Page 25 of Beneath the Shadows

Valentino told me to do what I wanted with the house, so I am. I met with a designer last week. We settled on a muted, neutral pallet that’ll go perfectly with the antiques my grandparents left for me and the modern pieces I purchased.

When I reach my arm over to Val’s side of the bed, I find it cold. He must’ve gotten up early. The less I have to see of him, the better. I never thought I’d actuallypreferhim to stay out with one of the women he sleeps with. But since we’ve returned from Italy, he’s come home every night demanding sex. There’s no tenderness, no affection—just his relentless need to dominate.

With a groan, I push myself out of bed, ignoring the ache in my limbs. I need to get out of this house, even if it’s just for a little while. My camera, full of photos from Italy, sits on the dresser—a reminder of the freedom I felt there. A trip to the gallery might be just the slice of normalcy I need.

I pull on a pair of jeans and a loose sweater—something practical for an afternoon out. The last thing I want is to draw any unnecessary attention, especially with Valentino's men everywhere. I know there’s no slipping out alone, but maybe he'll allow one of the friendlier guards to go with me. Grabbing my camera bag, I sling it over my shoulder and head downstairs, bracing myself for whatever comes next.

Antonio stands in the hallway, deep in conversation with a man I don’t recognize. I’m caught off guard seeing him here. A part of me hopes that the small kindness he showed me the night of my wedding might still be there. But as I approach and his eyes shift to me, any trace of warmth is gone, replaced by cold detachment. He’s just as callous as the rest. And yet, he still feels more familiar than anyone else. Cold or not, he seems like the safest choice.

“May I speak with you for a moment?”

He dismisses the man and turns to me. “What can I do for you, Mrs. Comiso?”

I roll my eyes. “Really? What’s with the formalities?”

“You’re married to Valentino now,” he replies, his tone carefully measured.

“That’s not my fault,” I mumble under my breath, causing Antonio to raise an eyebrow. “There’s no reason you can’t call me Alessia. If Val has a problem, I’ll handle it.”

He seems to ignore my request. “What do you need?”

“I want to go out. Can you take me?”

His eyes narrow slightly. “Where do you want to go?”

“I need to go to the store to pick up a few things.”

“What kind of things?”

“Personal things,” I reply vaguely, hoping he won’t push for details. “It’s important.”

He studies me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “As long as your husband approves, I’ll take you.”

Relief washes over me. “Thank you.”

Reluctantly, I go to Val’s office to ask permission. He barely glances up from whatever he’s doing, his tone curt. “Do whatever you want. I’m going out anyway,” he mutters, dismissing me before I can even get the words out.

Antonio and I walk to the garage in silence. As I follow him, a twinge of guilt nags at me for not being completely honest but selling my pictures is something Valentino can never know about.

“Where are we headed?” Antonio asks as we get into one of the sleek black cars.

I input the address for Starlight Studios in the GPS, and he pulls out of the driveway. Staring out the window, my thoughts race as I think about the photos I’ve taken and the potential buyers for them.

Antonio slows to a stop outside the gallery. I know better than to step out before he comes around, so I wait until he opens the door for me.

“Do you mind waiting outside?” I ask, my voice steady but imploring. “I want to get our honeymoon photos developed. Some of them are personal.”

His eyes scan the street, vigilant as ever. “Go. I’ll be right here.”

Inside, Ophelia greets me with a bright smile. “Allie, it’s good to see you. How was your honeymoon?”

“It was lovely. Thank you for asking,” I respond, forcing a smile.

“Do you have some more photos for me?” she asks eagerly.

“I do.” I pass her the memory card.

She slides it into her computer, tapping a few keys before the images of the Amalfi Coast fill the screen. Her eyes light up as she clicks through them.

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