Chapter Twenty Six Willow
Chapter Twenty Six
Willow
“Yes I know mom, but you know me. I wouldn’t do something like this on a whim. He’s amazing, like seriously amazing.” I sigh down the phone to my mother.
“And he treats you good?” She asks suspiciously.
“So good, better than I probably deserve.”
“Oh Willow, you deserve to be treated like a Queen. I just want you to be happy. Are we a little shocked about how old he is, yes of course, but only because we are your parents, it’s our job to worry.”
“I just don’t know what I’ve done to end up with someone like him mom. He’s like something out of one of the books I’ve read and I just feel like how did I, a completely normal girl, end up with him.”
“Because you’re amazing honey. Despite the age gap, I’m glad you’re being treated well. He does sound lovely and as long as he continues to treat you with respect, then we are happy for you.” I can almost see the smile I know she has on her face right now.
When I fist called my mom to tell her about Dragna I wasn’t nervous, but then when I told her his age and the fact he’s a millionaire, or billionaire, I actually don’t know yet, I got worried. Her silence was telling, but I knew when she knew how happy I was, she would be okay.
“Now, are you being safe?”
“Oh my god mom! I’m not sixteen, you don’t need to ask me that!”
“Oh yes I do, you’re still my baby regardless of how old you are and I want to know you’re being safe when this is all so new.”
I repress a gag at the thought of this conversation even beginning to happen.
“Mom. I love you but as of right now you don’t need to worry about anything okay? Nothing like that has happened.”
“Yet.” She responds and I want the ground to swallow me whole.
“I know you’re an adult Willow, but he’s still older than you and I don’t want him taking advantage of a young girl and you wind up on your own and pregnant. You and Alina wouldn’t exactly be parents of the year.”
“Hey!” I scold her while laughter bubbles up at the thought of Alina and I taking care of a child.
“Just be careful baby girl. Enjoy your youth in those clubs you all love so much and keep grand babies off the table.”
“Yes mother, I’m on the shot and I will be safe when the time comes. I promise.” I say through more laughter.
“Good, okay well I’m going to run out to do some shopping. Keep me updated please, I love you Wills.”
“Love you too mom.” I hang up and I’m about to pocket my phone when it rings again. I see Ella’s name and get excited, I haven’t spoke to her in a few days and we’re in the middle of planning her birthday party so I know this call is going to be about that.
“Hellooo!” I sing down the phone.
“Wills! Are you sitting down?” She all but screams down the line while giggling.
“Yes, why?”
“Okay… So you know the guy I’ve been dating?
His family own a club in Boston, FUCKING BOSTON!
Anyway, he’s planned a weekend for us all for my birthday.
He’s going to fly us all out there, put us up in a hotel and everything!
Like, what the hell! So what do you say?
Me, you, Alina, Mia and Gigi. Boston. Clubbing the whole weekend and having the time of our lives! ”
“What! He’s just going to pay all of that, pay for all of us? A whole weekend? Ella who is he?” I suddenly get the feeling this is what my mother has just experienced with me telling her about Dragna and I want to cringe at myself.
“Never mind, I’m excited for you! Let’s do it!!” I add quickly before she can respond to my line of questioning.
“Yaaay! I knew your clubbing side was still inside you somewhere. Alina said you’ve been smitten with your new man. I was afraid he was gonna be another Fred and kill your party girl era.” She laughs down the phone.
“It’s just been a hectic month girl. Nobody can kill the party girl era don’t worry.” I laugh but also feel a sense of anxiety in my stomach. There hasn’t been much on the stalker front, which hopefully means they’ve backed off, whoever the hell they were.
“Well then we’ll all let off some steam partying our way round Boston. How’s next weekend sound?”
“That’s perfect, Alina and I are both off work that weekend!”
“Ahh I love when a plan comes together!” She screams with excitement as our front door knocks and I smile knowing it’s Dragna here to pick me up.
“Okay I gotta go, text me all the details for Boston. I can’t wait Ella!”
“I’ll do it right now! Speak soon, love you byeee!”
Hanging up, I run downstairs and open the front door to find Dragna standing there looking as hot as ever.
“How do you look as beautiful in joggers and a sweatshirt as most women could only dream to achieve in designer dresses?” He says smirking at me.
“Be careful, if you keep complimenting me I won’t be able to fit through the door, my head will be too big.” I smile back at him playfully.
