The Dark Side: A Mafia Romance Thriller (Morozov Mafia Series Book 1)

16. The Family

Morning couldn”t come soon enough. It was a dreadful night, with only Adrik”s voice to soothe her. She went through their conversation with a fine-toothed comb, searching for the toxicity she was familiar with, and was discouraged to notice there wasn”t enough to fortify her walls.

I like him.

She groaned in self-loathing.

Jolie forced herself up, using the pain as a distraction. She wasn”t going to allow herself to dive any deeper. She would find all the bad things about him, of which there should be plenty for a mafia boss. She was being thrown off because he seemed more likable than she imagined killers to be.

Yeah, so was Ted Bundy. That”s how he was able to ensnare all of the women he raped and murdered.

”Good point,” Jolie muttered to herself. ”He”s Ted Bundy.”

Now, with a suitable headspace, Jolie got herself dressed. She found the pen in her purse and debated taking it. What would happen if someone found it on her person? Could she act confused, or would that not matter?

The sooner I get the information the FBI needs, the sooner I can get out of here.

Jolie slipped the pen into her pocket before she moved to the door. Adrik said she wasn”t a prisoner, yet she didn”t feel right leaving her room without someone telling her she could.

That”s ridiculous, shemotivated herself. I live here now. She glanced back toward her cats for encouragement, but Tae-Tae was currently licking his privates, and Ming was staring out the window, watching a bird twitter in a palm tree.

Jolie stepped out into the hall.

She flipped her head each way down the long, elegant hallway, having no idea which direction to go. Lights were bright. with LEDs in the ceiling reflecting against the white tile on the floor. Her black flats tapped against the shining ground with every step she took, and no matter how light she was on her feet, it echoed.

A door at the end of the hallway whipped open, and Katia stepped out. Her brown eyes widened at the sight of Jolie. ”You”re up early.”

”I didn”t know what time we were getting started.” Jolie noticed the outfit Katia wore: yoga clothes that were tight in all the right places, exposing the plumpness of her breasts and the perfect shape of her ass. It was intimidating and discouraging. What could Adrik ever see in her if he had Katia to compare her to?

”Cute dress,” Katia commented as she approached, her high heels hitting the ground like anvils.

Jolie wasn”t sure she was being truthful. Her dress was decorated in multicolored letters and draped down to her knees. It was one of her favorite teaching dresses, but now she felt ridiculous.

”Helina usually wakes around nine. Would you like to join me for breakfast? The family is promptly fed at seven.”

Jolie took a deep breath and followed behind. ”That would be great.”

”You can meet my husband.”

”We”ve met.”

”Oh. What a surprise.” Katia glanced over her shoulder. ”My husband and I talked about your schedule last night. Monday through Friday, ten to four, with an hour’s break for lunch. Esfir will take a list of any supplies you need. Please do not be shy. Spare no expense for my daughter”s education. She might be a bit behind. We’d hoped she would’ve returned to Russia by now, but plans have changed.”

Down the double staircase and into the main foyer, their movements sparked a wave of attendants rushing about, as if they”d been caught idling. To the left, they went through a sitting area but kept traveling through another set of double doors into a dining room. There was a long table meant for twelve, but it was empty. Opening up with glass doors was the pool area, and they stepped out onto the terrace where the family sat in the early morning humidity. The house gave them adequate shade, and a nice breeze came from the harbor.

Jolie tucked her hair behind her ear and nervously approached.

Adrik sat with his back to her while Alexei sat at the end, and his mouth dropped open upon seeing her.

Jolie”s attention, however, was on the old man sitting at the head of the table. Yakov, the leader of their mafia family. Gray hair, gray facial hair, dressed in black pants and a white button-up shirt, he was slightly heavy set, with a bulging belly, but his blue eyes were as bright as ever when he looked up to greet her. And though he smiled wide and greeted her with delight, all Jolie saw was his mugshot and the cold, malicious look in his dead eyes. His misdeeds were proudly posted on the internet, as if he had done an interview about all the atrocious things he committed. She hadn”t thought she”d ever come in contact with someone so dangerous.

Jolie slipped her hand in her pocket, clicking the pen, hoping against all hope that he’d reveal something terrible and she”d be free to leave this place. If he caught on to her deception, would the police be able to save her in time?

