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“What do you think?” Gabbriello asked. Not seeming to care that people were watching them.
“It’s beautiful.” She said in a soft tone.
“I’m glad you like it,” Gabbriello said as he placed his hand on her back and guided her through the lobby towards the elevators. He pressed the round button to go up, and it didn’t take long for a set of doors to swing open. Being the perfect gentleman, Gabbriello waited for Layla to go first. When the doors close, he pressed number ten and the elevator began to rise.
The doors opened on the tenth floor and Layla followed him down the long hallway to room 1025. He pulled out a white key card with the Deluca hotel logo printed on it. Gabbriello pressed the card against the sensor and, with the small indication from a tiny green light, the door unlocked. Gabbriello opened the door for Layla.
She walked into the room, finding the large king-size bed with fresh sheets and the atmosphere only found in an upscale hotel.
“I will have the staff bring you some clothes,” Gabbriello said as he remained near the doorframe. “Feel free to take a shower. I think you will find everything you need and if you don’t just call room service and they will bring it to you. And don’t worry about paying. This one is on me.”
“I don’t know how to thank you.” Layla stared at him, wanting to say more, but chose not to. Gabbriello was giving her the one thing she needed right now: a shower and time to clear her head and think. The thoughts of Samantha’s murder flooded her mind. She held back the tears as she avoided his gaze.
Gabbriello gazed into her eyes and noticed a familiar look. Her beautiful hazel-colored eyes reminded of Samantha and a wave of sadness struck him. “You don’t have to thank me. The pleasure is all mine.” He gave her a half smile before handing her the key and closing the door behind himself.
She walked slowly through the room, examining every square inch of the space. The bathroom to her left, the open living room, the king-size bed with fresh sheets and a white comforter. She ran her hand over the soft bed sheet before she sat down on the edge. A black television screen hung on the wall in front of her, above the oak wood dresser. Layla spotted a full-length mirror resting on the wall beside the dresser and a small chair in the corner of the room.
“Nice,” Layla said quietly to herself. She couldn’t remember the last time she was in a hotel. She thought about the man that just left, Gabbriello Deluca. He must be richer than the reports she read indicated.
The man who is under investigation by the FBI for suspicion of murder, drug and weapon trafficking, and organized crime.
The man who gave her the best gift anyone could ask for, right when she needed it.
Layla remembered when she first heard the name Gabbriello Deluca. She just finished her training program at Quantico and was transferred to work in the Philadelphia field office. His file was among the many people under surveillance. She read his file and learned about his past. Growing up in Philadelphia, his father raised him when his mother died young. The one solid case they thought they had went to shit when the key witness came up missing. She only saw a younger photo of him. It was his mugshot. His hair was shaggy and rested just barely above his eyes. His dark almond eyes showed deception and secrets while his baby face spoke of innocence. It was hardly the man that stood over her, offering his hand. That young boy turned into a sexy man that would make any woman fall to their knees.
Yes, Gabbriello Deluca was charming, but he was also dangerous. She wasn’t delusional about him. Layla knew she had to be careful around him. He was very charming, but he was also a monster that took advantage of people and murdered anyone who got in his way. Layla stood to her feet and walked towards the bathroom. Her legs and stomach ached from the beating. She closed the large door behind her and turned on the water for a hot shower. As she waited for the water to heat up, Layla looked in the mirror. Her light brown hair was matted and contained dirt particles from the ground. A faint bruise formed on her cheek where the bartender tried to punch her and there was a small cut just above her left eyebrow. How is she going to explain this to Dan?
Steam filled the air and fogged up the mirror, hiding Layla’s reflection from herself. Slowly, she unbuttoned her blouse and let it fall to the ground. Her ribs ache and her stomach were in knots as she unhooked her bra and took off her dress pants. After sliding off her panties, she grabbed a towel from one of the nearby hangers and placed it near the shower. Layla pulled back the curtain and stepped inside.
She inhaled deeply as the water rushed down her brown skin and onto the floor of the shower. A few long seconds pass before she slid down into a fetal position and cried. She lost her cousin and best friend. She allowed herself this time to grieve, but soon she would find out who killed Samantha and they would pay with their life. After a few seconds, she stood with a renewed resolve as she shampooed and condition her hair. Her curls were done so she would settle for putting her hair in a ponytail.
