Page 114 of The Dark Side

Jolie winced. Her mind has been saying the weirdest things lately.

Adrik glanced over at her, spoke into the phone, and winked. Jolie giggled like a silly schoolgirl and dropped her head. He knew how gorgeous he was and enjoyed being ogled. She rolled her eyes, hating herself for being another fan girl.

When he hung up, Jolie asked, "You seem happy?"

"I am." He watched the rising sun in the distance, enjoying the breeze. "My father will be leaving soon, and I have finally gotten hold of the man who ordered the hit on my daughter."

"Katia's brother?"

"Yes. He will pay for his sins."

Jolie bowed her head. Agent Mally had been right. Adrik found him. If she was a better person, she would take that information to Mally, and maybe she could save the man from dying. Because that's what's going to happen, wasn't it? Adrik was going to kill him?

Katia's voice broke into her thoughts.'He'd do what he did to my fiancé. Skin you alive. Cut you up into little pieces while you are still awake. He'd start with your toes. Then your fingers. This is the man you love, Jolie. You better learn to fucking accept it.'

"Are you—" The words caught in her throat. She could feel Adrik staring at her, waiting for her to finish the sentence, but she couldn't. She took a sip of her drink instead.

"I am not killing him if that is your question. I can't. The contract between our families forbids it. But I can make him suffer and keep him locked away for the rest of his miserable life."

She shook her head, staring at the wound on her hand.

Adrik shifted, sitting forward on the couch and resting his elbows on his knees. He followed her gaze, seeing the bandage. "What happened to your hand?"

She shook her head, clenching her fist. "It was my fault."

Adrik had no care to question further. He made himself talk about yesterday, "Did you have fun last night?"

The redirection was welcome, and Jolie latched onto it. She shoved the horrible thoughts of Adrik hurting someone to the back of her mind and slammed the door. She instead focused on his amazingly bright-blue eyes in the morning sun.

"It was awesome. I never drink, but"—she shrugged—"I needed a night to relax."

Adrik bit the inside of his cheek. He was talking to a feminist; no doubt any reprimand would be twisted into a women's rise about suppression. It was one of the reasons why he only fucked Russians. Those women knew what was expected of them.

"Your actions yesterday were not appropriate."

The defense in her was instant, and he hung his head.

"What did I do?"

With a deep breath, Adrik continued, "I am very particular about my expectations, Jolie. I expect respect and loyalty."

"I haven't disrespected you—"

"No? Allowing another man to fondle you isn't exactly a form of respect. You are lucky I didn't break their hands."

"Adrik—"

"My reputation is important to me. I control a vast number of very dangerous people. The only way that is possible is by being something to fear. If they have the audacity to touch what is mine, they do not fear me properly, and the potential to be disloyal rises. Now, these men didn't know you belonged to me; it is not their fault." He paused. "It is yours."

Jolie struggled to speak as the red poured into her vision. "So, you don't want me to have any fun?"

Adrik despised the fact it was the same response as Katia. "Is that what you heard?"

"Don't be patronizing. I was dancing. I didn't do anything wrong."

"I'm telling you, you did."

She nodded, licking her lips, getting more pissed as the seconds continued. "Naked girls on stripper poles are a 'lifestyle hazard,' but me dancing with other people is unacceptable?"

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