Page 123 of Beneath the Shadows

“I’ll be back soon,” I whisper as I brush a soft kiss across her forehead. She stirs slightly, but her breathing remains steady.

With one last, lingering look, I slip out of the room. The emotions I’d buried, smothered under years of silence, have clawed their way back to life, fierce and unrelenting. Alessia has always been the one, the pulse in my darkened heart.

Now that she’s mine, nothing in this world or the next will take her from me again.

Alessia

The soft light of morning filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I stretch out, reaching for Antonio, but find nothing. His side of the bed is untouched, cool against my fingertips. Disappointment tugs at me, but I push it aside and slip out of bed. After last night, I’m sure he’s already busy with work.

I’m still wearing his T-shirt. Knowing it was on his body yesterday is comforting—I may never give it back. The fabric brushes against my bare legs as I head downstairs. When I reach the kitchen, the sight surprises me. Dante’s sitting at the table, a cup of coffee in his hand, his posture as composed as ever. His eyes dart away from me with practiced subtlety.

"Good morning," Antonio says, crossing the room. He presses a gentle kiss to my lips.

“I was looking for you,” I say quietly.

"I'm sorry you had to wake up alone."

“Did you sleep at all?”

He shakes his head, dark shadows beneath his eyes betraying the sleepless night. “No. We’re still dealing with the fallout from last night.”

I glance at Dante, who keeps his gaze averted, focused on making another cup of coffee. “What’s going on?” I press, worry rising.

“There’ve been some unexpected complications, but nothing we can’t handle.” Antonio’s thumb brushes my cheek, his touch a quiet reassurance. “You should go upstairs and get dressed. More of my men are on their way, and I wouldn’t want to have to kill anyone for looking at you.”

“Antonio.” I give his arm a playful shove. “You wouldn’t.”

“Oh, I would,tesoro,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. “You’re mine, and I don’t share.” The intensity in his voice sends a shiver down my spine—a mix of possessiveness and protectiveness that’s both comforting and unnerving.

I meet his gaze, recognizing the seriousness despite his playful tone. “You’re impossible,” I say, though I can’t hide the smile tugging at my lips.

Antonio grins, the caring man beneath the ruthless Capo breaking through. “Go on, get dressed,” he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll have breakfast ready when you come back down.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as I leave the room, I hear Dante ask, “She’s wearing your shirt?”

I pause, lingering in the hallway, listening.

“Things are changing between us,” Antonio replies, his voice low but clear. “We’re growing closer.”

“Are you sure it’s not just jealousy because Draco wants her back?” Dante questions.

“I’m falling in love with her,” Antonio replies, without hesitation. “And it terrifies me.”

My breath catches. He’s falling in love with me?

Moving quietly up the stairs, my thoughts race. I sit on the edge of the guest bed, Antonio’s words echoing in my mind. He’s falling in love with me. It’s something I never believed possible. I’ve always kept people at arm’s length, guarded with my heart. But these past few weeks with Antonio have been different. There’s a bond between us that feels deeper than attraction, a connection that’s raw, unguarded—real.

After everything he’s put me through, could we really have a future together? Is a man like him even capable of love?

* * *

Antonio’s men have been in and out of the house all day—some faces familiar, others not. Unlike Valentino and my father, Antonio doesn’t shoo me away while he gives orders. In fact, I think he prefers keeping me close. His men don’t seem bothered by my presence either. Although they don’t directly interact with me, each has been polite.

Still, I feel the tension in the air, and I can’t ignore how tired Antonio looks. He hasn’t slept, and it shows. The sharpness in his eyes is dull, the lines on his face more pronounced. I’ve seen him like this before—so focused on everything except himself. I know he’s focused on protecting me, but I worry about him, too.

“Antonio, you need to rest,” I say softly, standing beside him while he pours another cup of coffee.

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