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CHAPTER 98: FINDING PEACE
Last Updated:
2025-04-11 07:11:51
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Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 1: SHADOWS IN THE ALLEY
As she raced, the cold night air stinging at her skin and her breath coming in loud, frightened gasps, she could hear her father's remarks, which were as deadly as the booze on his breath. "You're worthless, just like your mother." She gritted her teeth and ducked into the tight alley, the sound of footsteps behind her driving her onward. "Please, let me find somewhere to hide," she muttered. As she slid around the bend and collided with a wall of muscle, her heart pounded. Before she could collapse, iron-clad hands clamped down on her arms. She gasped and gazed up into the icy, calculating eyes of a stranger. "You shouldn't be here." His voice was low and powerful and lethal. Sienna's breath froze, and she snatched her arm back, panicking. "Let me go!" The man did not move. His black eyes gazed at her with an unbreakable demeanor. "Whom are you running from?" "It's none of your business!" She struggled against his grip, but it was ineffective. He was solid and unmoving, and h
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 2: THE ENCOUNTER
As the SUVs' doors crashed and the men moved forward brandishing their weapons, the alley became more tense. Sienna's breath caught as her heart thumped in her chest. Enzo remained motionless, his hand still in his jacket, his fingers grazing his gun's handle. Like a king, he stood tall and calm, guarding his realm. From the crowd, a guy moved forward, his heavy footfall echoing off the walls of the alleyway. When Sienna saw the shadow, her blood froze. Her dad. He shouted, "Sienna," in a fake, worried-sounding tone. "Come here now."Sienna stopped. Her feet would not move, even though every instinct told her to run. Her father looked at Enzo and squinted his eyes in disdain. "Falcone," he hissed. "You have no business dealing with this." Enzo's lips curled into a sardonic grin. "De Luca, everything in this city is my business." Sienna's father, Alessandro De Luca, appeared to be a strong man in his own right. Despite his seeming strength, he was a corrupt politician who was invo
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 3: A DEAL IN THE DARK
A dense, oppressive silence fell between them as Enzo's words took hold. Fear and anxiety were rushing through Sienna's mind as she stared at him. "Someone worse than you?" She said, her voice barely audible. Enzo stared at her, his black eyes unreadable. "Piccola, worse in all the areas that are important to you. You think I’m dangerous? You don’t know the half of it.” She shivered and folded her arms about her body. "Now what?" With a calculated and icy expression, Enzo put his phone back in his pocket. "Now, you come with me." Sienna pushed her shoulders into the harsh brick wall and took a step back. “Come with you? Where?”"Somewhere you'll be safe." Her pulse quickened. Safe? Was she really safe with him? He had approached her father as though nothing had happened, brushing off his threats as if they were empty words. Enzo wasn't a hero. He was a ruthless mafia boss who frequently dealt with violence and intimidation. Now she was caught in his web. She shook her head. "Why
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 4: A FINE LINE
The penthouse became strangely quiet as Luca left, and Sienna stood clumsily in the middle of the room. Enzo poured himself a drink carefully and methodically while she watched him. She could feel the strain bearing down on her. Luca's words left her stunned. A burden? She wanted to ask, but the words became stuck in her throat. That word struck a deep chord within her. For years, her own family had reminded her that she was nothing but a burden they were forced to bear. And now a complete stranger has concluded the same thing.When he saw that she was staring, Enzo arched an eyebrow. "You're not going to ask?" Sienna moved apprehensively. "Ask what?" After observing her and taking a leisurely sip of his drink, Enzo spoke the words, "Whether you're a burden." She swallowed, and her throat constricted. "Am I?"Enzo set his drink down and stepped forward, staring into her eyes. "That depends on you.”She gasped. "I didn't ask to be here." "But here you are nonetheless." He spoke in
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 5: THE WOLF AT THE DOOR
