Claimed By Three Brothers

Chapter 1

At the pinnacle of the GoldHive Mining headquarters, Asher Thorne stepped into his beautiful office. His sharp blue gaze scanned the familiar scene, the towering skyscrapers, the thick haze hanging low over the city, and the early morning traffic beginning to snarl the streets below. Everything appeared as it always did, yet Asher felt anything but at ease.

At 35, Asher had reached the peak of his success. As the CEO of one of Texas's largest Gold companies, he possessed wealth, power, and admiration. However, as he stood there, gazing out at the city he seemingly controlled, all he could sense was a deep, unsettling emptiness.

The nightmares had driven him from his bed once again, as they did most nights. Dark, twisted images that left him breathless and soaked in sweat. This was why he found himself here now, hours before any of his employees would arrive. They all believed he was simply dedicated—a workaholic who lived for the company. If only they knew the truth—that he had nothing else to fill the gaping hole in his life.

Asher's morning routine was a grueling ritual. An exhausting energy pulsed through the streets of Dallas, pushing his body to its limits in a futile effort to escape the demons that haunted him. After a quick shower at the private gym in the building, he made his way to the office. It was just past 6 AM, and he had already been awake for hours.

As Asher settled into his large mahogany desk, his thoughts inevitably drifted to Isabella Delaney, his administrative assistant. In just a few short months, she had become both the highlight of his day and his greatest source of frustration.

"Great job keeping her safe, genius," he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his dark hair in exasperation. "You hired her as your assistant; now she’s always right here. What a brilliant decision, Thorne."

He had convinced himself it was to protect her, to keep her close where he could ensure her safety. But deep down, Asher recognized the truth. He was drawn to her, like a moth to a flame, unable to resist the attraction even though he knew it could lead to their downfall.

The sharp ring of his phone interrupted his thoughts. Asher glanced at the caller ID and let out a sigh. Zane. His younger brother was probably just returning from another night of partying.

"Thorne," he answered, keeping his tone sharp and professional despite the early hour.

"Morning, sunshine," Zane's voice slurred, heavy with sleep and what Asher suspected was a significant hangover. "Just wanted to give you a heads-up that I’ll be a bit late."

Asher rolled his eyes, a hint of affection mingling with his annoyance. "Another night at the club, huh? Can't say I'm shocked."

"Nah, man, just a quiet evening..." Zane hesitated, then added with a chuckle, "Okay, maybe I ran into a blonde."

"Of course you did," Asher sighed. "Just try to make it back before lunch, alright?"

As he ended the call, the office door swung open. Liam, their halfbrother and the youngest of the Thorne clan, entered in with his trademark swagger. At thirty, Liam had become the most laid-back of the brothers, but his relaxed exterior masked a sharp mind and astute business sense.

"Let me guess," Liam said, plopping down in one of the plush leather chairs opposite Asher's desk, "Zane's running late."

Asher nodded, and Liam's smile grew wider. "Yeah, I spotted him last night. He was all over a couple of blondes. Same old story, different night."

A flicker of something—jealousy? Anxiety?—crossed Asher's face at Liam's remark. Both of his brothers had shown interest in Isabella, a fact that twisted Asher's stomach every time he thought about it. But he knew he had no claim to be possessive. He had made it clear from the beginning that Isabella was off limits—to all of them.

"Speaking of blondes," Liam continued, his tone shifting to serious, "we've got some issues in Phoenix."

Asher straightened in his chair, instantly alert. "What kind of trouble?"

"Nothing major," Liam quickly reassured him. "I spoke with Mike. Just some kids causing a ruckus and a few tech glitches. Zane's heading up there after the board meeting to handle it."

Asher nodded, embodying the essence of attentive listening. His gaze wandered to the clock on his desk, reading 7:55 AM. Just five more minutes until she might show up.

Liam caught his drift and smirked. "You know, for someone who insists he’s out of the loop, you seem pretty invested in her schedule."

"Knock it off," Asher retorted, though his tone lacked any real bite. Liam knew him too well for that.

"Listen," Liam said, leaning forward, his demeanor shifting to serious. "Zane and I need to grab lunch after the meeting. We have some things to discuss."

Asher raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

"You know exactly what," Liam replied, his voice soft yet firm. "It’s time, Asher. We’ve been thinking about this for a while. We all need to be aligned."

"What the hell are you two talking about?" Asher snapped, even though a sinking feeling told him he already knew.

