Page 161 of Stepbrothers' Darling


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Chapter Sixty Two

Asher

The next day, we bring Blair home, using the back entrance of the hospital to avoid the nosy journalists. As Crew, the richest men in the city, we sometimes catch a news story, but Blair’s blew up on social media. People are annoyed with the police for not helping. The press doesn’t know all of it, but enough to want to catch a picture of Blair, and we are determined to protect her from that.

When we get her home, we set her up in the living room to rest, even though she snaps at us that she’s not weak. It does make her smile, though, when she sees every surface is covered with flowers and gifts—some from us, some from work, and others from people she knows.

“You’re a popular woman,” I joke as I tuck her in and sit next to her, making her roll her eyes. “Indulge us,” I beg, knowing if we would let her, she would probably go back to work today. That’s Blair for you.

“Fine,” she mutters and leans into me.

Cyrus comes in, and when he nods, I sigh, knowing we were right. Blair too. Bray is close behind Cyrus, and they sit before her, stern-faced.

“What?” she asks, sitting up in panic.

“Shh, it’s okay,” I promise, pulling her back gently and kissing her head.

“That was the chief of police. We thought about something you said to Asher while you were in the hospital, and we had concerns about that police officer. He was just around too much, and Mr. Andrews must have had help.” She flinches at his name but nods. “There’s no other way he could escape that much police attention. It turns out we were right.”

“What did they say?” she inquires softly, not surprised but definitely saddened.

“They arrested him on your hunch. It seems he had already been suspended due to drinking on the job and defiance but had wormed his way back in. At his house, they found images of you, lots of them. It seems he helped take them. But when they interviewed him and told him how serious this was, he admitted the truth. Mr. Andrews hired him. Apparently his brother works at the prison, and Mr. Andrews overheard him mentioning he had money troubles. Mr. Andrews offered him our money, said he would get it if he helped him. He also called the patrol off after Meredith’s death, saying he would take over. That’s how he got in without alerting the police. He helped protect him and watch you. I’m sorry, Blair. There was a reason he was always there, always trying to get you alone and away. He’d also used some pictures he had captured of us when he truly was investigating us to hurt you—that picture of Bray specifically.”

“Fuck,” she mutters. “But I guess that makes sense.”

“I’m sorry,” I murmur, holding her close.

“What will happen to him?” she queries, holding me closer.

“He lost his job, and most likely, he’ll go to prison for attempted kidnapping, murder, fraud, accepting bribes, and whatever else they can pin on him.”

She nods, watching me for a moment before blowing out a breath. “It’s finally over then.”

“It is, my love,” I promise. “All you need to focus on now is healing okay.”

“Don’t the police want to—” Her question is cut off when Bray leans forward and covers her mouth with a cheeky grin.

“They can wait. They know better than to annoy us. You will talk to them when you are ready, not a moment before, and where you feel comfortable. But for now, Asher is right. Rest, heal.”

She nods, biting her lip. “I have something I need to say.” We all watch her carefully as she sits up. “I was coming back—”

“Baby girl, you don’t need to—”

“I do,” she interrupts. “I hurt you all, I’m sorry. I thought I was protecting you.” She looks at Bray. “I know you didn’t cheat.” Tears fill his eyes as he deflates like he needed to hear her say it.

“Thank God. I swear I didn’t—”

“I know, babe.” She smiles sadly. “I think I even knew in the moment, but I used it to get away. It was the only way I could, and with Meredith’s death, well, I wasn’t thinking clearly. I thought I could protect you by leaving and he would follow me. I was wrong. I came back to tell you that, to say sorry... to say I love you.”

I freeze. I heard her say it in the moment before she killed him, but I thought it was just from heightened emotions. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” She smiles, beaming up at me. “I love you, if you’ll still have me.”

“Say it again,” Cyrus demands, drawing her attention to him.

“What? I love you.”

He swallows, his eyes misting. “Again,” he growls slowly.

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