Page 41 of Embracing the Dark Side

“I’m not done talking—”

Jolie hit the end button. She didn’t know what to do, so she remained seated there, frozen.

“I’m disappointed.”

Jolie quickly assured, “I didn’t tell her anything.”

He leaned against the doorway. “Who are you sending a letter to?”

Jolie struggled to swallow. He had only heard half of the conversation. She didn’t know if anything she had said gave her away, and she took her time with her lie, shutting off the shower before answering. “Helina wants to send a letter to her mother.”

Vincent’s gaze dropped down to her chest, and Jolie slapped her arms over her chest. She was in her pajamas and wasn’t wearing a bra. He sighed, crossing his arms, bored of her lies already. “Why not ask me?”

“Can she?”

Vincent chuckled, finding her attempt at innocence humorous. “Give me the phone.”

Jolie hesitated, unwilling to give it up that easily, but she couldn’t think of a reason to convince him. She dropped it in his palm, but Vincent gripped her hand before she could pull away, sparking a fear. But it was only for fun. He chuckled as he let go. She despised it, and snapped, “It’s been two weeks. Helina misses her family. If you won’t let her talk to her mother, can she at least talk to her grandma? She’s been behaving.”

Vincent slipped the phone in his pocket before he walked away, throwing over his shoulder, “I think it’s time I find someone else to care for Helina.”

Helina sat watching TV, with the cats snuggled in her lap. The little girl looked at her, concern on her brow, but Jolie held up a hand, telling her to stay. She snatched a robe off the back of the door before rushing out after him. “Vincent, please, wait!”

He ignored her, heading down the stairs. Jolie gripped the railing to stop her knees from giving out. “I want to stay.”

Vincent turned to her, looking up. He was going to yell at her for coming out dressed as she was, but the robe relieved him. “Who’d you call?”

“My mother.”

“That’s it?”

He was fishing for another answer because he already knew. This was a test. Jolie licked her lips, unwilling to take a risk. “The Polk County Jail.”

Vincent nodded, proud she finally told the truth. But he turned from her, annoyed that she was still trying to reach that jackass of a human being. He went outside, lighting a cigarette, approaching the pool’s edge. Smoke and ash were still affecting the air outside, and the white plume continued to rise in the distance from the fire downtown. They were short-staffed today, as many of his men lived in the area and went to check on their families and properties. The Morozovs owned two buildings in the fire, and a dozen phone calls had come in, but he didn’t give a shit about it. What’s one block to the Morozov Empire?

Jolie was right on his heels, begging. “Please. I won’t screw up again. I promise.”

Vincent didn’t want to send her away, but it was becoming a necessity. As Vincent got deeper into leading this family, he had to leave the house more often. When he wasn’t here, there were too many things he couldn’t control, like his men’s actions. Anytime he heard one of them talk about her, he broke in with exaggerated stories about her lack of skills in the bedroom. But some of these men took it as a challenge to train her.

Santiago was sitting at a round table, playing poker. But he slapped the cards down and got up. Vincent eyed him, blowing smoke in his direction. There were dozens of their people on this deck. If Santi tried him, he’d have to follow through with his threat. He didn’t want to kill his cousin. Santi knew more about the operations of crime than he did. But he wasn’t going to go back on his word.

“Came out of your tower today, huh?”

Jolie glanced at him. Plenty of words were on her lips, but she didn’t dare say them. His bruises had faded, but a scar over his brow remained. The ill feeling in her gut only increased as he approached.

Santiago reached out to touch her hair, and Jolie flinched back. “Don’t touch me.”

He chuckled. “You scared of me, mami?” Santiago leaned in, his foul breath hitting her. “You should be.”

The crowd quieted, lingering in the silence, thirsty for more of a show. Jolie kept her head down. She shouldn’t have come out of her room. She sunk into herself, trying to become smaller.

Vincent turned to Santiago, silent, steady, blowing smoke in his face. His cousin flicked his eyes to him, only for a second, before he backed up.“Let her go for a swim, cousin. The boys need a little entertainment.”Santi sat down again and took up his cards. The men around them eagerly agreed. Vincent fisted his hands, but Santiago didn’t care.“You made it clear she can’t be touched. But that doesn’t mean she can’t be looked at. Does it?”

It was deceptive but targeted. Santiago knew what he was doing. Vincent couldn’t deny something as minor as their request. He should never have let her out of her room.

Vincent turned to Jolie. “You want forgiveness? Go swimming.”

“What?”

---