Chapter Forty Two Willow
Chapter Forty Two
Willow
Alina, Mia, Gigi and I are all laying in bed together silently while we eavesdrop on Ella and Tommy. They are talking in the living room about the clusterfuck that was last night.
When Tommy arrived he asked to speak to Ella alone. While we can grant him that, it doesn’t mean we won’t listen in.
We have all agreed there’s something about him and his friends that we don’t like, which after the events of last night is pretty evident. But with way he walked into our hotel room today though, he seems seedy, but how the hell do we convince Ella of that to get her away from him?
Somehow he’s got his claws in her because the Ella we know wouldn’t have stood for what happened last night, or even debated going back in to see him afterwards.
Not one of us saw through him or saw any red flags. Were we just so happy for Ella finally being happy and finding someone that we all looked at their relationship with rose coloured glasses? Even with the details of how they met being vague.
Apparently he was in one of the clubs she was dancing in and when he saw her, he just had to wait around for her to finish to speak to her. After that night, she’s been all about him.
In the line of work she’s in with being a pole dancer, we know she can look after herself and knows how to stay safe when it comes to slimy men, but now I know that Tommy has somehow snuck through the cracks and we need to help her.
Ella also never told us anything that would have made us suspect him, so maybe this is her first time seeing him act like this too?
Shit, I can’t take any more spiralling or overthinking right now.
I also can’t believe I did what I did to Finn last night and now I’m terrified of the consequences.
So terrified in fact that I debated calling Dragna when we got back here last night, but the girls talked me out of it saying that we only have one more day to get through and then we’ll be going home.
I still want to call him though, or at least text him.
Feeling so unsafe last night made me realise that despite knowing the truth now about Dragna and Lev, and the other men around Dragna that I’ve got to know, they have all been nothing but kind to me, making me feel welcome and most importantly, safe.
It sounds insane that men like them have made me feel safe, but after what happened last night giving me an insight to what an actual evil man is, there’s no doubt in my mind that Dragna is somehow different.
He isn’t a bad man who would do bad things for the sake of it. God now I miss him even more.
“Stop thinking about calling him.” Alina whispers beside me knowing exactly what I’m thinking about doing.
“Shhhhh!” Gigi whispers back before I can even speak.
We can hear Tommy shouting now and Gigi gets up off the bed storming for the door.
We all follow her within seconds because we aren’t going to let him speak to Ella like that.
Plus, there’s four of us to stick up for her and only one of him, even if he does scare me now, I’m still backing one of my girls.
“You need new fuckin’ friends Ella. They’re all lucky I didn’t bring Finn up here with me!
” Tommy snarls in Ella’s direction as we all pile into the living room.
They both turn to look at us before Ella quickly lowers her head to the ground, trying to hide how scared she looks, but we all know her, we know she’s terrified.
“If isn’t the famous four. Come out to cause more trouble have ya?” Tommy says in our direction.
“You did a number on him Willow, actually quite impressive considering you’re supposedly as quiet as a mouse from what I hear.
” He continues on as he walks over to the floor to ceiling window, peering down at the street below.
All of us stay silent as we make our way to Ella while keeping an eye on Tommy.
“What the fuck!” He barks before spinning to face us.
“You call your fuckin’ guard dog Willow?”
“What are you talking about?” I’m so confused my voice comes out louder than I intended it to and Tommy clearly takes it as I’m challenging him.
“Don’t play stupid sweetheart, not right now.” He replies as he takes measured steps towards us.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about I swear.” I say as I begin backing up the closer he gets to us. Alina and Gigi stand in front of me while Mia stands side by side with Ella.
“Dragna, why the fuck is he outside.” He spits out furiously.
“What!?” Alina and I both say at the same time.
How is Dragna here? Tommy has to be lying, or he’s mistaken someone else for Dragna. They had the fights, they have a busy weekend, he wouldn’t, no he couldn’t be here.