Enzo's eyes flared dangerously. "Luca, define 'everyone’.” Luca's voice was tight, and his face stern. "Every contact with ears in the right places, every crew that has ever had a grievance with us. Enzo, they all know she's here.” Sienna's mind was racing, and her heart was thumping. "How? I haven't even—”With a hard voice, Luca interrupted her. "It doesn't matter how. They're coming; that's the point. For her. For us.” Enzo turned away and paced for a while, obviously going over a hundred possible outcomes in his head. At last, he paused and turned to face Luca. "How long do we have?” Luca ran a hand through his hair and shrugged. “Maybe a few hours. Depending on their speed.” Sienna stepped forward and spoke in a halting voice. "What do they want with me? I am nobody.” Luca snorted and shook his head. "My love, you are no longer nobody. You’re leverage. A negotiating chip. You were used by your old man.” She felt sick to her stomach at the recollection. "So they're coming
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 6: THE UNWANTED GUEST
The figure in front of Enzo and Sienna was hardly visible in the faint light from the lone bulb hanging in the middle of the room. His presence was laden with danger as his shadow swept over the floor.The breath caught in Sienna's throat. She shifted closer to Enzo out of reflex and muttered, "Who is that?"When he heard her query, the man's grin got bigger. "Oh, don't worry, my love. I'm just your father's old pal.”Enzo's voice was cold as ice, and his palm was hovering over his revolver. "No one considers you a friend. Mateo, what are you doing here?”Mateo, trying to look innocent, arched an eyebrow. "What, Enzo, won't you give me a hearty welcome? I thought the hostility was over.”Enzo snarled, his muscles tensing, preparing to flex, "Answer my question."Mateo laughed, amusement shining in his eyes. "I was informed about the girl. When you do something like this, word gets around quickly. You are aware of the city's operations. The vultures circle as soon as you introduce a ne
Last Updated : 2024-12-11Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 7: FIREFIGHT IN THE ALLEY
With the walls rising on either side like prison bars, the alley was oppressively small. As Mateo's men surrounded them, guns aimed and eyes shining with ill intent, Sienna felt her heart thumping in her chest. The air was so tense it could be cut with a knife.Mateo smirked smugly as he moved forward, his pistol still holstered. "Enzo, I told you. You would eventually slip up.”Enzo did not react. While his other hand hovered close to his revolver, he continued to hold Sienna's hand securely. “Mateo, you are making a mistake. This will not go as you anticipate.”Mateo laughed and relaxed against the automobile. "Oh? How is that? You are surrounded, outnumbered, and outgunned. As far as I’m concerned, this is over.”Sienna's breathing quickened as she turned to face Enzo. His face was blank and serene, but she could feel the stiffness in his hands. Then she said, barely audible. "What do we do?" With his eyes fixed on Mateo, Enzo mumbled back. “Stay close. Don't move until I tell you
Last Updated : 2024-12-11Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 8: THE FINAL MOVE
When the black car's window rolled down, Sienna's whole body froze. In the gloomy streetlight, her father's features appeared as icy and cunning as ever. His eyes stared at her with an odd mixture of triumph and disdain."Sienna, get in the car," he commanded in a cold voice.Enzo tightened his grip on her arm as if to warn her not to move. Marco, who was just behind them, reached for his weapon and looked from the car to Sienna.Enzo stepped forward just enough to put himself between Sienna and her father. He spoke in a low, menacing voice. "She’s not going anywhere."A snarl curved her father's lip. "Enzo, do you think you can keep her away from me? Compared to you, I've been playing this game a lot longer. You have no idea what you're up against.”As Sienna looked from Enzo to her father, her heart was pounding in her ears. This was the moment that had been developing; it wasn't just another confrontation. She sensed it.Her father went on, leaning out the window, "You've already l
Last Updated : 2024-12-13
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Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 98: FINDING PEACE
