Page 76 of Beneath the Shadows

I shrug, offering a grin. “Didn’t catch her name.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Speaking of Valentino, he sent me to find you. Says you’ve got something for him.”

“I do,” I reply, standing up. “We’ll be downstairs. Make sure we’re not disturbed.”

Antonio

Valentino sits at the bar, a tumbler of whiskey already in his hand, his laughter cutting through the crowded restaurant. Alessia’s next to him, her posture stiff, eyes downcast. He’s too absorbed in his own arrogance, drunk on power, to sense the tension simmering around him.

Lena’s on the other side of the room trying to stay out of his line of sight. I catch her eye, motioning for her to come over. She hesitates, the dread on her face unmistakable but she has no choice.

“Looks like the festivities are already in full swing,” he says as I approach.

“They are,” I reply, keeping my tone neutral.

Valentino’s gaze shifts to Lena as she walks toward us, her face pale but composed. “She doesn’t look very happy,” he observes with a sneer.

“Since when do you care about her happiness?” I reply, my voice cold.

Lena avoids my gaze as she comes to a halt beside me. A pang of guilt hits me, but I shove it aside. There’s no room for second thoughts now.

“Make sure your tables are covered,” I instruct. “We’ll be a few minutes. I’ll send for you when we’re ready.”

“Yes, Mr. Luciano,” she replies, her disgust evident.

Turning to Valentino, I offer a smile. “Are you ready for your present, cousin?”

He stands, leaving both his glass and his wife behind. “I’m intrigued.”

I nod to Dante, who opens the door to the hallway, stepping aside. “Follow me.”

Valentino chuckles, amused by my formality. “Lead the way, cousin.”

Each step is laden with the potential consequences of what I’m about to do. The seriousness of this moment isn’t lost on me. But as long as Valentino lives, he’ll keep tearing everything apart. The humiliation, the cruelty—it ends tonight.

We reach the end of the hallway, where the polished mahogany door awaits, concealing the dungeon beyond.

“You sure you want to see this first?” I ask, turning toward him, a hint of hesitation in my voice. “We could always head back upstairs, catch the procession. There’s still time.”

Valentino smirks, waving away my concern as though it means nothing. “What’s gotten into you, Antonio? You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”

“No, of course not. Just thinking of your wife. Alessia will wonder where you’ve disappeared to.”

“She’ll never satisfy my needs,” he laughs—a deep, throaty sound that echoes down the narrow hallway. “Let her wonder who I’m fucking.”

Pushing open the door, I reveal the room beyond, cloaked in dim, flickering light. Shadows play along the rough stone walls, interrupted only by heavy iron fixtures bolted securely in place. The air is thick with a lingering, oppressive stillness—a place built for secrets.

Valentino steps inside, his eyes wide as they land on the various implements hanging from the walls, each carefully selected for both function and aesthetic appeal.

“Now this,” he murmurs, running a hand over the stretching rack, “is a work of art.” His fingers trace the worn wood as if appreciating every detail.

He glances back at me, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. “Is it fully functional?”

“Of course. Everything in here works exactly as intended.”

Valentino chuckles, giving the rack a playful tug to see how the mechanisms move. The wooden frame groans under the pressure, the chains rattling as he tests its limits. “Oh, I can imagine the fun I’ll have with this.”

I remain by the door, my pulse quickening. “You think all this is really necessary?”

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