Every Boy's Nightmare - PART ONE of Guns & Roses

Family Gathering: Andrew

Drew was hungover, leaned back in the dining room chair, holding a hand over his eyes, but, he was awake, had barely slept from paranoia alone, and was still annoyed by the abrupt departure from the nightclub. But he also liked being alive, so, when Caleb told him to get his ass home, usually he did so with alacrity.

He hadn’t caught his brother last night for details, which is why he was up, and assumed Caleb was rolling in a wave of paranoia as well. The whole house and property were on lockdown; no one was coming in or out with direct invitations, and orders were, those people were checked out, cars were checked top to bottom, and no stone went unturned or unexamined. Packages were to be opened and searched…it was like 2010 all over again for the Walkers, and Drew kind of wanted to know at least, why his whole life was being put on hold.

So with that fun thought, he saw his brother come by in the hallways; scrambled to his feet, and cursed his head and life when he took off at a jog after him in the hall. “Caleb!”

Caleb stopped and turned and found that equally blonde figure rushing him, and waited with a small curve of lips when he skidded to a half.

Even that had winded him in his current, obviously tired and very hungover state. He reeked like pot and whiskey, clearly hadn’t slept so Caleb was sure, there was some kind of upper involved, but that was Drew. He was all of twenty-one, with more money than he knew what to do with, and liked to spend it. “What the fuck is going on?”

Caleb just motioned him along the hall. “The Mariol brood may or may not be displeased with us this morning. I’m just taking precautions, so no one blows your lovely head off your shoulders.” He ruffled that thick tousled mane and pushed his head to the side. “I figured you running in the streets last night was a bad move.”

Drew was no stranger to the life, violence, or any of the bullshit they dealt with. Their dad had taken him right out alongside Caleb more times than not, so the news sobered him up a bit more. “I thought we were cool with the Mariol’s?”

Caleb just waffled a hand and opened the door for his office, and Drew found the chair and flopped down rubbing his face.

“We aren’t ever fucking cool with anyone, Andrew.” Caleb almost snapped his head off, and Drew instantly riled.

“Hey, don’t turn your fucking temper tantrum on me, Caleb.” He snapped his name right back at him. “I was just fine until last night. You’re the one who guides the fucking reins, not me.”

“Exactly right. So shut the fuck up, and don’t question me. I handled private business and it just so happened to involve Mikael.”

Drew was quiet for a beat, looked him over, and wasn’t an idiot. He was young, he wasn’t always at his best, like right that second, but he knew his brother. “This is over that Christian Miller isn’t it?”

Caleb’s jaw ticked, and Drew just put up a hand to placate that instant flash of green fire. He wasn’t in the mood or way to fight with his brother this morning. “Hey, settle down. I get it. You’re a man in love. Whatever. The point is, is that I would have come with you Caleb. I like Chris. He’s a good guy and I think he’s good for you. You’re sure a hell of a lot nicer since you started fucking him.” Caleb did not look amused, but then, he wasn’t easily amused by much. It made Drew grin at him, and it was an almost identical clone of that wicked broad sharkish flash of teeth they all got from their mother. “I’m sorry, making sweet love to him.”

“Drew, you really have bad comedic fucking timing.”

“I’m not trying to be funny. I’m telling you, next time you have an issue, at least let me know. I know I’m an irresponsible dickhole, but I still love you, and if you want me to blast some dumb shit in the face for the sake of family love, well, I know you’d do the same for me.”

It was a very Drew thing to say, but Caleb heard the meaning under that flippant, murderous, and bright humor of it all. He just exhaled, smiled at him, and flicked fingers at him dismissively. “I don’t want you involved in my private affairs, but I also don’t want you murdered in the name of them, so, next time, I’ll let you know.”

“Alright.” He clapped his knees and sat forward, eyes bright, bright hazel orbs of interest. “Now tell baby brother what happened.”

Caleb hadn’t planned on it, but Drew just got shit out of him, always had, and he was fond of his middle brother. They had always been close enough despite a seven-year age gap, and after a second of consideration, he just laid it down and told him what had happened in full, and by the end of the short story, Drew didn’t look so amused. In fact, he stood up and looked livid.

“Caleb. This motherfucker put hands on this guy! Like, slap in your face fuck you Walker kind of hands!” He was spitting furious, literally, and had to wipe his mouth, and threw a hand to the outside world. “Fuck Mikael. You don’t fucking put hands on shit that’s ours!” And that summed up the Walker family motto pretty well. Didn’t matter what it was, or who it was. Frankly, if someone had even roughed up a girl Drew was seeing casually he would have been beyond fury. It was a fucking rule, somewhere in the galactic collective, that if there was a Walker label on something, you didn’t fuck with it, and you sure as hell didn’t try to put your dick into it. That was a killable offense to Drew’s mind. “You should have put him into the ground, Caleb!”

Caleb agreed, but, this was why he was in charge of the business and Drew was not. Drew was far too hot-headed and reactive, and wildly aggressive on his best days. He’d pull a trigger without ever thinking of the consequences to be had, but in this, Caleb was right there with him. “I’m aware of it Drew. However starting a real war with the Mariol’s over their eldest son's roughhousing isn’t a good enough excuse to put you, me, Chris, and our whole family in real danger. I think I made the warning clear enough for now. If he keeps pushing, we’ll push back, but you have to be smart about this shit and think long-term. You can’t always think with your heart or your dick.”

Drew pushed fingers through his hair and almost glared at him. “If I even think I see one of his black-suited fucks roll up I’m not going to be very goddamn accommodating, Caleb! Fuck this.” He smacked the chair over and started for the door.

Caleb called out, amused despite himself, “Where you going little brother?”

“To clear my schedule and clean my fucking gun!” He exploded and slammed his way out the door.