Embracing the Dark Side (Morozov Mafia #2)

9. Favor

Chapter nine

Favor

Jolie fell against the wall with a dreamy smile on her lips. Adrik’s cologne lingered on her skin, and she felt her arms, imagining they were his fingers. Jolie didn’t know what it was about him that could influence all thoughts and feelings into his control. She was addicted to Adrik’s touch, willing to do anything for it.

Her smile faltered. The word ‘addicted’ left a bad taste in her mouth. How could she tell the difference between falling in love and falling in lust? Was it happening too fast to be love? The overwhelming feeling she had for him told her it wasn’t just physical. There were so many things about him that she found attractive.

But it was the bad things she needed to pay attention to. Could she love a man who gripped a woman’s face with such anger? Could she love a man who killed?

It was hard to fathom Adrik being capable of such terrible things. When he stood in front of her yesterday, covered in blood, she made the choice to take care of him. She wanted to be the one he chose to come to when the world was against him. She wanted to be the anchor that kept him in place. What he did had meant little to her at the time. But it did matter .

Adrik killed. How often did he do it? Would she always know? Or would he keep it a secret? Was there something mentally wrong with her that it didn’t bother her as much as it should?

Jolie wanted to talk to someone. Preferably a woman married into the mafia life. She wanted to know what to expect. If her hopes for a bright future were as ridiculous as they sounded, or if they were possible. Adrik’s mother was a beautiful version of positivity and sunshine. But there was evil in her, too.

Jolie watched Tatianna kill two men without even batting an eye.

Was that something Jolie was going to do one day? Was it expected?

There were so many questions going into this sort of life. She needed it to go slow. She needed time to wrap her head around everything. If what she felt for Adrik was real love, then time would be the best thing on her side. She’d learn to accept Adrik with all of his flaws, and he’d value her patience and commitment.

So, no more sex till I’m sure it’s love.

Jolie nodded to herself. It was the only way she’d know because Adrik’s hands could convince her of anything.

Jolie shook her head, took a breath, and forced her feet to move.

She jolted backward as Yakov took up the space of the doorway. Her heart jumped into her throat, clogging up any greeting as she backed away. He took a step in, and three soldiers slipped into the room.

Jolie could tell the difference now between Yakov’s men and Adrik’s. Yakov liked giant muscle men who were older, like him, while Adrik kept the young ones who relied more on their guns .

Jolie’s back hit the counter, and her hands braced it. There was no exit, no one to call, and her voice couldn’t carry up three floors. She flicked her eyes around for any possible weapon, but this was a candy room—a rainbow of M shame crept into her, and self-loathing wasn’t far behind. But to explain herself to someone like Jolie was pointless. The woman was blind to all the darkness that surrounded her. But she didn’t want to burn her bridges completely. Jolie could still be helpful in the future, and she needed her to have some sort of compassion, if only to be able to use her. “Love makes us do regretful things,” she whispered. And then, like a switch, Katia held her head high and smiled wide. “A word of advice. These people will hate you no matter what you are or what you do, so embrace it. What’s that silly motto you do-gooders like? Kill with kindness?” Katia shot out to someone walking by and left Jolie against the wall.

Jolie looked down at the paper, turning slightly so no one could see it. The words were written in Russian, annoying her. She knew where Gil was. He would be with all the women, and sure enough, she found him by the pool, with a circle around him as he babbled on in a foreign language. The girls surrounding him were all dressed in minimal clothing, their dresses straight from a runway in Paris. They were already tall to begin with, but they wore extravagant, glittering heels five to six inches off the ground. She looked down at her feet self-consciously. Her heels were only an inch high, and she proudly found them for seven dollars at Goodwill.

“Gil?”

Looking over his shoulder, he had the nerve to run his eyes up from her feet to her face. Upon seeing who it was, he sneered and turned away, continuing his conversation.

Jolie tapped his shoulder a bit harshly. He put a hand up. “Excuse me.” And finally, he turned to her. “Miss Bell,” he greeted, guiding her away from the crowd. “I know you are an American, and your manners are undeveloped, but interrupting is considered rude in our culture.”

“It’s rude in America, too,” she quipped back.

“Then we understand each other.” He turned to go.

“Wait.”

With a sigh, he faced her, forcing a fake smile.

“Why don’t you like me?”

Irritation increased as he avoided her gaze, glancing around them, searching for a way to dive away from her. “Many reasons.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Is this why you interrupted my conversation? To suddenly have a heart-to-heart?”

“Answer my question, and I’ll tell you.”

With a clenched jaw, Gil gave in. “Adrik’s gone through hell to get where he is, and you threaten everything he’s sacrificed for. ”

“Why? Because I’m American?” She rolled her eyes.

“Because you are not one of us!” he snapped. Gil swallowed and shifted, trying to return to his amiable nature. “He doesn’t need anyone to judge him or make him question his actions. He is a mafia boss. There is no niceness in this world. You are making him think he can give you some happiness, but he can’t. Men like us don’t belong with girls like you. We are covered in blood, and there is no washing us off.” He leaned in, and whispered harshly, “Not to mention I know your fucking secret.”

Jolie kept still, letting his words hit her. He was right, of course. She was threatening Adrik’s rule, all the while doing something that could destroy him. It wasn’t right. His hatred was justified. “I’m gonna tell him.”

Gil snickered, crossing his arms. “Sure.”

“No, I am. Tonight.”

His head bobbed, not convinced. “Is that all?”

Jolie handed him a note, and he snatched it. “What’s this crap?” He ran his eyes over the piece of paper, and she watched his face, wanting to see what he got from it. To her surprise, it was panic.

“Who gave you this?”

“Katia.”

A Russian curse slipped through his lips, and he shoved the letter in his pocket. A hand ran through his black hair as he looked out toward the house. She didn’t know who he was searching for, but he backed up. “You should leave, girl.” With that, Gil limped away without looking over his shoulder as he disappeared into the foliage.

Just then, a shout came from the house.