Page 13 of Embracing the Dark Side

Alexei could see Yakov to the right. The man was staring at him in warning, holding a drink to his lips. It made Alexei want to make out with her if only to spite Yakov, but Sonya embarrassed him and shamed him in front of Jolie, a woman he respected. Sonya had never acted this way before, and he couldn’t understand what spurred her to do so now. He wasn’t looking for excuses or reasoning. He just wanted her gone.

Alexei gestured to one of Adrik’s men, and they came to take hold of Sonya’s arm.“You’re fired. Take her out.”

Alexei didn’t acknowledge her look of surprise. She should know him by now. Three years of random meetings, and Sonya acted like he was one ofherwhores. She had no ownership or claim, and to walk in here had shown him the kind of crazy that she possessed. It was the kind he needed to stay far away from.

Alexei returned to Jolie, unsure if he should apologize or move on. He didn’t know what to say and sipped his drink in an awkward quiet.

Thankfully, Jolie popped up with, “Think I could pull that dress off?”

Her silly smile made him snort. God, he loved this woman.

Chapter seven

Guest

It was only an hour into the party, and Adrik was already at his limit. He excused himself from a circle of family, and when a servant walked by with a tray, Adrik snatched up the glass of whiskey. It was becoming increasingly apparent that the only way he was going to get through tonight was to be horribly drunk. He pulled out his phone, hoping for a text from Jolie, but there was nothing. Adrik was about to write something when Gil came to his side. He slipped the phone back into his pocket and downed the rest of his drink.

Gil approached with a limp.“As much as I love a good party, you should take it easy.”He pulled out a blunt.“Here, this is better than getting smashed.”

Adrik didn’t take it. He didn’t want to talk to Gil, no matter how their mother wanted them to make up. According to her, family could get away with anything and be forgiven, but Adrik didn’t work like that.

Gil lit up the blunt anyway and took a pull from it.“What do you want, Adrik? You want me to beg?"

“Just shut up.”A servant refilled his drink and set an ashtray in front of them.

Gil shook his head.“I told Mama you’d be like this. She tried anyway. At least pretend for her sake.”

“I’m sick of pretending.”Adrik gripped the table. All around him, he saw people like Gil, who wanted his approval while going behind his back. They were blood-thirsty, like vampires at a human carnival. They acted good enough until no one was looking, and then they sank their teeth into their victim.“I can’t fucking stand this shit. These bullshit parties.”

“Shh,”Gil chastised, glancing around them.“Come on, just a few hours more.”Forcing the bud between Adrik’s lips, Gil sighed with relief when his brother took a deep inhale and held it.“Where’s Helina?”he asked, hoping the mention of his daughter would calm his brother.

“Watching a movie with Esfir. Too many sick fucks here. If any one of them told me how beautiful she was, I’d cut their eyes out. Fucking pedophiles.”

“Shh, shut it.”Gil laughed, waving.“Bad batch of Molly,”he excused as other people walked by. Gil leaned into his ear.“Dude, we’ll destroy a trafficking ring tomorrow, but right now, they are your people, and you can’t be saying shit like that. Alexei!”Gil called, waving him over.

Adrik snapped his head up as Alexei and Jolie walked up to the table, arm in arm. He straightened, feeling the crushing anxiety die away as he caught Jolie's gaze. She tried to keep her eyes down, semi-hiding behind Alexei, knowing her place could not be at the table. Her hand slid from Alexei, and tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear.

“Help me,” Gil specifically said in English. “Adrik’s freaking out.”

Embarrassed to be called out in front of Jolie, Adrik snapped, “I’m not freaking out. I’m fine.” He took a sip of his drink, continuing to stare at her from over the rim of his glass. The chaos of his thoughts dissipated, and insteadhis focus was on Jolie and if she was wearing panties. He should have pulled them off her back in her room. Her cheeks reddened more every moment as she tried to avoid his gaze but failed. The heat in her eyes set fire to his cock. Thank God for the table in front of him.

“There you are.” Katia approached the table, stepping beside Adrik. She slipped her arm through his, and Adrik’s arousal deflated like a popped balloon. She focused all her attention on him, if only to ignore Gil. In Russian, she hissed with a smile.“Don’t insult me by flirting so obviously. It’s bad enough I have to put up with your shit after you murdered my brother.”

Adrik broke from Jolie to lean into his estranged wife. It appeared seductive enough, with his fingertips grazing the back of her spine. His gaze, however, was on Gil. His brother dismissed himself from the table. No matter what Gil said, he was not over Katia.“Be careful,”Adrik murmured into Katia’s ear.“Planning to kill your own daughter is a hangable offense in Russia.”

Katia ground her teeth and said nothing. Adrik wanted to feel superior, and though he managed to outmaneuver her at times, she would never crumble and surrender. There were always tricks up her sleeve. “Didn't tell daddy yet, did you? Coward."Before he could reply, Katia smiled. "Right on time.” She lifted her arm, waving. “Vinny.”

Jolie knitted her brows. Her ex-boyfriend, Vincent, was sometimes called Vinny. She glanced behind her and watched, with wide eyes and an open mouth, as a man approached the table. He was dressed in a tan suit, and a gold chain swayed with every step he took closer. His tanned skin was riddled with tattoos along his cheek and forehead, with a piercing through his eyebrow and lip.Jolie pressed a hand against her lips. She knew his face from anywhere, despite the years that separated them.

Oh, my God, it’s him.

Vincent had his attention on Katia and didn’t see her. He stepped up to the table on the other side of Alexei and held out his hand to Katia. “Thanks for inviting me.”

Katia took his hand with a brilliant smile. It was the final piece of her revenge. Though it hadn’t gone all to plan, it still felt good when she managed to get ahead. Adrik would never see it coming. It was the deserved payback for killing the man she loved.

“Everyone.” Katia glanced at Jolie specifically, and her shock was like icing on the cake. “Meet Vincent Ortez, a.k.a. Vinny. He is the leader of the Toxins.”

Adrik took the man’s hand with hesitation. Vincent was dressed well in his Armani suit, but the tattoos on his face were prison wear. The clear symbols of gang hierarchy on his cheek. Typically, lower-ranking leaders weren’t invited to these gatherings.

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