Page 38 of Beneath the Shadows

Valentino:Where are you?

Alessia:I’m with your mother.

Valentino:You didn’t tell me you were going anywhere.

Alessia:You weren’t home. Antonio brought me.

Alessia:I didn’t think I needed your permission to visit my mother-in-law.

The texts show read, but there’s no reply.

“Is everything alright, dear?” Domenica asks.

I force a smile. “It is. Nothing important.”

“I’m sorry for interrupting,” Antonio says, stepping onto the patio.

“You’re never an interruption, Anton,” Domenica replies warmly.

“Valentino’s on his way,” Antonio says, a slight hesitation in his voice. “He’s not in the best mood.”

I offer a nod of appreciation. “Excuse me for a moment,” I say, standing and hoping to interrupt Valentino before he causes a scene and upsets his mother even more.

Just as I step inside, the front door slams. Heavy footsteps approach as Valentino storms down the hallway.

“What the hell are you doing here again?” he snaps, his eyes narrowing as they land on me.

“I told you in my text. I’m visiting Domenica,” I reply evenly. “She needs support right now.”

“She needs to move on,” he growls, his tone harsh. “Sitting around feeling sorry for herself won’t bring him back.”

Anger flares inside me, but I keep my expression neutral. “Grief doesn’t work on your timetable. Maybe you should try spending some time with her. She could use the support of her son.”

He steps closer, his voice lowering dangerously. “There are more important matters to attend to.”

“Like what?” I challenge.

“I’ve been busy working—making new deals,” he sneers. “And I expected to come home to my wife, not to find her wasting time on things that no longer matter.”

I lift my chin, refusing to back down. “Nothing’s more important than family. Not even your precious business.”

His eyes flash with fury. “You don’t decide what’s important, Alessia. I do. From now on, you won’t be visiting my mother, or anyone for that matter. Do you understand?”

“I’m not one of your men, Valentino,” I say, meeting his gaze with equal intensity. “You don’t get to order me around.”

His expression darkens as he steps even closer. “You may not be one of my men, but youaremy wife. You will follow my rules.”

I take a deep breath, keeping my voice steady. “I will continue to visit Domenica. She needs someone, and clearly, you can’t be bothered with your own mother.”

“You’re treading on thin ice, Alessia,” he hisses, his grip suddenly latching onto my arm with a bruising force. “You think you can defy me?”

Pain shoots through my arm, but I refuse to show any weakness. “This isn’t about you. It’s about doing what’s right.”

“You will do as I say, Alessia, or you will face the consequences.”

“Let go of me, Valentino,” I say through clenched teeth.

“Valentino,” Antonio says from behind me.

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