One too Many

Chapter 19

Ian

She looks so peaceful sleeping. I can't keep my eyes off of her.

Every second my respect for her increases. Every minute she proves what a great woman she is. And every moment my feelings grow for her.

She sleeps on the couch between her brothers, like she doesn't have a single worry in life, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Her eyes speak stories, they carry tiredness that people her age should never know, they carry so much love, and most of all they carry a lot of fucking pain.

She may not have told us a lot about her, but it is very clear that she lived a hard life. A very hard life. And I can't wait to hear all about it and stand next to her to protect her from her shadows.

Her hair is being stroked gently by Oscar, as her feet are being massaged by Oliver. Her brothers treat her like a precious rare treasure, they are so fucking gentle with her no matter how angry she is with them. They literally stood still while she tore them a new one and non of them complained, they all had love and adoration in their eyes.

It's been thirty minutes since she slept and around the fifteen minutes mark, she started coughing softly in her sleep. She coughs quietly  every couple of minutes. Even her coughs are dainty like her. They are barely audible, but I can her them. None of her brothers have reacted, so I relax a little. Relieved that it is not something to worry about.

We are talking about everything and anything, but all of our eyes are on her. By all I mean me and my brothers. I can literally feel Ash counting her breaths.

It is very clear that eating is not her only health concern. The way she was deathly pale and exhausted when we got back. The way her left hand was shaking, and the way she looked vey pale while she was scolding the quads, had my heart squeezing. Then she almost fainted and my heart launched into my throat. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move. I watched frozen as her brothers tended to her. Then Oliver asked her if she ate, and the way they all relaxed after hearing she ate and took her medicine confirms that this is not a food related issue. Or at least food is not the main concern.

"Why don't you spend the night?" Dad asks interrupting my thoughts.

I look at my phone to see that it is almost midnight. I didn't even realize how late it is.

I look at the brothers to see them share uncertain looks together. Why are they so worried about sleeping here?

Oliver sighs before answering dad. He seems the most rational one after Samara. "We don't want to over stay our welcome Uncle. And I don't think it is a good idea for all of us to stay here."

Why does he think it's not a good idea? This family is so fucking mysterious.

"It's getting late, son. I am not sending you home at this hour with Antonio looking for trouble." Dad argues, a serious expression on his face.

Mom is the next to try and convince them, "you are welcome here anytime, Oliver. You are my sons just like my actual sons. I will be sad if you talk like that."

"I'm sorry, Auntie. I didn't mean it like that. We can sleep here in the living room." He says smiling warmly at her.

"Don't be silly. There are enough rooms in this mansion to house an army. I am going to prepare the rooms." She excitedly leaves the room without waiting for his reply.

"I will go help her." One of the quads says, I believe his name is Zayin. The only reason I can tell them apart is because of their different clothes, otherwise they are very identical.

"I will come as well." This one is Zain, I think. They both get up and head to the stairs murmuring quietly between themselves.

"How is she doing, boys?" Dad asks softly the second those two disappears up the stairs.