Page 53 of Embracing the Dark Side

He shoved her onto the bed, and she scrambled to get away. Jolie felt for the fork under her pillow, and when her fingers slipped around, she strengthened. “Adrik’s gonna kill you.”

His brows knitted. “You want me dead, JoJo? Huh?”

She squeezed her lips shut. She didn’t know what she wanted anymore. It was a terrible thought that kept repeating in her head, and to declare such a threat was unlike her. Because it wasn’t empty, and they both knew Adrik could do something like that.

“My whole family hates you, JoJo. They wantyoudead. I’m all you got here, mami. I’m it. Your fucking boyfriend ain’t coming—”

“Yes, he is.”

Vincent took a step back like he’d been hit. She finally admitted the truth, forming it like a knife and stabbing him in the gut with it. He realized then why she was holding on so tightly to that asshole. She truly believed Adrik was coming for her. “Did I tell you I called him?” The eagerness in her eyes ignited with hope, and he ground his teeth at such a look. “And I got to ask—were you working for the FBI?” The way her excitement turned to fear was a victory. But it didn’t really feel like one. “Because he seemed to think so.”

Jolie blinked, and a tear fell off her cheek. She had been waiting for this, the final moment when Vincent pushed her off the ledge. She hit the concrete and only sank further. Bits and pieces of her burned up. The rest were chewed apart by dogs. She was dead inside.

“Wow, JoJo.” He rubbed his hand through his hair. “Guess time doesn’t change that much.” He was relieved he hadn’t been the only sap to trust her. For years, he thought it was his dick that got him in trouble, but maybe Jolie was just that kind of girl. “If Adrik does come, it'll be to kill you. It's over—whatever the hell was going on between you." The tears that spilt down her face enraged him. "I don’t get you, JoJo. You care about this family, these fucked-up Russians that live to destroy lives. They’re evil. Worse than me. Your boy Adrik has done things I can’t even imagine. So why the fuck are you risking yourself for them? For dick? Are you really that stupid? Because I can’t wrap my head around this. I know you, Jolie. I know what kind of person you are. Why are you destroying yourself to be with him?”

Vincent couldn’t take it. This Jolie that was standing in front of him was so different from the one that was in memories. She used to get on him for littering, and nowshe’s fucking a murderer. Did she see how much she’s changed?

When Jolie remained silent, Vincent pushed forward. “Helina’s gonna go with her mother—”

“No—”

“And you’re gonna tutor the kids here. You can tutor my kid and love him like you love Helina. You’ll get along just fine without her.”

Jolie stared blankly, hearing nothing. The numbness was suffocating. Without Helina, Adrik wouldn’t be coming. He’d never forgive her. He’d leave her to rot. Her gaze lingered on the drawings and all those thoughts before on what life would be like if Helina wasn't here now surfaced. She wasn't going to make it out alive. Flowers die without sunlight and Helina was her sun.

“Can you tell me something? What’s the difference between me and him? I’ve been good to you, and you still—” Vincent shook his head before he approached, sitting beside her with his elbows on his knees.

Jolie curled her legs into her chest, skeptically observing, trying to find the angle he was going for now. Everything familiar about him was shrouded. He was the reason her life was in shambles. He stole everything wonderful from her. And now she sat here, barely alive, and he wanted what? Affection? Sympathy? He was looking for it in the wrong place.

“Why am I a monster, and he isn’t? He and I are the same. He’s a little older, a little richer. But that’s not it. I know you, and that ain’t it. If I had never gone to prison, it would have been me and you, JoJo.” He reached for her hand and kissed the back of it, holding it.

Jolie just watched him. She might have fought or pulled away if she could formulate any emotion. Butit didn’t matter, did it? This was her future—life with Vincent, without a choice.

“I’m gonna take some time off after this. And me and you are gonna figure this out. Okay? You will see you haven’t stopped loving me, you just forgot.”

Vincent’s words were beginning to filter. ‘Love’ echoed in Jolie's head, and for the life of her, she couldn’t fathom what he was talking about. She had no feelings left for him. How could he think there was? The delusion almost ignited a panic, but there was a decision forming in her head. She was going to get out-alive or dead-it didn’t matter.

Vincent waited for her to say something. He couldn’t go back to that dumb eighteen-year-old kid. But he hoped she’d see something in him worth fighting for. “Katia and I are about to be engaged, but it’s just a formality. We’ll figure it out. We can get back what we lost. I know we can. Get dressed. Let’s get this over with.”

Chapter twenty-four

Grenade

Jolie stepped out of her room. She felt nothing, not the flats on her feet, the tightness of her borrowed dress, or the chill in the air. She was a ghost of herself, a shadow. Happiness didn’t exist in this realm, and the sunlight could not be felt.

A soldier walked behind her, keeping her from bolting. She almost thought if they shot her in the attempt, it would be better than any future she had now. The gun brought her unpleasant fantasies. If she had the prowess or the strength, she could rip it out of the man’s hand and shoot everyone in here. It was clear as day that even if she managed to kill Vincent, she’d have to go through his entire family.

Jolie scoffed at herself. She wasn’t a killer. She wasn’t a horrible person, despite the horrible thoughts. But hurting Vincent was beginning to make sense. And it was exciting picturing his death.

Jolie paused at the end of the hallway. A Christmas tree, decorated in an orange glow, sat in the corner. A big, fat, stuffed turkey sat on the tip of it like a star. Soft religious music played in the background, a far cry from the Spanish tempo they’ve been listening to.

Katia, Helina, Vincent, and Mr. Stephanov sat at the dinner table. It was a surreal vision, seeing her ex-boyfriend next to Katia. They were from two different worlds. Katia was champagne and caviar. And Vincent was cheap liquor and menthols.

Jolie didn’t know if she could go through with this. She couldn’t sit next to Katia and be friendly. She couldn’t watch Helina gush over a mother who tried to kill her. Her whole body refused to move another inch.

“Go on, Snow White.” Jolie hadn’t noticed him, but Gil stood against the wall, with a suit on and his hands clasped in front like a dutiful soldier.

Anger was a powerful force, and Jolie felt herself strengthened. Before she put herself through this torture, she wanted to make sure Gil knew how she felt. “You’re a piece of shit.”

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