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

19. Swimming Lessons

Jolie watched Helina write her letters from over her shoulder. The little girl was so eager to learn that after a week of tutoring, she was already reciting the English alphabet. Jolie was proud of her, and this was a feeling she loved. It”s what got her into teaching. She wanted to build a healthy foundation on positive energy and positive reinforcement. Jolie clapped her hands when Helina finished writing her name.

Helina jumped out of her chair and spun in a circle before plopping back down. Her excitement was palpable, and Jolie admired it. In this awkward world where Jolie felt more fear than ever before, Helina was her shining star. And though it might be odd to say, she was definitely Jolie”s only friend.

At lunch, Helina pulled at her hand to join her. Jolie hadn”t spent much time out of her room other than tutoring and morning runs. She had found the pen still hidden in the bushes two days later. She pretended to fall into the bush because of the escort behind her. It wasn”t one of her proudest moments.

But what was her purpose for the pen? Jolie still hadn”t figured it out. She wanted to bring down Yakov but didn”t want to hurt Adrik. But the reality was they were entwined. There wasn”t a way to do one without the other.

It”s been a few days since she had seen the mysterious mafia man. She hoped she”d stop whatever was developing inside her by keeping away. Yet, she prayed Adrik would stop by every night, but he never did.

Jolie told herself it was for the best despite how disappointed she woke up every morning.

Helina disappeared into the kitchen, where Jolie was sure she couldn”t go. Instead, out the window, she noticed Adrik and Alexei at the pool, and her heart started to pound in her chest.

Adrik stretched out in a lounge chair, dressed in a swimsuit and Bentley sunglasses. He looked everything like a Playgirl model. His tattoos hugged every muscle. His arms, his chest, his back, and his legs—there wasn”t a place that hadn”t been touched. And with a terrible yet stomach-dropping thought, she wondered what she”d find beneath his swim shorts.

Stop it!she scolded herself. Ted Bundy. Murderer. Bad. Bad. Bad.

Jolie forced her eyes off him, and they fell on his brother. Alexei sat on the edge of a chair, with his phone in his hands. He wore workout shorts and a tank; his muscles were as built as a bodybuilder”s, with pulsing veins. He must have just come from working out because his skin shined from sweat. Unlike his brother, Alexei had no tattoos on him that she could see. He was just as gorgeous, but his strength made him scarier. Even if he was nicer to her.

Jolie found her eyes gravitating back to Adrik. There were dozens of people on the pool deck, but she only wanted to look at him.

Helina popped back into the room, and Jolie jumped with a little squeal, a hand quickly on her heart.

Still got that PTSD. Good to know.Jolie smiled reassuringly and took Helina”s hand, leading her to the lunch table where their sandwiches awaited.

Alexei hated this heat. Even with an umbrella hanging over him, he was sweating. Alexei took the edge of his shirt and rubbed his face. It was days like today he wished he still lived in Russia. The sun was barely visible half the time and typically matched his mood. But going back without Adrik was not an option anymore and hadn”t been for the last few years.

Alexei held his phone out, rereading the text message from their father. ””We will be celebrating Adrik”s twenty-eighth birthday. Make it extravagant.””

Adrik groaned from the chair beside him. ”I”m not a fucking kid.”

Alexei shrugged, trying to be encouraging. ”It will be fun.”

”And it”s a month away. Why is he even talking about it?”

Alexei glanced back at him, and playfully said, ”Maybe he”s got a surprise for you. What if he wants to give you the keys to the kingdom?”

Adrik snapped his head to his brother. Was that a possibility? It”s something he”s been waiting years for. But there was plenty of doubt. His father was too controlling to give anything up willingly.

Adrik noticed movement in the house, and as Jolie walked up to the window, he saw her. His sunglasses were too dark for her to notice him staring right at her. He spent the last five days away from her, and now, finally seeing her face brought a fresh wave of hunger that couldn”t be sated with food.

”Mama”s coming.”Adrik vaguely said, ”Ask her to plan it.”

