Four Brothers and a Bride

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. | 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."

"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, | take her hands, forcing her eyes back up. "They're thrilled over your existence but we cto an

understanding that if we all met with you at the stime, that might attract attention or put your quiet life at

risk." I can tell from her eyes that she knows just what | 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 so he tries to steer clear of it. They ALL know | am here

and want to be kept in the loop on how everything is going with you. | 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."

| 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. | hate to upset

her.

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

"Does he love you?"

"What?"

She turns towith 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. | 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? | 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." | 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 | heard is true, | promise to make everyone involved pay for everything they did to alter the

course of our destinies."

With my thumb, | pad off the tears before they roll down her cheeks. Adriana’s hands wrap around my body and

lock like a vice as she hugstightly, sobbing onto my vest.

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

love you."

"| love you too." She replies tearfully.

ork

"I have no idea where she is." Kira tellsover the phone on my way back from Keith's place. "She never even

bothered to stop by her first hafter 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. | have no idea where her

terrible character emanates from. It’s certainly not from her maternal family. I'm nothing like that..."

| hang up, irritated at Kira’s disgusting attitude towards her own cousin. Once again, | try Demi’s line but it's

switched off. Where could she be?

"Anna, con now, you know exactly where she is."

Anna rolls her eyes at me. Of course, she’s mad atand my family for Demi’s suffering. "Look, | am busy,

okay? Even if | 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 ssympathy and leave her alone. This is the last t| 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.

| let out a sigh in my car. If anything, at least now | 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.

| make my way hand accost Trevor once more, barraging him with questions about the leaked photos.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ashton but | can’t tell you which family member madetake them. | 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 | 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 sickensto 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, | make a mental note to give the

people of Danvarr something else to think about. Surprisingly, it didn’t takelong to make the decision.

I alight from my car in broad day light, sporting my natural black hair as | stop to get scoffee. | 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 | 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."

| continue to soak in the tirade going on aroundand show no surprise when | 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 | 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.

| am seated in my car, ignoring calls from my family members when the photos and videos ofsporting 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 | want.

| 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 | caused her in my bid to protect Demi.

| was too ashamed to call first, too worried she'd ignoreso | showed up at her hinstead to apologize in

person. It's her day off. She might hurl abuses ator havekicked out of her property as she rightly should.

| am mentally prepared for all that.

However, when | ignite my car to swerve towards her gate, my fingers freeze over my steering wheel. Mila’s gate

swings open and | watch her hugging a guy before he gets in his car and drives out.

| 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?