Embracing the Dark Side (Morozov Mafia #2)

22. Waterfall

Chapter twenty-two

Waterfall

Adrik's punishment had been solitary confinement. It wasn't much different from how he felt already. Being kept from the inmates was not as heavy as being kept from family, and privacy was perhaps its own reward. But it was freezing, and Adrik was shivering on a thin cot with no blanket. His eyes were nearly swollen shut, he had welts all over his body, and a burning pain in his arm. There was a chance his fracture had become a solid break, and the cast would need to be reset.

The hours went by. There was no self-hatred. There was no feeling sorry for himself. There were only the steps Adrik needed to take toward his goal, what he would need to do as soon as he got out and had a phone again. This was all just a minor setback. Nothing too serious. Nothing he couldn't recover from.

The door opened, and Adrik struggled to sit up. He could barely see; one eye had closed entirely, and the light was blinding, but he could make out the outline of three guards. One particular guard, named Jose, was a Toxin member. Adrik leaned against the wall, sighing, careless about whatever the hell they planned to do now.

Jose dragged a bedsheet behind him, rolled up like rope.

Adrik stiffened, his eye going between the three of them, noticing their smirks. Their intention was written all over their faces. He thought of bargaining. Money could change the most stubborn man. But these men weren't stupid. They knew the power he possessed, and they still chose the weaker man.

Well, perhaps they were stupid.

Adrik used the wall to stand, every muscle in his body screaming in protest. He thought of yelling for help, but they would have already taken care of the guards at the entrance. And he wasn't sure his pride would let him. He never asked for help. His father always knew when to give it. And though Adrik had always found it annoying, he greatly missed it now. For a brief moment, his heart ached for his father.

But then the guard stepped closer, and all thoughts shut off.

They came at him with speed Adrik couldn't keep up with. They gripped his fractured arm, and he cried out in pain. It nearly caused him to black out, giving them enough time to wrap the rope around his neck. With three broken fingers, Adrik dug them into the sheet, but it was too tight. His airway was cut off, and his mouth fell open in an attempt to gasp for any air, but nothing was coming. He smacked the men around him in desperation, but their laughter was the only thing in his ear. Adrik fell to the ground, and the guard went with him, squeezing the sheet even tighter. He could feel the blood pulse in his head, and he knew the end was coming.

Then it was gone, and Adrik fell to the ground, coughing, gasping for fresh air. He spat blood on the ground before rolling on his back, staring up at the ceiling.

Well, that was fun.

He twisted around, finding Mark, the guard with the brother in the family, and the warden.

"Nothing less than you deserve, Morozov. But this is my jail. And you're gonna face justice."

Adrik chuckled, though it was painful. He rested his cheek against the cold ground. "No, I'm not."

The door shut, leaving him in darkness, and Adrik passed out.

Adrik didn't know how many days it's been, but his throat had finally stopped hurting, and his eyes were no longer swollen. He had spent some time in the infirmary when he developed a fever from infection, but with antibiotics, he was on the mend. He wore a heavy cast for the small fracture on his arm, but it was unnecessary, and he spent time cutting through it with a nail to get it off. Casts only exposed weakness and he couldn't have any. The only thing he allowed for his three broken fingers was a piece of tape, keeping them straight and connected. They were healing the quickest. He could bend them without much pain and all that was left behind were black bruises that were slowly disappearing.

Adrik kept busy by working out five to six hours a day. Pain was welcome. It was a great distraction and great motivator. It kept him focused on the future, while attempting to sleep had become a more of nuisance. Any moment of rest caused thoughts to travel to terrible places and now he was lying on the cot, shivering, wondering what Helina was going through. She was the type of little girl that didn't let much bother her. She refused to rest when sick. She hated going to bed. Her energy was on the verge of ADD. But she was so easy to make happy. Even as a baby, she rarely cried as long as she was being entertained.

Katia hadn't been able to handle Helina's constant need for attention. Esfir became like a second mother, while Adrik made sure to take Helina whenever he could. Now that she was older, it was a risky thing to do. The shootout had been the final straw. He wanted Helina away from his life because she was damn sure going to grow old.

Adrik squeezed his eyes shut when vile, terrifying thoughts snuck in. Would Vincent abuse her? Would he allow others to harm her? Adrik's stomach clenched with dread, and he swallowed vomit down, trying to refocus his thoughts.

