Page 8 of Embracing the Dark Side

His brows knitted at such a declaration, and he watched her walk to the door.

“Now, be a good boy and come greet your guests.”

Adrik hung his head. After all that conversation, he hadn’t been able to bring up Jolie. Would Tatianna understand him better if she knew what he was trying to do? He wanted a better way to live. He wanted the violence to be further from his home. There had to be a way to be a leader of a mafia family without having to get his handsdirty. He wanted Jolie to see a good man and nothing else. He dreamed Helina could grow up and never have to hold a gun. Yet it seemed the harder he tried to push the mafia life away, the more blood covered him, and the less hope he had.

‘If I could find a way, would you take it?’

A month ago, the answer would have been easy to give. But Jolie woke something inside him, and now he struggled with an honest reply. Did he want to leave the mafia?

Chapter four

Guilt

Jolie stood in front of her closet in a towel. She had curled her hair and kept it in a net to secure it. She decorated her face with all the makeup she hated, like eyeshadow and foundation. Black eyeliner ran along the top and bottom of her lids, and lipstick was packed onto her lips. She could easily pass for a bridesmaid ready for a wedding. But now she had to find something to wear.

It’s been a month since she moved into the Morozov household, and here she was on the night of her boyfriend’s party, stuck with ‘thrift shop’ clothes. The humiliation from the last party still lingered in her memory. Even though no one knew she was Adrik’s girlfriend, she wanted at least to impress them so that when the time came to tell the world, she wouldn’t be hated so badly.

I doubt it matters.

No matter what she wore or how she behaved, there was no washing away her ‘American-ness.’

Her attention turned to a dress Katia had bought her weeks ago—the one she was supposed to wear to Tatianna’s dinner but opted instead for something comfier.

Now, it was her only choice, so she took it off the hanger and tossed it on the bed. A knock saved her the attempt of trying it on, and she peeked her head out.

Her eyes widened upon finding Adrik.

A soft smile lingered on his lips, and his blue eyes ignited upon seeing her. He was dressed in such expensive attire, amplifying what a gorgeous man he was, one that was out of her league in every way, including financial stability and maturity. It made her realize how inferior she was, and for a moment, she hated herself. She wanted to deserve him. She wanted people to look at her and believe she could be his equal. But how could she expect anyone else to if she couldn’t believe it herself?

“You going to let me in?”

Jolie stumbled back, pulling the door open. The sharp sound of his dress shoes hitting the floor attracted her two cats. Realizing he was wearing black, Jolie bent down, snatching their furry bodies up as they meowed.

“I see you didn’t take my suggestion to leave.”

She struggled with the cats as they whined and wiggled to get out. “I wanted to stay.”

“I’m glad.”

Her eyes popped up, and upon seeing the genuine expression on his face, her stomach curled.

“But I do have to warn you. Katia and I still have to pretend to be husband and wife. And though I’d rather have you be by my side tonight, you understand why you can’t.”

“Of course, of course.” The words came out more distracted than she intended, focusing on balancing the cats to help ease any sadness his explanation caused. “It’s fine.”

“Can you put the cats down?”

Jolie hesitated. She didn’t want him to notice any disappointment. She knew she’d have to stay away, but when would they ever be able to be together? Jolie droppedher arms and blew out air as they ran away. “Brats,” she yelled at them. Jolie then realized she was in only a towel and wrapped her arms around herself. Her hair was still in a net, and she cursed herself for even opening the door without checking who it was first. But Adrik had never once knocked on her front door.

“Jolie.”

She popped her eyes up in attention. Her name on his lips was an aphrodisiac.

Adrik approached and she stepped back. His presence intimidated her and though it wasn't fear he ignited; it was something she couldn't find a word for. Something that coincided with consuming and overwhelming. He gripped her arms, pulling her to him, snatching all her attention so that she could look nowhere else but in his eyes. Her heart pounded. He became her world in this instance, and every insecurity withered away. “After today, first thing tomorrow morning, I will announce my divorce to Katia.”

A wave of exhilaration burst through her, but it was drowned in the realization of what that meant.

A divorce from Katia would cause death.

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