Secrets Untold

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 33

𝐀 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆 noise infiltrated my sleep, steady and unrelenting. I moved to turn over, letting out a sharp groan as my stomach screamed in protest.

"Don't move," a deep voice spoke from beside me. "You'll pull your stitches."

"Julio?" I mumbled in confusion.

The person beside me moved, footsteps heading to another spot in the room.

"Can you open your eyes?" Victor asked gently.

Forcing my eyes to open, I scanned my surroundings as Victor helped me to sit up. Diego had his arms folded, whilst Cameron sat on the other side of me, checking to make sure I was okay. Phoenix and Myles were on their phones in a corner talking heatedly under their breaths.

Victor held my hand in both of his, resting his elbows on the edge of my bed. "Listen, I'm sorry Akira. You're right, but I'm not ready yet. Just let me tell her when I'm ready."

"Victor," I almost laughed incredulously, "You've had how long to tell us already? You know she will find out."

"She doesn't need to know," Victor told me firmly.

Diego interjected, "Can you imagine how she'll see us when she finds out? I wouldn't be able to live with myself if my little sister couldn't look me in the eye because of what I do."

The rest of my brothers in the room murmured their assent. I shook my head in disappointment, "She loves you guys. Just... tell her. It doesn't sit right with me not telling my own twin."

Victor squeezed my hand as the nurse walked in, "I'm going to have to ask you gentlemen to leave now. The hospital is closing in 5 minutes. Visiting hours are over."

"We're family," Victor stated calmly.

The nurse shook her head, "Alright. One of you can stay."

Victor rose, nodding at Cameron, before leaning down to press a light kiss to my forehead. "We're going to have to have a talk about this 'boyfriend' of yours."

My cheeks flushed, and I fiddled with my blanket, avoiding eye contact with the rest of the room. My eldest brother cast one last look at me before leading my brothers out of the room. Beside me, Cameron settled down into the chair. "You're right."

"Mhm. I know." I sighed, leaning back onto my pillow.

He squeezed my hand gently, "He's got good intentions, Akira. He just doesn't know how to handle it though. Promise me you'll try seeing things from our perspective."

"I'm trying," I whispered under my breath, before I shut my eyes and pretended to sleep.

Lila knew what I did. Somewhat. Of course she didn't exactly approve, but she didn't look at me with hate, or disgust. The thing is, she knew the somewhat illegal side and not the real truth that I had been hiding from her all these years. My brothers didn't get it. Of course I understood.

I was such a hypocrite. If only I had the courage to tell them as well. They were my family after all. I had to.

*****

A couple of weeks later

I tugged my shirt over my head, scrunching my face up as my side protested. Three weeks later I was back at home. My brothers had bought me a new phone, an apology I suppose. Who knows. I had all my sibling's numbers in my contacts once more as well as... Julio's. Earlier on in the day I had finally found the tracker they planted in my phone and disabled it. I switched my phone on, finger hovering over Julio's name.

"You know where to find us."

Did I want to see him again?

He had changed, that was one thing for sure. Did I want to destroy what he had rebuilt?