The only relief he could cling to was the fact that Jolie was with her. No matter if she betrayed him or not, Jolie would take care of his little girl. But who was taking care of her? Jolie was in as much danger as Helina.

Another round of illness spread through him. These wild tangents did nothing to help him in this hell. His mind tortured him better than any of these fucking guards.

Adrik struggled to figure out what he was going to do with Jolie. He found himself not so willing to just kill her and move on. There was something off about her working with the FBI. It didn't add up .

Normally, excuses didn't matter. Adrik got rid of anyone who proved unfaithful. He was surrounded by people willing to barter their souls for his attention. He didn't have to waste his time with forgiveness and healing.

Maybe his brother got to him. Alexei was so convinced that Jolie was innocent. So for him, Adrik would give her the benefit of the doubt. He'd listen to her reasons.

And they better be fucking good.

His dinner tray pushed under the door. Adrik was going to ignore it, not feeling hungry, but there was a piece of paper next to the small bowl of mush. He snatched it, staring at the Russian writing. 'Going for Helina. Will let you know when I have her.'

Adrik paced for hours, waiting for the guards to come around again.

But the night turned into morning, and his breakfast tray was empty.

Was Helina with Gil? Why wouldn't he send word if he succeeded? Had Gil been killed in the extraction? Shouldn't someone have information for him?

He was stuck in quicksand, being sucked down, squeezed till his breath came heavy. A weak fucking panic attack had him on the floor. Clinging to revenge was the only thing to keep him sane. This pain was temporary. Victory was still obtainable as long as he didn't fucking break.

When the door opened, Adrik stood, and the cast fell to the ground. He was ready for whatever bullshit they tried. There was no losing.

Only when they brought him to the showers did he realize they were releasing him back to the general public. Adrik wanted to take a long, hot shower, but he feared it too much. He kept his eyes on the entrance, only washing for a minute before he dressed. Mark was working overtime, keeping an eye down the hall. "Let's go." He ordered, and Adrik didn't question. They rushed to the REC area.

The inmates stopped talking and stared at him, not much different from his first day, but there was something dangerous in their attention. Typically, it was of awe or envy, but this was anger and displeasure. Apparently, he did something they didn't like. Adrik attempted to go up to Bony to ask about Helina and the extraction, but his big fat brother interrupted. Adrik backed down. He wasn't about to fight when he didn't know what was going on.

Adrik headed down the hall to his brother’s open cell. Alexei was doing push-ups, breathing heavily with every move. Sweat covered him, dripping off his chin, creating a dark, wet circle on the floor beneath him. Old bruises and a few cuts were healing. There were scars that Adrik couldn’t remember how he got, and only one tattoo, their family sigil, on his back left shoulder.

Feeling someone watching, Alexei snapped his head up. Bruises were fading over his eye and cheek. His dark brows tightened before dropping his gaze back to the floor and continuing his routine. Adrik noticed the wrap around two of his fingers and the way his left foot lifted off the ground. The guards had done damage to him, and it was Adrik’s fault. He probably should apologize, but if Alexei hadn’t gotten hooked on cocaine, Adrik wouldn’t have beaten up that dealer. So whose fault was it, really?

Alexei finally stood. He walked with a limp, his ankle or foot affecting him; Adrik couldn’t tell. Alexei snatched a towel off the bed to wipe off the sweat before he reached under his pillow and threw the phone back .

Adrik struggled to catch it, surprised by the force. “What the fuck’s your problem?”

Alexei approached, panting like a disgruntled bear. “If it ain’t Papa, it’s you.”

Adrik rolled his eyes, sticking the phone in his pocket. He leaned against the doorway, ready to hear the stupid, drugged-out reasoning for the comment.

“You think I can’t solve my own problems. In case you forget, little brother, I’m older. I’m the one that was made to take over this family. So don’t act like you fucking know better.”

Adrik scoffed. “You’re pissed I beat the shit out of your supplier? Didn’t get your hit this morning?”

“I told you I would stop!”

Adrik straightened his arms at his sides, fists at the ready. “Get out of my face.”

“You know what you’re fucking addicted to is control. You want to control everything and everyone. And when we don’t bend to your command, you make our lives fucking miserable. You’re just like Papa.”

Adrik took a step forward, forcing Alexei to take a step back. “I did you a fucking favor taking over this family. You want it back, Alexei? Then take it. And I’ll disappear, and I’ll get to do whatever the fuck I want and have you clean up my messes.” Adrik stood there, waiting for a reply, but Alexei only clenched his teeth and remained silent. He turned his back on his brother, hating how they had spent over a week apart, and all they could do was fight.

