BROTHERS (Slater Brothers Book 6)

by L. A. Casey

  “Where does he live? Which brother does he belong to?” I demanded. “We’ll fix this problem inside of the hour.”

  “We can’t.” My brother grunted. “We’ve been banned from hurting the boy by the highest chain of command.”

  I sucked in a breath. “Bronagh forbid us?”

  “Yup,” he replied. “Dominic is Croughs with Damien, and he needs us there to make sure he doesn’t do something that will make Bronagh divorce him or land his ass in jail. Alec is already on the way, and I’m good to go.”

  “Shit, come and get me. I’m ready right now.”

  I looked at my wife and found her silently laughing as she checked on the potatoes.

  “Branna, why are you laughing?”

  “Because, accordin’ to what I just heard, Georgie has a boyfriend who happens to be a Collins lad, and you and your brothers are havin’ a meltdown over it. That’s why I’m laughin’.”

  “This isn’t funny,” I stated. “This is very serious.”

  “You’re damn right,” Kane echoed.

  Branna shook her head. “Where’s Dominic?”

  “In a pub.”

  She laughed again. “Go on, go with your brothers to help ’im through this. I have to call me sister to get the full story.”

  I walked over, kissed her cheek, then turned and walked out of the kitchen.

  “Kane, are you on the way?”

  “Driving toward you as we speak, bro.”

  I hung up on him, shoved my phone in my pocket, grabbed a jacket, then left my house. My life was great—no, my life was perfect. I had come across some bumps in the road along the way, then some fucking mountains, but I managed to climb each one and get to where I was now, which was happy, in love, and very blessed. I reminded myself of this as I waited for my little brother to come and pick me up. I rehearsed a speech in my head that I hoped would give Dominic some comfort, but I wasn’t sure if it would work. Georgie was his baby girl, his firstborn ... I think this would be one of those mountains in the road that me and my brothers would have help Dominic overcome together, but I knew in the end that we would get through it because that was what families were for.

  We were there in good times, the bad, and the downright ugly. There was nothing we couldn’t tackle together as a family ... and this little Collins motherfucker would soon realise that.

  Part V

  DAMIEN

  CHAPTER ONE

  Present day ...

  “Damien?”

  I had just left the bathroom as my wife called my name.

  “Yeah, babe?”

  “C’mere,” she shouted from the kitchen. “You can deal with this disrespectful little shitehead.”

  Uh-oh.

  I jogged down the stairs, down the hallway, and into the kitchen where my second eldest son, Kailen, was leaning against the counter, looking down at his feet. Alannah stood in front of him with her hands on her hips, tapping her foot on the ground. This was becoming a regular occurrence. Kailen was twelve, but his attitude was getting out of hand. He talked back, didn’t do what he was told, and I knew Alannah worried herself sick over him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Alannah didn’t look away from our son. “D’you want to tell ‘im or should I?”

  Kailen peeked up at his mom, then looked at me and dropped his head instantly.

  “Fine,” my wife clipped and turned to face me. “He didn’t help me with dinner when I asked ‘im to because he was too busy playin’ on his phone. I took it off ‘im and told ‘im to help me, and he told me to piss off and do it meself.”

  My eyes widened as I moved around my wife. Kailen tensed as I reached for him and fisted the fabric at the collar of his sweater. I hauled him out of the room, down the hallway, and into the living room. He didn’t say a word, and he didn’t struggle. He just walked with me and clasped his hands together and rested them on his knees when I sat him down on the couch across from me.

  “Wait,” he yelped when he saw me reach for the belt on my jeans. “Please, I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry?” I repeated. “You’re suddenly sorry because you don’t wanna get belted?”

  Kailen swallowed. “I didn’t mean to snap at ‘er. I was arguin’ with someone, and she spoke to me at the wrong time, and I took my anger out on ‘er. I saw the look on ‘er face when I said what I did, and I feel like shite, Da. I’m sorry.”

