Page 102 of The Bonventi Hitman

What would Livia say if she knew about all this? She's always been the one person who could see past the monster and focus on the good in me.

I'm sure she'd tell me to do the right thing. Not the Bonventi right thing, but the Gabriel right thing, even in this fucked-up situation. She's strong like that.

I take a seat back in the leather chair and vow to myself to find a solution. One that wouldn't just make my sister proud, but one that moves me and Anna forward, and I'm not leaving until I do.

Hours pass as I go back and forth, wrestling with every emotion possible until I come to a solution. The only way out that will work.

I stand, almost feeling like myself again. My only hesitation now lies in the unfortunate event of Anna not agreeing to my demands.

If she does that, then...

No, I won't allow myself to think about that right now. I need to know she's on board.

I leave the room and run into Lydia in the front entrance.

"Sir, Sofia's painting has been delivered."

I nod.

"Where is she?"

"She's up in your room. Some time after you went in there," she says, pointing to the billiard room, "she came out crying and ran upstairs. Figured it best to leave it to you," Lydia says, her face showing concern.

"Yes, that's all right. Is she in our room?"

"Yes, sir."

"Thanks, and you can leave the painting there for now. And, why don't you head home early today. I'll see you tomorrow."

She nods her head as I turn to make my way up the stairs. With each step, I find myself growing a bit worried.

What if she says no?

She can't, can she? Would she?

As I approach the bedroom door, I stop and think.

Everything could fall apart in the next few moments.

ANNA - 38

Ipull myself up and walk out of Gabriel's office. My head is swirling, and exiting the room makes everything real, and tears start to flow again.

I walk past Lydia, who doesn't say a word and watches me go up the stairs, heading for Gabriel's room—our room.

Shutting the door behind me, I collapse on the bed and breathe in his scent, sobbing into his pillow.

The uncertainty of everything forces my stomach to remain in knots. Despite attempting to breathe and relax, thinking it's not good for the baby, I can't. My emotions are too strong.

I stare at the wall, which, through my constant flow of tears, is blurry. After some time, it comes into focus, and I realize I've finally stopped crying. Not because I'm feeling any better, but because I have nothing left. In every aspect of my emotional self, I've bared it all today, and my body just can't take it anymore.

I feel tired, drained, and mentally fatigued. It's as if I've run a marathon and collapsed after finishing. I close my eyes, but all I see is Gabriel's face, his look of betrayal, his anger.

After a while of lying there, the room starts to get dark with the setting sun. It's in this darkness I feel truly alone, vulnerable, and lost.

Suddenly, I hear the handle to the door turn, and I look, assuming I'll see Lydia. But as the light from the hallway rushes into the room, I see Gabriel standing in the doorway. I wipe the hair out of my face and sit up. My heart feels like it's going to explode as my chest tightens.

He just stands there for a moment, not speaking. He takes a step forward, leaving the door open to keep some light in the room.