Secrets Untold

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 35

TW: The following chapters may contain issues onanxiety, depression, PTSD, drugs, etc. As this has been prefaced here, it willnot be reminded for the applicable chapters. If you ever feel uncomfortable,feel free to skip parts of the chapter.

*****

𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐎 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃 me warily.

"My brothers promised me they were trying to change their ways," I argued.

Julio laughed, "Akira, a better mafia? It's hard for mafias to change, you know that. Impossible for the Italians to change their ways. Face it, they're not the worst, nor the best."

"But my brothers-" I protested.

His eyes softened, "Family is not always blood. Remember?"

I chewed my lower lip, looking away from him. I heard him sigh as he shoved his hands into his pockets, "Akira. Please understand."

As I was about to respond, several shouts and stomps echoed down the hallway as Max ran past the room. A few moments later, Alexis walked into the room, taking a seat.

"Is he always this fucking annoying?" Alexis glanced at me before clarifying, "Your friend Max."

I rolled my eyes, "Yep. He's a pure puppy dog. Don't worry, you'll get used to it."

"Like hell I will," she responded, folding her arms defensively across her chest.

A chuckle escaped Julio as he watched us from his position on the couch as Max wandered in, "Ouch, insulted twice in one day? You wound me."

Alexis lazily pointed the bird at him, shaking her head, "I can't believe he's your friend."

"Sometimes I wonder too," I said, giving Max a wink, before stretching my arms, "Right, I think I'll head up to bed now. Bye guys."

Everyone in the room murmured some form of goodbye as I headed out, making my way to my room.

*****

"Akira."

I squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to look at the scene before me. "Akira, look at me."

I shook my head until he grasped my face forcefully, turning me to look at their broken figures. My voice cracked, "No-"

"This was your fault. Yours. If only you had complied with the rules, we wouldn't be in this position, mi cielo."

He forced me to look at him as I spat in disgust, "Don't call me that. I thought you had changed."

Releasing my face from his clutch, he ran a hand through his dark hair. "Do you need me to get on my knees for you to tell you to look at what you've done? Do you want me to beg you to fix this situation? To fix what you destroyed?"

Confused, I took a hesitant step back, sizing him up. "What do you mean? I didn't do this? This was you-"

Julio dropped to his knees before me, pressing something metal into the palm of my hand. Gazing up at me, his bloodied and bruised face implored me, "Take me too."

"I can't," I stuttered as my hands rose involuntarily. "I can't. What's going on? What do you mean? It was you!"

"Do it," Julio ordered me forcefully. "There's nothing left for me to lose anymore."

His hand guided the blob of metal to his temple, his face tilted defiantly toward me. "Pull the trigger. Now."

"This was you-" I cried out in confusion, as my head turned wildly to survey the carnage. "Please no. Stop- I don't want this-"