Embracing the Dark Side (Morozov Mafia #2)

3. Spoiled

Chapter three

Spoiled

Adrik stood in front of a full-length mirror, adjusting his cufflinks. The dark navy suit was freshly pressed, and he smoothed his hands along the edges. A smirk teased his lips, remembering how these hands had been wrapped around Jolie’s neck last night. How these fingers were inside her and how these lips were all over her. He basked in the way she moaned his name, and her smile as she laid next to him. He didn't want to leave her and still fought himself to stay away.

It was dangerous to feel this way. And it was becoming too much, recognizing how he's never felt this way about anyone. It gave her power he didn't want her to have. If Jolie was anyone else, Adrik would destroy this before it had a chance to hurt him. But she was worth the risk. Jolie would prove herself to be better than anyone he's ever met.

But he feared more than what was developing between them.

In the mirror, the light reflected off the red jewel of his family ring. The ring symbolized unity and belonging, a declaration that the family came before all else. What he was doing with Jolie was against all he had been taught. And if he continued down this path, it would only be a matter of time before word got out, and then what?

Does it matter?

Adrik was owed. His father nearly got him killed, his wife tried to murder him, and his adoptive brother Gil wanted to fuck his estranged wife.

Family apparently didn’t mean shit to anyone else, so why should he sacrifice more than he had already? Jolie was worth their wrath.

Adrik forced his mind off it. No matter his discontent, he couldn’t show an ounce of discouragement, not when dozens of his rivals were walking through their door. Everything had to be flawless.

Alexei exited the bathroom, drying his hands. “You ready?” They wore the same tux, but Alexei was sure he looked better. He stood in the mirror, fixing his collar. Alexei tried not to make eye contact with Adrik. All it would take would be a glance for Adrik to know what he was feeling.

“Can you chaperone Jolie tonight?” Adrik sat, resting his elbows on his knees, trying to hide any form of happiness that might slip through.

Alexei had to hide his scoff and briskly replied, “I already have a date.”

Adrik knit his brows. “Since when?”

“Five minutes ago.”

“Then cancel it.”

“No.”

Adrik sat up. “You’re gonna let her go alone?”

Alexei pulled the cuff of his suit. “I think you’re the one letting her go alone.”

Standing up, Adrik stepped up to him. “What the fuck’s with you? ”

Alexei zoomed by him to the dresser, then sprayed himself with cologne. “I don’t want to take your fucking girlfriend to the party. Why is that a problem?”

Adrik flicked his eyes over his brother’s face, trying to read him. Something was off with him that he couldn’t pin down. Alexei was typically permissive and agreeable. For him to combat Adrik over something so small was unlike him.

Then it became apparent. The subtle line of jealousy was on Alexei’s brow, and he knew what it was about. “You know I slept with her.”

Alexei scoffed, snickering. “I don’t give a fuck who you bed, Adrik. It’s a different girl every week; I’d be exhausted if I gave a shit.” He turned to go.

Adrik snatched his arm, and Alexei rolled his eyes, sighing and refusing to look at him. “It’s not like that with her, you know that.” Adrik paused. He wanted Alexei to understand how deep he was with this girl. Alexei's approval was the only approval that really mattered.

If sleeping with Jolie wasn’t the problem, their conversation yesterday was the only thing still left in the air. “Your offer: to kill Papa. I don’t know what I’m going to do yet.”

Alexei rolled his eyes. “It was a fucking joke. Relax.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

The silence after told him he was right. Alexei wouldn’t joke about something so terrifying. Offering to kill Yakov was a huge deal that would have to be talked about.

Adrik tried again. “Don’t let her go alone. Papa knows about us.”

“What?” The panic in Alexei was everything Adrik was feeling but unable to show. He was about to start a war with his father and he didn’t know if he could win. “Adrik, what the fuck, man?”

Adrik slipped his hands in his pockets, never exposing more than he wanted. He shrugged. “It was time. Papa doesn’t get a say in my life anymore. He needs to go.”

