A/N: Just a quick shout out to me two best reviewers.
Wootar16, thanks for being so supportive since day 1, when I published my very first fic! Love ya. You probably reviewed the most to all my fics. Thanks a lot!
Lotte van de Veerdonk, my friend from The Netherlands ;), thank you for your support. I didn't tell you this, but I was about to delete my profile, 'cause no one read my stories anymore, but when I saw I had a new review and when I read what you said about the "Accidentally in love" fic, it sort of inspired me to keep writing. Thanks, I owe you one!
Chapter 2
The ride to the Pierce' safe house was silent, as I stared out on the blizzard outside the car's tinted bulletproof windows. The icy wind and snowflakes almost froze the windshield. I wiped one of my stubborn curls from my face, biting down on my bottom lip.
I was a nervous wreck. Every little pebble hitting the side of the car, or a honk from another car, put me on full alert. My heart was beating fast as we took each turn, expecting an army of Gogol agents, standing ready to waste us like yesterday's fish-sticks.
Gogol…Amanda…Ari…I frowned.
"Do you honestly think it was Gogol, Sean?" I broke the deafening silence, surprised by how shaky my voice came out.
"Why do you ask?" He asked, his concentrated expression not shifting the slightest bit, brown eyes still glued on the road.
"Because it doesn't make sense, that's why." I answered, my voice coming out a little more harsh than planned.
"Do explain."
"Ari and Amanda are on the run, right? We know that. Last time we hacked into Gogol's account, we saw that there had been a huge withdrawal, which meant-" I started.
"-That it was obviously their share they thought they deserved, so they were helped… But why come after yours then?" He asked after finishing my sentence, his expression changed to utter confusion.
"That's what bothers me. That's why it can't be Gogol. I'll say again, this is Percy's work." I folded my arms over my chest as I caught my breath, trying to silence the millions of voices shouting in my head.
"I'm not sure, Alex. I understand that it's easier to believe when you say that I might be Percy seeking revenge-" He said, his voice soft.
"This isn't revenge. It's about getting what he wants. We blew up his money and now he's trying to access the remainder of mine. It's so simple…" I explained, my voice drifting off.
"But Michael said it had to be Gogol. The fighting style, the planning, it even sounded like Gogol." He turned to look at me, making eye contact for the first time.
"Unless it's a double agent. Percy has his way of persuasion. We don't know the person yet, thought, so we don't yet know what Percy has on him. Percy hired someone who has no connection to or with us, making it easier to do the job without worrying about keeping-"
"Emotional distance?" He asked, a hint of sarcasm playing in his voice as he turned his head to me, his right eyebrow raised.
My head automatically shot back to that day, back at Division. When we just met. Me planning on killing Anton Kochenko, he criticizing my plan, telling me that instead of close-cornering him in the basement before he goes on stage, I should rather take him out with a sniper in a opposite building, which will also help with my emotional distance.
"Yeah…" I sighed. I didn't want to even start talking about our first encounters. I turned back to the window on my right, staring out into the dark, snowy world. I heard Sean clear his throat before taking a sharp turn, which wasn't expected.
I hit my head hard against the window. "Ow!" I shrieked, my palm flying up to cover the sore area that, just seconds ago, made contact with bulletproof, frozen glass. "What is wrong with you?" I asked, clamping my eyes shut.
"Sorry, about that. Just a change in destination." He said calmly, trying to hide his laughter.
"A change in destination? What do you-?"
"I'm hungry." He said plainly. "I'm thinking Italian, is that okay?" He asked, turning his head in my direction.
"Of-Of course. That sounds perfect, th-thanks." I stuttered, wait, why was I stuttering?
He gave me a mocking smile and nod. After another few turns, we stopped in front of a restaurant named Quatro Fetarelli. It wasn't too crowded, so I had no reason to be nervous. I had Sean to protect me, after all.
He quickly got out, loudly closing his car door behind him, making me jump. Okay, so maybe I still was a bit of a nervous wreckage. He walked around the car to the passenger's door and opened it for me so I could get out.
The cool air blew across my fair skin, making me shiver. I ran a gloved had through my curled hair and we started walking towards the restaurant doors. While we walked, I felt Sean place his hand on the small of my back, gentle encouraging me to keep walking, as if he knew I wanted to run.
