Page 130 of The Dark Side

Everything he imagined for his future was gone. If he couldn't have it with Jolie, he wouldn't have it with anyone. Accepting this life was the only thing that was left. Accepting the fact that his daughter was going to be used for the family, going to be auctioned off like some fucking animal, was becoming more realistic than not. There was no hope left. His father had been hinting at it for years, and now, Adrik stopped fighting it. His father was right about everything.

Alexei was on his heels. "You okay?"

"Fine," he snapped back.

"Because you don't look okay."

Adrik kept going down the stairs, ignoring his brother. They twisted through the bottom level of the house, typing in a password to get into the deepest floor. A guard was on the other side, tracking who was coming and going. Down here, there were no cameras. There would be no evidence that could ever be leaked.

When they turned the corner, Adrik faced Alexei. "She wants to go; she can go. I'm done."

"Have you even talked to her?"

"I don't need to. I can see it."

"Oh, well, that's a talent."

"I don't need your shit right now."

Alexei snatched Adrik's arm, but Adrik retaliated with a quick fist, punching his brother hard in the face, and he fell back against the wall, holding his cheek. Adrik cursed and ran his hands through his hair, pacing for a minute.

Alexei clenched his jaw; the pain was nothing new. He didn't know why he was putting up a fight about this. He should be happy. Relieved even. But here he was. "All she wanted was you. When she saw me standing in front of her, it devastated her. Why can't you live for yourself for once? Why do you have to do everything Papa says?"

Adrik stepped up to him with a finger in his face and screamed, "That's what I've been trying to do! But you don't understand. He's everywhere, Alexei. I can't escape from him."

"Then, stop trying to. Face him." Alexei watched Adrik turn away, scoffing, as if the very idea was impossible. And then words escaped him. "Kill him."

Adrik snapped his head toward his brother. He stared at him, observing Alexei trying to piece together the statement, processing the words as if they were foreign. They repeated in his head like echoes in a cavern, but instead of getting distant and quieter, they got louder and deafening.

Adrik leaned around the corner, finding the man still sitting at the front entrance. He had earphones plugged in as he watched TV on his phone. Adrik turned his attention back to Alexei. "What did you say?"

"You heard me."

Once more, the words replayed, and Adrik shifted on his foot, fear creeping into him. And underneath that fear was a slim ray of hope.

"How long have you thought of that?"

"Years," Alexei admitted, daring to look at him. "I don't have the same love for him as you do."

Adrik backstepped, and Alexei reached for him, but Adrik put a hand out to stop him. It wasn't that Adrik never thought about killing their father, but it was a stupid fantasy. Like running away. Like faking his death. They were thoughts that were better left unsaid. Because speaking them aloud gave it potential, and nothing good could come from killing Yakov. If anyone found out, they'd be hunted down by cousins and uncles. Their own grandfathers wouldn't be able to look away.

And if they somehow made it appear like an accident, they would be looking over their shoulders every day for the rest of their lives, praying no one figured it out.

There was no peace in murdering their father.

Despite how much they wanted it.

Adrik didn't understand. "You always stop me."

"Because it shouldn't be you," Alexei whispered. "All you have to do is tell me yes. You won't know anything else. Not when, or where, or how. You'll be safe."

Adrik knitted his brows. Alexei was serious. But there was no killing Yakov. How could he think that would ever be a possibility? And then to assume that Adrik would let Alexei handle something so horrible on his own? It was too much. Adrik backstepped further and further. Alexei begged him to stay, but he couldn't. The world was crumbling beneath his feet; he needed some control. And that control came from violence.

Chapter forty-eight

Revenge

Adriksteppedintotheroom that's become a torture chamber for a few high-rated victims. It used to be a gym. There was glass on the walls and cold marble flooring. But it was too far from the main house, being at least a hundred feet by tunnel, so they moved the gym to the other side of the property. Now, it was the 'torture chamber,' as Gil liked to call it. There was a single working light in the center of the room, and it shined down like a spotlight. It kept Adrik in darkness as he circled Zinof like a predator in the night. He watched as his soldiers took turns punching Zinof, slapping him, poking him with an electric taser. They laughed as Zinof screamed.

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