Page 116 of The Dark Side

Her voice disappeared into the elevator as Adrik sat down. He thumbed his lip, looking out into the ocean.

"Did you have to do that?" Alexei questioned.

Gil responded, "Fuck yeah, he did. She was being ridiculous."

Adrik snapped his head toward Gil."What the fuck are you doing here?"

Gil knitted his brows."Why wouldn't I be here?"

"I threw you out yesterday."

"Yeah, well, that was yesterday."Gil pulled out a cigarette and lit it, ignoring Adrik's glare. He took a puff before defending himself."Come on, Adrik, we've been through worse."

Adrik stood, buttoning his coat."You think trying to fuck Katia is something I'll get over?"

Gil hung his head."Don't act like she matters—"

"All she has to do is spread her fucking legs to get you on her side. She has been trying to destroy me for years, and you want to be her lap dog."

Gil snorted, glancing at Alexei for support. But he should have known better. Gil gripped his cane and stood."I've been with you for over twenty years. You think I'll stab you in the back because of some chick?"

"I don't have the luxury to wait for it."

Gil couldn't hide the hurt in his eyes as he stood there. He remained quiet, knowing Adrik better than he knew himself. No apology was going to make it better. Only punishment would do."You kicking me out of the family?"

Adrik turned his back. That would generally be the answer, but Adrik didn't want to do something he couldn't take back. Instead, he said,"I'm sending you to Puerto Rico, since you want to go so badly. The cartel down there isn't producing enough, and you will find out why and fix the problem."

Gil pressed his cigarette into the ashtray. "Bullshit," he cursed. The cartels down there don't have much respect for Russians. They have never produced enough because they steal it for themselves. Sending him there was like dropping him in the ocean and hoping he didn't come home."As you wish, boss,"he stressed. It was a word like venom on his lips. Adrik was his brother, and yet, here and now, he felt more like an employee. Gil turned away and walked to the elevator before he said over his shoulder,"If you ever saw me as your real brother, you wouldn't be shoving me out."

"If you ever saw me as your real brother, you wouldn't have tried to fuck my wife."

Chapter forty-two

Bonding

Jolietossedandturnedall night. Aside from feeling like rocks were in her head dragging her down, she was replaying the whole conversation with Adrik over and over again and only getting angrier. Jolie wasn't the type of woman to be under anyone's thumb. She may be easy-going and not much of a fighter, but she'd never wear chains, not after Vincent.

Her phone dinged, and she clicked it on, hoping it was Adrik with a poetic apology. Depressingly, it was her mother.'It wasn't that bad of an ask, sweetheart.'

Jolie sneered and buried her head into her pillow.

It wasn't the request itself. Yeah, she shouldn't allow other guys to touch her when dating someone. But it was the way he did it.'Your actions weren't appropriate.'Saying it like she should be ashamed of herself for having fun. It wasn't right. She was a grown woman. She could have whatever kind of fun she wanted.

What other ways would he try to suppress her? Would he want her to change how she dressed, acted, and talked to people? By the end, nothing will be left of her but a shadow.

Tae-Tae rubbed his head against her, trying to pull her out of her despair. Jolie lifted her head, and he smashed his forehead against her cheek. It brought a quick smile to her, and she relaxed as she petted him.

"Am I overreacting?" she asked him.

A meow came in reply.

"I just see it. Like with Vincent. Do you remember Vincent? I forgot who I was for so long." Memories of her time five years ago resurfaced. She wore the clothes he wanted: black emo style, with black lipstick and nail polish. She pretended to like Slipknot and Korn. The only thing she wouldn't do that he tried hard was drink and smoke. It was one of the reasons she eventually gave in to sex. Something had to give so she didn't lose him.

"But I am older now," she whispered to herself. "I love who I am. I don't have to change."

The sunflower dress he bought her lay on the back of the chair. Adrik brought her clothes that she would love. He hadn't shunned her for wearing that halter dress to his mother's party. He hadn't reprimanded her for laughing and getting attention from all his family. And he wasn't even pressuring her to have sex with him. On top of it, he met her mother without being coerced.

Another beep and her mother wrote, 'Relationships are give and take. Vincent took everything you had to give, while he gave you nothing in return. Don't let this one do that to you, and you won't fall back into the same routine.'

---