Page 85 of The Bonventi Hitman

Since Gabriel told me about Isabella being an FBI informant on the run, it’s all I’ve been able to think about. After he broke the news, we had dinner, talked for a bit, and went to bed. I didn’t eat much since my chest was tight and I had a sour stomach from processing everything.

I feel alone, scared, and, as a running theme since taking this fucking assignment, in over my head with no help.

I knew they'd kill me if they found out. Now I had proof. Gabriel told me exactly what they were planning to do to someone like me. Little does he know, his words might be my death sentence disguised as a warning.

No matter how strongly I feel for Gabriel, no matter how intense his feelings are for me, I know it may not be enough to save me. Love alone won’t protect me from the world he belongs to.

And despite everything, my heart is foolish enough to crave him, even while my instincts scream at me to run.

Through it all, I've done my best to hide it, pretending nothing has changed, praying Gabriel won’t notice my fear.

He hasn't changed since telling me. He's been his sweet attentive self. It's mindfucked me so much that he's actually made me fall for him more, which is crazy.

Either way, I've done my best to hide my current mental chaos, and tonight we have something to distract me.

Enzo is having a party for some important Chicago artist, and we're making our first appearance as a couple.

Lydia has been so gracious as to go out and get all the makeup I had written down and even managed to obtain a specific pair of heels I'd shown her.

Since coming here, she'd really grown on me. Gabriel's gone a lot, so it's nice to have her around.

So when I walk into the kitchen ready for the party, I'm happy to find her there.

"Wow, Sofia, you look stunning. A little too much cleavage showing for me, but hey, I know women do that nowadays, and Gabriel will love the view he gets," she said smiling.

"Oh my goodness, Lydia!," I say blushing. "But thank you. And thanks again for getting everything. I feel very pretty, and it's all thanks to you."

"Oh hush now, it's you that makes those things shine."

Gabriel walks into the kitchen, and I turn to see him. It's a black-tie event, so of course he comes out looking like a Greek god.

He's wearing a black suit, shirt, and tie, with matching pants and shoes. His attire makes his green eyes pop and the all-black look really does something to me. It's like a forbidden apple, and all I want to do is take a bite.

Damn, I surprise even myself sometimes by how much I care for him, and he doesn’t even know it.

"You look very handsome, Gabriel," I say with a huge smile.

He smiles, "You're the beautiful one here, Bella."

I feel myself turn red. It's these moments where he's able to make me forget about what's going on, and I can just be Sofia. Anna and her mission momentarily fade away. But, as always, the break in chaos is fleeting. As quickly as the warmth spreads through me, a coldness follows.

The burden of my deception crashes back. Gabriel killed Luca for me, for Sofia. What would he do if he knew the truth about Anna? The conflicting emotions swirl inside me - desire for the man before me, fear of the killer he can be, and shame for the lies I'm living.

"Shall we?" he asks, extending his arm for me to grab.

I force a smile, hoping it masks my turmoil. But even as I reach for his arm, a part of me wonders how long I can keep up this charade before it destroys us both.

We pull up to Enzo's home, and I feel a bit anxious.

"And you told Enzo about us, right?" I ask.

"Yes. Please don't worry about anything. Let's have a good time."

As we make our entrance, I'm in awe of the beautiful works of art, each one more captivating than the last. I have only been to a few art shows in my life, and most of the time I would wonder how someone could toss some color on a canvas and charge money for it, but not tonight.

As we moved into the main room, a particular painting caught my eye.

"Gabriel, look at this," I say as we walk up to it.