”What”s the tutor doing?”Alexei casually questioned, looking up at her room. ”Maybe she”ll like to do it.”

Adrik smirked. ”You got a hard-on for teacher, don”t you? Lesbian and all.”

”Just because I don”t want her to die doesn”t mean I want to fuck her.”

”But you do.”

Alexei shrugged, ”Why not? Pussy”s pussy.”

Adrik mentally winced. He knew when his brother was putting on a show. Alexei was clearly starting to like Jolie, which made his stomach turn. Adrik tried to keep Alexei away from her. All this past week, they were busy tracking rumors about Katia”s brother. But the moment he was able, Alexei”s thoughts returned to her.

And so did Adrik”s.

”She”s right there,”he heard himself say. Alexei snapped his head to the house just as Jolie was pulled away from the window. ”Call her out,” Adrik tempted, noticing how Alexei struggled with the phone. He didn”t like it. How could he make her more off-limits other than calling her a lesbian? ”She”s a Democrat, you know? Can tell just by the way she dresses.”

Alexei scoffed, sitting back. ”Don”t say that.”

Adrik smiled, proud. He knew his brother too well. Her political standing would be a definite turn-off.

”Okay, why not?”Alexei texted Esfir, telling her to bring Jolie out here.

Adrik”s smile faltered. That plan backfired.

Alexei looked down at his shirt, brushing off some lint. A pathetic attempt to look better. He shifted, straightened his back, and tried to figure out how to sit like he suddenly forgot.

”What are you doing?”

”Shut up,”Alexei bit back. ”Can you tell everyone to clear out? I don”t want to spook her.” There were women in thin bikinis sitting at the pool. Wives, girlfriends, and their friends floated around, wanting attention from wealthy individuals. Their most profitable drug dealers were invited on weekends to the house for parties and to talk business. There were always ways to improve, and Adrik constantly looked for the best ideas.

Not that Father will do anything with the information,Adrik bitterly thought.

Adrik was against kicking everyone out. Jolie needed to be exposed to their world if she was living with them. But maybe it was too soon to start. ”Everyone out.”

There was a grumble of discontentment, but they collected all their stuff and got out. The last of the single women were leaving as Jolie came out of the house. Her eyes were wide as she approached, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. She was gorgeous even in the stupidest things. He hated her shirt, but it was everything she was.

”Coexist” was written in rainbow colors.

He could hear Alexei curse out, ”Oh, hell.”

Adrik chuckled.

”Hi!” Jolie approached eagerly, like she was dying for some conversation. ”Oh, my God, it”s so beautiful out. I feel like I haven”t been out in weeks.”

Because she hadn”t been. Adrik kept tabs on her, hoping to find more about her quirks, but she never left her room. Part of him was glad for it; he could keep his hands to himself if he didn”t see her. But not seeing her had brought unwanted erotic thoughts that came barreling into his brain at this moment. One of those thoughts wondered what she would look like in a bathing suit and soaking wet.

”Join us,” Alexei invited, moving slightly for her to sit on the same lounge chair. ”You got a suit?”

”Actually, no. I don”t know how to swim.”

Adrik wondered if it was a lie, simply to hide her bruises. They should be on the verge of healing but still visible. He wanted to see them to assure himself she was getting better. ”You”re a Floridian who doesn”t know how to swim?”

”Yeah, I know. I got made fun of enough, thanks,” Jolie bit back, making his smirk widen.

Alexei interjected, ”How has your stay been?”

Jolie shrugged. ”Great, I guess. You guys live like kings here; I”m not used to it. I kind of miss baking.”

Alexei wondered with excitement, ”You bake?”

”Yeah, like cupcakes and cookies. My mom and I would always bake on the weekends and give them out at church.”

Adrik was glad the sunglasses hid his face. She was too much in her good ways; he almost couldn”t stand it. But it made him wonder. No one was perfect, so what were her flaws? Why did it intrigue him so much to find out?

Adrik cut in, ”Religion is for the weak-minded. A way to control the masses.”