Though Alexei was happy to hear it, keeping Yakov alive was a stupid move. He was a hyena. He’d wait, bide his time, and come from the darkness to tear Adrik apart at a moment of weakness. Alexei would have to make sure it didn’t happen. Even without his blessing, Alexei was coming to the conclusion he’d have to kill their father.

“What’s your plan here, Adrik? Do you understand that it’s not just about you? You are screwing us all over, going after this girl. Our sisters had to sacrifice and marry men they’d never met. Have their kids and grow old with these strangers. I had to give up Melissa. And yet, you think you can do whatever the fuck you want. You are the heir to this family. You might want to start thinking about someone other than yourself.”

“I’ve suffered,” Adrik countered. “And sacrificed just as much as you have, and they have. But you all made your choice, didn’t you? Take some fucking accountability. I’m choosing to fight. You want to resent me or hate me, fine. Make sure you resent yourself first.”

Alexei curled his fist. He thought about punching him in the face, but he knew what trouble that would get him into. And as much as he hated Adrik’s little self-righteous speech, there was truth to it that made him sick.

"I don't get this. I thought you wanted me to stand up against Papa and now that I am, you have fucking problem? "

Alexei stepped back. “Fine, I’ll go with her. But if she falls in love with me, you're gonna have to take some fucking accountability ,” he mocked.

The door opened to reveal their mother standing there, and any response Adrik had died on his lips. Alexei shoved by him and greeted her, kissing her cheek. “You have a very spoiled son, Mama.”

She giggled, tapping his cheek before he left.

Tatianna, dressed in a beautiful cream-colored gown, stepped into the room. Her heels clicked against the marble floor as she approached with a brilliant smile. Russian flowed majestically from her mouth. “My youngest baby is turning into such a man!” she squealed. Her hands gripped Adrik’s cheeks and kissed him quickly. “I’m so proud of you.”

Adrik was bitter at her words, and he didn’t hold back the feeling. “Proud of what, Mama?” He pushed out of her hands, snatching his black pocket square off the table and stuffing it into the pocket. “I failed to protect you and Helina. My wife tried to kill me. My father betrayed me. I’m inches away from war with Katia’s family, and any minute now, the FBI is going to find me at fault for something and throw me in jail. There is nothing to be proud of.”

Tatianna was checking her lipstick in the mirror, and when he finished his monologue, she asked, “Do you want to know what I got you for a present?”

Adrik sighed as he stared at her.

Tatianna approached, reluctantly acknowledging her son’s discontent. She gripped his hands in hers. “Listen to me. Family is not always perfect. We all have our flaws. But we stick together through time, because time forgives. ”

Disgust twisted his lips. “You want to forgive Papa for attacking my ship? For putting you and Helina in harm’s way?”

“He assured me we were never in any danger.”

“And you believed him.” Adrik scoffed, pulling his hands out of hers. “I was shot, in case you forgot.” Adrik stepped away from his mother. There was no doubt that he loved her, but sometimes he wished she were different. He wished she was real. She had been fake and forced for too long; she’s now a broken doll, repeating the lines ingrained into her as if someone had pulled her string. But this was the only mother he had known. By the time he was born, she had already snapped, according to his sisters.

“You don’t have to forgive your father but talk to him. Understand him.”

“I do understand him,” Adrik bit. “I was breaking the chain he had around my neck, and to get me to heel, he tightened the leash. But I refuse to be his dog any longer.”

The words made his mother sad, and he hated it. “If for no other reason, forgive for me.”

“I already have! Two weeks ago, when he beat Alexei, I forgave him. When he shoved Katia on her knees and threatened to kill her, I forgave. Papa has been the only one in my life that gets chance after fucking chance. If he were anyone else, he’d be six feet under by now. Papa crossed a line, Mama. He threatened you. He threatened Helina and J—” Adrik clenched his teeth to stop what he really wanted to say. How many times had Yakov threatened Jolie? “He’s out of chances.”

