Page 34 of The Bonventi Hitman

"So, back to the hotel?" I ask hesitantly, trying to speak with him.

"Yes," Gabriel replies, not taking his eyes off the road.

I nod and sit back in the silence, fighting the urge to ask him about what just happened. I can feel the tension building between us, like a coiled spring ready to snap. I'm drawn to him, despite everything I know about him. He somehow makes me feel safe, protected. It's a paradox that I've never experienced before.

"Are you alright?" Gabriel asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I say.

And the crazy thing is, that wasn't a lie. That wasn't Sofia answering, pretending to be a mistress—that was Anna, an FBI agent. Yes, while still new and not having seen a ton of dead bodies, I’ve at least seen enough for my mind to forge on and allow some messed-up acceptance.

"You know, that dress is quite distracting."

"Aren't you supposed to keep your eyes on the road?"

Gabriel smiles, "Some views are worth the risk."

I feel myself blush, and I try to offer up a response. "Thank you. It's the jacket."

He laughs in a way I've never heard him laugh before. "While I do like you wearing my jacket, I must admit, I prefer imagining what's underneath."

"Oh, Gabriel. Pulling out all your game tonight, huh? You shouldn't say things to someone you hardly know."

"And yet, you're not telling me to stop."

I see his eyes shift down and drink me in. He observes my breasts in a way any woman would want someone they're interested in to.

Unlike Luca, I welcomed it. I almost felt as if I craved it. I even felt my body naturally arch my back to give him more of me.

The light changes, and Gabriel turns back to the road.

As we drive closer to our destination, I feel a slight twinge of disappointment. With each passing second, I feel the chemistry building between us—so much so that part of me wants to lean over and kiss him, to taste him and lose myself in everything he has to offer.

We pull into the hotel, and he parks the car.

"I should probably give you back your jacket."

"Keep it. I like the idea of something of mine wrapped around you. Actually," he says and turns to me, a hungry look in his eyes, "Can I walk you up to your room? To keep you safe."

I laugh, "If that's the only reason."

Gabriel leans in slightly, "What other reason did you have in mind, Bella?"

Every rational part of me knows I should say no. He's a hitman for a crime family. I just watched him kill someone. Being alone with him is playing with fire.

But maybe that's exactly why I want to say yes. Maybe I'm tired of being rational, tired of fighting this pull between us.

Or maybe I'm just losing my mind.

Either way, my body responds before I even have time to process the question.

"Okay."

What the fuck did I just get myself into?

GABRIEL - 14

The phone rings three times before Luca answers, "Yeah?"