Jolie strengthened her back, trying to erase the trepidation in her soul.

Russian broke out on Katia”s lips as she greeted the table, and everyone turned to look at her. Adrik”s gaze passed over with quick indifference, his attention on his phone.

”Miss Bell?” Alexei stood up. ”What are you doing here?” He approached. He wore a light blue suit, but his arm was tucked against his chest with a sling.

Katia answered before she could. ”She”s the new tutor for Helina.”

”Tutor?” Alexei looked to Adrik and quickly stated in Russian, ”You didn”t tell me you were hiring a tutor.”

”Me either,”Katia added as she sat across from Adrik, staring expectantly at him, but he promptly ignored her.

Jolie kept her fingers connected in front of her, trying not to pick at her nails. She felt intrusive and completely out of place. Alexei had been at the shootout, held a gun to her, and forced her to take them to her apartment. Was that erased? Did he think it was a common thing to have gun in her face?

”Come sit,” Alexei offered, pulling out the chair next to him.

Jolie”s knees almost gave out. She was swallowed in fear and wished she could return to her room and pile all her furniture against the door.

Oh, God, if they could hear my thoughts, they”d skin me alive.

Alexei waved to a servant to bring her some food. He turned to his brother with Russian on his lips. ”You had a background check done on her?”

”Gil hired her; ask him,” Adrik carelessly replied.

”I usually do the hiring.”

”You were busy.”

Alexei didn”t believe him. Why wouldn”t Adrik involve him in who was teaching his niece? ”Does she even know Russian?”

”Ask Gil.”

Alexei sneered. ”I understand you were grateful, but she is not material for this family.”

Adrik was getting aggravated with the questions, and he met his brother”s gaze. ”She nearly got killed saving my daughter. That is enough.”

Yakov said from behind his newspaper, ”Do not question your brother.”

Alexei swiftly replied, ”I will if I think he”s being stupid.”

Yakov laid the paper on the table and met his son”s gaze. ”Why do you worry so much?”

”She”s not the kind of person we have here. If she goes missing, people will take notice.”

Adrik popped a grape in his mouth. ”She will not go missing.”

”Until you scare her, and she runs away. Then I”d have to kill her.”

”Why am I scaring her?”

”You”re an ass to people.”

”Some people,”Adrik specified.

”Most people,” Alexei corrected.

Adrik held up a finger. ”But not all.”

Alexei rolled his eyes. He glanced at Jolie and noticed her struggling to understand. He switched to English. ”Sorry, family discussion. Nothing about you.” She smiled sweetly and nodded. Alexei switched to Russian, muttering, ”God, she”s like a mouse.”

”Certainly dresses like it,”Katia nipped.

”She”s a teacher,”Adrik replied. ”Not a call girl.”

”It is questionable,”Yakov added. ”If you were so grateful, why not give her a few thousand? It is probably more than she”s seen in her whole life.”

Adrik rubbed his mouth with a napkin, slapping it down on his food before he leaned back. ”I didn”t think we were in the business of insulting people who did us a favor. And by favor, I mean saving your grandchild from being riddled with bullets.”

There was quiet after that, and Alexei kept his head bowed. He always knew when Adrik had been pushed too far. But what confused him was why Adrik felt as strongly as he did. There have been people in the past who accidentally got caught in their lifestyle and suffered because of them. They were paid extraordinary amounts for it but never brought to the house.

Yakov sipped his coffee. ”Whatever you see fit.”

”Thank you.”Adrik glanced toward his brother. He hadn’t thought Alexei would put up such a fight. What did it matter who he hired?

”This is a big mistake,”Alexei muttered, unwilling to let it go so easily. ”What makes you think she won”t report anything she sees to the police?”

”I made her sign a non-disclosure agreement. If she talks, nothing she says will be admissible in court. And once again, Agent Mally will lose.”

Yakov cackled, saluting. ”She will always lose. But just to be safe, no company conversations around the teacher.”

Adrik was annoyed by the insinuation. ”She doesn”t speak Russian.”

Katia interjected, ”You suddenly know so much about her. You aren”t sleeping with her, are you?”

The three men turned their attention to her like a spotlight. But Katia wouldn”t cave from the intensity. She was smug, as if she had caught him in the biggest lie right in front of his father. Despite how much he claimed ”gratefulness,” there was nothing that Adrik was grateful for. He believed God started the day for him. His ego was brighter than the sun. And if she could crack him, just a splinter, she”d regain all the confidence he destroyed in her.

