Page 84 of Embracing the Dark Side

“What makes you think I know?”

“You know,” Mally hissed. She pointed down the road to where a very obvious black SUV sat. “Adrik’s got you tangled up in this. You are a fly in his web. But let me tell you something. Vincent is a novice compared to Adrik’s skills. You think because he’s nice to you and gives you gifts, there isn’t a black hole where his soul is? He is a psychopath, incapable of normal emotions. Just like his father.”

“Adrik is nothing like his father.”

A little giggle breached Mally’s lips. “You can’t possibly be this stupid.”

Jolie ground her teeth. She hated this woman, because she had been right. Jolie was in over her head. She could never fully comprehend what Adrik could do. “You know what’s stupid? Going after the same man when you failed to put him away the first time. You tell me about Adrik’s power, yet you keep going after him.”

Agent Mally paused as she struggled with a reply. “Even I don’t know how far his power reaches. One of his uncles is a very successful lawyer with a high reach. He put holes in my report, dug up stupid shit, and got the whole thing thrown out of court. Nearly destroyed my career to do it.” Mally wasn’t about to mention how she was on probation and that she wasn’t allowed to be within fifty feet of anyone associated with the Morozov family. Mally hid her shaking hand in her coat pocket,where she wrapped her fingers around a container half full of pain meds. She cleared her throat. “I won’t stop. His family killed my brother. The month they moved here, drugs went rampant, devouring along the way. Bad batches tainted with fentanyl. Killed hundreds. Destroy families. Over his grave, I vowed to take out the Morozovs. Whatever it takes, I’m gonna do it.” Mally leaned in, desperate to get Jolie to understand. “Vincent promised you wouldn’t get hurt.”

Jolie’s eyes widened, and she didn’t know what to say for a whole minute. She stared at the woman in front of her. “You partnered with him.” The words were hollow, and she couldn’t fully grasp the meaning behind it.

“Vincent swore he could kill Adrik in prison.”

“Who’s the fucking idiot now, Agent Mally? Adrik’s better at this game than you are. He’s been trained since birth. You can’t defeat him.”

“I never thought I could.” Mally smiled a catlike grin that Jolie found frightening. “But I’ve screwed up his life enough that I won’t have to anymore. He’ll fall apart for me. His brother and father are dead. His family is toppling like a building, one pillar at a time. He’ll grow careless. And all I have to do is stick around and wait. You can make it easier and just tell me where Vincent is…unless he’s already dead.”

“I don’t know.” The lie came out quickly, thoughtless, and Jolie stared at the ground, wondering why she didn’t say it. Adrik was no longer going to be in her life. She didn’t need to cover for him. And chances were that Vincent wasn’t going to make it much longer. But the denial was instinctual. This was a lie that didn’t spare her life. That didn’t help her in the slightest. It was a lie that now would be judged. She was an accomplice tokidnapping and torture. And if Adrik ended up killing Vincent, she’d be an accomplice to murder.

Jolie stared at the church, wondering if she were to step aside, would she burst into flame?

“There have been dozens of murders in the last week. All gang-related. Adrik is cleaning house. He’s killing everyone that defected, that helped Vincent keep his spot.”

“Where’s your proof?”

“He’s a killer, Jolie!” she snapped harshly. “Does he have to murder someone right in front of your eyes for you to stop lusting after him?"

Jolie bowed her head. That's exactly what it took.

"Ask him. Ask him and see if he’ll tell you the truth.”

“He doesn’t trust me, because of you. We broke up.”

This news devastated Mally, and she stood silent, trying to figure out what she could do. “Well, you must be heartbroken.”

The sarcasm made Jolie sick. She wanted to smack Mally with an open palm.

Mally continued. “Vincent’s father and cousin are also missing. Their deaths will be on your hands, and I will put you away for years, Jolie. If you think being held captive at a nice house in the country is hell, wait till you go to prison. All in the name of love, right?” Mally stepped back, waiting, wanting the words to come from her lips to keep Jolie safe and get her out of this mess, but the girl remained silent. There would be no helping her after this. But Mally wanted to try one last time, desperate to save a naive, ignorant girl. “I’ll take you into protective custody. You and your family can disappear. No one will find you. Not even Adrik.”

“I’m sorry I can’t help you, Agent.” Jolie crossed her arms. Her response was spiteful now. There was no belief that Mally knew how to do the right thing and no faith that she could protect her at all from the power of the Morozovs.

Mally nodded. “Me too.”

Chapter forty-one

Want

Adrik hadn’t been this sober since his brother died, and he didn’t know how much longer he could last. Four days without any drugs since Jolie left. The coffee barely hit him, and the dull conversation was like a relaxing hum that could put the most hyper to sleep. Unfortunately, it was a conversation he needed to listen to. Adrik shifted, sitting straighter and blinking with such force that it became noticeable.

“Are we boring you?”

The eyes of everyone at the table turned to him.

Not to be made a fool, Adrik replied, “Yes.” He enjoyed the way they twittered, upset. He put his coffee mug on the table. “Words are pointless, especially said by those who made promises and then failed to pull through.”

“Adrik,” Uncle Yefim hissed beside him. “We have forgiven the past. It is time now to move forward.”

---