Page 61 of Havoc
Paolo paused when he saw me already sitting in the furthest seat. He grunted when Sam gave him a slight shove from behind, indicating he should get into the car. He let out a long-suffering sigh and slid into the middle seat while Sam climbed in behind him.
I had to bite the insides of my cheeks to hold back the laugh. He looked so miserable, squished in between us with his knees up around his chest thanks to the hump in the floor that was located in that area.
The morning flew past in a blur of activity as we visited the attractions New York had to offer. The Statue of Liberty was my favorite, although there was something awe inspiring about Ellis Island. Knowing that so many came through that place in order to become an American was beautiful.
We stopped for lunch at a local cafe. As soon as we stepped inside eyes were glued to us. There was a mix of confusion and curiosity on people’s faces. We’d been getting those looks all day. I was getting used to it.
People were trying to figure out who Sam and I were. Nico, Luca, and Paolo watched everything with glittering eyes full of suspicion and intensity. They looked like bodyguards, so everyone assumed we were famous.
“Okay, that’s it. I’ve made my decision.”
My eyes shot to Sam’s face. She looked grim, though I didn’t understand why. Her gaze slid over to where Nico was heading to the restroom. Luca and Paolo were seated at a table a few feet away.
“Decision about what?”
“Well, I’ve been trying to decide if I’m pissed at Nico for kidnapping you, or not,” she explained. Her voice was dead serious and I felt a grin tug on my lips.
“And what’s your conclusion?” I asked her in a mocking tone.
She shot me a glare. “At first, I was furious at him.”
She’d fooled me. She hadn’t seemed that mad last night.
“I stayed awake last night trying to figure out how to get you out of there and away from him. Thus, my suggestion for sightseeing today.”
My muscles bunched up as they tensed. “You were planning on us running today?”
She nodded solemnly. “Well, assuming you hadn’t already fallen in love with him and were deliriously happy.
I shook my head at her stipulation. Something clicked as I watched her. “You said ‘At first’.”
Sam sighed and swirled her straw in the ice water that the waitress had dropped off to us. “Havoc,” she paused as she contemplated the fact that she’d just used my new name. It was her first time. “He hasn’t taken his eyes off you all day.”
Right, most likely because he suspects I’m going to bolt.I didn’t interrupt her to tell her my theory.
“And the way he watches you?” She fanned herself and panted.
My face heated up and I grabbed her arm to tug it away from her face. “Knock it off,” I muttered and snuck a glance at the men. She was right, they were sitting with their eyes glued to us. Nico had made his way back to the table and hadn’t missed Sam’s display.
“So?”
“So… then I started watching you.”
I made a face at that. She hadn’t been as sneaky as she thought. I hadn’t missed the speculative glances she’d been throwing my way all morning.
“You’re different,” she stated.
No shit.I couldn’t begin to count the ways I’d changed since I’d come to New York.
“I’m not talking about the things you’ve done,” she said cryptically, in case anyone was listening in from the surrounding tables. “Hemakes you different.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I muttered, and took a drink from my glass of ice water, ignoring the straw and gulping at it.
“You can pretend all you want. You’re different around him.”
Desperation and sadness threatened to overwhelm me. He couldn’t be the reason. That meant she thought I was different than when I was with Tony.
Sam must have been able to read the anguish in my eyes. “No, I mean you’re different than after the funeral,” she explained hurriedly. “You’re smiling again… and laughing.”