Page 111 of The Dark Side

"You made a fool of yourself in front of my people."

She laughed, yelling, "We were having fun!"

Adrik took a step but stopped himself. "Watch yourself."

Katia ground her teeth and lowered her voice. "I'm not going to apologize for pretending for a few hours that I wasn't part of your insufferable family. I didn't even do anything terrible."

Adrik couldn't believe her. "Men were touching you. Touching her."

"That's what it's about.Her. Sheembarrassed you, and because you are still pretending to be a good man, you are taking it out on me instead."

Adrik hastened toward her, gripping her arm, and though she struggled, she stayed."Every time I give you an opportunity to redeem yourself, you fuck it up. How many times do you get before I don't bother anymore?"

There was guilt on her face, but it was brief, and it fled quicker than it came. "I don't need to be redeemed. Divorce me already."

It was time to test his theory. Adrik gripped her throat and flicked his gaze at Gil, who stood on the back wall, pretending not to be interested. He didn't move, didn't flinch even as Adrik increased the pressure, and she grasped at his hand.

"If that's what you're waiting for, it's never gonna happen." Then he changed his tactic. He pulled her closer, his lips at her ear."I still need an heir from you."Adrik pulled at the tie around her waist, loosening her robe. She screeched and smacked at him.

And there it was. The slightest flinch, almost undetectable, had Adrik not been paying attention.

He shoved Katia to Gil, and the man caught her arms as she held her robe together. At first, Gil just stared at Adrik, but then there was a brief recognition. Gil put Katia behind him, a bold fucking move.

Adrik couldn't believe it. All the years they'd spent together, and here it was, the bitter truth, Gil biting the hand that feeds. It was too much to process. Adrik couldn't speak at first, and Gil had nothing worth saying.

Alexei was standing between them, and he flicked his gaze back and forth, "What's going on?"

Adrik glanced at his brother before he pinned his gaze back on Gil. "Can't you tell, brother? Gil's been fucking Katia."

"What?"

Gil curled his fist. "Adrik. It's not what you think."

He could see it now. The way he stood before her like a knight. "You're in love with her." Adrik didn't know what he wanted, but the silence wasn't it. "Do you want to deny it?"

Gil licked his lips and tentatively admitted, "No. But she's not in love with me."

"Have you fucked her?"

"No."

Adrik took another step. "Did. You. Fuck her?"

"No!"

Alexei dived between them, putting his hands on Adrik's chest and pushing him back as Adrik screamed at him, "You're fucking lying! I know you, brother. I know you."

"You know me," Gil agreed. "When has Katia ever been more than a bitch to me, huh? She doesn't love me. I made advances, I admit, but she never gave me the time of day."

Adrik shoved Alexei's hands off him, pacing the room. He didn't know if Gil was telling the truth, and it almost didn't matter. The fact that Gil would even try was enough of a betrayal to leave him disgusted. The ever-present pressure of the gun in his back was pulling at him, begging him to fix it. It would be so easy and give him a temporary feeling of revenge, but it wouldn't last.

Alexei, who was always trying to make everything better, interrupted. "I think it's late. Let's deal with this in the morning. Katia, why don't you get to bed?" Alexei could see the temper in her raise, but then she thought better of it and stomped away, slamming her door. "Gil, you should head back."

"Adrik." Gil dared to step forward. "I'm sorry."

"You'resorry," Adrik mocked."Haven't I given you everything?"

"Of course."

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