Embracing the Dark Side (Morozov Mafia #2)

6. Perfect

Chapter six

Perfect

Jolie stood with her arm tucked into Alexei’s in the living room. There was a display of family photos on the table, and Jolie adored the images of Adrik's sisters. They were all beautiful with blond hair and blue eyes. All just slightly different versions of Tatianna. Each photo had a story and Alexei dived into each memory with sarcastic fondness. “This was taken right before Gil and Adrik convinced me to jump off a cliff, and I broke my foot on the bottom of the lake.” They were ten in the photo, with dumb grins on their thin faces. “I came up screaming, and they were laughing their asses off. A guard had to rescue me before I drowned.”

Jolie suppressed her laughter. “Is there any picture here that doesn’t bring up a bad memory?”

His eyes landed on a particular one so clearly that Jolie snapped her head toward it, searching. “Nope.” Alexei put a hand on Jolie’s back to guide her away, but she twisted out and reached for a frame.

“Who’s this?” Jolie pointed to the young pink-haired woman. Alexei had his arms wrapped around her from behind. The teenager was so short that Alexei could rest his chin on her head. Adrik and Gil stood beside them in tuxes. Jolie didn’t know if they did prom in Russia, but it certainly looked like they were going to a dance.

With a heavy sip to postpone the inevitable, Alexei shrugged. “A girl I knew.”

“Oh, you’re lying! Who is it? Let me go ask Adrik.” Alexei snatched her by the elbow, turning her around. She was giggling, and he loved the sound.

Gil came up from behind, slapping Alexei on the shoulder. “ Miss me, bro?”

Alexei released Jolie, a wave of guilt slipping into his sub-conscious and forcing him back to reality. But it's not like Gil was one to judge his ethics. Alexei replied, “You’re lucky Mama’s on your side.”

Gil’s brows knitted, wondering why he spoke in English until he glanced at the woman beside him. “She’s still here?”

“What’s your problem with her?” Alexei asked.

“She’s too good to be true because she’s not. She’s playing Adrik. No one’s that perfect.”

Alexei flared with protectiveness. Jolie wasn’t like this crowd of backstabbers. She was better than all of them. In retaliation, Alexei bit back, “Coming from a fucking liar?”

Gil tsked . “I knew you’d be on his side. I didn’t lie about anything. What does it matter who I like? Katia hates me. I should be able to fantasize about fucking whoever I want. I'm sure you certainly do.”

Alexei didn’t want to talk about this any further. How Gil could think of Katia in any way besides killing her is beyond him. Katia was a nasty bitch, and any kind of good looks she had weren’t worth the effort. Adrik and Katia were together for ten years, and she never once acted honestly. How could Gil want a woman who didn’t have a sincere bone in her body ?

Feeling the tension, Jolie quickly interrupted. “Do you know who this is?”

Gil didn’t want to answer her, but embarrassing Alexei was one of his favorite things to do. “That was Alexei’s girlfriend. His first love,” Gil mocked, full of enjoyment. Alexei glared, but it was a look he was used to. Gil slapped his brother on the back. “Took his v-card. But she didn’t stick around much longer after that, did she, brother?” Gil winced playfully, the insinuation hanging in the air.

“Keep talking, and I’ll break your nose.”

Gil cackled. “He’s very sensitive about it. But it’s been ten years. You’ve had plenty of practice by now. You should call her up. Maybe she’ll give you another chance.”

Alexei put a hand on Jolie’s back, and warned, “You want to take any of these women home tonight? I’d stop before rumor gets around that you have an STD.” Alexei guided Jolie to the food table, ignoring Gil's stare. She wanted more information, but Alexei was far from ready to share. Melissa was the one that got away, and he’d never be able to get her again. She was happily married with children. It was a time in his life he didn’t want to think about, and he spent years avoiding it. He wasn’t about to bare his soul to a woman that wasn’t his.

Cousins tried to get Alexei’s attention as they walked around the party. They were concerned, wondering what he was doing dating an American and what Yakov would think. It was so repetitive that Alexei waved away anyone who tried to speak to him. So, they chose to whisper to each other instead.