I just sighed and allowed him to lead me towards the doors. There was Italian music playing from inside as he opened the door for me to walk in. The restaurant was toasty and I attempted to shrug off my jacket, but received Sean help automatically.
I guess being a gentleman was one of Oversights lesson-areas.
A short, chubby, Italian man danced over to our position, waving his hands in the air.
"Young, Mister Pierce, how are you, my little piece of ravioli!" He shouted to Sean, throwing his arms around my protector's neck
"I'm fine, Antonio, how 'bout you? How about Alicia, she holding up?" Sean asked, genuinely taking interest. The man made a gesture that this woman, Alicia, was crazy and Sean just laughed, clapping the man's shoulder.
"How about your momma?" Antonio asked Sean, who's face automatically dropped. I needed to do something; Sean didn't deserve to explain that his mother had died. I started talking in Italian to the man, not wanting Sean to hear the lame excuse I'd come up with.
"There's been an accident, she's in the hospital, but she's recovering quickly, though. She'll be out in no time!" I said in fluent Italian, smiling when I saw the man buy my stupid excuse.
"Oh dear. Well, tell your momma I hope she's feeling better." Antonio told Sean. Sean shot a confused glance at me and I just shook my head, signalling him that I'll explain later. Sean caught up and nodded to Antonio.
"So, Sean, I've wanted to ask. Who is this lovely woman with you?" he asked, nodding in my direction. "Your girlfriend, yes?" The man asked again.
"NO!" Sean and I said simultaneously. Sean cleared his throat and took a step towards Antonio. "We're just friends." He said. "Right?" He turned his head to face me, confirming if his words were correct.
'Ye-Yeah, we're just good friends, that's all." I said, nodding, trying to convince myself.
"Too bad. Sean, what have I told you about letting your catch go? She's a keeper, this one. She can even speak Italian!" Antonio beamed up.
"Could we please be seated, Antonio?" Sean hissed through his teeth, changing the subject.
"Of course. Your usual table is currently open." He pointed at a table in the back. "Oh and have a nice evening!" He said as I walked pass him.
Sean nodded. "We will."
Antonio glared at him and shook his head. "Wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the lovely lady." He said, smiling at me. I smiled back and quickly made my escape.
"Sorry about that." Sean said as he pulled the chair out for me.
I just giggled and waved it off. He took a seat across from me. A waiter came to our table, introducing himself and giving us our menus.
There was a short silence, which I, of course, decided to break.
"Sean?" I asked. He just raised his eyebrows to show me that he's listening.
"When he, I mean, Antonio asked us if we were…together…" I stopped talking, waiting to see his respond to the topic of discussion.
He looked up and closed his menu, folding his arms on the table.
"Yeah?" He asked.
"You said we were just friends." I said and he nodded.
"Yeah…so?" He asked, a little confused.
"You turned back to me and said: "Right?". Why?" I asked. I saw him part his lips, trying to say something, but shut them again.
"I just…I wanted to make sure that it was fine if I said that we were friends." He said, and I knew he was lying but decided to drop it…
Because I had something new to mock him over.
"Sean Pierce, are you…blushing?" I asked, my eyes widening in shock as a crimson colour spread across his facial features.
"N-No. It's this lighting, messes with your eyes." He explained, not making eye contact. I nodded, laughing at his excuse.
He just tried to hide his smile.
"Are you guys ready to order?" The waiter danced to our table with a small notebook and pen in his hand.
"Not yet, give us another few minutes, please." Sean instructed, and the waiter nodded.
"Oh, yeah, and here." The waiter placed a bottle of the finest champagne and two champage glasses in the middle of the table. 'Compliments of Antonio."
He ran off again.
I just laughed, looking over the bottle to Sean, who just shook his head.
"You want some?" He asked.
"Sure. Thank you." He opened the bottle and poured some in our glasses. He gave me mine and took his.
"A toast to friendship." He said, holding his glass a little higher.
"And bad lightning?" I asked, laughing and raising my glass as well
"That too." He smiled as our glasses connected.
Hey guys, sorry for taking so long, my damn computer kept crashing. Please let me know how it was, so R&R . Love you guys!