Jolie shrugged. ”It works. And it gives people confidence, security, and hope. What a terrible thing.”

Alexei snickered, but the glare from his brother snapped him shut, and he coughed.

”Is this what you guys do on your days off? Bask in the sun and enjoy beautiful women?”

Alexei quickly sputtered. ”Oh, no, no, I”m not for”—he waved a hand—”all that. Adrik”s more…” He glanced toward him, and Adrik waited for what he was ”more” of. Alexei finished with, ”For that.”

Jolie giggled. ”Okay.”

Adrik wanted to change the subject and asked what he’d been dying to know. ”What did you and my father talk about?”

The happiness on her face drifted, and she turned away, avoiding his gaze. His fist tightened at his side. He avoided Jolie all this past week. He knew if he found out Yakov threatened her, he”d do something stupid.

Alexei cut in. ”Don”t mind Papa, okay? He”s a bit”—he paused and thought of a word—”um, paranoid?”

”And a hunter, apparently,” Jolie nipped.

Alexei sneered. ”Yeah, I never enjoyed hunting. Animals are so much better than people.”

”I know, right! My cats are my best friends, literally.”

Alexei chuckled, and Adrik could tell he was enjoying her in the same way that he was, but Alexei was much more obvious about it. There would be no doubt that if things kept going in this direction, Jolie was gonna fall for his brother. They were clearly a better fit.

Am I jealous?

Adrik stood, gaining her swift attention. He didn”t need to look at her to know her eyes were on him. He worked out two hours a day to have a body like this and used it now. He stretched unnecessarily. ”I”m going in.”

Adrik jumped in the pool to clear his head. He didn”t fight for girls. Girls fought for him. That was the way the world worked. Alexei had a lot more practice fighting for girls because they were always choosing Adrik. Even though they looked similar, Alexei didn”t project sex appeal as well as Adrik did. He was less confident, more in the background, fearful to look a woman in the eye.

Adrik swam to the pool”s edge, putting his arms up as he looked at the two of them talking. He didn”t know how to interrupt without it seeming obvious, but he wanted her to look at him.

And then she did, with no incentive. Her eyes slipped over to him for just a fraction of a moment, and though it could have meant nothing, he didn”t believe it did.

His confidence was restored, and Adrik threw himself on his back and stared at the sky with smug satisfaction.

”We own an animal shelter,” Alexei told her.

Jolie couldn”t stop her gaze from going over to Adrik. With every move of his muscles, it was like artwork. The water glittered around, reflecting off his smooth, hairless skin like a snake slithering in the water. He was beautiful, and it was hard not to watch or feel something in the middle of her belly. ”That”s awesome,” she replied, focusing on Alexei. He was way better at conversation than Adrik was, and he didn”t make her nervous.

But Alexei was not a friend. Every word out of his mouth was fake. Mally said he talked about killing her, and from there, any bridge they could have built or any friendship that could have formed was impossible. Despite Adrik being a womanizer, he hadn”t threatened to harm her.

Just forced me to live with him so he wouldn’t kill anyone,Jolie reminded herself.

”Who were all those people?”

”Workers,” Alexei quickly answered. ”Some family.”

”Do you have a lot of family?”

”Oh, yeah, we”re pretty big. You still haven”t met our sisters. They live in Russia with all my nieces and nephews. My father”s parents had nine kids, and my mother”s parents had ten. From there, everyone had six, seven. So, I have over a hundred cousins.”

”Oh, God. Christmas must suck. I don”t have any family. I was an only child, and my parents” parents are dead. My father had a brother, but he died. My mother”s brother lives in Texas. I”ve never met him.”

Alexei pitied her. ”That sounds lonely.” He looked over his shoulder at his brother. ”I couldn”t be without my family. Especially my brother.”

Jolie melted under those words. Nothing was more adorable than sibling adoration. ”You”re not married? No kids?”