“You think he’s just fucking her?”

"He brought her to his mother’s party, and now she’s here?”

“Uncle Yakov must be shitting bricks. ”

“She must like Russian dick.”

Alexei was relieved that Jolie didn’t know Russian. And he was glad he canceled his other date to be her escort. He couldn’t imagine leaving her to the wolves.

“What’s russky chlen?”

Alexei’s eyes widened, and he stupidly responded, “Hmm?”

“What’s russky chlen? I just heard it. Russky is Russian. What’s chlen ?”

Avoiding the topic, Alexei questioned, “You trying to learn Russian?”

A heat pressed on her cheeks. “Just a little. It will take me a long time, but I thought learning would be fun.”

She didn’t know how attractive that was. Alexei nearly groaned with devastating desire. Jolie was his perfect woman, and he could never have her. He wanted to run away from her—just walk away and bury himself in a video game to get his mind away from her.

“So, what does it mean?”

Alexei acted like he didn’t remember what she said, and she laughed, repeating the question. He scratched the stubble on his cheek before replying, “‘Member.’ They were talking about ‘Russian members’ of the military.”

Jolie didn’t believe him, but chlen was translated as ‘a member,’ even though it was used for ‘dick.’ So, it wasn’t a lie, just an impartial truth. “You want me to teach you some Russian phrases?”

Jolie beamed. “I would love that.”

Alexei’s smile slowly drifted as he watched Sonya approach from over Jolie’s shoulder. She had changed into a long white see-through dress, wearing nipple pasties and a white thong to cover her privates. It was too provocative, even for this crowd, and would mark her for what she was: a whore. The looks she received as she came to him were of mixed variety. Some interested, some disgusted. Sonya was a beautiful Russian woman, but her occupation was not respected.

Alexei forgot to filter himself when she stopped before him. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Sonya smiled lovingly, and replied in Russian, “You forgot to dissolve my invitation at the front. Is this my replacement?” She didn’t let Alexei answer as she held her hand to the woman. “Hi, I’m Sonya. I was his date for tonight, but I was stood up for some reason.”

Jolie’s eyes widened, and she grabbed the woman’s hand. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. There’s no reason for you to be stood up. Alexei and I are just friends. Join us, please.”

Alexei turned his head, clenching his teeth. He didn’t understand Sonya’s intentions but making him look bad in front of Jolie was enough to fire her and, if not, destroy her career.

Sonya’s smile brightened. “Perhaps we can both be his date tonight. Alexei has energy and stamina for the two of us.”

Jolie’s eyes widened at the insinuation and didn’t know where to look.

Alexei had Sonya’s arm in his grasp. “Excuse me.”

“I have enough bruises from earlier.” She said it in English, making eye contact with Jolie. “He’s so rough when he’s fucking.”

Alexei tugged her, making her trip and fall into him. He had her by the waist, leading her toward the door.

“You’re lucky we are in a crowd.”

“I thought I could help.”

“How was that helpful? ”

Sonya smirked. “She is now wondering what you’re like in bed.”

Alexei could see Yakov to the right. The man was staring at him in warning, holding a drink to his lips. It made Alexei want to make out with her if only to spite Yakov, but Sonya embarrassed him and shamed him in front of Jolie, a woman he respected. Sonya had never acted this way before, and he couldn’t understand what spurred her to do so now. He wasn’t looking for excuses or reasoning. He just wanted her gone.

Alexei gestured to one of Adrik’s men, and they came to take hold of Sonya’s arm. “You’re fired. Take her out.”

Alexei didn’t acknowledge her look of surprise. She should know him by now. Three years of random meetings, and Sonya acted like he was one of her whores. She had no ownership or claim, and to walk in here had shown him the kind of crazy that she possessed. It was the kind he needed to stay far away from.

Alexei returned to Jolie, unsure if he should apologize or move on. He didn’t know what to say and sipped his drink in an awkward quiet.

Thankfully, Jolie popped up with, “Think I could pull that dress off?”

Her silly smile made him snort. God, he loved this woman.