Antonio
I’m sitting in my father’s office, my office now, at Casa della Ombre . He ran this part of the business for as long as I can remember. Even though he’s gone, his presence lingers in every corner, guiding me.
I remember coming here as a kid, sitting in this very chair while he worked. He’d ruffle my hair and telling me that one day, this place would be mine. Back then, I didn’t fully grasp what that meant—that one day, he’d no longer be here. But now, I do.
It’s up to me to protect what he built and find a way to take Valentino out without turning La Famiglia against me. Thinking of him gives me the clarity I need to stay patient. To plan carefully.
As I’m lost in thought, there’s a soft knock on the door.
“Come in,” I call.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Alessia says as she steps in. “Valentino wants me to start work today.”
I turn to look at her, my heart nearly stopping at the sight of the bruises on her face. I jump up from my seat and rush over to her. “What the hell happened?”
“I tripped and fell,” she says with a slight shrug, her eyes avoiding mine.
“Don’t lie to me,” I say, my voice rising with anger. “Did Valentino do this to you?”
She hesitates before answering, “Yes.”
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” I growl, clenching my fists at my sides.
“No,” she pleads. “He can’t know I told you.”
I force myself to take a breath, even as rage bubbles under my skin. “I can't let this go, Alessia.”
She looks at me, her eyes filled with both anger and pain. “You knew he was hurting me. Why do you care now?”
Guilt twists in my gut. She’s right, and I can’t deny it. I’ve known. Maybe not everything, but enough. “I should’ve stepped in sooner. I’m sorry.”
She shakes her head, not convinced. I can’t blame her.
“But this,” I pause, searching for the right words, but not finding them. “I can’t stand by and watch this get worse.”
“Worse?” she repeats, frustrated. “If Val finds out I told you, it’ll only get worse. You don’t understand what he’s capable of.”
I’m torn between wanting to hurt Valentino like he’s hurting Alessia and the terror in her eyes. It’s not just fear of him—it’s fear of what will happen if I go after him.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm though every instinct is screaming at me to do something, anything. “Alright,” I say, though it feels like I’m betraying everything I should do. “For now, I won’t do anything.”
She exhales softly, but all I see is the tension in her body.
“But if you come in wearing bruises again,” I pause, my voice hardening. “There’s nothing you can say that will stop me.”
She nods, wiping a tear from her bruised cheek.
I guide her to a chair and sit her down gently. “You shouldn’t be working today.”
“I have to,” she insists. “Valentino will suspect something if I don’t.”
I sigh, hating that even though he’s not here, he’s still running the show. “Fine,” I relent, even though it feels wrong. “Let’s do the paperwork to get you on the books, and then I’ll have one of the girls start your training.”
“Valentino told me I’m not to be paid.”
I stop mid-movement, the pen I’m holding almost snapping in my grip. “What did you say?”
She avoids my gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. “Valentino gave clear instructions. I’m not to be paid for my work.”
“Of course he did,” I mutter, slamming the pen down on the desk. “He has to make sure you’re reminded who’s in control.”
Alessia winces at the sharpness in my voice. “I’ll figure something out,” I say, my tone firm but quieter now. She doesn’t deserve any of this.
For now, I put my anger aside and focus on what I can control. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to Isabella,” I add, leading her out of the office. Isabella’s one of the few servers Valentino hasn’t taken an interest in, which makes her the safest option.
When I return to my office, I slump back into my chair. I can’t let this continue. Valentino may be family, but he’s crossed a line that can never be forgiven. There’s another knock at the door. I glance up, half-expecting more trouble. Instead, it’s Dante.
“I already talked to her,” I say before he has a chance to speak.
“I figured,” he replies. “But that’s not why I’m here. There’s a contractor waiting for you. He says he has an appointment?”
“Perfect,” I say as I stand. “Where is he?”
“I had him wait at the bar,” Dante says, his brow lifting slightly. “Why do you need a contractor?”
“I’m having some work done downstairs,” I explain, heading for the door. “I’m turning one of the old spaces into a soundproof dungeon.”
This is just the first step in a much bigger plan. Even though I trust Dante with my life, I can’t tell him everything. It’s safer this way. If things go south, he can’t be implicated if he doesn’t know anything.
Dante raises an eyebrow. “A dungeon? I didn’t think you were into that kind of thing.”
“It’s not for me,” I say with a smirk. “I’m sick of Valentino using our meeting room for his shit. This will keep him, and anyone else who needs it, out of the way.”
Dante chuckles, shaking his head. “Well, as long as it keeps Val’s dick out of our work space, I’m all for it.”
For now, he’ll think this is about keeping Val out of the meeting room, and that’s exactly how it needs to stay.
“That’s the plan,” I reply as we walk into the bar area.
The contractor, a burly man, is chatting with the bartender. He stands when we approach.
“Mr. Luciano?” he asks, extending a hand.
“ is fine,” I say, shaking his hand. “Thanks for coming on short notice.”
“No problem,” he replies.
“Let’s take a look at the space,” I offer.
We head downstairs, the noise from the restaurant above fading as we move deeper into the cool, dimly lit basement. The walls are lined with old bricks. We eventually reach the dug-out space, an unfinished room with potential.
“This is it,” I say, gesturing around.
The contractor looks around, impressed. “I’ve heard rumors about Philadelphia’s underground tunnels, but I thought they were nothing more than urban legend.”
Philly’s underground tunnels had been whispered about for generations—secret passageways used for everything from hiding revolutionaries to sheltering runaway slaves.
“The tunnels are real, but we’ve made sure ours are no longer connected to the main system.” I turn back to the task at hand. “I want this space fully soundproofed and outfitted with everything we talked about.”
The contractor makes notes on his clipboard. “It’ll take a few weeks, but we’ll get it done.”
“Good,” I reply, crossing my arms. “And I don’t need to remind you about the NDA.”
“Of course not,” he assures me. “I’ve got three trusted men working with me, and your attorney already had them sign.”
“I know,” I say, keeping my tone even.
He glances at the room. “Mind if I grab a few measurements?”
“Go ahead,” I say, stepping aside.
As he starts working, Dante leans in, his voice low. “You really think this will keep Val out of trouble?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “But it’s a start.”
Even in its unfinished state, I can already see the room for what it will become—something far darker than anyone else realizes. It’s more than just a space for indulgence. I keep the thought buried deep, just like the secrets that will soon fill these walls. It’s the first step, the foundation of something much bigger.
And when the moment arrives, these walls will bear silent witness to the fate that awaits Valentino.