  I set my jaw. “I don’t stand for anyone disrespecting my wife. Just because you’re my child doesn’t mean you get a pass. Get your ass up.”

  Kailen hesitated but got to his feet and turned away from me before I had to ask him to. He hadn’t needed to be whooped in months, but he still knew the drill. He pushed his sweatpants down to his thighs revealing his boxers and balled his hands into fists as he waited. I removed my belt and wasted no time in punishing him. I swatted his backside five times, then told him to pull his pants up and sit back down. He did so as I replaced my belt, and I didn’t miss the tension on his face as he slowly sat down. I knew he ass was on fire, and I wanted him to remember that was what happened when he disrespected his parents.

  “Now,” I said, sitting down across from him, “who were you arguing with?”

  Kailen didn’t answer me.

  “I can go and get your phone—”

  “It’s no one ye’ know,” he interrupted. “He’s just a ... friend.”

  I raised a brow. “I know all your friends.”

  “Not this one.”

  I waited for him to continue.

  “Da, I don’t wanna talk to ye’ about ‘im.”

  That hurt my feelings a little bit because this was the first time he had ever said that to me. Usually, Kailen could talk to me about anything, so this made me think something was really wrong for him to keep it from me.

  “Why not?”

  “Because I just don’t.”

  I grunted. “Kailen, what aren’t you telling me? You haven’t been yourself these past few months, you act out, and you constantly have an attitude. What the hell is going on to make you so angry all the time? I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s wrong, son.”

  My child locked his grey eyes on mine, and seconds of silence ticked by, then out of nowhere, he began to cry.

  “Kailen?” I frowned. “Did I hit you too hard?”

  I instantly felt sick. I had meant to punish him for being disrespectful to his mother, but I didn’t mean to cause him actual pain.

  “No,” Kailen choked, frantically wiping at his eyes. “It’s not that.”

  I got to my feet and sat next to him, putting my arm around his shoulder.

  “Kai, what’s wrong?”

  He turned his body to mine and wrapped his arms around me, placing his face against my neck and sobbed. My heart began to beat fast, and adrenaline flowed through my veins. I was sick with worry now, and I had no idea what to do other than comfort my child.

  “It’s okay,” I told him. “Whatever is it that has you this upset, it’s going to be okay. I promise.”

  Kailen cried harder and squeezed me tight. I said nothing further; I just held him and waited for him to calm down enough to speak. This took at least five minutes.

  “I’m scared to tell ye’.”

  I leaned back from him and used my thumbs to wipe away tears from his face. He looked so much like my brother Dominic that it freaked me out. I knew that meant he looked like me, but when I looked at Kailen, he reminded so much of my brother ... just with my white hair.

  “Don’t be scared,” I told him. “Don’t ever be scared to tell me anything, okay?”

  Kailen sniffled and he nodded. “It’s ... it’s about a relationship I’m in.”

  That was news to me. He was only twelve.

  “You’re in a relationship?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, I am.”

  “Okay,” I said slowly. “Who with? Do I know her?”

  Kailen looked down at his intertwined hands. I wondered why he didn’t answer me,
then it struck me that maybe I didn’t ask the right question. I asked if I knew the girl he was dating. I assumed he was in a relationship with a girl when I shouldn’t have.

  “Or him?” I added. “Do I know him?”

  My son jerked his eyes up to mine, and he looked so scared that I wanted to break down and cry myself.

  “Kailen, are you gay?”

  He shook his head rapidly from side to side.

  “Hey, hey, you do not need to be scared,” I assured him. “Your sexuality will never change how much me and your mom love you, okay? You’re still Kailen, still my pain in ass son who I love more than life itself. You’re perfect the way you are.”

  Kailen cried again and threw his body at me once more, and I blew out a breath, fighting off tears of my own because I knew I’d be no good to anyone if I broke down. I’d have to call in Alannah if that happened because once I cried, I was a goner.

  “D’ye not think I’m straight?”

  I looked down at Kailen whose face was still against my chest.

  “I’ve never thought about it, to be honest,” I admitted.

