Embracing the Dark Side (Morozov Mafia #2)

13. Health Check

Chapter thirteen

Health Check

Jolie stood under the shower. The hot water sprayed her face, and though it helped clear the fog that had settled in her brain, it didn’t cut through the depression. She stared at the wall, unseeing. So many thoughts ran rampant, and all were terrible. Jolie blamed so much of this on herself. Her choices led her here, and now she was reaping the results. Whose fault was it that the results weren’t happy?

But no matter the self-loathing, her attention always went back to Adrik.

Jolie thought of how just yesterday morning she woke up with him sleeping next to her. She could see his relaxed face. She remembered how she traced her fingers along Adrik’s tattooed skin. He had been the epitome of perfection, and now that blissful feeling was gone, she didn’t know if it would ever come back.

What if he goes to prison for the rest of our lives?

Jolie didn’t want to think of that. Even though the possibility was high, she somehow had faith in Adrik’s ability to slip out of the most complicated situations. He knew how to evade the police. He had friends in high places. He’d get out.

I just need to wait. Was that the answer? Wait to be saved? Or did she need to fight her way out ?

Jolie got out and dressed, moving because she had to. It was nearly impossible to smile as Helina popped in. The little girl’s spirit wasn’t as crushed as expected, given the situation. Jolie giggled at Helina’s silliness and now being center stage, Helina bounced around for applause. Jolie was empty, a shell going through the motions out of obligation, but she was thankful, nonetheless. Helina was her partner. They could lean on each other.

A soldier came for her at ten. Helina was left behind after an argument. Jolie didn’t want Helina out of her room, needing to shield her from what they had done to her house. Plus, Jolie didn’t trust any of these gang members. Unlike in Adrik’s world, these men had less respect and decorum. They wore their violence on their sleeves like a calling card.

Jolie fought against the hold on her biceps, but she was shoved down the hallway. It wasn’t until she got to the stairs that she stopped her fight.

Standing in the foyer was Agent Mally, dressed in civilian clothing and black hair in a bun on her head. Her back was to Jolie. It was Vincent who stared up at her. He had swim trunks on and a Hawaiian shirt. His voice carried over the distance. “We got permission to be here. Do you? Got any warrants? Because I don’t think I got to answer any of your questions.”

The room had cleared out. There were open drink containers and half-eaten food, and the smell of weed was overpowering. But all the guns and drugs were missing, making it appear more like a crazy slumber party, then a takeover.

Mally kept flicking her head about, searching for signs of something wrong. “The problem with people like you is that everything out of your mouth is a lie. ”

“Look.” Vincent approached the stairs, holding his hand out for Jolie while pinning her with a warning glare. Jolie could hear the threat underneath every word he spoke. “JoJo and I have been friends for a long time. She’s my guest, aren’t you?”

Jolie stiffened as she took each step closer. He was telling her to be quiet, to say nothing, to smile and nod. But this was her out, wasn’t it? Mally could save her. Vincent wouldn’t kill an FBI agent. He’d know how dangerous that would be. He’d know that once it was done, there would be no coming back.

But as he stared at her, narrowing his brow and clenching his teeth, it said: Dare him, and he’d prove her wrong.

Vincent’s too unpredictable. I can’t risk it without knowing who he is.

So Jolie smiled and placed her hand in his. Vincent pulled her over to Mally and introduced her. “Detective Mally, Jolie Bell.”

“Are you alright?” Mally asked. The question was quick and panicked without any formality. It was a dangerous thing. What if Vincent realized they knew each other?

Jolie kept up her act. “I’m fine; what is this about?”

Vincent crossed his arms over his chest. “Does the FBI do health checks?”

Mally waved her eyes all along Jolie till she got back to her face. The apparent confusion on Jolie’s brow was a sign. She was still acting because she was still in danger, telling Mally that her assumption was correct, that Vincent had the capacity to hurt her but without proof, what right did Mally have here? She had been so blind coming by herself after she learned Vincent and his gang had taken over Adrik’s house. There wasn’t anything she could legally do. No one from the house called about the intrusion. It was perfectly innocent for the Morozovs to have houseguests, and without a Morozov saying they didn’t belong there, there was nothing illegal going on, at least on the surface.

But Jolie was innocent in this whole thing. After getting Adrik arrested and Yakov killed, Mally was fully aware of the carelessness she had used with Jolie, and now she needed to make up for it. She had to get the girl out of here. But Jolie stared at her with blind innocence, to the point that Mally believed her.

Mally struggled with an excuse. “I’ve been invested in the Morozovs for a long time. Yakov was found dead this morning in the river, with no witnesses. I arrested his two sons last night. To hear someone was staying in his house brought some suspicion. Where were you last night around midnight?”

“I was invited here by Katia.”

“Where is Katia?” Mally asked, looking up the stairs. “Is Helina with her mother?”

