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

17. Unavailable

Jolie looked over her shoulder at Yakov and Adrik as Alexei kept a hand on her back, guiding her through the house. She could feel the tension worse than the summer heat. What had gotten them to that point? Was Adrik okay?

Alexei tried to assure her with, ”My father”s a rough guy. Probably better for you to stay away. He”s a little racist.”

Jolie focused on Alexei, noticing for the first time how much he and Adrik looked alike. They have the same jawline, the same eyes, and the same kind of hair. Slick, black, and short. Alexei”s body was thicker, like he had drunk more milk as a kid. He definitely focused more on upper body strength than his brother. ”How”s your arm?”

”It”s fine, thanks.” Alexei led her to the living room, sitting on the opposite side of the couch. He stared at her, the same kind of stare Adrik had, but it wasn”t nearly so intimidating. She fixed her dress over her knees, looking around the room. It was as elegant as the rest of the house, with the white furniture and a pop of red in random spots. There was a grandfather clock in the corner and a beautiful white piano. Alexei cleared his throat. ”I guess I should apologize. The shootout and forcing you to take us to your apartment probably gave a bad impression.”

Jolie appreciated the apology, but it wasn”t enough to erase it.

”Though I”m thankful for what you did, I don”t think this is a good fit. I”ll talk to my brother.”

Could Alexei convince him to change his mind? Did Jolie want that?

”Are you twins?” Jolie said, deviating.

The question paused him. Did she really not understand the kind of danger she was in? Did she believe they were the typical run-of-the-mill drug dealers, living in a house like this? Perhaps from movies, she assumed those types of gangs were rich—when in reality, they knew nothing about business.

Alexei scratched his head uncomfortably. ”No, but we are ten months apart.” He leaned in and whispered as if it was a secret. ”I”m older.”

Jolie smiled. ”Shouldn”t he be taking orders from you?”

”I”m more muscle.” He shifted his arm to expose his bicep. Even in a suit, it was noticeable.

Jolie giggled, shifting her gaze away.

Alexei couldn”t figure out why his brother brought this woman here. But he wasn”t that upset about seeing her again. She was impressionable. She tried so hard to fit into the background, but by doing so, she stood out. Perhaps it was her quirky dresses or her fearlessness, but whatever it was, he hadn”t forgotten her. ”So, you”re going to tutor Helina?”

Jolie popped right back up with a smile. ”Yep, that”s the plan.”

”I guess there”s nothing wrong with that. She should be up. Do you know how to get to her room?”

Jolie stood, ”Yeah, thanks. See you around.”

Alexei watched her walk away, her ballet shoes tapping against the tile differently than high heels. He dropped his head. He was never good at talking to women. His good looks got him a seat at the bar, but then he”d always screw up. Now, Alexei had gotten to the point where being drunk was the only way to get laid.

A crash from outside got him to his feet. Servants raced out in front of him, cleaning up the mess Adrik made as he sat in his chair. Alexei rested his hands on the empty seat of his father”s.

Adrik glanced at him for half a second, telling him all he needed to know before his gaze went back to the pool.

Dealing with Yakov was another reason Alexei gave up his seat as heir. He wasn”t nearly so willing to obey their father as Adrik was. Too many times, he went against Yakov and paid the price for it. If he had kept the position as heir, he would have killed his father or been murdered in his sleep.

”I don”t think this is a good idea,”Alexei began. ”This tutor.”

Adrik stood and threw back the rest of his coffee before slapping it on the table. ”It”s done.” He turned to leave, but Alexei moved in front of him.

”Why? Why her? You”re gonna ruin her life, Adrik.”

He scoffed, stepping around him. ”Dramatic as always.”

Alexei latched onto his bicep, forcing him around. Adrik”s temper ignited, and he stepped up to Alexei, getting in his face. But Alexei wasn”t stepping up to the plate. ”You”re mad at Papa.” He pushed his brother back. ”Do you want to fight? Let”s go get gloves on. I don”t want to mess up my pretty face.”

Adrik huffed a barely there snicker. Alexei suppressed his smile, relieved he got Adrik off the edge. It wasn”t always easy. Alexei approached, with his hand up before resting it on his brother”s shoulder, ”What did he say?”

When no answer came, Alexei nodded, understanding the silence. Their father required sacrifices, and it never mattered what it was. It still took a toll.

If Adrik ever asked him, Alexei would kill Yakov in an instant. He had no love for that psycho of a man. And though it would be against their code, and he”d be cast out, he”d do it for his brother.

But until then, he pretended to be a good son.

”Papa knows what he”s doing. You got to trust in it,”Alexei said with bitterness, words that had been forced down his throat.

Adrik stepped out of his brother”s hold. ”You don”t believe that.”