The warm light from the desk lamp cast a soft glow over the dark wood and leather. Enzo sat behind the desk, going over reports. The door creaked open, and Luca stepped in, unannounced but expected.“You’re late,” Enzo said without looking up.Luca smirked as he closed the door. “You never used to care about time when we were running heat in our backstreets.”“Now I care about school runs and quarterly projections,” Enzo replied, setting down his pen. “Different stakes.”Luca nodded and sat across from him. “It’s quieter out there.”Enzo raised an eyebrow. “Too quiet?”“There’s a vacuum, Enzo. Since you left… there’s no one solid holding things together.”“That’s not my concern anymore.”Luca leaned back, studying him. “You always had the head for order. Even when we were knee-deep in mess, you brought structure. People respected that.”“And feared it,” Enzo muttered. “Don’t romanticize it, Luca.”“I’m not. I’m telling you there’s instability. Factions forming, reckless kids stepping
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 97: LIVING THE LIFE
The late afternoon sun filtered through the kitchen windows, casting a golden hue across the counters. Sienna stood barefoot at the island, cutting strawberries for Lucia, who sat in her high chair, babbling to herself and occasionally tossing fruit to the floor.“Sweetheart,” Sienna said, laughing, “the food goes in your mouth, not under the fridge.”Lucia squealed in delight, clearly unconcerned.Enzo entered, sleeves rolled up, loosened tie around his neck. He leaned down, kissing Lucia’s forehead and then Sienna’s cheek.“Smells good in here,” he murmured.“That’s because it’s strawberries and not one of your protein shakes,” she teased.He chuckled. “Fair.”They watched Lucia for a moment, both quiet.“She’s growing fast,” Sienna said softly. “Seems like just yesterday I was waddling through this house, cursing swollen ankles.”Enzo smiled, resting a hand on her back. “And now she’s tossing berries like confetti.”Sienna turned to look at him. “Have you ever thought about having
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 96: GIVING BACK
Sienna adjusted the collar of her blouse as she stood in front of the small group of women seated in folding chairs. A banner hung behind her, the freshly printed letters reading: Lucia Foundation – Hope Beyond the Shadows. Natalia stood off to the side, clipboard in hand, giving her an encouraging nod.“You’ve got this,” Natalia whispered.Sienna smiled, then took a breath and stepped forward.“Thank you all for coming today. I know how hard it can be to walk into a room like this. I’ve been where you are. Caught in a world that told me silence was survival.”A murmur of agreement rippled through the group.“But silence isn’t strength,” Sienna continued. “Community is. And that’s what we’re building here.”After the session ended, Natalia approached her with a wide grin. “You were amazing. The women were hanging on every word.”Sienna exhaled, wiping her palms on her skirt. “I was terrified.”“Didn’t show.”Just then, Sienna’s phone buzzed. It was a picture from Federico—baby Lucia n
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 95: A GHOST OF THE FUTURE
Enzo leaned back in his chair, flipping through the latest quarterly report. The numbers didn’t lie. His lips curled into a wide smile just as Federico walked in, looking confident, sleeves rolled up and phone still in hand.Enzo raised a brow. “That the final call?”Federico nodded, tossing his phone onto the desk. “Done. They signed.”Enzo blinked. “You closed it?”Federico smirked. “I told you I would.”Enzo stood and walked around the desk. “You got them to agree to our terms? All of them?”“Every single one,” Federico said, voice calm but proud. “Distribution rights, branding control, full autonomy for expansion in the next region.”“Jesus,” Enzo muttered, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “That’s huge, Fed. This deal alone will cover our overhead for the next six months.”Federico chuckled. “Told you to trust me.”“I do trust you,” Enzo said, then added with a smirk, “But I didn’t expect you to wipe the floor with their legal team.”“They tried to box me in,” Federico said, settl
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 94: ONE LAST CHANCE
Enzo stood behind the counter of his café, sleeves rolled up, taking a break. The late afternoon crowd had thinned, leaving a calm lull in the air. The door chimed softly.Nico stepped in, dressed down in jeans and a black hoodie, eyes scanning the space.“Didn’t peg you for the espresso crowd,” Enzo said, smirking as he glanced up.Nico shrugged. “Didn’t come for coffee.Enzo picked up his coffee. “Then come on. Back patio’s quiet.”They moved out to the enclosed terrace, where potted herbs lined the walls and the city noise faded behind a curtain of green. Nico sat, drumming his fingers on the table.Enzo leaned back in his chair. “Talk to me.”“I’ve been thinking,” Nico started, eyes distant. “Things are shifting. Luca’s hanging by a thread. Everyone’s watching their backs. It’s not the life it used to be.”“It never was,” Enzo replied. “We just convinced ourselves it was worth the cost.”Nico looked up. “You made it out. Legit. I didn’t think it was possible, but you did it.”“It
