Thick As Blood {A Menendez Brothers Fic}

9. Guilty

The images of last night, still lingered in my mind like the best movie I could ever possibly watch. The relationship Erik and I have managed to form in the short time we've known each other is absolutely amazing. I've never once had a relationship like it. I was never permitted to, to be honest. But since we've moved to good ole 90210, I've had a different outlook on life. I've met someone who actually sees me. And doesn't scare easily by my father. The ride home was relaxing to say the least. Music blaring, good company. Everything felt right in the world. Until I stepped foot back into the prison I call a home.

"Boys? Can I speak with my daughter alone? Your father wants you home tonight as well. Family time. You understand." I was visibly shaking from the mere sound of my fathers voice. The underlying issue was close at hand. He knew. Didn't he? He knows everything. I could feel Erik's eyes on me, seeing just how afraid I truly was at that moment. I wanted to run and hide, never to be found again. But I knew my father would find me. He always would.

"I'll call you later, okay?" Erik's comforting whisper into my ear, helped with the nerves some, seeing the gentle smile Lyle sent my way before they left to face their own parents. They came in after we got home to hang out by the pool, just relax for the rest of the weekend we had. But it never works out that way. I don't think it ever will with him around.

"Follow me Ana. I have work to do and I don't have all night to deal with you and your whoring ways." My eyes widened the moment the words left his mouth and his hand firmly attached to my arm, roughly pulling me down the hall and into his study, slamming the door shut behind us so my mom and Ava couldn't hear what was about to happen.

"I told you what would happen if you did anything with those Menendez boys. I should have seen how wicked my own daughter is. How she sways her body around in those little numbers to get what she wants. And did you....? Did Erik give you exactly what you wanted?" I backed myself into a corner the minute he let me go, my fearful eyes only fueling his lust for hurting me. In his eyes, I was his little girl. Only his. I wasn't supposed to mingle with guys, let alone sleep with one. But I did. And I don't regret it.

"Father...... I can't stay away from them. You work with their dad. It's impossible. And they're my friends! I..... have feelings for Erik." His eyes frantically searched me from my declaration for Erik, knowing I struck something deep within him. He just didn't want another scandal like we had back in Florida. I know that. I can see it painted clear as day on his face that he was thinking me being with a Menendez would surly do damage. And I didn't understand how. Because I'm sleeping with one of them? Because I'm growing up and making my own choices?

"You don't have the first CLUE....... about feelings Ana!!" He spit his words at me with so much hate and venom, the mere air around us so tense. He suddenly flung everything off of his desk and against the wall, shattering the massive window overlooking a portion of the gated front yard. I screamed from the mere sound, falling to the floor with my tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Nicholes?! What happened?!" My mom suddenly came bounding into the room with a horrified look upon her face the moment she saw the damage he had done, looking to me with so much sadness and regret. My mother was a weak woman. I loved her dearly. But she never protected me. She was scared. Scared of what he would do to her in return. And I hated it. So incredibly much.

"Come on Ana. Let's get you out of here. Nick? Calm down. This needs to stop....." Her words hung in the air with so much warning within them, that it surprised me to no end. She never back talks him what so ever. She never defies him. She wouldn't dream of it.

"Get out..... BOTH OF YOU!!! Sinners....." I looked up at my mom, completely horrified. I'm the sinner?! You beat your daughter and wife on a daily basis but yet, I'm the sinner for having sex?

"Mom..... I can't take much more of this. He said once we moved here that things would change. But they aren't. And they won't. He'll just keep doing this until one of us ends up dead by his hands." Once we reached my room, I just poured the bottled up words to her, knowing he couldn't hear us any longer. I sat down on my bed with my anger rolling off of me in waves. What if he decided to hurt Ava? I couldn't handle that.

"Honey.... you know your father loves you. He just wants what's best for you. Florida was tough on him." I was tired of hearing about it. I was tired of her attempts at excusing his behavior. He has beaten me so badly before, that I was in the hospital for two days. They told the doctor I was hit by a car. Of course, anyone will believe him for the right price. Just like this so called therapist I'm supposed to start seeing soon. Because I'm not 'right in the head' according to my father. And that's because I'm not his little puppet anymore.

"Well I won't stop seeing Erik. Or Lyle. They care about me more than anyone ever has. They see me mom. They actually treat me like a normal girl. I want my own life, away from dad." I walked over to my open balcony with my tear stained face and red, puffy eyes, wanting so desperately to be with Erik.

"I love you honey. I really do. But..... you have to obey. That's the rules. Now rest up. You have school tomorrow." I rolled my eyes with a sigh the moment she closed my door softly behind her upon exiting. The lights from the pool made the perfect halo around the surrounding area, giving off this calm environment I never wanted to leave.

"Are you okay Ana?" I jumped a little from the sudden voice and visual of Erik below my balcony, seeing his handsome as usual smile directed right at me.

"Yeah...... you heard the glass shatter didn't you?" He looked away a moment in thought, afraid to admit he had. But I imagined it was loud as can be. The entire, massive window shattered into the night air.

"I did. I'm just glad to see you're okay. Can I come up please?" I softly smiled at him, wanting nothing more. I signaled him up before anyone noticed what we were doing, thankful to have the perfect ladder of sorts next to my balcony for moments such as this one. The minute his feet hit the ground, I threw my arms tightly around him, never wanting to let go.

"I can't let you go Erik. He can't make me." He held me tightly up against him, comforting me to no end. It was as if we were made to fit perfectly together.

"It'll be okay. I'm not going anywhere. And I'm not letting you go anywhere. We have each other. We have Lyle. We have Ava. No one can take that from us." I slowly pulled back from his words, his fingers suddenly wiping away the stray tears rolling down my cheeks. But I just kissed him, surrounded by the light of the moon and the stars in the sky. I craved these moments more than anything. And my father was not going to steal this from me.