“Adrik.”

Adrik paused in the doorway. He wanted an apology, a joke, a stupid goddamn hug, but if Alexei tried to blame him further for the shit happening, he wasn’t going to stick around and listen to it.

“They are charging you with assault.”

Adrik snapped his head around.

Alexei sat on the bed, resting his elbows on his knees and hanging his head. “The guy you beat up was liked here. They’re saying it was a motivated attack because he was gay.”

“I don’t give a fuck—”

“It doesn’t matter.” Alexei met his gaze, the heavy weight of stress in his eyes. “I talked to Gil, and he’s trying to find the Warden’s family to get the guards off our backs. But don’t be alone. Ever. We lost a few people on our side. They’re gonna come for you.”

Adrik nodded, numb, his mind blank in a moment of loss. His back fell back against the doorway, staring at the floor. Why were things constantly falling apart?

“Sometimes I think,” Alexei murmured, “I’m as big of a fuckup as Papa always thought I was. What if—” He paused and swallowed. “What if I did need him?”

There was no reassurance in Adrik’s silence. He didn’t know what to say, because Adrik had thought the same damn thing. All the times he wished Yakov would go away or get murdered or have a heart attack, now he was stuck with what if Yakov had done more good than he realized? What if Adrik couldn’t hold onto this family without him?

There had been no time to grieve his father. Their mother was waiting for them to get out to have a funeral, but now it seemed it would be too long to wait. Deep in the pits of his mind, the grief waited to be acknowledged, like a knife that needed to be extracted .

Adrik dug into his pocket for his phone, hoping for a voicemail or text telling him the rescue mission had succeeded. He needed something positive to happen.

“You had a call an hour ago.” Alexei answered his silent question. “They weren’t able to get Helina and Jolie out.”

Adrik’s legs weakened, and he slid to the floor with his knees bent. He was riding on that hope. He had put all his sanity into believing that his daughter and girlfriend would finally be safe. But instead, there was a chance he had only made it worse. Was Vincent hurting his daughter? Was he abusing Jolie? He clenched the phone, tapping it hard against his forehead, wanting pain to suppress the overwhelming loss. But he wasn’t the kind to sit and wallow. Something had to be done. This jail was nothing but a distraction. There were things he hadn’t thought of yet. The risks would be significant, but if it succeeded, the award would be even better.

“I know you probably don’t want to hear this,” Alexei tentatively began. “Uncle Yefim offered to help.”

“In exchange for my inheritance.” Adrik was no fool to the rumors. Uncle Yefim always believed he deserved the family because he was the eldest son. But Adrik’s grandfather saw his weakness as easily as Adrik did. He was gluttonous, never satisfied with anything, which was why he was on his fifth wife.

The phone beeped in his hand. The noise was odd, and Adrik wasn't sure he heard correctly. He flicked it open.

Underneath his text asking Joie if she was working for the FBI was now a new message from her.

‘Call me.’

“What is it?” Alexei asked from the bed.

Adrik stretched his legs out on the floor and stared at it. It didn’t feel like her. She wouldn’t have ignored his question. She would have said so much more. But maybe she wanted to say it all in person. Adrik clicked on her number and pressed send.

It rang only once before she answered.

But it wasn’t Jolie.

“ Hola, amigo, ?Como estás? How was solitary confinement?”

It was Vincent.

Adrik put it on speaker before setting it on the concrete, face up. “What do you want?”

A small chuckle was his reply. “It’s funny. Jolie passionately claims you two were nothing, and yet, here you are, calling her of all people. Worried about Helina’s schooling, no doubt.” Alexei got up, staring down at the phone. “I think we are both aware of Jolie’s talent as a liar. One of her many skills,” he humorously added.

Alexei curled his fists at his side. “If you touched a single hair on her fucking head—”

“Who’s that?” Vincent cut the man off, laughing. “Is that your brother? I don’t know, Adrik, I’d be worried about that. Sounds like he’s got a little crush on your girlfriend.”

Adrik ground his teeth. “What do you want?”

“Nothing!” Vincent boasted. “I have everything, don’t I? I got your money. I got your daughter. I got your bed warmer. I mean, there’s nothing left. I’ve taken everything from you.”

“Why?”