  My son was silent for a moment, then he said, “Well ... I’m not.”

  “Not straight?” I questioned.

  He nodded. Once.

  “That’s—”

  “I’m not gay either,” he interrupted.

  He leaned back from me, wiping his face once more. He was shaking, so I reached for his hand and held it in my own. This conversation was huge for him, and he had obviously kept this bottled up inside for a long time, and it made me ill to think that he worried over telling me. That he was probably scared he would be rejected.

  I tilted my head. “Are you bisexual or pansexual? Or gender queer? I’m afraid I’m wildly ignorant to what some of those mean, and I know there are a lot of other sexualities, but I will learn them all if—”

  “Da,” Kailen cut me off, and he huffed a little laugh. “Ye’ don’t need to learn what they all mean.”

  “But I want to,” I said. “If you identify as one, I want to know everything about it so I can connect with you better.”

  Kailen squeezed my hand. “Ye’ already know every about me sexuality.”

  “I do?”

  He nodded. “I’m bi ... like Uncle Alec.”

  “Right,” I said with a nod of my head. “You’re getting the same chat that Leland got. Don’t fuck around with a girl’s, or a boy’s, heart or me and you are gonna have problems. Understand?”

  Kailen had a ghost of a smile on his face as he bobbed his head.

  “Am I the first person you’ve told?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “Uncle Alec knows. I told him a few months ago ago, and he has been encouraging me to tell ye’, but he said he would respect me decision to tell ye’ when I was ready.”

  That was fair. I didn’t know what it was like to be anything other than straight, so it made sense for Kailen to confide in someone he could relate to.

  “How long have you known you were bi?” I asked. “I honestly didn’t think you would be interested in girls, or boys, yet.”

  His face flushed red. “Last year, I saw a girl who I thought was pretty, and I wanted to kiss her like you do with Ma ... then a few days later, I saw a cute lad and thought that same thing about him. I didn’t know right away, but when I started to like girls, I liked boys in the same way too.”

  “I’m sorry you felt like you couldn’t talk to me or your mom.”

  “I wanted to,” Kailen said, “but I kept backin’ out of it.”

  “Why?”

  “I didn’t ... I just ... I was afraid ye’ would be different with me.”

  Pain thrummed in my heart.

  “Son,” I said, firmly. “I love you no matter who you’re attracted to. Your sexuality doesn’t even come into play. It never has, and it never will.”

  “I knew that,” Kailen stated. “I did, but there was a fear in the back of me head that ye’ wouldn’t.”

  “I hate that you’ve been thinking about and worrying about this for a long time.”

  “It’s cool.” He one-shoulder shrugged.

  “It’s not,” I pressed. “I don’t want you being afraid to be yourself especially around me or our family.”

  Kailen cringed. “I don’t want the lads to treat me differently.”

  “Your brothers?”

  “And me cousins,” he added. “Georgie knows, but I don’t exactly know how because I never told ‘er. She just started talkin’ to me one day about who she fancied and said if I got with ‘im, she’d kick me arse.”

  I snorted. “That girl is a clever one.”

  “Yeah.” He nodded in agreement.

  “Is this why you’ve been so out of character the past few months?” I asked.

  “I guess,” he said tentatively. “I get mad when I can’t talk about who I liked in the way Leland or me cousins do because I was worried they’ll laugh at me or not want to be close to me anymore. I think I started to pull into meself, and that’s when I started gettin’ angry with everyone. Then Rome joined me footie team, and he told me one day after we hit the showers that he fancied me and me heart nearly stopped. Apparently, he was bisexual, and everyone knew it. I started textin’ him, and then we’ve got together in secret because he knew I hadn’t told anyone that I was bi.”

  “This Rome is your boyfriend?”

  Kailen blushed again as he nodded.

  “Are you happy that you’re dating him?”

  “Yes,” he answered. “I am.”

  “Then I’m happy that you are happy, but you’re only twelve, and that’s extremely young to be in a relationship. I’m warning you that you’re not to enter into anything physical until you’re old enough. You may not have to worry about pregnancy when dating Rome, but there are other things that can give you a surprise.”