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 93: BABY ON BOARD
Sienna pressed a hand to her belly, breathing through the tightness that gripped her. The restaurant bustled around her, waiters weaving between tables, the scent of fresh pasta and espresso filling the air. She tried to focus on the conversation with her friend, but another sharp pain made her grip the edge of the table.“Are you okay?” her friend, Natalia asked, concern flickering in her eyes.Sienna exhaled slowly. “I think—I think it’s happening.”Natalia’s eyes widened. “Now? Sienna, we need to call Enzo.”Sienna nodded, fumbling for her phone. Her hands trembled as she hit Enzo’s number. He picked up on the first ring.“Hey, piccola. What’s wrong?”She sucked in a breath, another contraction making her voice waver. “It’s time.”A chair scraped loudly on the other end. “Where are you?”“At the restaurant. I was meeting Natalia—”“I’m on my way.” His voice was sharp with urgency. “Stay put.”The call ended, and Natalia stood, waving down a waiter. “We need to get her somewhere mor
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 92: TWO SIDES OF A COIN
Alessandro DeLuca sat in the sparsely furnished living room, an empty glass in his hand, staring at the pile of unpaid bills scattered across the table. The walls around him felt smaller, suffocating.The front door opened, and Veronica stepped inside, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. She wasn’t alone—Julian and Victoria trailed behind her, their expressions unreadable.Alessandro straightened. “You’re back.”Veronica met his gaze, but there was no warmth in her eyes. “Only to get the rest of our things.”His stomach dropped. “What?”She sighed, placing her purse down. “I’m leaving, Alessandro. For good. And the kids are coming with me.”Julian, arms crossed, stood firm. “We don’t want to be part of this anymore, Dad.”Victoria, barely holding back tears, nodded. “Mom’s right. It’s not safe here.”Alessandro’s jaw clenched. “Safe? I’m your father. You think running away is the answer?”Veronica stepped closer, her voice calm but unwavering. “You burned every bridge, Ales
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 91: THE CONTRACT
The air inside the office was thick with tension. Federico paced near the window, eyes darting to the street below. Enzo, seated at his desk, flipped a pen between his fingers, his expression unreadable."Word's out," Federico finally said, his voice low. "Everyone knows you've left. Some think you're weak. Others think you’re a liability. And then there are the ones who just want you gone."Enzo didn’t react. He merely leaned back in his chair, the pen still spinning. "And which one sent the hitman?"Federico scoffed. "Does it matter? The fact is, someone’s coming. And we need to be ready."A long silence stretched between them. Enzo finally put the pen down, lacing his fingers together. "How sure are you?""Nico sent word. Said he caught wind of something through one of his informants. A contract’s been put out. Clean, quiet, professional. Someone wants you buried without a trace."Enzo sighed. "Any names?"Federico hesitated. "Just one. Matteo Ricci."Enzo’s brow furrowed. "Ricci?
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 90: A BREAKING POINT
Enzo sat alone in the dimly lit restaurant, the low hum of conversation filling the space. He checked his watch. Ten minutes past the agreed time.He shouldn’t have come.But when Massimo Guiliani requested a meeting, you didn’t ignore it. Not unless you were prepared for the consequences.The door at the back of the restaurant swung open, and a man stepped in. Massimo Guiliani—old but still sharp, his silver hair neatly combed back, his suit pristine. He moved with the careful confidence of someone who had outlived most of his enemies.“Enzo,” Guiliani greeted, sliding into the booth across from him. “It’s been a long time.”“Not long enough,” Enzo said, leaning back. “Let’s skip the pleasantries. Why am I here?”Guiliani chuckled, shaking his head. “Always straight to business. That’s what I always liked about you.”Enzo remained silent.Guiliani signalled the waiter, ordering a whiskey for himself and a water for Enzo. “Still keeping that sharp mind clear, I see.”“I don’t have tim
