Page 61 of Embracing the Dark Side

But what if he doesn't want me anymore?

The need for an answer was strangling, but she owed him time. She’ll be miserable, but she’ll wait for him to come out of his grief.

At dinner, David returned with a tray containing a steak, a potato, and broccoli—and a chocolate cake for dessert. She stared at the tray like it was made of mush. David bowed. “A funeral service will be conducted in two days’ time. Do you have proper attire, or would you like us to find something appropriate for you?”

A funeral. Tears reignited, and she took a deep breath to stop it. “I’ll go shopping.”

“Mr. Morozov feels it is too dangerous to leave.”

Jolie nodded. Katia and Gil were still out there. There was no telling what they would do. “Whatever you find.”

He nodded, and then added, “Mrs. Morozov would like your company in her room in an hour. I will return to guide you.”

Tatianna wanted to talk to her. Oh, God, what could she have to say? Did she know that Jolie had been helping the FBI? Would she hate her? Jolie couldn’t eat and paced the floor instead, twisting her hands in front of her.

The hour passed too slowly, but then David was there to take her. She hadn’t even thought to change.

Going through the house, David explained the setup. He pointed down different hallways, but Jolie was barely paying attention. They climbed the stairs, and David showed her that the first door they passed was Adrik’sroom. She stopped in front of it, hoping he could feel her out here, waiting for him. She wanted to help him, grieve with him, and hold him, but she didn’t have a right.

Jolie rubbed the water from her face and moved on. At the end of the hallway was Tatianna’s room, and David knocked once before opening it and gesturing her in.

Tatianna’s bedroom was a mini apartment with a living room, a bar area, and separate double doors leading to a bedroom. She stood in the center, noticing all the pictures on the walls. Jolie unconsciously stepped forward.

Images of Adrik, Alexei, and Gil: a trio constantly in every picture from childhood to their teenage years. It was heartbreaking to see. Gil and Alexei had similar grins, but Gil was typically making an obscene gesture that Alexei didn’t know about. Adrik was a constant, brooding face that got hilarious the more she went down the line of photos. Even as a young boy, he was always so serious.

It was easy to see how Gil was different from them. Aside from the brown eyes instead of the blue, he wasn’t nearly as good-looking. She hated the sight of him. How was Tatianna handling the fact that her adopted son killed the other?

The bedroom door opened, and Jolie snapped away, her head down.

“Sit.” Tatianna’s order was in a tone Jolie hadn’t been prepared for.

Jolie took to the couch and buried her hands under her thighs. At first, she was afraid to look at the woman, but the silence stretched, and Jolie slowly raised her eyes.

Tatianna sat in a chair, clenching tissues and crossing her legs. No amount of makeup could erase her misery,and the sight of such a beautiful woman so devastated restarted Jolie’s own tears.

“You came into my house, you ate my food, you took my money, and you took my love with such a cold, dead heart.”

Jolie squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head as her lips twisted. Tatianna’s disapproval was more painful than her own mother’s.

“You dumb, ignorant girl.”

Jolie clenched her hand over her mouth when a sob almost broke through.

“What did you tell Mally?”

“Nothing,” she said, nearly shouting.

“You think I can’t find out?”

Jolie kept her head down in shame. “Nothing, I swear it. In the beginning, Mally gave me a pen, and I recorded conversations, but she kept getting mad at me because none of it was useful. Then Katia found out, and she was gonna help me take on Yakov, but she was insincere. She had no intention of helping me. She just wanted me to keep her secret about Gil. And I—”

“You knew Gil and Katia were seeing each other?”

Jolie snapped her head up, eyes wide and terror-filled. “I-I-I’m sorry. She threatened to kill me. I didn’t want to keep it a secret.” Tears came unbidden then. An avalanche of emotions bombarded her as she truly faced all the terrible things she’d done. It wasn’t like her. This whole thing wasn’t who she was, but the darkness had crept in when she wasn’t paying attention. “I’m so sorry. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I’ll do whatever you want. Please, please, I’m so sorry.”

Unmoved, Tatianna questioned, “What other secrets are you keeping?”

“That’s it, I swear it.”

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