  Kailen’s face was crimson red. “We’ve just kissed a few times, and that’s it. I swear.”

  “Good.” I nodded. “I want to meet him.”

  My son’s eyes widened. “Jesus, why?”

  “Because you’re my son, and I want to make sure this dude you’re dating is good enough for you. Have you got a problem with that?”

  He ducked his head and smiled. “No, I don’t.”

  “Good.”

  Kailen exhaled a deep breath, and said, “Da, I feel so ... light after tellin’ ye’ this. I love ye’ so much for still lovin’ me even though I’m different.”

  “Different?” I repeated. “Everyone likes their cup of tea their own unique way, so in that sense, we are all different.”

  “Ye’ sounded exactly like Auntie Branna just then.”

  I laughed. “Don’t tell your uncle Ryder. He’ll rag on my ass if he knows.”

  Kailen grinned and shook his head.

  “Is Rome the only boy, you know, you’ve kissed?”

  “The only person,” Kailen corrected. “I’ve never kissed anyone else.”

  “Why not?” I asked, feeling offended on his behalf. “You’re a handsome kid. You look like me and have your mama’s smile. Girls and guys would be crazy not to crush on you.”

  Kailen sunk lower in the chair as he groaned.

  “Please, stop,” he said. “This is mortifying.”

  I laughed. “My bad.”

  Kailen snickered. “Will ye’ come into the kitchen so I can tell Ma? I’d rather ye’ were with me.”

  “I heard everythin’!” Alannah suddenly barrelled into the sitting room, taking us both by surprise as she dived over my body and landed onto top of our child. I shook my head and smiled when she started crying, and Kailen looked over her shoulder at me in a panic. He hugged her and comforted her, but she was a complete mess by the time she got to her feet.

  “Me precious boy,” she cried and kissed Kailen’s face. “You’re so perfect, and so handsome, and you’re gonna be the best boyfriend that Rome or anyone could ever ask for. I love ye’ so much.”

  I laughed at Kaile
n’s deer in the headlights expression. He looked at me and playfully glared as Alannah tackled him with another hug. She didn’t let him go for a long time, and when they finally did separate, he tugged her into the kitchen so he could help her with the dinner as he was originally asked to do. I followed them and silently watched them interact. The difference with Kailen was incredible; it was like I could see a weight had been lifted off his shoulders now that he’d revealed his secret to us.

  I was proud of him, so damn proud. I walked out into the hallway when one of my other sons ran down the stairs.

  “Leland.” I sighed when he jumped the last three steps and landed on the floor with a thud. “You’re going to break your damn neck. Walk down the stairs like a regular person.”

  “Da,” he beamed, turning to face me. “Just the man I wanted to see.”

  The boy was thirteen, but he acted sixty.

  “What’s up?”

  “I’ve a question.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Have ye’ ever seen a girl so beautiful that she made your heart stop beatin’ in your chest with one glance at ‘er face?”

  I looked at my eldest son and wondered what girl turned my child into a poet.

  “Yeah, Leland,” I said. “I have, and she is your mom.”

  “This girl is like Ma.” He smiled. “I’m gonna marry ‘er.”

  “Hold your horses.” I chuckled. “You’re only thirteen.”

  Leland flicked his grey eyes to mine, and said, “I’ll marry ‘er when I’m eighteen then. I’m not being stupid and marryin’ her after spendin’ loads of years in love with her like you did with Ma.”

  My lips parted. “Things were complicated with me and your mom. It wasn’t that easy.”

  “Love is always easy, Da. Once ye’ find the right girl, it’ll figure itself out.”

  I watched him walk into the living room, and as I stared after him, I pondered if he was really my son or Alec’s.

  “Who is this girl that has you madly in love with one glance?”

  Leland fell into the couch, and said, “I’ve no idea, but I still love her.”

  God, give me patience.

  “Start from the beginning.”