Family

Pedro's POV

The flight had been quicker than I had expected. As I got into the waiting car, I was filled with dread. Meeting my father was okay to say the least, but with Anthonio, my elder brother, it was going to be horrible to say only but the least.

We never got along. Not because I didn't want us to, but because my brother would rather drink a poisoned cocktail than have something nice to say to or about me. I saw kids get protected from bullies by their brothers in highschool  but in my case, I was bullied by my own brother.

"I hate you" I would always say to him.

"It's not like you're my favorite person in the world. I wish you were never born" he would spit back.

Dad always thought it was just childish rivalry between normal siblings and it would pass some day but it never did. We grew distant as the years past till we didn't even call each other nor come home when the other was home.

If I was being honest to myself, I was a bit scared of my big brother not just because he was bigger but because he scarred my young mind when he had gotten me electrocuted with the TV wire when I was just seven.

Dad had called it an extreme prank but I never forgot the wicked glint in his eyes as the electric current passed through my little body, shaking me till I began to feel my organs cooking inside of me.

I was hospitalized for a week after that.

I shrugged at the horrible memory and pulled at the collar of my sweater nervously.

I hadn't seen him for six years and I wished that I could turn back and take the next flight back to New York and successfully make it seven years. I couldn't. Dad would never take the word 'No'.

I felt a lump form in my throat as the black Porsche pulled up behind a blue convertible that screamed 'Anthonio'. He had always been a fan of flashy things; flashy clothes, flashy jewelry, flashy cars and of course, flashy women, with fake boobs and ass, and heavy doll-like makeup that stuck to their face like cheap masks.

Why not just go ahead and date a freaking toy?

I grimaced at my brothers choice. It wasn't any of my business though. It was his life and I had no interest in becoming involved in it.

"We are here, Sir" the black driver announced.

I know, I'm not blind.

I muttered a 'thank you' and got down from the luxury car dragging my little suitcase with me. I stood staring at the huge mansion that belonged to my father, gathering up enough courage to walk in and face the devil himself. I must have stood there for atleast ten minutes when I felt a pair of eyes staring at me. I turned and the driver was still in the car looking at me weirdly.

"Don't you have a job to do, somewhere to be?" I snapped too embarrassed to look him in the eye.

"Sorry sir" was his quick reply before the car zoomed off, went round the fountain at the centre of the compound and disappeared into the garage.

I sighed and began going up the stairs with heavy feet.

You are already here. Just get it over with and go home.

I tugged at the hem of my cloth nervously and gave the door a gentle knock. It flung open immediately, exposing a smiling doorman who held the door open for me to come in.

"Good evening sir. I trust your trip was wonderful. I will show you to your room" he said collecting my suitcase from me and leading me into the huge sitting room. Everything was white and sparkling. A little lady in a white overall was dusting a vase of white roses in the corner. She looked up, gave me a shy smile and disappeared into the next room that smelt like the kitchen. My father was a man of class. I wasn't surprised when I saw the expensively and tastefully furnished sitting room. The white leather designer seats could only have cost a fortune. There was a huge picture of Mom at the far corner. It looked beautiful and delicate on the white walls. It was absolutely hard to miss and I stopped to look at it, immediately feeling a rush of sadness.

It was the last picture she took before the cancer became serious. She was a super model. The best of her time. Her beauty was perfect and her hazel eyes were her most striking feature.The picture was colourless but her smile somehow filled it with so much color, it was blindingly beautiful. She was dressed in a black sleeveless nightdress and lying down on a huge bed. Her hands were spread like someone waiting for a hug. Her feet were bare and one was raised in a modest but slightly revealing angle. Her raven black hair fell on the sheets in shiny beautiful curls. She looked so free and happy like she knew that it was going to be the last time she would be in front of a camera. 'Kate McFarland, 1972-2004' was carved into the huge wooden picture frame.

I was still staring at the picture when a very annoyingly familiar voice spoke behind me replacing the sadness with a mixture of dread and anger.

"And my messed up fag of a brother decided to show up on time today" Anthonio's mocking voice came from directly behind me.

