Page 60 of The Bonventi Hitman

Why didn’t I hand it over?

I fold the paper back up, rip it into small pieces, and drop them into the trash. I walk outside and see Gabriel. He nods and hurries off the phone.

"Sofia, I hope the coffee is good."

I don’t want the informant to see me with him, so I just walk past him to hurry us away. "Yes, now we can head back."

I take a few deep breaths. For the first time in my life, I’ve just withheld intel from the FBI. I’ve failed to perform my job duties. I’ve lied.

I have no idea what’s going to happen. I have no idea if I’ll end up dead or accumulate so much guilt that I turn on Gabriel since it’s the "right thing to do." I’m terrified of what I just did in that coffee shop bathroom, but I somehow feel safer now in his presence.

The only thing I do know right now is the glaring, obvious fact: I’m willing to risk everything for this 6'4" killer walking beside me.

Maybe he really does own me.

Once we're back inside the suite, Gabriel finally tells me what’s been on his mind.

"Okay, so Luca is going to come and get you this evening. He’s going to take you down to the little speakeasy I took you to the other day. There’s a meeting, and he wants you to make an appearance."

"Why would he take me to a meeting?" I ask because that doesn’t seem like something Luca would do.

Gabriel scoffs. "To show you off to the others that will be there. But he’s going to ask me to take you away for a bit. Also," he says, coming closer to me, "don’t mention I was here. I stayed. Any of it. Do you understand?"

I smile. "I can’t tell him how well you?—"

"Sofia, I am serious," he says with a stern growl that sends a bit of fear through me.

"Yes, of course. I wouldn’t," I say, trying to hide my nerves at his outburst.

"It’s complicated, but I am going to talk with him to fix things."

"Tonight?"

He grabs my chin, leans in, and kisses me. His lips are like fire, and my body yearns for it to never stop, to keep it warm.

"Not if I get to spend it with you. Now, I have to go. I’ll see you tonight."

He doesn’t give me any time to ask questions or follow up. He turns and leaves.

I walk over and sit on the oversized couch. I set my coffee on the table and lean back, my body still warm from his kiss. I don’t want to think about what I did. I don’t want to worry about the extraction or the sting the FBI is setting up. I just want to think about Gabriel.

The only problem is, I’m so torn. I’m either lying to Gabriel or lying to the FBI. I never thought i’d be in a position like this. I’m falling for someone and willing to risk my whole career on it. What am I doing and what if I am found out by everyone?

ANNA - 22

"Sofia... Sofia, hey," Luca says, and I shake my head, pulling myself out of my thoughts.

"Yes, sorry," I say and give him a forced smile, squeezing his arm that I'm holding. "I just?—"

"It doesn't matter. Just smile and nod and speak only when spoken to, got it?"

"All right."

Asshole.

Luca opens the door to the speakeasy and pulls me in.

"Bet you've never seen a place like this," he says as he closes the door.