Page 31 of The Bonventi Hitman

As we pull away from the mansion, I can't help but feel a sense of dread.

What the fuck is going to happen?

The engine roars as Luca speeds down the winding road, leaving the sprawling mansion behind. I sit quietly in the passenger seat, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. There's nothing but silence between us, but I don't dare break it. I can feel the rage radiating off him, and I don't want to provoke him further.

As the car swerves around a corner, I grip the seatbelt tighter, my heart pounding in my chest. I can't help but wonder what Isabella said to him that has him so enraged.

I got some good intel tonight, and I can't let myself get caught up in personal drama. But I can't deny that Isabella's outburst has shaken me. I never thought I would be caught in the crossfire of a mafia marriage. I can't wait to put this fucker away and letIsabella know the truth, but I wonder if that would make her hate me even more.

I glance over at Luca, studying his profile in the dim light of the dashboard. His jaw is clenched tight, and his knuckles are white on the steering wheel. He looks like a man on the edge. I know he's capable of violence, and I don't want to be on the receiving end of it again.

As we continue to drive in silence, Luca's phone suddenly buzzes. He answers it with a curt, "Yeah?"

I can't make out the other person's voice, but Luca pounds on the steering wheel. "What? Now?" He listens for a moment. "At the place?" he asks before yelling, "Fuck! Okay, fine. I'll be there."

He ends the call and turns to me, his eyes cold. "We've got a problem. I need to take care of some business, and you're coming with me."

This can't be good.

I try to keep my voice steady as I ask, "What kind of business?"

Luca keeps his head straight and eyes on the road. "You'll see soon enough."

We drive for what feels like an hour, winding through the city streets until we reach the outskirts of town and find ourselves on a street of run-down houses.

I look up and down the street, trying to get a sense of where we are and what kind of business Luca might have out here.

I almost throw up when I see it. It's Gabriel's car.

We're at a fucking hit.

ANNA - 12

Luca brings the car to a stop and cuts the ignition outside an abandoned-looking home in what seems like the seediest neighborhood in the city. It's quiet and poorly lit. Even in total darkness, I can't help but focus on Gabriel's car.

"Luca, where are we? What are we doing here?" I ask, my fingers tugging at the hem of my dress—a feeble attempt to regain some control over my emotional uncertainty.

"Relax, Sofia. We'll be back at the hotel, and you'll be naked on all fours in no time. I'm only here if needed," Luca says as he rubs my leg.

His eyes shift from me to the house across the street. "The person best for this job is already inside."

I can’t even process what Luca just said. The fact that he brought me to a hit tells me we're in danger, maybe more than he realizes or thinks. At any moment, the man or men Gabriel is here for could have backup arrive, and I'm sitting in a fucking car with an idiot who I don’t think could do anything worth a damn. And I have no weapon to defend myself.

I feel my fight-or-flight emotions overtake me, and since I can't run, I start to get angry, readying myself for whatever may come.

I do what I can from the passenger seat; I stay focused and alert, pushing away thoughts of being so close to all this while trapped like a sitting duck.

As we sit in silence, waiting, I can tell Luca is scanning the house and the street, too. He seems uneasy to be here.

Well, there goes my confidence.

A sudden noise from within the house draws our attention, causing Luca to flinch.

"What was that?" I whisper.

"Shh, be quiet!" Luca hisses back at me.

My heart is pounding in my chest as I listen for any further sounds.