as sons, it’s your quads. You know I’m right."

Angrily, I make my way out of the restaurant to go find Ashton. There’s only one place he’ll go to blow off steam. By the time I arrive the race track, Ashton has already crashed his car into a mound of sand and is currently sparring with one of the managers who wouldn’t let him back on the track.

"ASH! ASHTON, THAT’S ENOUGH."

A firm fist rams into my face, blinding me for a few seconds. When I touch the sore point, blood trickles from my broken nose. Ashton is still red in the face and heaving angrily. I am not pissed. I expected this reaction. I thank the manager and politely ask him to excuse my brother and I.

"Stay the hell away from me or the next one will have you flat on your back."

I follow Ashton regardless of his threats.

"Trust me, I was prepared to be locked away for life when I found out. I wanted to kill father with my bare hands."

"Oh yeah? Let me guess. You chickened out because you wanted to secure his seat first? Get lost, Asher. You’re just as pathetic as he is."

I grab his arm and shove him to the ground. "You’re not the only hot head in the family, you know that?" The only difference between us is that I allow myself to think about the consequences before I decide if throwing my fist is the best thing to do. Ashton rarely thinks when his anger takes a hold of him. That’s what makes him more dangerous.

Ashton dusts himself up. "You want to take me on? Come on then?"

Before I can say more, he throws me another punch that splits my lower lip. More blood. Just great. He barely allows me to recover before he tackles me to the ground and straddles me.

"How could you keep this from us? What promises did he make to you to make you hide such a despicable thing from your own brothers?"

His hand is poised to rain fatal blows to my face but he stops himself. I am relieved he’s fighting the rage. Tears shimmer in his narrowed eyes and my heart breaks as I wonder what he will do when he learns that we are actually adopted.

"Ashton, calm down."

"I hate you. I hate you so much right now. How could you condone this?"

"Why do I condone anything father does? I DO IT FOR MY BROTHERS AND MOTHER! You think I enjoy being his lapdog? I’ve got too much pride for that bullshit or can’t you tell? When I learnt about Josh and watched bitterly how father bonded with him at work like he didn’t already have four sons, I worried that Josh and his conniving mother would come after everything our family’s got; mom’s place in father’s life and our place in his. I had to bargain with father to ensure our respective positions in the empire are secured with me at the helm of affairs after his retirement. In exchange, I had to keep his dirty secret. I did this for us, Ashton."

Ashton’s tears roll down his face as he gets off me. He pulls his knees up and buries his face in his hands.

"How long have you known?"

I dust sand particles off my body and hair. "Two years."

"Fuck."

"I’m sorry, Ash. I really thought I could keep you guys from learning this ugly truth for much longer."

"Do the others know?"

"Just Ashely."

"Ashley knew and I didn’t?" His temper spikes again.

"I didn’t mean to tell him. I was drunk and I spilled in front of him. If I had to tell one person, you know it would have been you. I was just afraid that you wouldn’t appreciate my motive for keeping this to myself. If it makes you feel better, I’d just say I was trying to spare mom the heartbreak."

Ashton shakes his head and wipes his eyes. "Now it all makes sense. That’s why you hate Josh. It was always more than office rivalry."

"That prick rubs it in my face everyday how elated father is to have him in his life."

"I don’t get it. Why is father so elated to have one more son though? He already has four of us. It’s not like he was childless prior so why..." Something dark flits across his eyes and I instantly know he has figured it out. Shit. I am not quite ready for the next tranche of accusations and punches. Ashton’s eyes flick to my face. His expression is sorrowful.

"Mrs. Randall, Josh’s mom was at my office this morning and she had a lot to say about father and how we don’t look anything like him in his hay days. The description she gave of father in his twenties just so happens to fit perfectly with Josh’s image." He swallows as he prepares to ask me a touch question. I also inhale deeply. "Are we father’s biological sons?"

"No. We were adopted at birth."

Ashton staggers to his feet and pulls at his hair. I quickly go to him but keep my distance. "Ashton, we are still his legitimate heirs."

"Does Brett know that? Why would he use our inheritance as a bargaining chip to hide his adultery if he considers us his heirs? Shit, Asher, I can’t believe this. I just c...I can’t." I pull him in for a hug.

"It’s okay. I’m here."

"Was that why he was so hard on us during our childhood? I didn’t want to question our paternity then but it all makes sense now. He never truly accepted us so he tried to mold us into his idealized version of perfect sons. Was he trying to do that so he could feel like he created us?"

"I don’t know. It doesn’t matter now." I pull back, holding Ashton by his shoulders. "I’ve tormented myself with more questions than you can imagine. You shouldn’t do that to yourself. That hole is difficult to crawl out of, trust me. I just need you to remember what’s important even as you allow yourself to feel. What’s important is preserving our home front and sparing mom’s feelings. What’s important is ensuring father is never swayed by his biological son to dupe us of our inheritance. What’s important is that we brothers remain banded together forever. The second they cause a rift between us, they win. Will you remember that, Ash?"

"I will."

"Thank you." I hug him once more.

"I’m sorry you had to endure so much because of us."

"I would do it all over again for you guys and mother."

On our way back, Ashton makes me promise to tell Ashal. He can’t be the only one in the dark. I agree. My phone beeps with a message from father. He sends me pictures of his adjusted succession plan and signature. My name is boldly written on it.

"I have to make a quick stop at the office. Father and I have unfinished business." I tell Ashton. He says nothing as he continues to stare out the window of the car. "Let’s go clubbing tonight. We all need a break. We could drink away our sorrows for one night."

"Whatever."

