Page 3 of Embracing the Dark Side

Alexei changed the subject. “Did you quit? Are you moving out today?”

Jolie wiped the wetness from her cheeks. “No. I’m gonna stay on.”

Alexei didn’t know if he was relieved or disappointed. “I’m surprised my father got you to stay.”

“He didn’t. Adrik did.”

Alexei directed his attention to the pool to hide the aggravation. What was his brother thinking? Keeping Jolie around was dangerous for too many reasons. If Yakov found out about them, he’d have her killed. He really wished his brother understood just how unhinged Yakov was.

With the soldier off to the side, maybe Adrik wasn’t as ignorant as he thought.

Alexei forced himself to move on. “God knows I’d rather you stay. I need some kind of fun at this party.”

Jolie was pleased he felt the same way about her that she did about him. Alexei was fun to be around. And if they could be friends, that would be awesome, but after he admitted his attraction to her, she didn’t think it was possible anymore.

Jolie leaned in. “Did Adrik tell you about Yakov? Setting up the attack on the yacht?”

Alexei put a finger to his lips, glancing around. Half the servants and soldiers worked for Yakov, while the others were loyal to Adrik. The tensions between the two groups had increased since Adrik killed one of Yakov’s men. A civil war in their home wasn’t something they needed today, although it was something he’d been looking forward to for a long time. He whispered back, “All the problems have been put on hold for the party.”

Her brows knitted. “What?”

“It’s the way we are. We have many people coming tonight, most of them allies but some enemies. We use parties to find weaknesses in each other’s families. If anyone even senses there is a problem, we will lose support.And if Adrik plans to take over, he’ll need all the help he can get.”

Jolie nodded, realizing now why Adrik didn’t want her at the party. She thought of leaving, staring at the lights in the pool. It wouldn’t help his case if the families found out he was dating an American. But if all she could do to support Adrik was stand on the side, pretending to be invisible, then that was what she was going to do.

A servant approached, carrying a tray. “Excuse me, Miss Bell. Mr. Morozov asked for this to be delivered to you as soon as you woke up.” He leaned down, showing a glass of water and a small white pill.

Alexei’s brows knitted, and he asked the servant in Russian,“What is that for?”

Jolie embarrassingly took them, trying to hide the redness of her cheeks. After downing the pill and water, she put the glass back on the tray. The curiosity in Alexei’s tone told her he wanted to know what it was. Jolie couldn’t find the will to say it. She wasn’t ashamed of having sex with Adrik, but now Alexei would know it happened.

“Do you need any pain relievers, Miss Bell? Mr. Morozov wanted to ensure you were comfortable.”

“Pain relievers?” Alexei questioned again. “What happened? Did—” He licked his lips before he asked, “Did Adrik hurt you?”

“No, no, Alexei. It—” She struggled to say it, her face now a terrible red. She waved the servant away, cursing him. Jolie looked away, and with a sudden bout of courage, she said, “It was a morning-after pill.”

Alexei sat quietly, and Jolie could only see him out of the corner of her eye. “Oh.” His body sagged against thechair. She hung her head, blaming Adrik for this terrible moment. Alexei stood. “I’ll see you at the party.”

Jolie whispered his name. She had to stop herself from reaching out as he went back inside. He walked with ease, as if nothing was wrong, but she had seen enough in his face before he turned away. Jolie sunk into her chair.

Chapter two

Occupational Hazard

Alexei waited in the parking lot, staring down the driveway for the black car to pull in. He glanced over his shoulder at the main house, but his family wouldn’t come to the service driveway. It was packed with white catering vans, and people in suits moved about in a hurry to prepare for Adrik’s birthday. It was bitterness that made him think about the last time his father celebrated his birth, nearly ten years ago, for his eighteenth. It was the same day Yakov told him he would never approve of Melissa, his girlfriend at the time, and if Alexei didn’t get rid of her soon, Yakov would do it for him.

As soon as the car parked, Alexei didn’t wait for the driver to open the door; he grabbed the handle and yanked it back.

Sonya smiled up at him. “It’s bad, huh?”

Alexei held a hand out for her, and her painted red fingernails clenched in his hand as she stood. Her short bright-red dress exposed her fat tits and thick thighs, something that was a preferred quality in Alexei’s whores. With a hand on her back, he rushed her along the backside of the house and into the garage that led to theentertainment room. There was a side bedroom designed explicitly for secret liaisons. It wasn’t in good taste to walk by your mother with a hooker on your arm.

When the bedroom door shut, Alexei had her against the wall and yanked her dress down to her feet. She wore no bra or panties. He took each of her thighs and held them around his waist, carrying her to the bed.

“No conversation?” Sonya teased.

He dropped her carelessly on the mattress before he worked his belt. She lay back with her fingertips dancing along her stomach and thighs, watching with a smile.

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