”No, no. I”m…” Alexei stifled his words. He wasn”t about to say he was waiting for the perfect woman, because that sounded too much like a line, despite it being true. Unlike Adrik, he was allowed to marry any person he wanted. As long as they were Russian. Alexei shifted uncomfortably, and said, ”I”m selective. What about you?”

Jolie took a breath, sighing out, ”No. I can”t seem to find someone worth my time.”

Alexei cackled, ”Yeah, I get that, too.”

”Hey.” Adrik broke in from the side of the pool. He had his phone in his hand. ”Did you start up distribution for the Toxins?”

”Yeah.”

”Why?”

”Because it was causing problems.” Alexei glanced at Jolie before switching to Russian, ”There were three murders this past week.”

Adrik dropped his phone, glaring at Alexei. ”You should have fucking talked to me. I talked to you about doing shit without me.”

”I”m not gonna come to you with every little problem. I can handle shit on my own.”

”That”s the problem, Alexei; you can”t handle shit, because you aren”t in charge. You talk to me or Papa. They fucked us, and I don”t want to deal with them anymore.”

Alexei got up, approaching. ”What did they do?”

”They pissed me off.”

Alexei threw a hand in the air. ”You”d destroy our family if someone pissed you off. You got to grow the fuck up.”

”You piss me off.”

”Yeah, same.”

Jolie stood, hoping to stop their argument, ”You guys okay?”

Alexei shook his head, stomping away into the house, leaving Jolie bewildered.

She looked down at Adrik and accused, ”What did you say?”

Adrik lifted himself out of the pool, and her question was instantly forgotten. Water dripped around him as he stood. The sun shined like a spotlight, his skin sparkling like a marble statue. Jolie couldn”t close her mouth as he approached, his blue eyes on her, pinning her where she stood. This last week, she was desperate to lay eyes on him but was too paranoid to go to breakfast. The pen was starting to feel like a hot poker in her pocket, a constant reminder that she was playing a dangerous game.

When Adrik leaned in, her heart pounded in her throat. She could scarcely breathe, watching with parted lips, noticing how the closer he got, the more she leaned in.

Adrik snatched the towel off his chair and swung it around his shoulders with a grin. ”You okay?”

The tease broke her, and Jolie forced out sarcasm. ”You are a bigger ass than I can handle.”

”That”s probably true.” He rubbed his face dry, running the towel through his hair and spraying her with water.

She flinched with aggravation, ”Would you stop?”

Wrapping the towel around his waist, he asked casually, ”What did my father say to you?”

Jolie bowed her head, afraid he’d see the fear in her eyes. His father was way more frightening than any of them. Adrik knew it, or he wouldn”t be so concerned. She didn”t want to cause a problem, so she answered with a light response, ”To not leave the house without someone. I specifically remember asking if I was a prisoner here.”

”You are not a prisoner, but you need an escort.”

”Yeah, thanks for the email, even if it is a few days late.”

”I aim to please.”

”I doubt that.” Jolie went to step around him, but his hand rested on her wrist, stalling her. She stared down at it, at his fingers. There were so many tattoos she didn”t know where one began and another started. She wanted to know what each one of them meant. Why had he suffered such pain for them?

His fingers drifted up her arm, shifting the sleeve teasingly before he dropped his hand. Her bruises were still heavily visible. ”Did he threaten you?” Adrik turned his attention to the water so she couldn”t see the aggravation on his face. What made it worse was the fact the Toxins weren’t admitting to anything.

Jolie shrugged, ”Not badly.”

He nodded, clenching his teeth.

Jolie”s stomach was in knots. His touch caused a shiver up her spine that she didn”t want to confront. His father”s threat came to her then. It was another sign that whatever was forming between them wouldn”t ever be more than a dream. ”You shouldn”t be talking to me,” she whispered. ”Your father wouldn”t like it.”

He knew she was right. There was no telling who was watching. But he never liked being told what he could and could not do. The temptation to touch her was right under his fingertips. If he was daring enough.

Adrik reluctantly stepped back. ”Get a suit. I have much to teach you.” He backed up and waited for the blush to cross her cheeks before turning away.