Page 25 of The Bonventi Hitman
Something must be going on.
An hour later, a note slides under my door. I run over to grab it, hoping it's something from the FBI.
But no, it's from Luca: "Had to take care of some things. Pick you up tomorrow at 6 pm. Wear your new dress."
I walk to the window and look down at the city below. Somewhere out there, the Russians and Irish are plotting. Somewhere out there, Gabriel is probably killing someone else.
Gabriel.
The thought of him makes my skin tingle. I remember the way his fingers felt on my skin at La Sfera Nera, how his eyes seemed to see right through me. Even now, I can feel the heat of his body when he stood close.
The sound of sirens in the distance pulls me from my thoughts. Red and blue lights flash across the buildings below.
After dinner, I change and crawl into bed, but sleep won't come. My mind races with everything I learned today. The FBI wants me to get close to Gabriel, to try to turn him. But how can I when every time I'm near him, I feel like I'm the one being turned? Like I'm the one in danger of falling?
With Luca, everything is clear. He's a monster wearing an expensive suit. But Gabriel, he's different. The way he looks at me, touches me, speaks to me, it not only makes me forget who he is and what he does—but who I am.
What kind of person does that make me?
I close my eyes, but all I see is his face, and I wonder if I'm in more danger from him than anything else.
Because with Gabriel, I might not just lose my life—I might lose my soul.
ANNA - 10
4:00 pm rolls around, and I step out of the shower feeling refreshed. The day has been uneventful, locked in this damn hotel, but now I have to prepare for the evening with Luca.
I lay the new cocktail dress I purchased yesterday down on the bed. It's red and screams of seduction. I place the matching color high heels next to the dress and toss the lace panties Luca gave me on top of the dress.
I won't be wearing a bra tonight.
I take a step back and look over everything.
Perfect.
I turn and walk back into the bathroom. I dry my hair before beginning to apply my makeup. I carefully apply a smoky eye and put on deep red lipstick.
Once satisfied with my appearance, I begin to dress. I slip into the red cocktail dress. It's the kind of dress that would make any woman feel powerful and seductive. The soft fabric hugs my curves in all the right places, accentuating my figure. Istep into the high heels, adding a few inches to my height and giving me a sense of confidence. I take one last glance in the mirror, admiring the way the dress clings to my body and the way the heels make my legs look. I adjust the dress to ensure it covers everything it should while still leaving enough to the imagination.
I sling my small black purse over my shoulder, wishing that my trusty .22 was nestled inside instead of the makeup that currently occupies its space. But I'm playing a character, and my true identity must remain hidden.
I'm not Anna; I'm Sofia, an Italian mobster's mistress. It's a role I never imagined myself playing, but I'm going to make it work in my favor.
I take a deep breath and head out to the living room to wait for Luca to arrive and the night to start. As I sit on the couch, it hits me for the first time that I don't really have any idea where we're going or what we're doing. I'm starting to see that this is how Luca works. You never know what you're doing until you're on your way to it. Maybe it's for security; maybe it's for control. Either way, I don't feel I have much of either.
I don't have long to contemplate much more as I hear a knock on the door.
After a few seconds, I hear the lock click and the door slowly open. "Ma'am, I'm here to escort you," a man's voice calls out.
I stand and walk over to him. I recognize him as Luca's driver. As I approach, his gaze immediately falls to my breasts as he speaks. "Luca's downstairs waiting, ma'am."
I nod and follow him.
Luca's waiting in his car, looking every bit the sophisticated mobster in his tailored suit. The driver opens the door, and I slip inside, feeling the warmth of the heated leather seats on my skin.
Luca takes my body in before meeting my eyes. "Shit, Sofia. This the fuckin’ dress you were talking about?" he asks me.
I smile and nod.
