I nod. That possessiveness in his voice always seems to stoke a fire within me that could rival the sun.
"Also," he says and stands, "keep this with you from now on."
He hands me a brand-new phone. "The pin is 4512," he says as I look it over.
"And it works?" I ask, realizing right after how stupid it sounds.
"No, it's just for you to hold," he says, laughing. "Of course it works. Mine, as well as Lydia's number, is already programmed. I want to be able to get ahold of you anytime I want."
And track me, obviously.
"Okay, thank you. I wasn't expecting the nice car, credit card, and now a phone. That's on top of all the stuff Lydia's got me over the last few days. Oh, and let's not forget the painting."
Gabriel grabs me firmly and pulls me toward him. He leans in and kisses me with such passion my nipples harden, and I feel a wetness growing between my legs.
How the fuck can he do that with just a kiss?
"I'll always take care of you, Sofia. And that reminds me, your'Lady In Waiting'painting is being delivered today. If you're not here, I told Lydia to leave it in the billiard room until you get home. I want you to pick a place to hang it."
"Me? Oh, I don't?—"
"I'm sure you'll pick a good spot. Now, I have to make some calls in my office before heading out for a bit. I will see you later, Bella."
Before I can respond, he turns the corner and disappears down the hall to his office. I open my purse to place Gabriel's card inside, and my eyes widen when the handle of my gun pops out. I scramble to conceal it and close it.
I grab the keys on the counter and head outside, hoping the fresh air will ease my nausea.
It takes me more time than I'd like to admit before I figure out you don't actually need to stick a key into the ignition to start the car; you just need to press a button.
When the car comes to life, the screens light up with blue accents that, when paired with the cream interior color, make me feel like I'm in a million-dollar car, or at the very least one celebrities are caught by the paparazzi in.
As I drive downtown, toward my rendezvous with the FBI, I can't get past the notion that this is all going to blow up in my face and I'm on borrowed time. I turn on the radio and blast it to clear my mind. I roll down the windows and let the breeze drift my mind to other thoughts.
When I get close to my destination, I know two things are probably certain. One, there has to be a way for Gabriel to track this car, and two, he's definitely tracking the phone.
With those things in mind, I find a parking garage that's not too close to the boutique masquerading as an FBI location, and I decide to accidentally forget the phone in my car.
I walk inside the boutique store and into the hidden room.
I pick up the phone in the room, and as soon as I do, it immediately starts ringing. On the fifth ring, a familiar voice answers, "Agent Harris."
"Agent Harris, it's me, Anna Bennett. I?—"
"Shit, okay, stay there. I'll be there in 20 minutes."
"I don't?—"
"Do not leave. I repeat, do not leave. Stay put. We're coming to you."
He hangs up without letting me speak.
I pace around the small hidden room, and it starts to feel increasingly claustrophobic. I grapple with the questions: what do I tell them? How much do I reveal?
The truth?
That I've fallen for a ruthless hitman and I've compromised myself in ways I never thought possible.
I close my eyes.