Four Brothers and a Bride
Chapter 170

Chapter 170: Chapter 170

DEMI

Maddi pulls me roughly by the arm into when we go into the kitchen under the pretense of getting refreshments for everyone. I already knew this was going to happen given the temper flashing in her eyes after I laid out my plan. She clicks the door shut and turns to me, eyes flashing.

"You’ve got to be kidding me. What the hell was that? Do you really expect me to wait that long? By the time your fucking plan crystalizes, Ashal might be in a worse condition." She wipes her chin and moistens her lips. "Look, I’m just going to tell you this. Your plan’s reasonable but right now, reasonable will likely get Ashal killed and I’m not having it."

"You’ve got a better idea?" I tilt my head, amazed that she’d bother to share with me rather than go behind my back to do what she feels is right.

"I kind of do. It’s not fully fleshed out but it’s quicker than yours. If things go well, I could have Ashal back in time to cut his birthday cake." Her eyes light up just thinking about it.

A small smile plays across my lips as she shares the details of her plans with me.

"Maddi, it’s a good plan but that good plan could also get Ashal killed because it depends a lot on just you. Things are likely to go wrong if you try to save Ashal all by yourself." I place both hands on her shoulders to assure her. "I know how you feel. Thankfully, I managed to pick up a few things during my time at the mansion. I learnt to never bank on one plan. The more backup plans you have, the higher your chances at success."

"You have a backup plan?"

"Three, actually."

"Do they all ensure that Ashal gets rescued faster than plan A?"

"With the element of surprise in play? Certainly."

Now, Maddi gazes at me like I am her heroine. "I want to hear it all, NOW."

I recall a few lessons I have learnt from the Rollins family. Brett has taught me to always stay one step ahead of my enemies by always covering my base and making it extremely difficult for them to poke holes in my defense. Mother has taught me quiet strength. Although she appears to be the weakest link in the house, she has the Rollins men in the palm of her hands. Asher is very calculative and gives little room for emotions to drive his decisions or actions. Most times, that trait has made him a formidable threat.

Ashley can be volatile because he switches back and forth between being the good guy and the guy who isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to get what he wants. Ashton is great at being unpredictable. Despite knowing his principles and temper, there’s always a nagging fear that he won’t conform or act the way you presume regarding any situation. He keeps you guessing and ends up surprising you all the time. Ashal doesn’t instantly appear to be a threat. In fact, it’s easy to let your guard down around him but when you get to know the different layers to him, everything becomes too late. He’s just as complicated as the rest of his family.

And me as a former member of that clan? I don’t stand out at all but I plan to tap into each person’s strength and switch between them as I go on. That will be my signature move as the former Demi Rollins.

Before I can share plan B with Maddi, Kat enters.

"Why make us go through this plan if you were just going to go behind our backs and do things differently?" A conspicuous frown creases her forehead as she hooks both hands on her hips. "I don’t get it, Demi."

"I needed to rub minds with more like-minded people in other to flesh out my other plans, Kat. This was no waste of time. Each one of us has peculiar strengths that can be harnessed to hasten things up and I intend to take advantage of it all. How else could I have known about Skylar’s postcards?" I beam at her. "I’m not doing this all by myself anymore. I want a team with the best people at the helm. Would you like to hear how you and Maddox fit in?"

She shrugs her shoulders. "Sure. Lay it on me."

After I am finished, they help me make a few tweaks to solidify our chances.

"I’ll get started with my sister." Maddi quips. She kisses my left cheek. "I’ll call when she takes the bait." She dashes out in a hurry.

"I better go help my brother investigate the postcards." Kat says with a smile. "What about my mum and your uncle."

"The less they know for now, the better for them. I think us younger folks can handle this."

She nods in agreement. "Why do I feel like there’s another plan fermenting in your head that you aren’t inclined to share with the rest of us?" She doesn’t give me time to answer. "You know what? I’d do the same if I were in your shoes. Go for it. Trust you to make the right decision." I watch her return to the living room. In the kitchen alone, I ease a hip on the oven and expel a deep breath.

Am I a thousand percent certain things can still go wrong with multiple plans in place? Yes. However, the chances are slimmer than with one plan and that’s good enough for me. I whip out my phone to make a call that will set my secret plan in motion. Just like I expected, he answers.

"You’ve got some nerve, you know that?"

"I don’t like this anymore than you do but I need to talk to you, in person."

He hesitates for a bit.

"I’ll send an address. Meet me there." The line cuts abruptly. So typical of him.

***

Thirty minutes later, I walk up to his car and slide into the passenger seat. Asher takes one good look at me and sighs.

"What exactly is this about?"

I turn to him. "I think you already know."

"Quit the cryptic talk and get specific, Demi. I’m not in the mood for jokes. In case you’ve forgotten, my brother has been abducted and my family is about to be ruined on MY birthday in the hopes of getting him back. I don’t have the time to play games with you!"

