Chapter 40 Anna
As I wake up, I feel my body deliciously sore from the night's passionate activities. Gabriel's arm is draped over my waist, holding me. His breath is warm against the nape of my neck.
I shift slightly, and his hold tightens, a low growl escapes his lips. "Morning, Bella," he says.
"Morning," I whisper back, with a smile. I turn to face him, tracing the lines of his jaw with my fingertips. His eyes, still heavy with sleep, flicker open, meeting mine. The sun reflects off his eyes, and they look like a green sea I'd love to be lost in.
His hand slides down my back, cupping my ass and pulling me closer. I let out a playful laugh as he presses me up against him.
After spending some time in bed cuddling, we both desire some coffee.
As we get out of bed and get dressed, Gabriel looks over at me.
"Once we get coffee, let's head to my office."
"Sounds good."
As Gabriel and I make our way downstairs, I can really feel the soreness from Gabriel's conquests over my body, and I can't help but look over at him, marveling at how my entire life has changed.
As we round the corner into the kitchen, we're greeted by the sight of Lydia. Her face lights up instantly with a wide smile.
"Good morning, sir, morning ma'am."
"Morning, Lydia," Gabriel says.
"Good morning," I echo with a smile. "Coffee smells like heaven."
Lydia laughs as she gestures towards the coffee maker. "I've got two cups waiting."
"Sit down, I'll make it for us," Gabriel says and points to a chair. I welcome it and take a seat without hesitation.
"Now, Sofia, I am going to be running to the market today, is there anything you need?" Lydia asks.
This was it. The first time I'd have the opportunity to correct her. I glance over to Gabriel, but his back is to me pouring our coffee. I know he's listening, however.
I clear my throat, "Actually, Lydia. It's Anna. Sofia was kind of a nickname, and well, we're friends now, so I want you to know my real name."
Lydia gives me an inquisitive look for only a moment before her trademark smile returns. "Okay, dear. Anna it is. Would you like anything from the store, Anna?"
I shake my head and give a big smile, "No thanks."
It felt good to be known as me. The real me. No more pretending.
"Alright, well I'll leave you two for now. Sir, I have the list, anything else?"
Gabriel finishes preparing our coffees and places the mugs down on the counter, "No, Lydia. Just the list will do. Thank you."
She nods and walks away.
Gabriel hands me my mug, and his fingers linger over mine for an extra second that makes me notice. Makes me aware of his touch.
I smile and take a sip.
"Shall we?" he asks, pointing in the direction of his office.
"We shall," I say and stand.
As we walk, Gabriel's hand finds the small of my back, as it always does as we get closer to the room that only yesterday was a battleground between us.
Twenty-four hours ago, I was an undercover FBI agent, torn between my duty and my heart, who'd just found out she was pregnant. Now, I'm about to discuss my future with the man I love - a future that involves leaving behind everything I've ever known and marrying a ruthless hitman.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.
We enter his office, and as he shuts the door, whatever plan he has in mind, whatever we have to do, I have to do, I know without a doubt we'll be facing them together.
Like a modern-day Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.
"Anna," he begins, his voice firm and serious. "From this moment forward, there can be no more lies between us. None. Not even the smallest omission or white lie. Absolute honesty is the only way this will work."
I nod. "I understand. No more lies, no more secrets."
"Since you know my, uh, history, I'll speak frankly," he says, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Working for the Bonventi family isn't just my job.
It's my life, my family. And now, it's going to be yours too.
Every decision, every move we make, has to be calculated.
One misstep could not just mean death for us, but for those we care about. "
His words make me tense, and I sit up. I've always known the dangers of the world I was infiltrating, but hearing Gabriel lay it out makes it all the more real.
"I need to know that you're ready for this," he says, his voice softening slightly. "That you understand what you're getting into by choosing to be with me, by carrying my child."
I set my coffee down on the table next to his. "I do understand, Gabriel. I've seen enough in my time undercover to know the risks. But I also know that what we have, what we could build together, is worth fighting for."
"Good. Because from here on out, your loyalty has to be to me first, and the Bonventis second."
"It already is," I assure him, surprised by how easily the words come. "You, the baby, these are my priority now."
Gabriel smiles, seemingly satisfied.
"Since we're coming clean, I want you to know that I snuck into a bathroom during the meeting you had at the party the other day and overheard some information."
"Oh did you now?,” he says squinting at me.
"Yeah, it was about the Irish giving Enzo intel on Isabella and something about a blue warehouse."
Gabriel laughs.
“Here I was buying you a fancy painting and your ear was pressed against a bathroom wall in Enzo Bonventi’s home.”
“In my defense, this was before I realized everything, even before I knew about the baby.”
Gabriel stops laughing, but still smiling.
"Well, I'm impressed with your eavesdropping skills. And no one saw you?" he asks.
"No, not that I know of."
"Good. Alright, let's talk about what you need to do now."
"Okay, let's hear your plan."
"We're going to give them something they want more than you, the entire Morozkin syndicate on a silver platter," he says confidently.
My eyes widen. "The Russians? But how?"
"The blue warehouse. The hit you overheard, that's where it'll end. And you, Anna, are going to give the FBI every last detail they need."
My heart races at his words. "Everything? Like time, location, who's involved?"
He nods and smiles. "Absolutely everything. Ivan Morozkin himself will be there with his top men, along with enough stolen guns and drugs to bury the entire Russian family."
I mull over his suggestion. "This, this could be huge. The FBI would have no choice but to act on the information. This is big."
"Exactly," Gabriel says. "They'll be so focused on celebrating the takedown of the Morozkins, they won't even worry about one agent who's decided to give them the Russians and walk away."
"Jesus," I mutter, both impressed and a little terrified by how quickly he's thought this through.
"It's what I do, Anna," he says. "I protect what's mine."
"Okay," I say, nodding slowly. "So I give the FBI this information. Then what?"
"Then," Gabriel says, and places his hand on top of mine, "we disappear for a while. Let the dust settle. I have safe houses that even Enzo doesn't know about, in Transylvania. I did a favor for the Romanian mafia a while back. We'll lay low there for a bit."
"And the FBI?" I ask. "You don't think they may come looking for me?"
Gabriel's smile is cold. "They'll be too busy with the biggest mafia bust ever, at least in the last two decades or so. Hell, they might even thank you as you walk out."
"Not to play devil's advocate here, but what if they refuse?" I ask hesitantly.
"They won't," Gabriel says confidently. "You're going to call your contact.
Set up a meeting or however it is that you do it.
Tell them you now have information that could bring down the entire Russian syndicate.
When you get there, make it clear, this is your last act as an FBI agent.
After this, you're out. You can't do it any longer. It's not the life you thought."
"Honestly, now that I think about it, this probably won't surprise them, me leaving. After I learned they used me, my mentor was using me, and even though they knew about the hit at the Irish party before it happened, they still sent me in, to my death basically."
Gabriel's look shows he's a bit stunned. "Wow, I guess the FBI can be just as ruthless as the mafia when they need to be."
"Maybe one and the same," I say and let out a nervous laugh.
Gabriel reaches over and squeezes my hand.
"Now, let me tell you all that you need to know, and when we're done, you go inform them, and when you return, you'll be done with them. Okay?"
I nod yes.
"Good," Gabriel says and smiles, "Let's begin."