“So, why have you brought me here Dragna? What’s the reason for the phone, showing up at the bookstore and then bringing me here for dinner?” I ask, feeling brave and looking him in the eye.
“I told you, I wanted to apologise and talk about what happened this morning.” He says with a straight face, going cold again.
“You already apologised and we could have talked about what happened this morning anywhere. Why have you brought me here?” I question further.
He lifts his own water and takes a drink before setting the glass back on the table, spinning it round and watching the water swirl.
“I’m not very hungry anymore.” I say before he can speak.
“I appreciate you picking me up and the thoughtfulness of everything so far that you’ve done. But I would like to go home now.”
He doesn’t even look at me as I speak and start to stand from my seat, yet as if his hand automatically is drawn to mine, he lightly grabs hold of me, his fingers brushing mine to get my attention before he speaks.
“I don’t know what I’m doing Willow.” He says and I look down at him as he raises his head to look at where our hands are touching before scanning his eyes up to meet mine.
“I just know that I think you’re beautiful, and I would like to have dinner with you.” He speaks so confidently while I huff out a laugh because I am definitely hallucinating now.
“Can you please sit back down and have dinner with me.” He asks, before letting go of me, gesturing to the seat beside him and against all rationale, I sit.
“For the record, I lied, I’m actually starving and it’s my hunger that’s making me sit back down. Not you telling me to.” I level him with a look that lets him know he can’t tell me what to do, like how Fred used to try and control me, which was something he became very good at doing.
“I believe you. I saw the fire you have in you when you shoved me the other night.” He says with a smirk before taking another drink of his water. I watch his throat bob, the muscles in his neck moving like they are calling for me to run my hands overthem and I quickly swallow the saliva that’s gathered in my own mouth just by looking at this man.
“And also for the record. I wouldn’t dream of telling you what you can and can’t do. I believe it would be the other way around for us.”
I audibly gulp at his words. The images I now have in my head of me being the one in control and not just that, but being in control of this huge, powerful man in certain situations and telling him what to do creates a need in my core that I haven’t felt in a long time. God, I am so fucking screwed.
Chapter Eleven
Dragna
We had dinner, talked about her life and talked about the car incident this morning. I felt like a fucking asshole lying to her face about it. Sitting there pretending I’d called the police chief on her behalf, acting concerned that she was possibly being followed all while knowing it was Andrei.
I’d put him on her to ensure she was safe because I have what I now know is an unhealthy obsession with her. I want to know what she is doing at all times, who she is with and whether or not asshole men are sniffing around her when they shouldn’t be. I know I’m no better than the men I want to keep away from her by lying to her, but at least I can keep her safe.
I’ve also gone against my better judgement of wanting to stay away from her because I just simply can’t. It would distract me more if I was a silent shadow in her life rather than having her fully in mine, so it was obvious to me I needed to see her this evening when she finished work.
I know I’ve been giving her mixed signals and I know she is hesitant of me, which she should be. She has no clue of the world I’m involved in and I want to keep it that way. I told her I own several businesses across the city with the club being my main one. She seemed happy with believing that.
As much as I want her in my life, I know I can’t mix her with my lifestyle. She can never find out how stained with blood my hands are, can never know the hours and hours of torture I’ve inflicted on other men and can absolutely not, under any circumstances, find out that I am Pakhan of the Bratva. It willonly put her in danger to be used against me. It would also scare her off before whatever this is between us can even begin and I can’t lose her when she’s starting to warm to me.
I can’t lose her at all.
I watch her watching the city go by outside the car window and it takes all of the restraint I have to not reach for her, to not take her hand in mine and lace our fingers together.
She’s the most perfect creature I’ve ever seen. Her soft skin, velvet voice and those fucking eyes. Her striking hazel eyes that turn a little more green when the light hits them.
Everything about her is delicate, from how graceful she walks, her innocent face, to her pink manicured nails, but her eyes? They are fierce. They could bring any man to his knees, willing to part with his own soul just to have her look at him.
“Before we arrive at my apartment I just want to say thank you.” She breaks the comfortable silence and shifts in her seat to turn to me.
“It was my pleasure. I know it wasn’t fine dining, but somehow I don’t think you’re the kind of girl who is impressed by fancy restaurants with snobbish clientele.” I say honestly, looking into her eyes, then down to her lips.
“No, I don’t just mean for dinner. I mean for everything. I know it’s only been a couple of days since we met, but I had you pegged as some rich asshole who only cared about business. You’ve proved me wrong by showing me the kindness that you have, so thank you.” She says as he looks away getting shy and makes my heart jump.
She was right to have that opinion of me though, because before I saw her I did only care about business. Not the kind of business she’s thinking of, but it’s all the same in my world.
“You’re welcome.” Is the only response I can think of to give her as I notice we have turned into her street. I don’t want her to get out of the car. I don’t want to watch her walk toher apartment door knowing once she’s inside, there’s a barrier between us.
