Chapter Eighteen Willow
Chapter Eighteen
Willow
There are currently five Russian men in our apartment, not including Lev and Dragna. They are installing security cameras around the outside of our place and I’m just sitting on the same spot on the sofa drinking a cup of tea that someone placed in my hand.
How the hell have I ended up with a stalker. How the hell have I ended up with a man like Dragna to protect me and not only that, but he said he would cover the cost of the cameras, that he would just take care of everything.
There’s chaos going on around me with Alina shouting at Lev for not telling her sooner about the situation, him trying to plead with her that he only found out today and Dragna is shouting at the other men in a combination of Russian and English.
So far I have only made out that he’s telling them to hurry up and to make sure everything is working correctly and all I can do is sit frozen as I finish my tea.
Everything feels so surreal, it’s too much to be happening to me all at the same time. I decide to stand from the sofa and make my way to the kitchen to wash my cup just to do something.
“Are you okay?” Alina asks from behind me as she comes to wrap her arms around me.
“I don’t know Ali. How am I supposed to feel when it doesn’t actually feel like any of this is real?” I lean on the counter and let my head fall between my shoulders and Alina wraps her arms tighter around me.
“Lev said after they’ve finished with some meeting tonight at the club, we can go there and hang out with them in their lounge if we don’t feel safe being here alone.
It won’t be partying, just chilling with them and then they can bring us back here and stay the night, only if you want Dragna to stay obviously. ”
“I don’t know girl, I don’t want to cling to him for safety but I also don’t want to stay here just us. Even with the cameras I feel like this place doesn’t feel safe anymore. I don’t know what to do.”
“I’ll go talk to Lev and ask what time he thinks they’ll be done by tonight and when they leave we’ll see how we feel being here on our own before we make any decisions, sound good?” I turn to face her and hug her back because she knows that if I stay here for too long, I won’t want to leave again.
Alina knows me better than I know myself sometimes, so maybe getting out to the club later to show myself I can still go out and have a bit of fun is exactly what I need. I’m not going to let some crazy stalker make me a prisoner in my own home.
“Just tell him we’ll meet them there later. It sounds like a fun night.” I say as I smile at her and her face lights up.
“This is all going to get sorted out girl, the police will find out who this guy is soon and we won’t have to worry.” She replies as she gives me a squeeze before walking over to Lev to tell him we’ll be there tonight.
I hear Dragna’s footsteps coming up the stairs and see him appear down the hall before he makes his way to me.
“The cameras are installed. I’m going to show you how to use the software on your phone to watch them.
There’s audio as well as visual recording and live feed twenty four hours, seven days a week so even when you’re out you can check the cameras anytime and rewatch any footage from the entire day, does that sound okay moya dusha? ”
“That’s perfect, thank you so much. I honestly don’t know what I’d do right now without all this, so thank you.” I smile at him and he lifts my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it.
“I would do anything to make sure you’re safe. Anything.”
“Lev said about Alina and I coming to the club tonight to hang out with you guys after some business meeting. I think I would like that rather than sitting here worrying about things, if that’s okay with you?” I ask nervously, thinking maybe he doesn’t want to spend this much time with me.
“Of course, anything you want.” He replies while looking me in the eyes so deeply I feel like his name has been scorned onto my heart. I actually feel butterflies and I don’t know how I’ve found myself, or lost myself I should really say, in his web.
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Dragna and Lev left an hour ago for their business meeting leaving Alina and I sitting in the living room watching the camera feeds, skipping between all 10 cameras without speaking a word to each other. I know she’s feeling just as anxious as I am being here just the two of us now we’re alone.
“I feel like our safe place has been tainted, and not just here but the bookstore too. What the fuck are we going to do.” Her question brings me away from staring at my phone screen and I look at how defeated she looks.
“I don’t know Ali. I don’t want this weirdo to scare me into not going to work and not leaving the house, but now that Dragna is gone and I’m watching the cameras, I’m scared.
I feel like it’s just all hit me and I don’t know what to think or do now.
” I go back to watching the feed that’s pointed out to the road, watching every car that passes wondering if it’s my stalker.
“Do you want to just stay in tonight then, we don’t have to go to the club. I know you probably just said yes in the moment, not wanting to be defeated, but it’s okay to be shaken up.” Ali replies, taking my hand in hers.
“You can still go, don’t let me stop you from having a good night with Lev. I can call the girls and see if they want to come over.” I reply feeling guilty that I have dragged her into this mess.
“Willow shut up, as if I’m going to let you stay here on your own with a fucking stalker!” She turns and looks at me and I absolutely detest the look on her face, one that looks like I’m a kid she needs to look after and feels sorry for.
“Ali, please, go out and have fun. Look at all the cameras installed. I’m going to just go to bed anyway in a while so there’s no point in you staying here to babysit me.
Honestly, I’ll be annoyed with you if you stay here with me.
I’ll call the girls over for some food while you get ready and then I’ll go to bed early.
I will be absolutely fine, plus if I do get freaked out I’ll call you or Dragna, I promise.
” She looks at me and narrows her eyes. I know she doesn’t want me to think she’s ditching me for a guy, but I would never think that.
I want her to go and have fun and not be held back by the sudden craziness in my life.
“I’m not leaving you Willow. Call the girls and we can all have a girly night together, I can’t leave you.” She protests back but the guilt will eat me alive if she stays here.
“Please go out and have fun girl. I know from chatting with Ella that she is definitely free tonight so you know she’ll happily come round.
I’ll be annoyed with you if you stay and I’ll feel like I’ve ruined your night.
” I tell her honestly. She looks at me for a few seconds, knowing me just as well as she knows herself and knowing I’ll feel like a burden to her if she stays.
“Fine, but I swear to god Willow, if you are worried or scared or if that bastard is seen on any of the feeds you call me straight away okay? And I’m calling Ella to tell her to come over because knowing you, you’ll just get into bed and lock yourself away from everyone.
” She holds her pinky out for me to take with my own.
“I promise. I also hate that you know me so well.” I say as I link my pinky with hers because she’s right, I would have just got into bed and cried myself to sleep alone without asking Ella to come over.
“So yes, call Ella please. Now go get ready.” I say with a weak smile knowing she can see right through it anyway.