Page 88 of Beneath the Shadows

For a long moment, she’s silent, considering my words. Then, she nods, a quiet resolve settling over her features. “Okay. I’ll help.”

“Really?” I whisper, hope swelling in my chest.

“Yes. But we need to be careful. Antonio will lose his mind if he finds out I helped you.”

“Thank you, Cecilia. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

She gives me a small, sad smile. “You don’t have to repay me. Just promise that when you get to wherever you’re going, you’ll let me know you’re safe.”

“I promise,” I reply, though I already know I can’t do that.

“How long do you need to get ready?” she asks.

“Give me ten minutes to grab a few things,” I say, standing quickly.

“I’ll tell the guards we’re going for a drive. That we need to get out of the house. Once we’re far enough away, I’ll ditch them. I’ve gotten pretty good at that,” she says, smiling proudly.

“Do you think you can drop me off at the bus station?”

“Sure,” she replies, then lowers her voice. “Do you need money?”

“I’ve been saving what I can. I’ll be okay for a while,” I assure her.

She nods. “I’ll meet you in the car.”

I hurry upstairs to my most recent cage. Grabbing my purse, I double-check that the envelope with my cash is still hidden in the lining. Pulling out my phone, I power it off, and leave it on the nightstand. I can’t take anything with me that could be tracked.

At the doorway, I pause, taking one last look around the room, knowing this is the last time I’ll ever see it. I’m leaving everything behind—my past, my pain, and the life that was never truly mine.

I’ve been trapped for so long—first by my father, then by Valentino. But now, for the first time, I can breathe knowing I’ll be more than just someone else’s pawn.

Today marks the start of a new chapter one in which I’ll finally be free.

Antonio

The air is charged with tension as Dante and I prepare to gather the men. Word quickly spread through the ranks that I’m the new Capo. There’s been no grand induction, no blood-marked ceremony, just the silent understanding that I’m now in charge. So far, I’ve received nothing but supportive messages. But we still have to deal with the matter of who betrayed us.

“Are you ready for this?” I ask.

“I am,” Dante says, his jaw tight. “Tonight, they’ll learn the true cost of betrayal.”

We descend the steps, each movement carrying the gravity of what’s to come. I’ve shut down the restaurant and summoned our men. They think it’s just another routine meeting for assignments. What they don’t realize is that this is far from ordinary—it’s a show of strength, a warning to anyone foolish enough to consider betraying us again.

As we enter the meeting room, the men are already gathered. Some sit, others stand, their postures casual but alert. They have no reason to believe anything is different—yet. Among them are Gino and Mario, the two who sealed their fates with their betrayal. They’re responsible for the deaths of our guard and Lena. Tonight, they’ll pay for it.

I catch Enzo’s gaze from across the room. His expression is blank, but his slight nod confirms he’s ready.

“Since Valentino’s death, Dante and I have been working to ensure our long-held alliances remain secure,” I say as I step forward, my voice slicing through the low murmurs. The room stills instantly. “I want to thank those who’ve reached out to me,” I pause, scanning the faces around me.

“However,” I continue, my voice colder now, “not everyone among us has been as loyal as they should’ve been.”

The tension in the room skyrockets, and I catch the briefest flicker of panic in a few eyes. My gaze locks onto the two men standing near the entrance. “Gino. Mario,” I say, my tone sharp and unforgiving.

They freeze, the color draining from their faces as they realize they’ve been marked. “These men thought they could play both sides. Their betrayal is the reason we’re here tonight.”

Mario’s gaze darts around, looking for a way out, but there’s none. “Loyalty,” I continue, “is everything in this life. And betrayal is unforgivable.”

I nod to Enzo. He and Dante draw their weapons with swift, practiced ease. Gino stammers, desperate. “Mario told me our orders were to get rid of that bitch,”

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