Page 16 of Embracing the Dark Side

“And what do you know that they don’t?”

Vincent leaned in, and whispered, “I know about your bad side.”

Jolie blushed and stepped back, only to bump into someone else. Adrik rested a hand on her hip, the touch causing a wave of shivers up her spine as she instinctively curled into him, then she realized what she was doing. She stiffened, straightened like a soldier, and looked past Vincent like he wasn’t even there. The smell of Adrik’s cologne swallowed her in a cocoon.

Adrik leaned into her ear as he glared at Vincent out of the corner of his eye. “Helina is looking for you. She’s in the theater.”

Jolie bowed her head. She was relieved to have an excuse to get away. Having her ex-boyfriend and current boyfriend in the same space was too much to mentally handle. “Excuse me.”

Vincent chewed the inside of his cheek, but before she left, he called her name, and she turned with wide eyes. “I’m gonna be heading out soon. Want me totake you home?”

“I live here.”

He nodded, and Jolie gave him a soft smile before she left. A guard dutifully followed after her.

Vincent faced Adrik. He had heard rumors for the last ten years of his life what the Morozov family represented. The talk of their power lingered in every decision the gang made, and the fear that traveled in whispers was common. To see a skinny ass weakling in an oversized suit made Vincent disgusted by his family's pathetic mentality. But that's why Vincent was taking over. There would be no more suppression. He was going to catapult his family to the top. “I take it your wife got me out without your approval. Didn’t know you were the bitch in the marriage.”

Adrik slipped his hands in his pockets. The words were like a barking chihuahua—annoying but without bite. “A man from the Toxins attacked Miss Bell in her apartment.” Vincent’s shock told him his theory was wrong. “Broke her ribs. But you don’t know anything about that?”

Vincent chewed his cheek, and answered frankly, “JoJo’s the only one that knew about the bank. With my parole hearing, I could have gotten another couple of years if she testified. My cousin must have done it and didn’t tell me. I’ll deal with him.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Which is why you cut our funding. I get it. Now I’m out, things like that won’t happen.”

“It is a sign of a weak leader when you can’t control your people.”

“What does it say when you can’t control your wife?”

He slapped a hand on Vincent’s shoulder. “Get out of my house.”

“Sure thing, boss.” As Adrik stepped around him, Vincent grabbed his arm. “Word of advice: JoJo’s sweet but watch out for teeth.”

Before Vincent could move, Adrik had him by the back of the head and slammed him into the table, pinning him in place. Guests jumped and gasped, but Adrik paid them little attention as he leaned over to speak into the man’s ear. “Fight back,” Adrik provoked. “Try to hit me.”

Vincent fisted the tablecloth, and he clenched his teeth, staring out at the people around, watching him, waiting. They all had guns, and some reached for them. His pride burned in the back of his throat, but he wasn’t an idiot. Vincent’s hands flattened, and the fight drained out of him. “My apologies, Mr. Morozov. I misspoke.”

Adrik was disappointed. Killing him would have been a wonderful birthday present. “In the morning, tell your father to expect a phone call. All of his distributors will have found someone else. Every ally will be against him. And as he goes bankrupt and the police arrive on his doorstep, tell him it is because you have a big fucking mouth.” Adrik pulled back but then remembered something and shoved him down again. “Oh. And I like it when she bites.”

Adrik left him, bypassing the annoyed look from his father. This whole party was bullshit. There was no one here he wanted to see or talk to. No one but one.

Adrik went down to the theater, dismissing the guard, Vargo. Jolie and Helina were snuggled in a big lounge chair, watching an animation in Russian. Helina was teaching her words, and Jolie was trying to speak, but her accent was terrible. Adrik suppressed a smile and leaned against the doorway.

Adrik thought Katia was a good mother because she was caring for Helina, but it was a different type of care from Jolie’s. Katia’s method was more about making sure Helina ate, had new clothes, and kept her on a sleep schedule. But there was no bonding between them, not like this. Katia didn’t play with her. Barely spoke to her. Adrik hadn’t put much thought into it, but now it bothered him more than he wanted to admit. He should have seen the signs for what they were. Katia didn’t love her nearly as much as Adrik did.

Jolie turned when she felt his heavy stare, and she found him spying. He nudged his head and backed out. She joined him in the hall a few moments later. The tension was thick, and he had to fight himself from touching her, but with an impulsive desire, Adrik snatched her wrist and pulled her through the next doorway. It was a candy shop, and though Jolie was about to go on about its extravagance, Adrik gripped her face between his hands and kissed her.

“You look good,” he said between kisses, kicking the door closed behind him.

Jolie snorted. “I look like I belong in a strip joint.”

He smirked, nodded, and shrugged. “I do like your panda pajamas better.”

Jolie shyly met his gaze, her cheeks flushed, the excitement impossible to hide. He nudged her cheek with his nose, sinking closer and closer till Jolie couldn’t stand it. She pressed her lips against his, clinging to him now with no control. His hands fell to grip her ass cheeks, squeezing the fat and pushing her hard against him. Their lips parted, and he traveled down her jaw, kissing as he went. Her nails dug into his shoulder, her breath fast and heavy.

“You said Katia looks good next to me. But so will you.” He leaned back to meet her gaze. “I talked to my father. He’s leaving tonight.”

Her brows knitted; guilt so heavy she felt the breath knock out of her. “Adrik, I have to tell you something.”

“What? Did he come after you?”

She smoothed the worry on his brow. “No, no.” Jolie cupped his cheek, and he leaned into it, closing his eyes. The movement would have brought her to her knees if he hadn’t held her up. His adoration at this moment was consuming. He was willing to take a chance with her, even knowing what it could cost him.

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