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.
“You’re fucking perfect, do you know that?” He says looking into my eyes.
“No, but maybe one day I’ll believe it with the amount of times you tell me.” I smile up at him just before a loud bell dings.
Lev comes over to the side of the cage we are standing at and practically falls over himself when he notices me.
