I don’t respond, becausetotally satedsounds pretty damn nice.
Then the next moment, he’s sliding me off his lap onto the seat beside him. I stifle a whimper. It’s a test, I know it is, just like much of what he’ll do to me over the next few days. A man like Salvatore will want to prove to me that he’s in charge, will want to test my obedience and allegiance to him. They’re all the same, so I’m not surprised.
Not that it makes it easy. But at least I’m not going into this with any expectation of an egalitarian marriage. I know why I’m here. I know what’s expected of me. And the eternal optimist in me hopes that I find my joy again, that I find my place apart from my family and everyone I love.
I swallow the lump in my throat.
“I promise you,” he says, straightening beside me. “There’s more where that came from if you behave yourself.”
Oh, right. He thinks I’m still pouting over him not touching me anymore. A little full of ourselves, are we?
I bite my lip and look out the window. “Good,” I say, almost pouting but not quite. “That ravioli, though…”
That earns me an almost-chuckle and light swat to my leg. I sigh. Let him wonder why.
I change the subject and try to get an answer again. “So I thought you didn’t want a honeymoon. What changed? Where are we going?”
I half expect him to say, “you’ll see,” but he actually humors me.
“Private island south of here. That’s all I can say for now, because no one but my closest guard will know the location. As far as why I changed my mind, I decided we needed a little time to get to know each other without the prying eyes of every fuckin’ person in my family or yours nearby.”
In other words, his damn mother. Good.
Wait, did he say mine, too?”
“My family is in Boston.” All but Romeo, anyway.
His brows rise but he doesn’t respond. What’s that all about?
Aren’t they?
I look out the window at the crowd below.
“Buckle up.”
I look down for the belt, but apparently I’m too slow, because he reaches across me and grabs the buckle from my fingers to snap it in place. I guess someone else might be offended or feel like he’s treating me like a child, but I don’t. My brothers do shit like this all the time, this over-protective thing, so I’m used to it.
I learned a long time ago it’s far better to reserve your energy to fight the more important things. If you fight everything, you become the boy who cried wolf.
I expected with my belly full of food and the rhythmic chopping of the helicopter blades I’d be sleepy and ready for a nap, but I’m energized. Excited. I’ve always loved adventures, and even though this was not one I’d have ever chosen on my own, I can’t help but wonder what happens next.
“Some people say life is a hardship,” I say softly. “Isay life is an adventure.”
Salvatore doesn’t respond at first, and I half wonder if I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
“Why’s that?” he finally asks me. “What’s the difference?”
“Because you don’t know what’s coming around every turn. But if you view things as an adventure, it’s more exciting and less... well, terrifying.”
“And if you think of life as a hardship, you’d think it terrifying?”
I nod, my response barely audible. “Oh, definitely. I bet if you think about it, you know people that feel that way, too.”
I don’t look to see his reaction, but feel him stiffen beside me. “Are there things in your life you’ve found terrifying?”
I snort. “Of course. Most people find my brothers terrifying, and while I wouldn’t go that far, I’ve definitely seen them do terrifyingthings.And my father…” My voice trails off as I give an involuntary shudder. “He was absolutely awful. Ruthless and narcissistic. Everything revolved around him, and I meaneverything.Dinnertimes, our vacations, his plans and wishes for our family. My mother’s response to things and how she showed up at public events. He seemed to think that if he only came down hard enough on all of us, his life would be perfect.”
Salvatore grunts but doesn’t otherwise respond. “Did he hit you?”