“Let’s all calm down, okay?” Gigi speaks with authority.
“How do you know Dragna is outside?” She asks Tommy as she places a hand on her hip and stares him down.
“Don’t make me out to be an idiot. I know all their fuckin’ cars, and right now Dragna is down there which means not far behind him is the rest of his squad.”
I look to Alina and she’s gone white, panic all over her face as she looks like she’s seconds away from passing out. I grab her hand and squeeze it knowing she’s come to the same realisation as I have.
If Tommy knows Dragna’s cars, he knows who Dragna is, which means he has to be involved somehow in their world.
“I didn’t call him. I didn’t even tell him which hotel we were staying at, we never had that conversation so if it is really him outside I honestly have no idea how, or why they are here. I swear Tommy.” I tell him trying to remain as calm as possible.
“Call him. Tell him you’re safe and tell him to fuck off.”
“No? Why the hell would I—” My sentence is cut off as Tommy pulls a gun from the back of his jeans and points it in our direction. We all let out screams and cries, grabbing onto each other as we back against the wall and Alina sinks to the floor and brings her knees to her chin.
“You’ll call him right fuckin’ now sweetheart.”
“My phones in the bedroom.” I say shakily, my entire body trembling.
What the hell is going on right now. How did Ella get mixed up with him. How did Alina and I get mixed up with Dragna and Lev. How is this our reality right now. It feels like some sick joke the Universe is playing on us all right now.
“Then lead the way.” Tommy says bringing his other hand up to gesture down the hallway.
I move away from the wall and my legs barely hold me up as I walk across the living room, down the hallway and finally get to the bedroom all while Tommy walks behind me still pointing the gun at me.
I unplug my phone from the charger and it takes me three attempts at unlocking it with how much I’m shaking. I bring up Dragna’s number and I’m about to press call when Tommy shoves the gun into the base of my spine.
“Make this believable and put it on speaker.” He growls in my ear.
I close my eyes and take a few breaths. If Dragna really is outside then he can somehow help. I know he can. I truly believe him and Lev really would do anything to protect Alina and I, so I need to somehow tell him to leave while also hinting to help us.
I take another deep breath, press call and wait for him to answer.
“Moya Dusha.” He breathes as he answers and it feels like my heart has cracked open. He sounds relieved that I called and all I want to do is cry to him to help us.
I pull myself together as best as I can before saying anything to him.
“Willow, are you okay?” He asks because I still haven’t said anything and Tommy pushes the gun into my back further and I know I need to do something quickly.
“Leave.” Is all I say. I expect him to lie if it is really him outside, or to act confused but he doesn’t.
“How did you know we’re outside?” Great, now is the time he decides to be honest with me for once.
“I saw you. I came down to go for a walk and saw your car. Just leave me alone Dragna.”
Please don’t leave. Please realise I would never decide to go for a walk on my own in a place I didn’t know. Please help.
“No Willow, I’m here to sort things out between us, please moya dusha. Just let me take you out for dinner to apologise.”
“We’ll talk when I get back to New York, which is exactly where you should of stayed.”
I feel the tears that have formed in my eyes spill over and run down my cheeks. It’s silent on the other end of the phone for what feels like a lifetime before Dragna speaks again.
“Did you get the necklace I got for you? I told Lev to give it to you despite everything that happened before you left. I still want you to have it despite all that’s happened between us and I want you to wear it and remember how good we were together.
Remember how much I care for you moya dusha.
I’ll be waiting for you when you get back. Remember, I’m here. Always.”
The line goes dead and I stare at my phone. My hand shakes with the tremors wracking throughout my body and all I can think about is Dragna leaving Boston and us being stuck here with Tommy and whoever the hell his friends are.
“Good girl Willow. Now, let’s go back and tell the girls the plans for tonight.”
Tommy grabs my hair and shoves me out the bedroom door, back towards the girls and I feel sick at the thought of what he has planned.