Tatianna sat on the bed and watched him. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking, he never could, her face blank. He continued to fret about his jacket, picking at lint that wasn’t there. “You turn away your father, your brother, and your wife. Now what, son? I was hoping you were moving forward, not backward. I want to see you happy.”

Adrik unbuttoned his jacket and sat beside her, reaching for his shoe before slipping it on. “There is no contentment for our lifestyle, Mama. Every day is dangerous. What I want more than happiness is a good future for my daughter.”

“Do you want out of the Mafia?”

Adrik didn’t even flinch, because it was a stupid thing to say. “There is no getting out. You should know that.”

“If I could find a way, would you take it? You, Helina, the tutor-you could disappear.”

Adrik paused while tying his shoe. The words repeated, and he rolled them around in his head, trying to grasp them. “What are you talking about?” Did she know about Jolie?

“Would you take it?”

The words were so foreign that it was no different from asking him if he’d get on a spacecraft to the moon. It felt more like a test, like his answer was going to be fed back to his father. “No.” Adrik snatched up his other shoe. There was no point in fantasy. As long as his father was alive, Yakov would give him no peace. He’d track him to the ends of the earth for no other reason than to remind Adrik that there was no place he could hide.

“Mafia is so far in your veins.” She slapped his shoulder, her cheeriness returning. “You were made for this life. So, these injustices must be fixed.”

When he finished tying his shoe, both feet hit the ground, and he placed his elbows on his knees. His fingers twirled the family crest on his pinkie, staring blindly. Most of the day was spent trying to figure out his next steps. First, he had dealt with Zinof’s corpse, which was now in pieces, packed in a frozen bait box on a fisherman’s charter, heading out to the middle of Tampa Bay as chum for sharks. The room had been pressure washed and bleached clean. His clothes had been burned in the fireplace, cleaned out, and its ashes spread into the mulch in the backyard. Polaroid pictures had been taken and put in an envelope in a safe box at the bank. A fallback in case Katia’s father, Boris, needed proof that his son was indeed dead.

What would happen after Boris finds out that Zinof was killed had too many scenarios, and Adrik hadn’t taken the time yet to go through them. He had drowned himself in Jolie, basking in her attention, falling deeper for a goddess. It was like the devil himself snagged an angel and dragged her to hell. Soaking in her light was addictive and made him believe in God.

Tatianna checked over her painted nails. “Katia will be at your side tonight?”

“Yes,” Adrik answered, his mood changing just from the sound of her name. “The guards have specific orders to keep her at the party at all times. Then, after everyone has gone home, I will talk to Boris.”

“And perhaps return his missing son and make peace?”

Adrik chuckled at such a request. His parents didn’t know yet that Zinof was already dead and gone. “No. I will kill them.”

Tatianna giggled at such a statement. “You cannot kill them in our home.”

“Why not?”

“Do not be silly, Adrik. Boris will be our guest and is one of your father’s closest friends. ”

He knew she was going to say that. But what other option did he have? Letting Boris go to wage a war on his kingdom wasn’t exactly ideal. It would cost him millions of dollars and dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of lives. This was a better alternative, despite not being a popular choice.

Tatianna checked her bosom, pressing her hands around them to adjust their shape. “That is Helina’s grandfather.”

“What else will you have me do?”

“Talk to your father—”

“No!” Adrik snapped, and her movements stalled as she looked at him for once. “I don’t need Papa. He has destroyed any chance of reconciliation. Now all I want is him out of my home and life.”

Tatianna said nothing. She brushed out her dress and puffed her hair before going to the mirror to stand before it. She twirled as if their conversation about death and destruction was the same talk you have over tea and strudels. Adrik rubbed his eyes. He didn’t know why he was talking to her. She rarely had any advice, and that advice usually involved him talking to someone else.

“I forbid you from killing anyone tonight,” she told him.

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 hands dirty. 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?