Page 2 of Beneath the Shadows

“How are you this afternoon, cousin?” Valentino asks, his voice laced with thinly veiled contempt.

“I’m fine,” I say as I turn slowly, keeping my expression neutral. “What brings you here? I thought you’d be busy with your company.”

“Alessia is the reason for my visit,” he snaps, crossing his arms and staring me down. “I saw you talking to her this morning.”

I meet his gaze, refusing to rise to the bait. “I dropped you off and decided to visit my parents. I can’t control who walks down the street. We exchanged a few polite words. It was nothing more than that.”

But I knew it wasn’t justnothing. It was Alessia. And it was the first time I’d spoken to her in years. The moment our eyes met, it hit me harder than I expected. I tried to keep my walls up, tried to stay detached, but seeing her again stirred up everything I’d worked to bury. I told myself it was just small talk, meaningless, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t that simple.

He takes a step closer, his eyes narrowing to slits. “You’d do well to remember Alessia’s my fiancé now.”

Alessia is only twenty-two. Their marriage wasn’t supposed to happen until she was twenty-five, but it’s no surprise her father agreed to move it up. To Draco Moretti, this union is nothing more than a business transaction. The sooner the two families are tied, the more secure he thinks his position will be.

The thought twists a knot of bitterness in my chest. Alessia deserves more than to be used as a pawn in her father’s game, more than to be tied to a man like Valentino. The idea of her with him, trapped in a marriage for power and convenience, makes my stomach turn. But I can’t let my true feelings show.

“It sounds as though congratulations are in order,” I say, a smile curling on my lips.

“Yes, they are,” Vigo replies, his tone dripping with self-satisfaction.

I nod, maintaining my neutral mask. “I do understand your concern. Alessia’s a special woman,” I say, forcing a placating smile. “But you have nothing to worry about. I respect your engagement, and I’ll be sure our men do as well.” I drop my voice, lowering my tone.

Valentino’s always been paranoid, constantly looking for betrayal even when there’s none to be found. He studies my face for any sign of deceit. “Good,” he says coldly. “Because if I catch any one near her again, you included, they won’t live long enough to regret it.”

His arrogance is insufferable, always acting like he’s above everyone, untouchable. The idea that he would threaten me over a few unimportant words makes my blood boil. Swallowing my anger, I manage, “Of course, cousin. I wouldn’t dream of overstepping.”

“And let’s be honest, Anton,” he says, his sneer deepening, his arrogance seeping through. “You gave it your best shot, but I outsmarted you and secured a future with her. Alessia needs more than you could ever give her. She needs a real man—a leader.”

The sting of his words ignites a dark fire inside me, but I don’t let it show. “You’re absolutely right, Vigo. I tried and failed,” I say, my voice calm, though the thought of Alessia being trapped with him twists something deep in my gut.

I take a step closer, clasping a hand on his shoulder. “You, though,” I add, my tone low and controlled, “are exactly the kind of man any woman would be lucky to marry.”

Lucky? I scoff, holding back a bitter laugh. Alessia’s anything but lucky being forced to marry this arrogant bastard.

“Exactly,” he agrees.

“You were born to lead,” I add the compliment bolstering his already oversized ego. “Alessia doesn’t know how lucky she is.”

“No, she fucking doesn’t,” he snaps, and I realize I hit a nerve. “She dared to leave my house without permission, using her father as her excuse.” Valentino’s rage spills out as he begins pacing across the patio. “Then, she refused to start planning our wedding.”

“When’s the big day?” I ask casually.

“Two weeks,” he says, stopping briefly before resuming his relentless pacing.

The timing blindsides me, but I quickly steady myself.

“Our wedding will be a statement to the otherFamiglias,showing them who truly holds the wealth and power.”

“A wedding fitting for our future Capo and his wife,” I reply.

“Yes,” he agrees, puffing out his chest.

“How do you plan on making her cooperate?”

Valentino laughs, a harsh, grating sound. “Alessia will learn her place. She’ll realize her resistance is futile and that her only option is to submit to my demands,” he says, his eyes gleaming with something sinister.

I force a smile, masking the disgust churning in my gut. “And if she doesn’t?”

“Then I’ll have the pleasure of teaching her.” He shrugs, his casual indifference chilling. “There are many ways to break a person’s spirit.”