I felt my fists ball up at my side as I slowly turned to look into his deep gray eyes. He had a lopsided grin on his lips. I didn't return the smile.

Nothing had changed. He was still muscular and handsome for someone approaching forty. His thick blond locks were cut in an attractive style that seemed to complement his gray orbs. He was dressed in a dark blue t-shirt and gray sweatpants. A pair of white Jordans covered his feet. A diamond studded silver Rolex graced his thick wrist and a tiny silver chain hung around his neck.

He looked way younger than I expected.

"Very funny Antonio" I replied still not smiling.

"It wasn't a joke little brother" he said with a small mocking laughter.

"I see you guys are already catching up" Dad's voice rang breaking up our fierce stare down. We turned to look at him and once again I was shocked to see him also in tremendous health and striking physique. He was a real Dorian gray, apparently untouched by the aging process. You could chop a good 20 years off his age and no one would doubt you.

He was dressed in a white t-shirt over a white short and white Snickers. His silver gray hair was covered in a white baseball cap. A golf club was in his left hand and the right hand was stuck in his pocket. No need to ask where he's been. It was obvious he was coming from the golf course. The logo on his entire attire was the logo of one of the biggest golf clubs in London which my father was a VIP member.

"Hey son" he said walking over to me. I was soon entrapped in his arms in a tight hug. He had a musky after-shave scent.

"Hey dad" I said wrapping my arms around him too.

"You smell of jet lag and stress. Why not go upstairs, freshen up and get into some clean clothes then come back down. We are having dinner with your brother's fiancee"

"Fiancee?" I asked before I could stop myself.

"Yes, that's the news brother. I'm getting married" Anthonio said placing his hand on my shoulder and grinning. It took a lot in me not to shrug his hands off.

Why did you have to drag me down here just to say it?

"Congratulations big brother. I didn't know you had it in you. I mean, almost forty and still unmarried? I had almost lost all hope" I said faking a smile and patting him a bit harder than necessary at the back. I felt his hands stiffen on my shoulders as he gave an  uncomfortable chuckle.

"Oh I forgot how funny you were. How long has it been? Six short years? Oh my! Are you still in the gay phase or have decided to put your dick to good use and get yourself a good old wet pussy. Oh sorry, I forgot you are already a good old wet pussy" he said and it was my turn to stiffen and fake a laugh.

"Come on Antonio, let your brother be. He must be very tired" Dad said

"Indeed I am" I said too eager to get away from my annoying brother.

"Go and freshen up then" he said and started walking out with Antonio behind him.

The latter turned briefly and I could see the smirk on his face. I returned the smug look with a scowl before they disappeared into another section of the building.

I turned and saw that the door man, still carrying my suitcase, had been waiting at the foot of the stairs all these while. He began moving again and I followed. The end of the stairs opened up to a long corridor with six room, three on each side. He led me to one of the rooms and I almost gasped at how big it was.

My father was definitely richer than I thought because it was incredible.

King sized bed, a large closet filled to brim with men clothes and shoes, obviously prepared for any spontaneous surprise visits from any of his sons, bed side drawers, a sofa, a television, a mini bar, a mini study, and floor to ceiling window that had a clear view of a little garden that could not be seen if you were standing in front of the building and a good sight of the London country side in all it's glory.

Everything was white and distractingly neat.

If my room was this....big, I wondered how Antonio's would be. Obviously he would choose a better one, especially since he arrived before I did.

I pulled off my clothes and unzipped my bag. I pulled out a black sweatshirt and matching sweatpants and laid them on the huge bed. I ran my hand over the soft sheets and was immediately overcome with the feeling of just jumping into it and sleeping till the next morning. I wrapped a towel around my naked waist and padded over to the mini bar. Much to my disappointment, there was just a bottle of fruit wine in it. I certainly needed something stronger to quench the growing thirst and fatigue.

I left the bar and walked into the large bathroom. I filled the tub with warm water and soap, peeled off the towel and stepped into the inviting warmth. As I lay in the water, I prayed to God that my brother's wife-to-be was going to be less plastic than his ex girlfriends.

Please dear God.

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