Deceiving My Bully Stepbrother

(Caspian)

I slid my palm up and down Johnnie's thigh, my heart hammering against my chest as I felt nervous as f**k to say the least.

I had to tell Alder the truth..he deserved to know.

I hadn't touched a single thing on my plate as Johnnie leaned into me before placing her warm hand on my cheek.

"You should eat something baby."

"I will when we get back to the room." I smiled sheepishly. "You're all I need to survive."

I couldn't help but chuckle as Ben began choking on the wine he had just drank.

"Seriously? The least you two could do is whisper..jeez..she's still my little sister." He grumbled as Robin patted him on the back.

"Come on Ben, their newlyweds, let them have a little fun." Alder chimed in as a big smile filled his face.

"In fact..I think you should settle the bill, as a wedding gift." Alder winked before calling the waiter over and ordering dessert..he sure loved to eat..shit..I didn't want to ruin this.

That smile he always had and the good he saw in everything..would this change him?

That's when Johnnie placed her hand in mine before gripping me tighter.

"Baby, I'm right here with you." She encouraged me as I let out a shuddering breath.

Everyone at the table knew what I had to do..Ben even told Robin earlier I guess..

"Alder..there is something we need to talk about." I breathed out, my voice wavering as Johnnie's grip tightened. "Yeah? What is it? I was thinking you could probably last a week or two without Dad noticing the tattoos..is that what you are worried about?" He asked worriedly as I shook my head no...I felt like I was about to have a panic attack..all of those things my dad said came rushing back to me.

"You will ruin this family."

"Promise me you won't tell your brother..he can't know."

"I can trust you can't I son? You will destroy what we have, Alder will never forgive you."

I started to hyperventilate as Johnnie suddenly moved around so her face was right in front of me and her voice came out calm and steady.

"Hey..it's okay..I'm right here..we are all here. Nothing bad is going to happen Caspian. I promise you." She whispered as I took deep breaths, realizing Alder was right next to me too.

"Caspian, what's happening? What's wrong?" He asked me hastily as his hand rubbed my back.

"Alder..I'm sorry..I can't keep it in anymore...you deserve to know.." I choked out as he scooted closer to me.

"Hey, it's okay Cas..you can tell me anything, you know that." He stated, his hands reaching up and wiping my tears.

"It's about dad..and Heather..they.." I started as Johnnie clung to my arm tightly as I began to panic agaisnt..I can't do this..I can't f*****g do this.

"Baby..it's okay..I can say it..you don't have to say this again." She whispered..I didn't want to be a coward but I just couldn't say it..I couldn't be the one to crush him..he and Mom were all I ever had these past years when I pushed Johnnie away..they stuck by me no matter what.

"Alder, it turns out that my mom and your dad have been having an affair long before your parents divorced. Caspian..he walked in on them a few years back..they were sleeping together all that time. Your dad..he..he was asked to marry your mom through a contract but I guess our parents dated even before that in Highschool." Johnnie explained, her voice wavering slightly as I buried my face in the crook of her neck before kissing her softly..I felt weak for making her do this..l felt sick to my damn stomach.. "What did you just say?" Alder's voice stated.. the tone the most serious I had ever heard from him as I lifted my head and pulled from Johnnie.

"I'm sorry Alder.." I tried to say before he cut me off.

"You knew all this time?" He asked me angrily as I looked down at my hands, feeling ashamed.

"I didn't want to hurt you.." I whispered, feeling Jonnie wrap her arms around my waist.

"Caspian..I don't give a s**t about me...you hid this..you lived with this all that time..that's why..fuck..that's why you didn't want to go there anymore..that's why you stopped hanging out with Johnnie." He said lowly, his eyes meeting mine as Ben came over now. "Did Dad know you knew?" Alder asked me angrily now, his hands clenching into fists as Ben looked between us worriedly.

I just nodded my head and that's all it took..Alder shot up from the chair before turning and stalking towards the exit. "Alder..w...where are you going?" I rushed out, going to chase after him..he was pissed..this was beyond anything I had ever seen with him. "I'm going to kick his f*****g ass." He shouted over his shoulder, making everyone look towards us as Johnnie gripped my hand before we both chased after him.

"Alder..stop..don't do something you might regret." I stated just as we exited the restaurant..and that's when Alder froze mid-step before turning around and looking at me.

"I already did..I regret not begging Mom to divorce him earlier..I regret not stepping in and taking over the moment I became a man..I regret seeing you crumble to pieces right before my eyes and not knowing why because I was a damn ****t!! He was a shitty f*****g father before all of this..he always has been and this..this just f*****g proves it even more." He yelled, making my tears spill over as I saw the rage pulsing off of him.

Suddenly he blinked his eyes rapidly, as if he were coming out of some type of trance..and that's when he rushed over to me before enveloping me into a body-crushing hug.

"I'm sorry Caspian..I'm sorry I didn't protect you from this..please forgive me.." He rushed out as I gripped his shirt and tried to hold it all together.

"I didn't want to ruin our family..I didn't want to ruin everything." I confessed as he held me against him tightly. "No..don't think like that Cas..our family..it's always been me, you, and mom..no..Johnnie and Ben too..those are our family..not some asshole who claimed to be a father..he did nothing for us..he was never there..he isn't our family Caspian..and after you and Johnnie spend your f*****g wedding night together like you deserve to..then we will handle this all together..I will call Mom and.." "No! It..it will crush her.."

I breathed, feeling Capsian pull back before peering down at me.

"No..it won't Caspian..she is much stronger than you realize..mom has always been strong for us..now it's time to give her the truth so we can come together as a family once more...without f*****g Dave King." He spat our dad's name out as I nodded my head. "And after we confront him..we are getting the hell out of here and spending our summer with who we should've all along. Don't worry little brother..I will take care of everything okay? You don't have to do this alone any longer." Alder reassured me before hugging me once more as I let out a shuddering breath..feeling all of that anxiety and stress flowing out of me as a lightness replaced it.

Then I heard my wife's angelic voice call my name..

"Come on baby, let's go up to our room." She whispered as I nodded and we said our goodbyes to everyone.

"I love you Cas." Alder said before stepping back.

"I love you too."

And I did..I loved him more than anything because not only was he my brother, but he was my best friend and role model too.

Alder was right...we don't need Dave King..and now..now I have my family..I have my mom and brother..I have Ben..I even have Milo my best friend..but most importantly..I have my wife...and that's all I need..she is all I need.