Page 84 of Beneath the Shadows

There’s a finality in his tone that leaves no room for argument. I want to push him for answers, to demand the truth, but he looks so drained, so utterly spent, that I let it go—for now.

"Okay," I whisper, my voice barely audible. But as I walk to my room, a knot of suspicion tightens in my chest. There’s more to this than he’s telling me.

* * *

“Alessia,” Antonio says, shaking my shoulder gently. “It’s time to get up.”

I don’t remember when I fell asleep, but it feels like it’s far too soon to wake up. "Go away," I mumble, trying to burrow deeper into the warmth of my blankets.

“Nice try, princess,” he says, a hint of amusement in his tone. Before I can stop him, he pulls the blankets off me, leaving me exposed to the morning chill.

“Antonio,” I yell, scrambling to grab the blankets. My bare legs and mid-drift are exposed in the tank top and shorts I slept in. I catch him glancing at them—a brief shadow passes over his face, but it’s gone so fast I almost miss it. I yank the blankets back up, glaring at him.

“Get up,” he repeats, his voice more serious now. “You need to pack some things. You’re going to stay with my mom and sister for a while.”

I blink at him, stunned. “What? No, I’m staying here.”

"Alessia," he starts, his voice calm but firm, "this isn’t up for debate."

I shake my head, anger rising. “You said I wasn’t in danger.”

“You’ll always be a target just for who you are,” he clarifies, his patience thinning. “After last night, things with theFamigliaare unstable. I need to keep my family in one place to make sure everyone’s safe.”

“I’m not your family,” I snap, my words harsh.

He doesn’t back down. “This is what’s necessary right now. You’ll be safer with my mom and sister, and I’ll be able to focus on what needs to be done.”

I open my mouth to protest again, but he cuts me off. “Please, Alessia. Don’t fight me on this,” he says, his voice softer now.

It hits me that he’s not acting solely out of duty. There’s something more—a genuine concern that goes beyond his role. He’s trying to protect me because he wants to. But why?

“Fine,” I mutter, sliding out of bed and heading for the closet. “But I’m not happy about it.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to be,” Antonio replies, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Just pack what you need, and I’ll have someone handle the rest.”

That’s what they always say. They always promise tohandlethings, to take care of everything. But no one ever does. Not really.

As I gather my belongings, I sense his eyes on me, watching, but I don’t turn around. There’s too much I don’t understand—too many emotions I’m not ready to confront.

For now, I’ll play along, keeping my head down and my intentions hidden. But the moment I see an opening, I’m gone. Away from this life, from all of it.

And once I leave, I’ll never look back.

Antonio

Alessia’s unhappy with my decision, I knew she would be, but thankfully, she doesn’t put up too much of a fight. She throws her legs over the side of the bed and stomps across the room to her closet, her movements brimming with defiance. A smirk tugs at my lips, amused by her little tantrum. My gaze trails over her—her toned legs, tiny shorts, and the curve of her breasts beneath the thin tank top, her nipples hard against the fabric.

My pulse quickens, and desire surges through me. I take a step back to the doorway, forcing myself to regain control. Alessia’s beautiful, impossible to ignore, but I know she can never be mine. Not anymore. That’s something I have to accept, no matter how much my body reacts when she’s this close.

She throws clothes into her bag, zips it up without even looking at me, and storms past in silence. The tension between us is almost tangible, but I don’t push her. My mother’s house is just across the street, but I’m sure that for Alessia, it feels like another form of imprisonment.

It’s the safest place for her, though. Domenica’s already there. She moved in after my father’s death. I already have two trusted guards stationed at the house. It only makes sense for Alessia to stay with them.

We cross the street, and I remain close, my eyes scanning our surroundings as we walk. I can’t shake the feeling that something could go wrong at any moment. Until I know what the fallout from Valentino’s death will be, I can’t take any risks with Alessia’s safety.

Once she’s inside and settled, I shift my attention to the next problem—Lena. She needs to disappear. I’ve already set things in motion to give her a new life far from Philadelphia. I need to make sure she gets out of town as soon as possible.

Dante waits for me outside, standing by the car. His face is as unreadable as ever, but I can feel the tension radiating off him.

---