“It was nothing personal. I don’t know you enough to hate you. Though you did threaten to destroy my family, didn’t you? Over something so small. Now, don’t you wish that conversation would have gone a little better? Doesn’t matter, really. Katia and I had already decided your reign was over. She’s one hell of a girl, Adrik. Don’t get why you’d pass her up. Especially for a fucking poor-ass tutor. It doesn’t make sense. Unless—”

The pause was everything, and Adrik knew it.

“Unless,” Vincent cooed, “you love her. Oh, isn’t that sweet?”

Adrik curled his fingers into a tight fist, digging his nails into his skin. Vincent may have the upper hand now, but he was as inexperienced as he was cocky. The family wasn’t something so easily contained. He’d lose it. Hell, he’d probably be dead by the time Adrik got out of jail. But if Vincent was killed, his daughter and girlfriend would see the same fate.

“You would have been proud of her,” Vincent continued. “JoJo tried to escape with your daughter. She always liked a little danger. And a little rough play, if you know what I mean.”

Vincent’s little comments were like insults in the schoolyard. Adrik knew more than enough about their sexual interactions that none of his words bothered him. But it unnerved Adrik in another way. If Vincent still thought about Jolie that way, was he going to hurt her, or had he already?

“Let me talk to her.”

“Why would I do that?”

Because Adrik needed to hear her voice, to know she was okay and that this fucker hadn’t assaulted her. But it was better if he didn’t know. He was caged, and no amount of screaming would get him free.

Adrik went in a different direction. “How are you maintaining the payments?” he asked, hoping to finally get some useful information.

There was a pause before Vincent questioned, “Why ?

“If you don’t keep up with the payments, your shipments won’t go out, and you’ll have thousands of pissed-off customers. So, how are you handling it?”

A scoff and a snort. “You think I don’t know what I’m doing?”

“I think you know how to handle a credit card but not a billion-dollar industry. If you fail, you risk my daughter. So, take my advice. I have an offshore bank account; I’ll text you the details. Do not get behind on payments, or you will never surface.”

Vincent laughed into the phone. “You’re a fucking idiot. You’re gonna give me more money?”

“What you’ve taken won’t last you another week. The loans will falter, and it won’t be long till another family sees you falling apart and comes to your aid. And then they will kill you. Meet with no one. Not the Aslanovs, Utkins, and as much as you think Katia is helping you, she is only helping herself. You have her daughter. She’ll do what she can to take her from you and then destroy you. Just as I plan to.”

“So why should I listen to this bullshit advice? You could be setting me up to fail.”

“I need you to survive till I get out. The only person killing you is me.”

An annoyed chuckle crept into the silence, and Adrik had the mind to end the conversation. But he wanted to hear what pathetic threats this puppy could come up with.

“You know, I was going to let you talk to your daughter. Instead, I’ll send you the video of me fucking your girlfriend. Love what you did with her, by the way. I couldn’t get her to shave her pussy for years. ”

The line clicked off, and Adrik could only stare at the ground. He was impassive on the outside, but the depth of his rage was a silent, endless cavern.

Alexei knelt down and clenched his shoulder, cupping his cheek to turn his head. “He’s lying, Adrik. He’s lying. He’s a fucking little bitch. He doesn’t have the balls to touch her. And Jolie would scratch his out if he tried.”

Adrik gripped Alexei’s wrist and rested his forehead against his. He needed physical contact, the assurance that he wasn’t sinking into Hell. He nodded vaguely, forcing himself to believe. He needed to, if he was gonna keep moving.

“He’s not going to make it,” Adrik declared. Alexei helped him to his feet, and Adrik paced the small cell as his mind raced. “We have to get out of here before the other families come for him.” He stopped, and he turned to his brother. “Call Yefim.”

Ideas were pouring in now, building him up. Adrik was far from beaten. His father taught him how to dismantle a threat years ago when Yakov had taken him hunting for his tenth birthday. With Yakov’s hand on Adrik’s shoulder, he pointed toward a black bear in the distance. ‘ People will tell you to go for the heart. But the heart is nearly impenetrable, wrapped up, protected. If you miss, vengeance will be too quick to fight against. No, what you do is you go for the head. Harder to hit, true enough, but exposed. So, you take your time, and when you are sure of your shot, you blow their fucking brains out.’

In front of him was his one main goal, obtainable but never too far from reach. The dark within him was searching for retribution, and Adrik would not disappoint. He was going to consume Vincent Ortez till the blood in his veins poured like a gushing waterfall.