Yakov cackled, and it sprung a smirk from Adrik. ”My son has better taste than that, Katia. Jealousy is an ugly color on you, my girl. Try to do better.”

Katia stood roughly. ”I”m not ”your girl.”” With that, she fled the table.

Jolie turned with wide eyes, looking at the three men with confusion. Alexei sent her a reassuring smile and shrug.

Yakov picked up the paper again. ”Is there a chance she”s pregnant? Her temper as of late has been odd.”

Adrik bit, ”How the fuck should I know?”

”She is your wife.”

Adrik shifted, relieved this conversation was in Russian. He twisted his head as if he was looking for a servant, holding up his half cup of coffee. Jolie and Alexei was sitting close together, talking. She giggled, shaking her head. It unnerved him.

”You need an heir.”

Adrik waited for the servant to fill his cup before he sat back and grabbed his phone.”I have Helina.”

”Don”t be foolish. Even in this odd generation, a woman cannot run a mafia family. She”ll be good for developing a partnership. Perhaps with a cartel in the south.”

Adrik could feel the boiling of his temper. He rolled his fist, clenching his teeth to get his voice under control. ”You sold all my sisters like cattle. I will not let you sell my daughter.”

Yakov folded up the newspaper and held it out for a servant. They came quickly and replaced it with a cigar. It was already prepped, and he put it between his lips as the servant lit the tip. He took a drag and blew it out toward his son”s face. Adrik turned his head away like he had been slapped. ”Watch your tone.”

Alexei got up, sensing a building argument. He pulled on Jolie”s arm even as she tried to eat. ”Let”s see if Helina”s awake. She”ll be thrilled to see you.”

Adrik dropped his phone on the table as they escaped and used the time to calm himself. He couldn”t allow his emotions to build. He had to dismantle it like a Jenga tower, one piece at a time. He glanced behind him, making sure they were gone.

Yakov began, ”I”m allowing a tutor, but if you think she has any other purpose, you fool yourself.”

Adrik looked at him. ”You aren”t allowing anything. If I want a tutor for my daughter, she gets one.”

Yakov leaned forward. ”Son, I understand you cherish Helina. I do as well. And if this world was different, I would be encouraging. But this is the life we have.”

”How can I accept anything but the best for her?”

”I”m not saying she won”t get the best. She will have everything. She can learn languages, art, and any instrument she wants. I want only a smile on her face. But she is no heir. So, if you want her to be able to choose who she marries and the kind of life she wants, then you must get your wife pregnant with a boy.”

The thought made him sick. ”I don”t want to touch Katia.”

”She is a beautiful woman. Where is the problem?”

Adrik chewed the inside of his cheek as he stared out at the pool. His father knew what Katia did and still acted like nothing was wrong. Adrik”s disgust for Katia was more than just physical. It was in everything she said and did. It was in her looks. In her personality. In her smell. In the way she dressed. Her existence was a reminder of her betrayal. He couldn”t let it go, even years later.

”Marriage comes with plenty of problems. I hear therapy works wonders.”

”I wanted a marriage like you and momma.”

”You think your mother and I don”t have problems? Where is she now? In Russia because she”s upset with me. Women are emotional and too much work. I did not enjoy your mother”s presence until she produced me a son.”

”Do my four sisters account for nothing?”Adrik bit, disgusted by the insinuation.

Yakov cackled. ”It was a joke, boy.”

If his father wanted a joke, Adrik would provide. ”If I kill you, I can do whatever I want.”

Yakov cackled adoringly. ”Perhaps now you stand a chance, but that is why I married you off so young.” Yakov winked at him with a proud grin. He slapped his son”s shoulder, squeezing, “Put a bag on her head if it helps. But I want her pregnant by the end of the year.”

Adrik remained there long after his father left. The walls felt like they were tightening around him, and he was struggling to get out, but no key would work on the locks. He thought by becoming the heir, there would be fewer chains strapped to his wrists, but instead, they kept piling on. How was he supposed to make a better life for his daughter if he couldn”t even make a better life for himself?

Yakov wanted Katia pregnant.

Adrik shoved his plate off the table, and it shattered on the floor.