All Chapters of Beneath the Shadows: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

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

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

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

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