Page 40 of Gabbriello Deluca

“Nic,” Gabbriello called over another man.

Nicholas turned to face them. He was dressed in black slacks and a black sweater.

“Nicholas, this is Layla, my wife.”

Both Nicholas and Layla stared at Gabbriello in surprise. While Layla gave him a surprised look that turned into a slight smile, Nicholas gave her an unimpressed glare. “I’ve heard things about you,” he said in a flat tone

“Nicholas is my right-hand man. He is also the manager of the Emerald Club and one of my closest friends.”

“It’s much appreciated,” Nicholas said in a low tone as he nodded at Gabbriello before turning his attention to Layla. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

She nodded. “Thank you, Nicholas.”

He walked away, and Layla turned to Gabbriello. “He’s not a warm and fuzzy type of person.”

Gabbriello smirked. “No, he isn’t.”

“So, how difficult is it to get used to calling me your wife?”

“Not difficult at all. I suppose since you know many of my secrets, I need to keep you close, and what better way to do that?” He said with a smile before kissing her forehead.

“You know, if I find out that you killed Samantha, I’m going to become a widow,” Layla said before she averted her gaze to the crowd.

“Are you trying to kill me already?” Gabbriello smirked. She was a tough one.

“Nope, as long as I don’t find out that you killed Samantha. Otherwise, I might give you to Jeffrey and let him do the honors.” She said as they both looked at him, staring at the casket.

“Don’t worry, I’ll just wait for him to pass out at the sight of my blood.” He whispered in her ear.

They both smiled, and Layla thought about her cousin. Sam would have loved having so many people here for her. Layla wondered if her cousin knew how many people genuinely cared for her. She looked down at a photograph of her and Samantha that was taken on Layla’s twelfth birthday. Remembering how much fun they had on that day caused tears to well in Layla’s eyes.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Gabbriello tried to console her. He wrapped his muscular arms around her and allowed her to cry into his shoulder.

She rarely lost control in front of others, but she couldn’t hold back. Layla would do whatever it took to get justice for Samantha, she thought with resolve. Before the funeral started, Layla introduced Gabbriello to her family but didn’t tell them she was married. She wanted to wait until everything was settled with Samantha before telling them.

The funeral was short but sweet. Several people come forward to say kind words about Samantha, but the words that brought tears to her eyes were Jeffery's description of the love they had for one another. After the funeral, the cars lined up to go to the cemetery.

“I’m going to ride with my parents,” she said to Gabbriello

“I will be close behind,” he whispered in her ear as he hugged her.

* * *

After Samantha’s casket was lowered into her grave, Layla told her mother and aunt she wanted to stay a little longer at the gravesite. She promised them she would see them later at her aunt’s home. Layla and Gabbriello stood by themselves, staring down at the freshly laid dirt on top of her cousin’s casket.

“Layla.” Someone called in a distance.

She turned around to see a familiar face approach her. “Dan, what are you doing here?”

Her boss casually walked up to the couple wearing a black suit. “I came to see how you were doing and it looks like . . . you are doing fine.”

Dan and Gabbriello exchanged cold glares.

“Yes, I am fine.”

Dan held out a hand towards Gabbriello. “Special Agent Dan Peters of the FBI.”

“Gabbriello Deluca of South Philadelphia.” he said sarcastically as he shook Dan’s extended hand. His eyes narrow into slits as he sized her boss up.

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