Liam's gaze remained steady as he said, "We have a plan."

Before Asher could reply, the door swung open again. Isabella stepped in, and suddenly, the atmosphere in the room crackled with energy. She looked stunning as always, clad in a simple navy dress that accentuated her curves perfectly. Her long, dark hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, revealing the elegant line of her neck.

"Good morning, Mr. Thorne," she greeted, her tone a blend of professionalism and warmth. "Your coffee is on its way. Would you prefer I bring in your mail now or wait until after the board meeting?"

Asher cleared his throat, attempting to suppress the reaction his body had to her presence. "Now would be great; thank you, Isabella."

She nodded and stepped out, returning shortly with a pile of envelopes and a steaming cup of coffee. As she placed them on his desk, her intoxicating scent enveloped him—a delicate blend of vanilla and something distinctly Isabella. Asher took a deep breath, immediately regretting the moment of weakness.

"Is there anything else you need?" she inquired, her blue eyes locking onto his for a fleeting, heart-stopping instant.

"No, that's everything. Thank you," Asher managed to reply, his voice coming out rougher than he had hoped.

As soon as she closed the door behind her, Liam let out a low whistle. "Wow, you’re really into her."

"I have no idea what you’re talking about," Asher muttered, reaching for the mail to divert his attention.

"Of course you don’t," Liam laughed. "Listen, we’re having a chat at lunch. Try not to combust before then, okay?"

With that, he left Asher alone with his thoughts and a stack of mail. Asher stared at the papers absentmindedly, his mind still lingering on Isabella. He knew it was wrong; she was too young, too innocent for the world he inhabited. He had already lost one woman he loved to the dangers associated with the Thorne name. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing another.

As he reached for the final envelope, a sizable Manila one, his phone vibrated with a message from Zane.

"On my way. Save me a couple of espressos, will you?"

Asher chuckled softly, a reluctant grin forming on his face. Classic Zane. He redirected his focus to the envelope, frowning when he realized there was no return address. Intrigued, he ripped it open.

Photos dropped onto his table, and Asher felt his world shift dramatically.

Isabella. Dressed in delicate, barely-there lingerie. In contrast to the clean white sheets, her olive skin shone. One shot captured her completely nude from behind, the elegant curve of her spine a line Asher yearned to trace with his fingers.

His thoughts went blank. His body reacted instantly, desire rushing through him like a tidal wave as his heart raced. Along with that desire came a wave of fear—intense and suffocating. Memories of Lila invaded his mind—her shattered body, the blood...

Asher struggled to breathe. He couldn’t think. All he could see was Isabella, stunning and insecure, and all the ways she could get hurt.

The door swung open, and Asher hurried to gather the photos, stuffing them back into the envelope. Isabella stood there, concern written on her face.

"Mr. Thorne? Are you alright? You look a bit pale."

Asher swallowed hard, fighting to find his voice. "I'm fine," he managed to croak. "Just... just a slight headache."

She frowned, clearly unconvinced. "Should I cancel the board meeting?"

"No," he replied too quickly. "No, I’ll be fine. Thank you, Isabella."

She nodded slowly, still looking concerned. "If you're okay. I'll be right outside if you need anything."

As the door clicked shut behind her, Asher sank back into his chair, his heart racing. The envelope he had hastily shoved into the drawer felt like a live wire, practically igniting the wood beneath it.

What on earth was he supposed to do now?

His brothers' voices repeated in his head. "We have a plan." A wave of dread washed over him as he realized he might know exactly what that plan involved.

The intercom. cracked to life, Isabella's voice breaking through the tension. "Mr. Thorne? The board is ready for you."

Asher inhaled deeply, adjusting his tie. It was time to confront the reality ahead. But as he rose, his gaze was drawn to the drawer where the hidden photos lay.

One thing was clear: everything was about to change.

As he made his way to the board meeting, Asher's thoughts swirled chaotically. Images of Isabella, his brothers' scheme, and the turmoil in Phoenix collided in his mind. Despite knowing he should focus on the impending meeting, with its multimillion-dollar negotiations, Isabella's predicament consumed his thoughts.

The atmosphere in the boardroom shifted dramatically when Asher entered; every eye locked onto the commanding figure of their CEO. He took his place at the head of the table, carefully crafting a mask of professionalism as he began to discuss the company's current strategies and future projections. Yet a part of him remained acutely aware of Isabella waiting just outside the door.