Thick As Blood {A Menendez Brothers Fic}

18. Secrets In The Night

Endless nights filled with countless nightmares, is what haunted my every waking hour. Seeing my mom, helpless and fighting to stay alive was something I'd never get out of my head. My father is to blame. But, it couldn't be proved. He's so high in power that he could get away with anything. Even literal murder. My life had come to a standstill, staying locked away in this hell hole of a mansion because I knew I had to protect my sister. Little did I know, that poor Erik had it much worse than I.

"Sweetheart? Are you okay?" I jumped from the mere sound of Aunt Clara in my ears, thankful that she decided to come and stay for the next couple of weeks to soften the blow she knew was coming. I had become a full blown woman. I had a boyfriend that wasn't so secret anymore. I practically adopted my sister so she wouldn't have to endure my fathers abuse. College was a whisper away. But, he wouldn't allow me to go to any other school unless it was here, where I could stay in the house.

"I honestly don't know. I can't even begin to answer truthfully if I said otherwise." I said behind a smile that wasn't actually genuine. And she knew it. She knew I was miserable. The only time I was truthfully happy, was when I'm with Erik.

"I promise you, it won't always be like this honey. You'll find a way to get out of here." A part of me wanted to believe that, that I could possibly live the fairytale life I'd always dreamt of. But the other half of me? Felt as if it was exactly that. A glorified fairytale. So I simply sighed from her attempt at making me feel better, looking out over my balcony to see Erik himself in his backyard, playing away on the tennis court because much like I, he felt the need to make his father happy. I knew he loved tennis. He could go pro if he wanted. But, he didn't want it to be his entire life.

"That boy down there? Is insanely in love with you. I see how he sneaks glances at you when you aren't looking. It's rather sweet to be honest." I genuinely smiled from that, knowing that was actually true. I had never doubted his feelings for me. Not even a single bit.

"I just can't believe how amazing he is. It's like he stepped out of my dreams. And the fact that he forgave me so quickly for kissing Lyle....." I trailed off in completely lost thoughts of that night, having talked to Lyle a couple days ago about what had happened between us. We cleared the air, and chalked it up to simply being in the moment. He had quickly become a protector of Ava and I, and I felt so compelled by that notion. But, it couldn't happen again. I couldn't be the whore my father thinks I am. Asshole......

"Honey, he knows it didn't mean anything. You three talked it out. And I'm glad it's sorted. You need each other. You, Ava, Erik, and Lyle? Are like your own little unit. Don't ever forget that." I couldn't. Because they meant the world to me. I felt as if we could survive anything together. Somehow, someway. We would.

"And with that being said after the ramblings of this old woman, go have fun, okay? Don't worry about your father. I'll tell him you went out with Stacey." Stacey is someone I met at orientation for UCLA when I thought maybe I'd be joining. I was still unsure on what I wanted to do. But Stacey quickly decided we were going to be friends. She knew my dad was extremely strict. She just didn't know the extent of it. Not by a long shot.

"You're the best. Just..... please keep an eye on Ava for me." She softly hugged me once she confirmed she would, leaving me to get dressed for a night out with Erik we had planned a couple days ago under the guise that we would be going with different people. Him with Andy, i with Stacey. And we didn't want to jeopardize that. Thankfully, dad wasn't home. Not yet anyhow. Working at RCA with Jose sometimes had its perks.

"Hey beautiful." Erik had greeted me once I got halfway down the driveway to meet him, a smile so full of life plastered on my lips that I could hardly contain myself. We had grown extremely close since meeting, something I am more than thankful for. To have such a connection with someone, was unreal. Considering I was never allowed to.

"Hey handsome. So where shall you whisk me away to tonight?" Dressed in this gorgeous blue dress that Stacey had given me with heels to match, I was more than ready for anything. Dinner date, movies, even the beach. I didn't care. Just to be with him was enough. But life had a funny way of interrupting all ideas.

"We unfortunately, won't be alone." He softly said with his eyes scanning mine to gage my reaction to his words, when a beaming Lyle came bounding towards us, a surprise all in itself.

"Hey Ana! You look..... gorgeous." Erik eyed him a little like he wasn't all that pleased, but I couldn't help but find humor in the situation. Sure, I was a bit peeved, disappointed even. But, it could still end on a high note.

"So, how about we bring Ava along then? Make it a siblings only night?" I threw out the idea with a little smile to follow, getting rather anxious from the thought that my dad could be rolling up at any given time. And slaughter us all.

"Sure! The little munchkin can come." Lyle said with a little smile of his own, looking to Erik before giving him a soft kiss on the lips before I went to get Ava. Little did I know, just how much I would learn about what really goes on in the Menendez house soon. And how it would change everything.