Page 62 of The Dark Side

Adrik folded his hands in his lap. “Regardless, Katia is not your friend. Don’t be fooled.”

Her brows knitted. She felt like he wasn’t listening to a word she was saying. “Okay.”

“And my brother. He is not who you think he is.”

Jolie let her aggravation shine. “Yeah, none of you are; you’re mafia.” Jolie stood. “Like, what am I supposed to do? Not talk to anyone? I already have no one here. Stop trying to take away the only people that will talk to me.”

“I’m talking to you.”

“Yeah, the first time in days. And according to you, you’re the only person I can trust. Great.”

Adrik hated passive-aggressive attitudes. It was a pet peeve. “I’m not paying you to have friends.”

“I’m doing my job, but you can’t control how I live despite how hard you try.”

He paused, trying to figure out why that hurt him. “Is that what you think? I’m trying to control you?”

“Yes,” she sighed.

Adrik looked out the window. This wasn’t the first time someone accused him of being controlling. It was a trait he had gotten from his father and one he was desperate to destroy.

But there was a reason he was the way he was. “Perhaps I am. But it’s for your safety.”

“Why? Am I too stupid—”

“Not stupid,” he cut her off, refusing to let her put words in his mouth. “But ignorant. Unless you’ve suddenly educated yourself on the culture of the Russian Mafia.” He stared at her and waited for a battle, but he knew he was right when she bowed her head. “I understand this life is an adjustment. But focus on the benefits.”

Jolie nodded, blinking back the tears. She didn’t know why she hoped he’d fix it, break this weird wall between them. She wanted the man who first came in with a smirk on his lips. Not this emotionless husk. “I am,” she murmured, if only to appear grateful. “I’ll be able to save. I can pay back my student loans. I can eventually send my parents some money, and they can get a new car. Maybe even get them to Disney; they’ve always wanted to be one of those old couples that go all the time. This is just a momentary sacrifice.” She sniffed, clearing her head, and pushed back all the sadness. She needed to focus on the ultimate goal of why she was doing this.

I’m not here for a relationship,she reminded herself.It doesn’t matter how he treats me. I’m a tutor. Nothing else.

Adrik suddenly changed the subject. “The police are having a hard time finding your attacker.”

Her smile drifted.

“I thought perhaps I could help.”

Her fingers reached for a chair. “He’s still out there?”

She didn’t know why she believed the police would have no trouble tracking down her intruder. It seemed like such an easy thing to do. She had given them a description of his face. She had done her part. So, why hadn’t they done theirs?

Jolie sat down, holding her ribs as if the pain suddenly escalated. It had been two weeks, and she was just now able to breathe without a problem. Her bruises were slowly fading, and the nightmares weren’t as intense. But it was under the belief that her attacker was off the streets.

“Can you think of any reason someone would attack you?”

She scoffed. “Aside from knowing you?”

“The Toxins had no reason to come after me.”

Her brows knitted, and she shook her head. Her thoughts were weaving all through her features, but she stayed silent, staring at the ground.

“He came from the window,” she suddenly began. She cleared her throat, forcing out the terrible emotions the memories stirred. “He could have shot me, but he didn’t. He wanted to hurt me. I ran to the bathroom, but he started beating the door down. I set his mask on fire with hairspray and a lighter.”

Adrik smirked and repeated, “You set his mask on fire?”

Jolie could see the humor in his face. It made her proud. “Yeah.”

“I’m impressed.” Adrik rested his elbows on his knees, two inches from her, and if he dared, he could reach out and touch her hand. “Maybe your thoughts on gun control—”

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