The Mafia’s Endgame

| 18 | Tell me everything.

"What... what are you doing here?" Amethyst's voice is quiet, a fragile thing that barely carries across the room. She's standing by the door, as if she's hiding behind it, a slight hesitancy in her posture, like she's unsure whether she wants to let him in or slam the door shut.

Demetrio stands in the doorway, his expression unreadable, his hand is still resting on the doorframe, his eyes scanning her carefully.

"I came to check on you... see how you're doing." His words are careful, and he tries his best to show her that he's come in peace. But at the same time, his tone lacks the warmth he once showed her. There's no tenderness in his voice, no trace of the Demetrio she once knew, and it makes her heart ache at how easily he was able to move on from her.

"You didn't have to do that," Amethyst replies, her gaze dropping to the floor. Her voice sounds hollow, almost defeated, as though she's resigned herself to the fact that this, whatever it is, was going to happen eventually.

"I wanted to." Demetrio's response is clipped, but there's a flicker of something softer beneath the surface. It's there, just out of reach, and Amethyst can sense it, but she's not sure whether it's real or just the remnants of something long gone.

She exhales slowly, finally stepping aside and gesturing for him to enter. "Come in."

At her invitation, Demetrio sighs in relief, watching as Amethyst steps aside and provides room for her to pass. As Demetrio enters, his eyes scan the room as if searching for something. The tension between them is still heavy, like static in the air. He wants to understand, to find the answers that have eluded him since everything fell apart, and Amethyst feels the exact same way...

Amethyst shuts her eyes for a few seconds once Demetrio walks past her, finally shutting the door after him and turning to look at him, crossing her arms as she begins approaching him slowly.

"I want you to tell me everything," Demetrio says as he moves farther into the room, eventually turning around and facing her as he comes to a stop. His voice has shifted, hardened, but there's an underlying edge of vulnerability in it that he can't quite hide.

He's looking for closure, or maybe something more... an explanation, a justification. Whatever it is, it's clearer now than it ever was.

"I already told you what happened," Amethyst shakes her head, her voice trembling ever so slightly, immediately letting Demetrio know that she isn't being 100% truthful.

She wants to push back, to make this easier for herself, but she knows—deep down—that it's not going to be that simple. She's been running from this conversation for so long, but here it is...

The moment she's been dreading."You didn't tell me everything, and even you know that," Demetrio says, cutting through her defences with an unflinching certainty. He's not angry anymore, but he knows he's getting there, and he has every right to be. He's looking at her now, his eyes hard, demanding the truth.

Amethyst closes her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, preparing herself. "Fine," she says, the word sharp as it slips past her lips.

"I'll tell you everything." She begins. "When I got back to Aurelio's house...-" She tries to say.

"Start from the beginning." Demetrio interrupts, his voice more forceful now. "How you got involved with Bonavelli and ended up helping Celestia escape and kill Caesaro..." His words sting, the rawness of them cutting through the space between them. He's angry now, but not just at her—he's angry at himself for not being able to see this happening. Before she lost herself, before she got Caesaro killed...

Amethyst takes a step back, almost like she's physically bracing for the storm. She looks at him for a moment, gathering her thoughts, and trying to make sense of everything.

The memories are all still there, swirling in her mind, and the pain of them is just as sharp as it was when it all began.

"After you broke up with me," she finally begins, her voice strained, "I was a wreck." She admits and a frown rests on his face, knowing that he is partly to blame for what happened with Amethyst...

"I started abusing drugs," she continues, her voice growing softer. "It was the only thing that could numb the pain, the only way to make it feel like I could breathe again..." She shakes her head, almost ashamed of the confession, but it's the truth—raw and unfiltered.

"A man got in contact with me," she says, her eyes flicking toward Demetrio briefly. "He offered me an unlimited fix. So I met up with him. He gave me what I wanted." Her eyes darken, remembering the desperation that led her down that road. Following a complete stranger. She could've easily gotten herself killed, and maybe death could've been close to what she's experiencing right now.

"I know it was stupid," she says, almost as a whisper now. "I wasn't thinking. I put myself in danger." She feels a lump rise in her throat, but she keeps going. "That man turned out to be Aurelio... someone who worked for Bonavelli."

Demetrio's face tightens at the mention of Aurelio's name, but he says nothing. His fists clench at his sides. Amethyst can't help but notice it. She keeps going, knowing he won't stop her until she tells him everything.

"And he told me... I could take revenge on the Delassaros. On you... on June..." Her voice cracks. "For everything you put me through." The words hang heavy between them, and Demetrio's expression falters for a split second before he steadies himself. His jaw clenches, and there's a dangerous stillness to him now...

"At the time, all I cared about was hurting you," Amethyst continues, her voice barely above a whisper. "How you hurt me. I was sick of feeling like I was always on the sidelines, like no matter what I did, I was going to be treated like an outsider. And you choosing June? That was the icing on the cake."She pauses, her eyes darting between his, searching for any hint of emotion. Instead, he remains silent, allowing her to get what she is feeling off her chest...