Page 38 of Embracing the Dark Side

“Your brother is a good fighter,” Bony said, with a Haitian accent. “And your presents have been much appreciated. But I am confused about what you want. You and I both know you are going to get out soon enough. Why not be patient?”

“I need help.” The words were like glass on Adrik's tongue, but he was short on pride currently.

Bony took a cigarette out of his case and offered one to Adrik. Though he hated smoking, to deny it would be insulting, so Adrik took it. A soldier approached, and Alexei flinched, but Adrik held up a hand to relax him. The soldier lit his cigarette.

Bony sucked in the smoke and blew it up above their heads. “What will you do for this help?”

Adrik already knew all of Bony’s layout. He owned much to the south of Orlando, but all leaders wanted the same thing.

More. More of everything.

“I will assist you in taking over Orlando.”

His brows went up, and he looked over his shoulder to his second—a large, fat man. Bony smiled and cackled. “What makes you think I need you?”

“You have struggled with expansion for two years because of the street gangs. I know how to get them in line.” Bony took in a long drag as he thought about it, but Adrik didn’t wait for a response. He knew he already snagged the man’s interest. “What do you know of the Toxins?”

Bony nodded, blowing out smoke before he answered. “Everything. I have been battling with them for several years. Frank, the leader, is a stubborn man. And I know the son has recently come for you. He is a fly with very little power, taking control over something he cannot possibly handle. How such an insignificant man got the best of you is a curious thing.”

Adrik was giving that ‘fly’ no credit. “He partnered with Katia Stephanov.”

There was hesitation until it clicked, and then there was humor. “Your wife.”

It was another nail to Adrik’s coffin, another way to make him look unworthy of his bloodline. A woman bested him. If he somehow recovered from this takeover, he’d never live down the embarrassment. “Katia protects him to protect our daughter, who he has in his possession. He may be nothing, but he controls everything.”

A small, little chuckle annoyed Adrik. “You have gotten yourself into a terrible rut. Could this be the end of the Morozov line? Your father is dead. You and your brother are in jail. The other is on the FBI’s Most Wanted. If I were an opportunist, I might see how weakened you are and set my own after all you have.”

There was no convincing someone not to destroy. So Adrik did not waste his breath. Instead, he waited for the man to see that even cast out, there was no end to what Adrik could do. If he had hit rock bottom, there was nowhere to go but up.

“Thank goodness, I am not stupid.” Bony smiled, and Adrik found himself smirking in return. “All I have is yours. But my reach is limited. Your family owned every clan and gang within a fifty-mile radius of Tampa. There is an uprising. Clans that have worked together for a decade are now enemies. There has been much blood in the streets. Even Boris Stephanov struggles to control it.”

Adrik knew that would happen. It was one of the reasons he stayed with Katia as long as he had. His family was fracturing at the core, and if he didn’t get out soon, he didn’t know what would be left. But there was a silver lining. Katia's family was suffering as well.

Adrik crushed the butt of his cigarette, blowing out the smoke. “I know the gangs to talk to. I need a group to get into my house. I need to get my daughter out.”

Alexei spoke behind him. “And Jolie.”

Adrik bowed his head. He hadn’t told Alexei what Gil had said. Part of the reason was because he didn’t want to face it or say it out loud. But the other part of it was Adrik didn’t want to hear how stupid he had been. After Jolie moved in, he never suspected her of any lie. She had weaseled her way in, like a worm in mud, finding every cranny that was weak and vulnerable till she buried into him too deep for him to dig out.

“Who’s this?” Bony asked.

“My daughter’s tutor.”

“To get someone inside is a big risk. But I will see what I can do. Give me names, and I will find themfor you.” A piece of paper and pen were set before him, and Adrik scribbled several names. He never knew who would turn against him, but these people had proven themselves before and he hoped they would again. With all these promises he was making, he’d have to keep a fucking list. He hated feeling indebted to anyone, but his pride was worth sacrificing.

Walking back to the cells, Adrik felt relief for the first time. But he could only imagine what his father would have said. He would have been disappointed in how long it took Adrik to secure his place here. His father would have been out weeks ago.

Perhaps that’s why he didn’t miss Yakov as much as he thought he would.

Before being separated from Alexei, Adrik glanced at the guard behind them. “Let me talk to my brother.” There was hesitation, but he had no choice. The guard gave them two minutes before walking away. Adrik fell against the wall. “This is taking too long. If I don’t move faster, there will be nothing left.”

Alexei sighed and propped up next to Adrik, whispering, “You are doing what you can.”

“We should have never gotten to this point. It’s my fault. If I hadn’t been distracted, if I hadn’t—” He clenched his teeth, tapping a fist against the wall. “I should have gotten rid of her.”

“Katia—”

“Not Katia.”

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