We have fallen into a comfortableness with each other, or more so I have now become comfortable with his compliments and his endless ways of showing me just how much I mean to him.
“Come on, I have a surprise for you.”
“Oh no… am I dressed okay? Should I change?” I panic thinking it will be another trip somewhere where he’s booked the whole place for us.
“You look perfect, don’t worry.” He replies and I give him a stern look and raise an eyebrow because when men say ‘you look perfect’ it doesn’t actually mean you’re dressed for the occasion.
He wouldn’t care if I wore what I’m wearing now while he wined and dined me in New Yorks fanciest restaurant.
“Are you absolutely sure?” I question further.
“Willow, trust me. I just hope you like the surprise.” He says smirking and I groan as he reaches his hand towards me and wiggles his fingers for me to take it.
I lock up the apartment and then hand in hand, he leads me to his car. God I really hope I don’t regret not changing.
———————————————————
“Motherfucker!”
“Nu davay zhe!”
“Voz'mi yego, Lev!”
Well Dragna was right about it not being an issue if I was in joggers and a sweatshirt, but this surprise is well and truly surprising.
He brought me to the club, only it’s not the club, it’s underneath the club and we are currently in a room full of sweaty half naked men punching each other for fun while the other half of the room shouts at them in a mix of Russian and English.
Lev is currently inside a cage fighting some other guy and the poor soul he’s fighting looks like he’s wishing for someone to throw in the towel. I can’t look away but I also can’t stop from wincing at every punch and kick that either of them land on each other.
“Quick question, did you think I’d enjoy this?” I ask and Dragna looks down at me and sighs while giving me a sympathetic smile.
“I have to be here to oversee the last of the training before the fights next weekend. I also couldn’t stand being away from you any longer, so I thought you wouldn’t mind if I brought you along with me to watch.”
“How romantic.” I tease and his lips tilt into a full smile.
“I know it’s not actually romantic but if I can kill two birds with one stone, I will. I’ll make it up to you though, I promise.” He says and he gives me a quick kiss on the top of my head.
“I’m only teasing, I don’t actually mind being here. I’ve just never experienced anything like this before. I’ve never even watched fighting on tv.” I tell him as I squeeze my eyes closed at the sound of Lev punching the other guy so hard it echos around the room.
“Do you want to come to the fights next weekend? I know Alina and Lev haven’t spoke to each other but I’d love it if you came with me.
I promise it’s better than just these sparring sessions.
Plus, you’d get to dress up which means I get to take you shopping.
” He chuckles and I almost tell him I’d love to but then I remember Ella’s birthday party.
“I would have actually liked that, maybe, but Ella’s boyfriend has planned a whole birthday weekend thing for her in Boston. It’s next weekend and Alina and I are both going.”
He turns to face me with a serious look on his face, suddenly forgetting all about the fights going on around us.
“Boston? What’s in Boston?”
Oh no. Is this where I find out he’s just as controlling as Fred and is someone who is going to make sure I don’t go away with my friends?
“We’re going to stay in a hotel, me and all the girls and then just go out clubbing. Her boyfriend is originally from Boston so that’s where he’s planned the weekend. Is… is that okay?” I ask waiting for the inevitable tirade of how he doesn’t want me to go.
“Are you seriously asking me for permission Willow?” His eyebrows scrunch together and I feel a sigh of relief rush out of my body. He’s not Fred, he isn’t an insecure boy who throws tantrums over me wanting to hang out with my friends.
“I just… well I don’t actually know why I said that. Okay I do know why I said that. I’m rambling.” I laugh nervously.
“Moya dusha, you can do whatever the hell you like. I’ll just be worrying whether you’re safe or not, that’s all. I’ll never stop you from having fun or seeing your friends. Whoever made you feel like it’s a normal reaction for a man to get annoyed with you for wanting to have fun is a bastard.”
He pulls me into him, his big arms wrapping around my shoulders as he rests his chin on the top of my head and suddenly I feel like I’m going to cry.
“I’m sorry. I know you’re different. I just can’t help the fear that sometimes creeps in.” I tell him honestly.
We have had more open talks about what I went through, the therapy, the bullying in school and he let me in more by telling me how often he used to have panic attacks so I feel more secure being able to tell him when I feel worried now.
One of his hands comes up to stroke the back on my head, soothing me and making me feel safe. There’s so much noise going on around us but when Dragna has me in his arms like this, it’s as if we are living in our own little universe.
“Don’t apologise, ever.” He says as he stands taller and looks down at me.