Brothers aren't real

Part 22

Dukes pov
After an hour we ended up with 17 of our mates all crowded in Four Guys. Leo is sat quite far away with some of his friends having arm wrestles and I'm, for the one thousandth time explaining how my auntie died from being shot in London. I don't have an auntie from London. Leo and I both agreed on this story almost silently. He explained the story and I just stuck with it. It isn't the best story but it'll work.

Halfway through the part where I explain how the funeral was in Britain, my phone started ringing. It was dad. I motion for everyone to shut up and the room almost became silent. All eyes are on me, not judgmental just smug. Okay let's await the moaning and jokes about drugs. Let's just hope there somewhat creative.

"Hello?"

"Hello, when are you guys planning to come home? I know where not aloud in for another hour but how long are you planning on staying out?" I can't hear any background noise so he's not in public. He's going to work tomorrow so he isn't there. Maybe he is with smutty

The kids around me began moaning. Then I heard 'pass me the drugs Duke will you' 'Duke Harder'

"Wow really creative guys. I don't know, probably another two hours. Why? Are you with Smith?" I almost teased forgetting Leo was a few tables away. I almost hear him tense up, okay maybe this wasn't the best idea, I was just trying to lighten the mood.

"Okay, it's fine for you to stay out later but I want ainle back before 7:30. It's currently 6:17 okay?" Oh my god. I feel my blood rush to my feet. I haven't seen ainle all night...it's been an hour. Dads gonna kill me. Well I can either tell him...actually yes.

"Ainle? I'd assumed he'd gone home, he ditched us 10 minutes after we'd left the house." A great technique I picked up called, it's not my fault, or, blame someone else. I hear dad sigh from the other end of the phone. Wow he's really not impressed with me today.

"I doubt he's at home with Emory but I'll double check. If he's not then your grounded for a week with no electronics and you will spend every hour of every day with ainle unless your asleep or at school you understand?" Damn dads gone hard since the whole kidnapping incident.

As I've said before I love ainle and all but if I'm gonna treat him like my real brother Like dad lectured us about them he has to be tough like us. The incident only seemed to weaken the kid and I'm not having him be a pussy when he grows up. I'm going to treat him like my brother so until he's tough like Leo and Emory, I'm not playing nice. If the kid got lost that's his fault. I was with my friends and I'm not being paid enough to babysit. How hard is it to follow someone? And with a group or minimum 5 people.

Sure I sound like a bitch but it's true! What's the point of loving and protecting someone if there just gonna die in a stupid way. Sure Leo and Emory sometimes has a breakdown or cry's to me about issues and that's fine. It's important to share emotions and stuff as well as be strong. The strongest people cry but the weakest people cry all the time. Get up. Move on. Who cares if chad called you a dick? Who cares if you lost a football game or failed a test? Get up and do better next time. Your gran dies? Yeah maybe cry about it. Unless you didn't like her or if she was a shit person...okay not all grans are great.

"Be home in 2 hours okay? And I'm talking all $15 seeing as you lost ainle in the first place" you see, the thing about our family is where pretty chill. If one of us wants other people out of the house they just put fine a fiver for every person they want gone and then every person gets that fiver. Today it was me, ainle and Leo so $15.

"Okay dad by..." Before I could finish he hangs up. Okay well that was awkward. The room returns to being loud and chaotic as Leo makes his way over to me, he looks calm and almost happy but I'd you look close enough into his eyes you can see panic and fear. But about which bit? Dad and smitty or ainle? He sits down on a spare chair across from me but says nothing.

After five very long minutes I get a text from dad 'he's not at home. You boys are dead' I show it to Leo and hear him gulp from across the table. If this kid has been kidnapped again i don't think I'm gonna make it. I already love the kid...to some degree. I'd beat the living shit out of anyone who even wanted to hurt him but if I had to choose him or one of my other brothers, I think you know the answer. Still I do love him and I'd prefer for him not to die so early on.

"Leo, I think we've got to go." He simply nods still in silence and we slowly leave the restaurant, no ones asks any questions or even pays us any attention.

Ps.
Ainles last update was at 8pm just for context
Thank you for all the positive feedback on the last chapter, I will be uploading more
Also, quick thing about me. I've recently figured out I'm nonbinary, I prefer to go by Charlie or Jayden not that it matters but that's a bit about me
Jay🧡🦊