“Come on inside girls, I don’t want either of you getting sick.” Dragna’s horse voice sounds from above us and we both look up to see him and Mikhail holding a hand out to each of us to help us up.
I take Dragna’s hand in mine and he pulls me up to stand as Mikhail helps Alina up.
We walk inside the house and not two seconds later we hear a car pull up outside. We all turn to see who has returned home from the Italians compound first and when the door flies open and Lev steps out I feel more relief flood my body.
His eyes meet mine across the front garden and he breaks into a sprint towards the front door.
“Willow tree.” He breathes out as he begins touching my face and lifting my arms, inspecting me for any injuries and in disbelief I’m here standing in front of him.
“Blyat’, Willow, you’re here. You’re really here!” He laughs manically as his eyes fill with tears and he pulls me in for a hug.
I wrap my arms around him not believing that this is all real life. We have all gone through so much these past couple of weeks and if you had of told me that day Lev came to have a girls day with Alina and I that this is where we would be months down the line. Him crying over me being okay, me crying into his chest thankful that he saved Dragna, saved me, that we would even need to be saved in the first place I would of thought you were crazy.
I let the tears flow freely and Lev holds me closer.
“I told you didn’t I.” He says and I look up at him as he places a kiss to my forehead.
“I told you that we would look out for you, protect you, do anything we could for you. Mysestyonka.” He breathes out before pulling me back into a tight hug for a few more seconds.
“Thank you, for everything Lev.” I tell him as he lets me go and Dragna comes up behind me, resting his chin on the top of my head. Lev nods at me and winks, his playful side on full show again.
“Anytime Willow Tree, we got your back.”
———————————————————
“I’ve ran a bath for you.” Dragna tells me as his hands skim over my shoulders from behind. I forgot just how big and powerful he was. How much he engulfs me and not just by size,but in every aspect now that I’ve had time to sit with him, just us two since we got back to the house.
Every part of me is drawn to him.
He’s like a storm I can’t stop chasing, even though I know he is dangerous. I want to be in the middle of his chaos so long as I get to see him, feel him, to be completely and utterly consumed by him in every way no matter how much damage it causes.
It’s worth it.
He is worth it.
“I need to tell you something first.” I say as I turn around and place my hands on his bare stomach, running one hand up to hover over the bandages covering his chest and neck.
“I want you to know first of all that I’m not just saying this as a weird trauma bond thing after everything that’s happened, but because I feel it so deeply in my heart that I need to get over the fear of being vulnerable.” I breathe and close my eyes before looking back up to him again, seeing the same feelings I’m about to express mirrored back to me through his own eyes.
“I love you. I love you so much that it terrifies me because of what’s happened to me in the past, but I also love you so much that I owe it to myself and to you to tell you the truth. Seeing you that night and thinking you were dead while I was being taken and then having all that time alone to only think about my life and you… I have loved you for a while, I was just afraid to let you in. This doesn’t excuse the fact you have lied to me and done questionable things, but I do love you Dragna. Everything has been put into perspective and I know with my whole heart that I would rather have a life with you, filled with its danger and the chaos surrounding you rather than a safer life without you.”
He grabs me and pulls me flush to his body, still not caring that I’m absolutely filthy and he just holds me, the words I spoke sinking in between us.
“Move in with me.” He mumbles against my hair. The statement makes my breathing stop. He can’t be serious, but if I really know him like I think I finally do now, then he really is.
“I know it’s crazy, but I’m crazymoya dusha. Crazy about you, without you, even when I am with you I’m still going out of my mind wishing I could hold you and protect you twenty four seven. I never thought I would feel this way about anyone, but you came into my life and flipped everything I believed in upside down. I had my life under control down to every minor detail, and when you got into the car that first night, you turned all of that control into chaos. I need you.” He kisses my shoulder.
“I want you.” He kisses my neck.
“Ya tebya lyublyu.” He kisses my lips with such passion that makes my entire body feel’s like it’s being brought to life for the first time.
“I love you so much it physically hurts. Move in with me Willow.” He speaks again as he breaks our kiss.
“I’ll think about it.” I smile at him, bringing a hand to cup his face, his stubble rubbing harshly against my palm.
I find safety within him that I have only ever dreamed about, even if we are by no means out of any danger yet with Tommy and Ella’s whereabouts still unknown. I know this man will do everything to make sure I am happy and safe, and that’s all I have ever wanted.
With Matteo and the Italians in Boston dealt with, and Dragna now willing to work with Alina’s dad to help find the Irish, there is still a lot to be done and a lot I have to learn about being a ‘Brava woman.’ as Lev called me once I had settled into being back here tonight.