***

After I conclude my business with father, Ashton sends me the location of the new club we are to meet at. He also informs me that everyone else is already waiting for me.

[I’ll be there in twenty] I text back.

The club isn’t too far from where I am cruising right now but I continue ahead and make a quick detour to a small bar in a remote part of town. It had to be this far to avoid suspicion. It helps to know that all my brothers are at a particular location and there’s a slim chance I could be followed.

I park my car a few blocks away and stroll over to the bar. There’s no one else at the shabby bar when I enter, except for the bartender, an old man with straggly wisps of grey hair on his head.

My dark shades are on. I walk up to him and order a drink.

"Where the hell is he?" I mutter silently just before I feel the sharp edge of a knife poke my side. A small smile curves my lips as I finish my ginger ale.

"You’re one bold motherfucker, you know that?" I ask chuckling.

"Just so you know, I brought friends in case you think of trying anything stupid." Iman returns. He looks haggard with bloodshot eyes. Good. He hasn’t been sleeping well like I hoped. I toss my head and glance at the hillbillies tagging close to him.

"Those guys?" I laugh derisively, leaping off my stool. I dig into my pocket and unearth my phone as I approach the guys. "I’ll pay each one ten grand to teach that fucker behind me a hard lesson. First man to draw blood gets double."

In a flash, Iman’s protectors turn their evil eyes towards him. The bartender disappears behind a door leading away from the bar. Iman springs for a bottle and smashes it on the counter. I laugh at how scared he is.

No matter what he says to dissuade them, his friends refuse to budge as they advance towards him, brandishing the knives they had hidden in different parts of their bodies. I help myself to some tequila while the trashing continues.

"Enough." I yell when he lies crumpled on the floor, his shirt stained with blood. "I need him conscious." I swiftly make a wire transfer to the men and watch them disperse. Crouching on one knee, I wave at Iman whose left eye is a swollen purple patch and partially shut. "Friends, huh? Bring as many as you can from your shitty circle and I bet you every time that none of them will be able to resist my money. I’ll have them deal with you every time."

"Please, don’t kill me."

"If I wanted you dead, do you think I would have stopped them from finishing you off?" I slice my foot into his side and watch him buckle in pain. When I recall Anna’s immobile body on the cobblestones with blood oozing from her head, the anger triples and I kick Iman even harder. "HOW DARE YOU COME AFTER ME? WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" He spews blood from his mouth as my shoe connects with his head. "IF YOU DIE BY MY HAND, CONSIDER IT AN HONORABLE DEATH. WHAT YOU SHOULD NEVER DO IS TRY TO GET EVEN, EVER, PIECE OF SHIT."

"P-please..."

I stop myself, not because of his pleas but because I have an appointment with my brothers and don’t want to arrive with blood on my clothes or shoes. I lean down again.

"Get yourself treated. You and I are far from done. I’ll try to forgive your betrayal this one time because I still have use for you but if you ever dare to betray me again, I’ll burn you alive."

"Lie low." I add on my way out. "If my brothers get their hands on you first, I won’t be able to save you."

I’m not nearly done with him. I had planned to get even and kill him but that all changed after I found a listening device under a table in the game room. I was utterly shocked that someone had been listening to my brothers and I for God knows how long.

I have no definite clue who could be behind this but I strongly suspect Demi. I will always suspect Demi. Though we have domestic staff who go in and out of the room more frequently than anyone else while cleaning, I have a strong hunch that Demi isn’t innocent in this.

I had planned to inform my brothers but I know exactly how that conversation will go. Ashley and Ashton will go to bat for Demi, especially since we didn’t find anything strange when we tapped her phone. I will be made to look like a fool without definite proof of my suspicions.

However, I plan to gather proof. Demi has been to the game room twice now. I don’t know how but she must have planted the device. I feel it in my marrow. She’s definitely not as sweet and innocent as she looks. There’s just an aura about her that no one else seems to pick up except me.

I had lied to her that day in her house. I don’t have it out for her because of what transpired at the blue cove. I wasn’t even there that night. I met her for the first time when she came into the mansion claiming to be married to one of the Rollins’ quads.

However, I had to throw her off because I suspected she was getting dangerously close to the truth. Somehow, she must have deciphered it and refused to explain what her obsession with finding her real husband is.

I won’t let her plans come to fruition even if it means keeping my assaulter alive long enough to expose Demi’s lies.

Long after we tell Ashal the whole truth about our adoption and father’s other son, he sits in a pensive silence. The rest of us exchange worried glances with each other. Ashal has always been known for his quiet brooding but something about this one feels eerie.

"Ashal? Say something man." Ashley urges him.

"Give me a minute." His eyes are red hot when he finally looks up and skims our faces. "Mom must never find out. I believe everyone has had their fill of throwing punches and swearing. Whatever we do, mom must never come to know of this." His eyes are moist with tears. I doff my hat to him over his impeccable control. Ever since he and Olivia refreshed their relationship, Ashal has been faithful with therapy. I guess it’s working or we could have had a murder on our hands.

"Understood." I speak for the rest of us. "I’m proud of you, Ash. You took it better than the rest of us."

I guess I spoke too soon as Ashal’s face darkens with rage. I follow his eyes and that of my brothers to the figure that confidently walks into our private section in the club.

"Well, I’ll be damned. I couldn’t believe it when the rumor got to me that you guys have managed to end up in my little haven. My apologies, I haven’t had the chance to properly introduce myself to the Rollins quads altogether." He passes his drink to his left hand and shoots out the right for a handshake. "Hi. I’m Josh Rollins, the only biological son of the billionaire and business mogul, Brett Rollins!"