As the dirt and grime swirl down the drain, she felt like a new person. She was free from work for a few weeks and had every opportunity to find out what happened to Samantha. She is willing to risk everything to uncover the truth, even if that meant taking down all the members of the Deluca clan starting with Gabbriello.
Layla turns off the water and wrapped the towel around her body. The tile was wet from the condensation as she walks over to the door and allows the steam to exit the bathroom. When she returns to the living room, Layla noticed clothes folded neatly on the bed. There are pants, shirts, and fresh underwear and different bra sizes as well as a variety of t-shirts. Someone was in the room while she was taking a shower. In the center of the bed is a small black duffle bag with a white envelope resting on top. The duffle bag contained everything she would need from makeup to a curling iron for her hair. Layla opened it and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
Layla,
I want to extend my deepest apologies for what happened at my club today. I would like to invite you to join me for dinner this evening. I sent up a few outfits for relaxation that might be to your liking, but if you wish for something else, do not hesitate to call the staff and they will get you something right away. In the closet, you will see a few dress options for tonight if you decide to join me. I made reservations at the hotel’s restaurant on the main floor at seven this evening. I hope to see you there.
Gabbriello
Layla reread the letter over again trying to process the invitation. Gabbriello Deluca asked her out to dinner. If she wasn’t already in trouble with the Bureau, this is crossing the line of professionalism. Layla’s mind turned in a million directions. She could leave right now and tell Dan about the fight that happened at the club. Or she can accept Gabbriello’s invitation for dinner. Among the chaos in her head, Layla thought about Samantha. If she was able, Layla would have called Samantha and asked for her advice, but that was no longer an option. Which would get her closer to the truth? Layla thought long and hard, then finally came to the realization that Dan will tell her to go sit at her desk and wait for information from the other agents assigned to the case. He has done that exact thing before. Gabbriello may be her best lead so far in helping to find Samantha’s killer. Nothing was going to stop her from the truth, but Layla knew that if he kept looking at her with those dark, mysterious eyes, Gabbriello Deluca was probably going to be the death of her.
CHAPTER 12
At 6:30 pm, Layla walked over to the closet hoping to find something sexy to wear. If she is going to find out what Gabbriello knows, she had to be on her A-game tonight. She knew he was playing her. He had to be playing her, it is Gabbriello Deluca. He was smart and cunning, like every other criminal she had investigated. If Gabbriello wanted to play, then she would play, and she didn’t lose.
Layla chose the short red dress from the array of dresses that were in the closet. The sleeveless style accentuated the natural curves of her body and fit smoothly over her curves, as if the dress was made for her. The bottom edge of the dress stopped mid-thigh and the top half shows just enough cleavage to hold the stare of any man. Layla looked inside the black duffle bag that was filled with toiletries, makeup kits, brushes, and a few different hair appliances such as a hairdryer, a curling iron, and a straightener. She used the dark red matte lipstick that was in one of the makeup set. it was the perfect look on her brown skin. She didn’t need a lot of makeup, so she put on just enough eyeliner and mascara to make her hazel eyes stand out. Layla is a firm believer that less is more.
The dress, the makeup, and every curl of her light brown hair were all a part of her plan to charm Gabbriello into giving her information that might help her find Samantha’s killer. Tonight, she will be as cold and calculating as needed. With all her effort, she hopes everything will go according to plan.
Layla timed her arrival at the restaurant at exactly 7:00 pm. The restaurant was relatively large for being inside of a hotel and the staff was dressed in their professional attire. If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought she walked into a five-star restaurant led by a big named chef. She walked toward the hostess stand at the entrance of the restaurant and saw Gabbriello sitting at a table for two in the center of the dining room. He casually stood and walked towards her.
“Rebecca,” Gabbriello said in a low, sexy tone to the employee.
The hostess looked at him with helpless eyes that screamed her infatuation with him. “Yes, sir?”
“This is Layla. She will be my guest for the evening.” Gabbriello held out his arm towards her.