Alexei kept his eyes on him, searching for any sign that Adrik wanted what he couldn”t say, but Alexei wasn”t sure and wouldn”t risk being wrong. Adrik loved their father still. He couldn”t lose Adrik because of their differences. ”About this girl.”

Adrik rolled his eyes. ”She stays.”

Alexei rushed after him, grabbing his arm and pulling him to the side. ”And she is just a tutor?” he asked.

Adrik slapped him on the arm, the casted one—”Yep”—and smiled as his brother winced.

”Then, I could ask her out?”

Adrik snapped back around, brows knitted.

Alexei shrugged and explained, ”She”s got nice tits.” It was an off-the-cuff comment, unwilling to admit he was attracted to such an odd woman.

”She”s not really your type.”

Alexei tilted his head as he thought of all the women he”d dated. They were primarily oddballs, some of them downright ugly, but a sense of humor usually got him. ”She kind of is,” he corrected. ”You remember Melissa?”

Adrik looked down at their feet in memory. Alexei was a late bloomer. He didn”t get his first girlfriend till tenth grade, three years after Adrik. And even then, he didn”t lose his virginity until senior year, which Adrik made sure to make fun of him for every chance he got. And the girl he finally gave his cherry to was Melissa. She was an anime-lover with pink hair. She carried a Naruto backpack and dressed as the female character with pink hair for fun.

It was the first and last time his brother had been in love.

”How could I forget?”Adrik stepped back, crossing his arms, trying to figure a way out of this mess. He couldn”t date Jolie, but he sure as hell didn”t want his brother to. So, how did he make her unavailable? ”I hear she”s a lesbian.”

Alexei blinked. ”You think?”

”Yeah. Yeah. That”s what I heard, anyway. I could be wrong.”

”I don”t know. I flexed earlier, and she liked it.”

Adrik cackled to hide the jealousy inside. If Jolie liked Adrik, there was no certainty she wouldn”t want his brother. They looked alike enough despite their personalities differing on many points. Alexei might even be a better match for her than he was.

”Alright,”Alexei conceded. ”That sucks.”

Adrik slapped him on the shoulder, ”Sorry, brother.”

Adrik turned away, and his smile fell as he moved through the house to find Jolie. What if she realized he was off-limits and directed her attention to his more available brother? He”d hate them both for it, and it wouldn”t even be their fault. He needed to ensure she knew her purpose here: to teach his daughter. Nothing else. She stayed without a boyfriend for the past few years, so she could go a little longer.

Adrik could hear his daughter”s giggles from down the hall, and it eased his upset. The anger dripped out of him like candle wax. He stopped in the doorway, watching Helina run about the room, with a princess costume on, as Jolie sat in the center, trying to get her to stop. But with zero communication, Helina ignored her.

Adrik hissed, and Helina stumbled when she noticed him. She stood still, putting her head down.

Jolie smiled with relief. ”Ah, thank you. I think she thinks I”m here to play.”

In Russian, Adrik explained what Jolie was doing here, and when she found out she was learning English, she jumped in Jolie”s arms. Jolie held her, kissing her forehead. ”Let”s learn.”

Adrik was about to speak to her when Katia suddenly came up behind him from the hallway, touching his arm. He moved out of her way, with disgust on the curve of his lip. He couldn”t stop himself from chastising her. ”Your outburst at breakfast was petty.”

Jolie and Helina looked at him, and though he spoke in Russian, he was sure his tone didn”t go unnoticed. Katia always managed to bring out the worst in him.

Katia smiled back. ”You”re just mad I”m not as dumb as you think I am.” She nudged her head toward Jolie. ”Are you her bad little student?”

Adrik slipped his hands in his pockets to stop himself from laying hands on her. He had only done it once, and Helina had been there. It was enough to keep him back, even when he only wanted to hurt Katia as much as possible. His words would have to be enough. ”You weren”t this ridiculous when I brought three women to my room. Are you intimidated by her? You think she can replace you? Because chances are she”d be a better mother. Hell, Esfir is a better mother.”

Helina latched onto her mother”s leg. ”Daddy, Mommy, don”t fight.”

Katia changed her language. ”Say it in English,” she goaded. If he didn”t give a shit about the teacher, he”d say whatever he wanted loud enough for her to hear.

When Adrik turned out of the room, Katia knew she had won.

But it wasn”t victory she felt. This new strange woman would be around her daughter. Was Adrik hoping to find a mother for Helina because he was going to kill her? Panic made Katia pick up her daughter. ”Get out,” she ordered Jolie. ”Get out!” she yelled again, and the woman rushed out of the room as Katia stood there, squeezing her daughter as if she”d never get to hold her again.