“Of course,” Vincent assured. “And I sure as hell don’t have to tell you shit about Katia.”

“Without a child to tutor, shouldn’t you return home, Miss Bell?”

Vincent wrapped a possessive arm around Jolie’s shoulder. “She slept over. Is there a problem here, Agent?”

Vincent’s responses were too ready, too prepared. He was a well-trained liar, bred from birth. Mally had no justifiable cause to take him in for questioning. It all looked normal. But she wasn’t stupid. He had taken all the servants captive. Mally searched for them, but they were hiding. “No problem.” Mally hesitated. She didn’t want to leave Jolie, but if she pushed any further, Vincent would become defensive, and Mally had come alone, putting herself in greater danger than she realized. “Thank you for being kind enough to answer my questions.” She preened, if only to get back on his good side. “I will advise you to stay out of trouble, Mr. Ortez. I believe your probation means you have to stay away from crime, and the Morozovs aren’t good friends to have.”

“I’m aware of my probation,” he replied lowly. Vincent detached from Jolie and moved closure to Mally to whisper, “Everything is going fine. Don't fuck it up now.”

Mally had to drop it. She didn't want to risk the agreement they had. But Jolie had never been a part of it. She wanted to tell Jolie she was going to help her, but with Vincent’s stare, she could do nothing but leave.

As soon as the door closed, Vincent turned on Jolie. “What the fuck was that? Did you call her?”

“What?” Jolie gawked. “I don’t have a phone. I don’t know her.”

“She knew you .”

“She’s been stalking the house. Of course she knew me.”

Vincent rubbed his mouth, staring at her. “I should send you away. Something’s up, and it’s you. Either your parents are going to cause me trouble or that cop. But I can’t have them looking in this direction.”

Jolie could see his thoughts turning as he stared at her. She had to stop the wheels, stop him from deciding that she was a problem. “Let me call my parents and assure them that I’m fine. You know I talk to my mother all the time. She will get suspicious. But that cop won’t come back. She has no right here.”

His brows knitted. “Why are you trying to stay, JoJo? That kid can’t mean that much to you. ”

“She does. Of course she does. I can’t leave her by herself. You know that about me,” Jolie added. He wanted to talk like friends. Then perhaps that was what she had to be. The thought was disgusting, but it might be her only saving grace.

Vincent clenched his teeth. He knew this wasn’t a good idea. He didn’t need anything going wrong with this takeover. He could send her to his mother’s. She’d be out of the way and out of sight.

But in danger.

His people were coming back into the living room, slapping his back, laughing and handing him a roach to ease the tension Mally caused. The agent had no purpose here, but she seemed very interested in Jolie. Jolie could be right, though, that Mally had known about her because she’s had been watching the Morozov family for years. She’d know Jolie was innocent in the scheme of things. Still, something felt wrong. But when it came to Jolie, Vincent found himself blind. He didn’t know her as well as he wished he did. She was able to change during their five-year separation while he had been stagnant.

“Look who it is.” Vincen's cousin, Santiago came down the hallway. Vincent rolled his eyes, already hearing the judgment in his voice. Santi stood in front of her, leaning in, making her shrink. “I told you this wasn’t over.”

Vincent blew out smoke. He had learned from Adrik that Santiago had sent someone to hurt Jolie while he was in prison. Santi was constantly overstepping because he thought he was smarter. Since coming out of prison, Vincent was forced to listen to him because his father told him to. But the more Santi spoke, the more Vincent despised him .

Santi turned to him. “Get rid of her, cousin. She’s a fucking liar.”

Vincent flicked his head. “JoJo, go get something to eat.”

Jolie needed no other instruction and rushed by.

Santi sneered as she went into the kitchen. “What are your plans for her? She should be tied up and gagged. You told me you wanted revenge.”

“You sent someone to her apartment.”

Santiago’s attitude fell apart, and he struggled to find an excuse. It was pitiful but humorous to watch as Vincent stood in front of him, blowing smoke in his face.

“Your father gave that order.”

Vincent didn’t know if it was a lie. But it was convenient. He couldn’t discipline Santi over something his father had done. It still unnerved him how it had been done without him knowing. What else were they talking to each other about?

“She’s been with the Morozovs all this time. She’s a fucking rat, Vinny. Get your revenge.”

Vincent watched Jolie sit at the breakfast bar, and the servant got her something to eat. There was something nostalgic about her and the memories she dug up that he had forced himself to stop thinking about years ago. “You think too small, cousin. It’s not your fault. It’s just who you are. But I got bigger plans.” Vincent walked away, bypassing Jolie without looking at her as he went out to the pool. Jolie was slowly becoming the focal point of Vincent’s future. If what he knew was correct, and Adrik was fucking her, he could very well set himself up for life, and that was too tempting to pass up for something as petty as revenge.