Page 134 of Beneath the Shadows

His kicks come relentless, each one an explosion of agony. My ribs, my back, my head—his blows rain down, leaving me gasping for breath. The room spins. My vision swimming as my body crumples under his assault.

I try to scream, but the sound is trapped in my throat. His foot connects with my head, sending a burst of white-hot pain blinding me. Over and over, fists and feet tear into my body until everything fades to a dull roar of agony, and I begin to lose the battle to stay conscious.

With the darkness closing in, the only thing I can hold on to is the fragile life inside me and the desperate hope that this isn’t the end.

Antonio

I’m going to burn this fucking city to the ground. Draco has her—I know he does. There won’t be a damn stone left standing by the time I’m done. My men are scattered across the city, searching every dark corner and crevice.

But it’s quiet. Too quiet. No trace of Draco or Alessia. It’s like they’ve disappeared.

The sun’s beginning to peak over the horizon, dragging another day with it, and still nothing. Each hour that slips by feels like a countdown to losing her forever. I have to force myself not to think about what he’s doing to her—what condition she’ll be in when I find her. Because I will find her.

Dante walks beside me as we step into the restaurant. Inside, she’s waiting—Ophelia, the one responsible for Alessia’s disappearance. I’ve questioned her already, but there’s something she’s holding back. I’ll get the truth out of her if it’s the last thing I do.

“Tell me again,” I demand, my voice like stone.

Her hands tremble, and her face turns pale. “I—I’ve told you everything,” she stammers.

“I’ll decide when you’ve told me everything. Now, talk,” I roar.

She glances at Dante, looking for some kind of reprieve, but finds none. “A man came to the gallery last week,” she says, her voice gaining strength. “He said he saw signs for Allie’s—I mean, Alessia’s—show. He told me he was her brother. Said you were holding her against her will. I thought?—”

I cut her off with a sharp laugh. “You thought you were saving her? Because you know who I am. You automatically assumed I was some monster she needed rescuing from? You didn’t even bother to ask Alessia if she needed help.” I lean in closer, my voice turning to a growl. “You handed her over to a man you didn’t even know—like you were doing her a favor. What kind of fucking idiot are you?”

She flinches, wringing her hands. “He was so convincing. He told me she ran to Alabama to get away from you, but you hunted her down and dragged her back.” She swallows hard. “He… he showed me pictures. Of her bruises. Said it was you. I didn’t know?—”

“Bullshit.” My fist slams onto the table, and she jumps. “You didn’t know because you didn’t ask. You let some stranger walk in and take Alessia without even confirming who the hell he was.”

“I thought?—”

“I don’t give a fuck what you thought,” I snarl, my rage boiling over. “You handed her over to him like she meant nothing. Now, she's in the hands of a monster who wants her dead.”

Her face goes ashen. “I swear, I didn’t know. I thought I was helping.”

“I’m done listening to this same bullshit story,” I snap, my patience unraveling. “You thought you were helping? You thought wrong.”

Her breath hitches, and I see the fear in her eyes. She should be scared. I reach for my gun, my fingers brushing against the cold steel.

“Antonio, no.” Dante steps in front of me, putting his hand on my chest. “Killing her won’t get us any closer to finding Alessia.”

“She handed her over to Draco.”

“And she’ll pay for that,” Dante says. “But not now. Not like this.”

“She’s lying,” I growl, eyes locked on the woman. “She’s leaving something out. She knows more.”

“Maybe,” Dante admits, casting a glance at her. “But if you kill her, we’ll never know. Keep her alive—for now.”

I take a step back, still seething but aware that Dante’s right. My eyes don’t leave her. “You’d better hope you remember something else,” I hiss. “Because next time, no one will stop me.”

She’s shaking now, tears streaming down her face.

“Let’s go. She’s useless.”

Her sobs echo behind us as Dante closes the door and locks the room.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I yank it out, expecting an update from my men, but it’s an unknown number. I glance at Dante before answering.

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