Page 77 of The Bonventi Hitman

Two bullets.

Yes, two bullets to the head—the Siberian's signature. The Russians will take the blame, and I'll have Sofia all to myself.

I shower, bag my bloody clothes for burning, and back my car to the side garage. Getting Luca's body into the trunk tests my strength—dead weight always does.

At the empty warehouse, I make quick work of it. Position the body, two clean shots to the forehead. The Russians' calling card delivered.

I smile as I load the carpet back into my trunk. Two more stops: the incinerator for the rug, then the Capstone to collect Sofia.

She's mine now.

ANNA - 29

Since leaving the Capstone, Gabriel hasn't said much. On one hand, I wish he would tell me about Luca, and on the other, fuck that prick. I just hope Gabriel wasn't the cause of something that could come back to hurt him.

My body is doing that weird burning, tingling sensation again as I breathe in his cologne. It's almost like it makes my body instantly yearn for the source of the aroma. He steals a few glances at me, and when I catch him, I smile.

Overall, I feel a strange sense of calmness. Actually, the only time I get nervous is when I remember the gun hidden in my purse.

I can't let him find it, no matter what.

The car slows, and Gabriel waves to a guard.

"Wait, you live here?" I ask, surprised. "This is one of the fanciest communities in all of Chicago. Don't, like, most of the Cubs players live here?"

I see a slight smirk on his face. "A few."

As we drive down the street, all I see are stately homes and perfectly manicured lawns—and I thought the Capstone was high-end.

I knew from his file that Gabriel was wealthy, but this is on a whole other level.

As Gabriel's car glides to a stop in front of a large mansion, I'm stunned. It's easily the biggest one I've seen thus far. The grandeur of the place is almost intimidating.

Gabriel kills the engine and turns to me. "Welcome to my home. Your home, Sofia," he says, his voice low and smooth.

My home?

I feel my body move from tingling to aching at his words, fully caught up in his charm.

He steps out of the car and comes around to open my door. He offers his hand to help me out, and his touch weakens me.

He opens the door and guides me inside.

We enter a lavish foyer with marble flooring and a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Off in the distance, I see a grand staircase leading up to the second floor. The walls are adorned with paintings depicting scenes of villages, everyday life, and castles.

Gabriel's hand rests possessively at the small of my back as he leads me further into his domain. Every fiber of my being is attuned to him, the subtle firmness of his fingers, the way his gaze lingers on me.

We enter an open-air kitchen, and I'm struck by the sheer size of the island in its center. It's big enough to host a small party on.We walk toward it, and Gabriel pulls out a high-backed stool for me to sit on. His hand slides across my waist as I sit.

I reluctantly set my purse on the counter next to me.

The smell of fresh garlic fills the air. I can't make out what it is, but it smells heavenly.

"Are you cooking something?" I ask, looking at the stove.

He smiles.

"No, Lydia is. Ah, here she is now," Gabriel says and points behind me.