Page 82 of Beneath the Shadows
I grab Lena’s arm and haul her to her feet. Her legs buckle beneath her, but I don’t let her fall. “You need to get a grip,” I hiss in her ear, trying to snap her out of it. “We don’t have time for this.”
Lena clings to me, her nails digging into my arm. She nods weakly as she tries to pull herself together. I force myself to be patient as I guide her up the stairs and straight into the office. Once inside, I sit her down in a chair, watching as she curls into herself, her body trembling uncontrollably.
The weight of what I’ve set into motion presses heavily on me. Valentino is dead. The plan is in motion.
Before I can fully process the next steps, the door creaks open. Alessia steps inside, her eyes wide as she surveys the room. Her gaze moves from Lena to me.
“Valentino?” she breathes, barely above a whisper.
I study her closely, watching for any trace of genuine grief—but there’s none. Only a carefully crafted mask of shock. But I know better. I’ve seen the way she looks at Valentino, the loathing she can never quite hide.
Alessia takes a tentative step forward, her eyes narrowing as they meet mine. For a moment, we share a silent understanding.
She’s not mourning him. This isn’t a loss for her. It’s freedom.
“I... I should…” she stammers, glancing back toward the door.
“Go ahead,” I tell her gently. “After I take care of Lena, I’ll find you.”
She hesitates, glancing at me once more before slipping out. Alone with Lena, I lean back against the desk, crossing my arms as I observe her.
“Why haven’t you killed me yet?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
“If I wanted you dead, you’d already be in the ground,” I reply, my tone calm, almost indifferent. “But that’s not what I want right now.”
She swallows hard. “What do you want?”
“For now, I want you to keep your mouth shut.” Each word is deliberate. “That’s the only way I can protect you.”
Lena blinks, caught off guard. “You’re going to protect me? Why?”
“Someone killed Valentino, and you were the last one with him,” I remind her. “For now, I’ll keep you alive. But don’t mistake this for kindness. Step out of line, and I won’t hesitate to make you disappear.”
She flinches, the reality of the situation hitting her hard. “I didn’t do anything,” she murmurs, her voice cracking under the weight of her innocence.
Her words hang in the air.I didn’t do anything.
Lena doesn’t know the truth—that her hands delivered the final blow.
But I can never tell her that. Her fear must remain real, her role played to perfection. Because if she falters, my carefully constructed plan will unravel. And if something happens to me, she’ll be on her own.
Lena’s eyes lock onto mine, a storm of fear swirling within them. “I hated him, but I would never have killed him.”
That’s the problem, Lena. You wouldn’t have.
I push down the guilt that tries to surface, reminding myself why I’m doing this. Valentino’s death wasn’t just necessary. It was inevitable. And Lena, with her pretty face and broken spirit, was the perfect scapegoat.
“If you do what I say and keep quiet, I’ll ensure your safety,” I tell her firmly. “But make no mistake, Lena—there’s no going back. You’re in this now, whether you like it or not.”
Lena’s eyes search mine, her fear and resignation battling. Slowly, she nods. She knows there’s no escape.
“Good,” I reply, turning toward the door. “I’ll have Silas take you to a safe house. He’ll stay with you until I can get there.”
“Why are you helping me?” she asks as I walk toward the door.
I freeze, my hand on the knob. “No more questions, Lena.”
And with that, I walk out of the office.