“Come on, you’re safe here and you can stay tonight if you like?”
“I leave for Boston in the morning. I’ll need to be home early tomorrow if I stay.” I tell him as he walks me to the front door and his usual security are there to open it for us, giving us a nod.
“That’s okay. I’ll drive you myself in the morning as early as you need.”
When we walk into the foyer my three furry best friends greet us, and by us I mean me having clearly chosen their new favourite human much to their owners dismay.
Boulder, Volk and Ark have become my favourite part of Dragna’s home and they are exactly what I need right now when I feel so anxious.
“Yeah, I’ll stay. I missed my boys.”
I sit on the floor and the three of them surround me, each of them pawing at me and licking me. They manage to pull a laugh from me and Dragna crouches down beside me, stroking them, reminding them of the good boys they are.
“I’ve called a meeting with my security. I need to meet them at the club. Do you want to stay here or come with me?”
I think about whether I’d feel safe at the club with so many unknown people around and the thought makes me feel sick.
“I’ll stay here. I know I’d still be safe with you at the club, but I feel safer here knowing there’s nobody around except for security.”
He nods and runs a hand down my hair soothing me as I start to shake again.
“I don’t know how long I’m going to be, it might take a while, but the staff are all here and there will be men stationed outside the perimeter of the grounds and at the front door. If you need anything at all, you can ask them, or you can call me. I won’t be too busy to answer you if you need me okay?” I nod at his words and pull him in for a kiss as I feel my heart rate calming down again when his arms fold around me.
“Yeah, I’ll be okay.”
I sit with the dogs for a few more minutes while Dragna stands and walks away on a phone call, preparing his meeting. He comes back ten minutes later and I’m already lying amongst the dogs on his huge corner sofa in the main living room with a blanket over me. He walks over and kisses my forehead, making me feel even safer.
“Remember, call me if you need memoya dusha. I’ll see you soon.”
“Be careful.” I reply back as he walks away and out the front door. I hear the tyres of his car crunching on the gravel driveway and when I can no longer hear the roar of the engine, I sink deeper into the sofa, all the emotions rising to the surface and since I’m alone, I let myself feel everything and I cry.
———————————————————
I don’t know how long I’ve been crying for when I hear a car coming up the driveway. Shit, shit, shit. I quickly wipe my tears away and blow my nose for the hundredth time on another tissue and pray I don’t look like I’ve cried the whole time Dragna has been gone.
The front door opens and I peek over the back of the sofa into the foyer when Lev appears, whistling and swinging his carkeys around his finger. He stops at the doorframe and leans against it with a sympathetic look on his face.
“Shit, Wills.” He says before quickly walking over to the sofa and coming to sit beside me.
“Dragna sent me to check on you, he didn’t want to call incase you were asleep.” He says as he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. I just sniffle and give him a weak smile.
“I’m okay.” But when I say the words they come out sounding so pathetic I curse myself internally.
“You’re not, but that’s okay. I have just the thing for you.”
Lev pats my thigh twice before standing up and pulling me to stand with him. The dogs don’t even give us a second glance as he drags me out to the hall.
“Get your shoes on.” He tells me strictly.
“I really don’t feel like leaving the house Lev.”
“And that’s exactly why you have to. You pulled me out of my slump at the club so it’s my turn to return the favour. Come on, if you don’t put your shoes on I’ll just carry you out to my car. Either way, we’re leaving.” He says sternly and I know he is one hundred percent serious. I sigh and put my shoes on then make my way to the front door and he follows behind me.
“Where are we going?” I ask as we reach his car and he opens the passenger door for me.
“Wherever you want to go. You hungry?”
I realise now I haven’t eaten since breakfast this morning and right on cue, my stomach rumbles. Lev smiles down at me before closing the door and rounding the car to get in himself.