"If you believed for a second that I truly did that to Ashal, I wouldn’t be walking freely, Asher. I know that much about you. You didn’t buy into that fake video or the call I was forced to make to Ashton. That’s why you have been uncharacteristically calm about getting back at me." He only looks away from me, proving my point. "Anyway, I’m not here to defend myself to you. I have a favor to ask."

"About time." He mutters under his breath, then turns to me with a grim look. "I’m not convincing Ashton of your innocence."

"Good. I don’t need your help with that."

"Then why the fuck are you in my car, Demi? Out with it!"

"I recognized the people you planted at Liam’s and I’m going to tell your sister about them."

His eyes get hooded. "Why?"

Again, the delayed lash out surprises me. "Because I need to deceive her to move Ashal out of Liam’s guarded house last minute. With so many eyes outside, they wouldn’t have time to drag security along to Ashal’s new location. If they do, I’ll need you to be prepared to rescue your brother instead." I proceed to give him details of my plans before he can demand for them.

"Asher, if we’re going to rescue your brother and stop Liam and Skylar all in the nick of time, there isn’t a better way than for us to work together. By us, I mean your family has to cooperate with me and my people. I know they don’t want anything to do with me right now so I’m going to need you to pass along my plans. They’ll play along if they believe it’s your idea."

He taps his fingers impatiently on his steering wheel as he ponders on it.

"Asher, I can’t fight billionaires with just my might. I know that much. You have the men and the money at your command. Things would be faster and easier with your support. Do I even have to stress that?"

"Do you honestly think I don’t already have plans to rescue my brother?"

"I know you do but doing it your way will be riskier. Skylar and Liam are heavily expecting a rescue mission from you and your family. They don’t necessarily suspect the people on MY team or expect us to join forces with the Rollins family. That’s how we get Ashal back safely, by working together secretly. Skylar also joined forces with Liam to execute their shared goal. Alone, she couldn’t have come this far. Why can’t we do the same?"

I can tell he concurs with my words but he remains hesitant.

"What I want to know is why you’re helping us in the first place, Demi. I know this goes beyond what you feel for Ashton. You’ve earned the right to desire our destruction so why are you the captain of the ship that’s meant to save us? Enlighten me."

I huff out a breath. "I am doing this for me first before anyone else, Asher. I don’t know how your family copes with all the guilt from your past actions but I can’t live with mine knowing I led Liam here. This isn’t the justice I set out to achieve with him. He’s become the monster he was supposed to fight. I need to stop him before things get out of hand." I lock eyes with Asher. "Your family still deserve to pay for everything you’ve done and in time, you will but not like this."

He says nothing for a while.

"Did you have to involve so many people in these plans of yours?"

"Yes, I had to. I needed and still need help bringing the truth to light. They’re not just random people. They’re my family and I trust them. You know all about trusting family, don’t you?"

"Well, they better not screw this up is all I’m saying."

"With a little luck, Ashal will be home in time to cut his birthday cake." I assure him, borrowing Maddi’s words. "And you’ll have the real culprit on your hands; your little sister."

If I ever saw Asher express some fear, this was the moment. Something strange moves over his face at my words. He isn’t excited about busting his sister for some reason. I would expect that from Ashton but Asher? Unbelievable.

"I’ll take it up from there. Is that all?"

"Yes." I unlock the car, get down and shut it.

"Demi?"

"Mhmm?" I hum in reply.

"Ashton will be at the..."

"I’ll see you all at the party. Got it." I cut him off. I don’t need to know where Ashton will be at. I want to face him after Ashal is safely returned home. Until then, I am not interested in pleading my case in futility.

I watch Asher struggle to say whatever else is on his mind. Finally, he caves. "Don’t wear that damn dress to our party. I’m not sharing all that media attention with you." The car roars to life as he zooms off. A hint of a smile plays on my face. Did he just make an attempt at humor?

I stop by the Spellman mansion on my way back, clutching a bouquet of flowers. The security gives me a hard time before clearing me in. The tasteful furnishing and luxurious appeal of the home is lost on me as I make my way to the living room where Mr. Spellman awaits me. I know a lot goes on behind the walls of families like this. I am just not swooned by such grand mansions anymore.

I spot a brunette in a bikini walking away just as I enter.

"This is a surprise, Demi Rollins." Mr. Hugh utters, reclining on his chair.

"Actually, it’s Demi Branson now." I accept the seat he offers with a lazy gesture of his hand.

He scoffs at my reply. "I’d never invite you into my home if I thought you were just Demi Branson. This is the first time you’re visiting me. It’s either has to do with my son whom you’re working with to exact justice or it has to do with your in-laws. Which is it?" He eyes the flowers in my hands. "Is that all Brett sends to appeal to my son’s conscience?" He throws his head back and laughs. "How broke he must be."

"This isn’t from my former in-laws or about them. This is about Liam and by extension, your family’s reputation."

Now, the humor drains from his face. "What do you mean by that?"

"Firstly, these flowers are in honor of your late wife’s death anniversary. Please accept them from me in good faith. I don’t know the address to the place where she’s buried so I brought them here instead."

