Authors note:
Sorry for the delay. Hope you all enjoy my second big story. I've made this story in varying POV so hopefully it isn't too confusing.
It's quite emotionally intense at times. It may be triggering at times for anyone who has dealt with self harm or suicidal tendencies, so for those of you please be safe when you read this.
I'm not 100% happy with it but hopefully someone will enjoy. Please don't forget to let me know what you think, I really appreciate the feedback. Thank you. :)
Real Brother
Casey 19, Brax 32, Heath 28, Kyle 24, Andy 28, Josh 18
Chapter 1 – Discovery
NORMAL POV
Josh stood staring at the envelope in his hands. It was something that the police had handed over to him and Andy after they found it with Johnny's belongings.
Andy wasn't really interested in anything to do with his father. After all, Johnny had left them when they were young, leaving Andy to look after Josh and watched his mother struggle to manage raising two boys by herself.
Andy walked out of the kitchen, ready to go for a surf. Josh approached him.
"Andy don't you even want to go through Dad's things with me?"
"Josh, Dad was a jerk. Why would I care what he had in his belongings?" Andy replied sharply, causing Josh to sigh. There was just no arguing with his brother.
Andy stormed out of the house, leaving Josh alone.
Josh sat down at the dining table and opened the envelope, dropping its contents on the table. The envelope contained a wedding ring, wallet, scrunched up papers with numbers written on them and some dirty old badges.
Josh started looking at the bits and pieces and thought back to his Dad, he hadn't known him for long when he left, only when Josh was 7 years old. Josh pulled out loose coins out of the wallet and digging into a small compartment he pulled out a scrunched up picture. Un-raveling it he saw a baby picture. Josh smiled at the picture and felt satisfied that his father was carrying a baby picture of him in his wallet.
Andy returned back from his surf and saw Josh still sitting at the table. He rolled his eyes.
"You're not still looking at that crap are ya?"
Josh turned to his brother. "Look, at least I know I meant something to Dad."
Andy raised his eyebrow at him. "He always carried a photo of me around in his wallet." Josh explained.
Andy walked over to Josh and saw the photo and took the photo from Josh's hands. "What are you doing?"
Josh watched Andy stare at the photo before he threw it down at Josh. "That's not you."
Josh stood up to follow his brother who had walked out of the room. "What do you mean?" Josh questioned.
"I mean that photo is not you." Andy replied in a rude tone.
"Well it's not you." Josh snapped.
"No."
"Well if it's not me then who is it and why would Dad have someone else's photo in his wallet?" Josh yelled.
"I don't know Josh, but it is definitely neither of us. What can I say? Who knows if Dad cared about us at all?"
"Andy! Dad was great to us!" Josh yelled at his brother's remark.
"Right." Andy slumped down on the couch.
Josh stood swaying with his hands in his pockets. "So who do you think it is then?" Andy sighed.
"You're not gonna shut up about this are ya? I guess I have to talk to Mum and find out." Andy stated. Josh turned and walked out of the room.
Andy spent the next day investigating the mystery photo. He contacted his Mum and she confirmed that Johnny did have another kid with some other women but she didn't know who it was. Andy did some more detective work, asking some of his father's old friends if they knew anything, until one person whom had dealings with both Danny and Johnny were able to give him the answer.
Andy read the name on the piece of paper he was given by the man, Andy's eyes widened in shock at the name, 'Casey Braxton'. It couldn't be? He thought. The Barrett's and Braxton's did not have a very good relationship and ever since he heard his father raving about the Braxton's ruining their lives he had it in for them and any time he had stepped foot into Angelo's restaurant he had not gotten on well with Brax and Kyle who managed the place.
Andy walked home and saw Josh sitting on the couch watching TV. "Where did you get to?" Josh questioned.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Andy replied.
"Hey, what happened to that baby photo that was in Dad's wallet?" Josh questioned.
"I took it to find out some answers." Andy said.
"And?" Josh pushed, wanting to know who the baby photo was of.
"And turns out Dad really was a dog! He went messing around with the wrong women." Andy explained.
"Yeah well...Do we have another brother?" Josh asked.
"You could say that."
"And who is it?" Josh continued to pester. Andy sighed, what difference would it make if Josh knew who his supposed brother was? He would make sure he didn't associate with him anyway.
"This picture is of Casey Braxton." Josh frowned. Josh had heard about the Braxton's and occasionally saw Casey at the gym.
Josh gasped. "You serious?" Josh stated, sounding surprised.
"Would I have said that if I wasn't?" Andy replied freshly.
Josh didn't know what to think of having a half brother, it was a huge surprise, but he wasn't as opposed to the idea as Andy was.
Andy was annoyed at the revelation and denied the fact that Casey was any part of his family, but he knew this was a great way to get back at the Braxton's for everything them and their father had done to his family. He knew it would tear the brothers apart.