The gesture disarms him as he receives the flowers with unsteady hands. "How’d you know?"

"It’s online."

"Oh. Thank you." A domestic staff hustles forward and relieves him of the bouquet.

"Contrary to what you might believe, I am not working with your son, at least not anymore. I backed out a few days back but Liam went rogue and turned on me. He’s currently blackmailing me to do his bidding by threatening Ashal Rollins’ life. Are you aware of that?" I pass my phone so he can watch the video.

Seeing his son’s guilt unequivocally displayed in the video makes him clench his jaw. I am certain he knows where I am going with all this.

"I understand Liam is still hurting from the loss of his mother. I lost my parents too and I know all about that pain. I also know about the clawing need to avenge the death of loved ones. As someone who has been down that road and back, I tried to tell Liam that revenge when served isn’t all it’s cut out to be. If he continues down this path, he’ll drag his family down with him."

Hugh returns my phone. "Are you threatening me?"

"Of course not. I am only here to warn you of the consequences that would follow if you don’t stop him now. Spellman Group might be topping the leaderboard right now and dominating the stock market but don’t forget the Rollins family were once there. A little leak and it all came crashing down. Right now, Liam’s home is about to be raided by the authorities in search of Ashal Rollins. Imagine the headlines if it makes the news tomorrow that Ashal Rollins was found almost beaten to death in your son’s basement? Your family’s image will be tarnished and everything you’re enjoying now will disappear in a flash. Is that what you want?"

"Brett has already seen this video? He is sending the authorities to my son’s house?"

"No, he hasn’t but he strongly suspects Liam. Can you blame him? I’m telling you that he has finalized plans to make the raid but I don’t just want you to alert Liam. I need you to make him realize it’s time to count his losses. If he persists with the war he’s raging using Billion-Err, it will certainly backfire. Billion-Err was built upon exposing the ugly truth billionaire families sweep under the rug. Liam is now manipulating it and spinning unfounded stories just for clout. He’s telling bits about my parents’ story that never happened and I won’t stand for it. That’s not how I want to get justice." I rise to my feet. "I’ve never seen my former in-laws more resolute about pay back. They’ll hit you when you least expect it. It’s best to stop your son now before he crumbles the empire you’ve built because he can’t get his emotions in check."

When I turn to leave, Mila is in the doorway with folded arms. I walk up to her and halt.

"Thanks for the flowers...and the tip off." She whispers to me.

"Don’t thank me yet. If you sit idly and watch your brother hurt people unjustly in the guise of avenging your late mom, you’re no better than the evil people you’ve convinced yourself he’s stomping out. Maybe it’s something to do with the air billionaire families breathe but I’ve come to realize they all have secrets that can topple their lives." I lock eyes with her. "Don’t wait till the damage is irreparable. Save Liam from himself."

She follows me outside.

"Are you just saying all this because you fell in love with Ashton and forgot all they did to you?"

"Forget?" I reiterate, anger sizzling in my eyes. "How could I ever forget, Mila? Which part? The image of the mangled bodies of my parents crushed in that elevator still haunts my dreams. I get chills when I hear the cry of babies because it reminds me of the one that was ripped from my womb. I could go on about the injustices that the Rollins family have meted out to me. Forgiveness didn’t come easily even after I fell in love with Ashton, Mila. I wish it did but it didn’t. I chose to forgive because holding onto the pain and the drive for revenge was killing me. For six years, I felt like I hadn’t moved an inch from where I was after I got informed of my parents’ death. I felt stuck in a whirlwind of revenge. I hated the person I became just to teach that family a lesson. THAT Demi was unrecognizable by her loved ones, including the very people she sought to avenge."

I dry the tears from my eyes. "The more I tried to avenge my parents, the harder it got to be myself. I cultivated habits I wasn’t proud of just to keep up with my plot. I drowned in pain every day trying to convince myself that I was doing the right thing. Here’s the truth, Mila. If I hadn’t gone on that spree, I wouldn’t have added a failed marriage, a brutal miscarriage or a hopeless love story to the list of my pains. That’s why I know that Liam is making a mistake by trying to play the Punisher. His pain will only grow. His losses will rack up and for what? Do you think your mom is jumping for joy seeing him doing all this in the name of avenging her? I know mine would want me to move on with my life, to be happy. To not live in constant fear because of the toes I have stepped on."

Mila says nothing in reply.

"Unforgiveness is a disease, Mila. It eats deep into you the longer you hold onto it. I didn’t forgive that family because Ashton apologized on their behalf. I FORGAVE THEM FOR ME! I did it for my sanity, and it’s okay if nobody understands how difficult and yet important that decision was for me. I’m choosing to let the law and karma do their thing rather than soiling my hands and my life trying to do their job for them. Eventually, Karma gets her way. When that happens, maybe I’ll heal a bit but till then, I’m choosing to live. If you truly care about your brother, you’d save him before he’s lost forever."

I turn around and walk away without looking back.