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

34. Dinner Party

The dinner was as extravagant as Jolie thought it would be. It was on a rooftop, with a twenty-person table, candles, and big centerpieces of roses and lilacs. The lighting and the ambiance set an elegant mood. There were couches by the edge of the glass railing and an electric fireplace in the center. A bar traced the edge, with twenty servers all standing, waiting to deliver. The menu had five items, and with no price, Jolie struggled with what to order. But as she was reminded by Alexei, it was all paid for by the Morozov family.

Sitting next to Alexei made the night a comedic adventure. With every question, he had a hilarious quip that got her several stares throughout the night. The first time she laughed out loud, she was so embarrassed she didn”t know what to do with herself, except try to bury her head behind a menu.

Now, she laughed full-heartedly without a care who she disrupted.

Alexei enjoyed every laugh he received. It encouraged him to keep going. He kept his laughter silent, usually taking a drink to suppress it, but he was actually having a good time for once.

One too many times, he caught Adrik”s gaze. Jealousy was an uncommon emotion in his brother, and Alexei was surprised at how much he liked seeing it. There had never been a moment in their lives that Adrik was jealous of him. It made him feel foolishly powerful. Which was dangerous, he knew.

Alexei slipped his gaze down the table. He was ten seats away from his father. The distance was purposeful, a way to tell Yakov he was far from forgiven. There was no going back. Alexei was done hoping things between them would eventually get better. Yakov had destroyed his pride, having beaten him like a pathetic little kid. He couldn”t risk being put in such a position again, not just for his sanity but for his brother. Adrik wouldn”t hold back next time. And Alexei wouldn”t stop him.

Yakov walked down the line, talking to family members. Alexei took his drink in his hand, clenching it when his father rested a hand on his shoulder. It was a gesture meant to be affectionate, but it made Alexei cringe. ”You enjoying yourself, Miss Bell?”

Jolie shifted slightly to look up at him, ”Yes, sir, thank you.”

”Yes.” He added, ”We”ve all noticed.”

Jolie stuttered as she stared at her plate. ”I”m-I”m sorry—

”No.” Alexei gained her attention. ”Don”t be.”

Yakov leaned into his son”s ear, and whispered in Russian, ”I thought I told you not to bring her.”

Alexei turned his head toward Adrik. His brother monitored their exchange, and Alexei raised a finger, a quiet, subtle gesture to tell Adrik he was alright. ”I thought I made it clear I don”t follow your rules.”

Yakov squeezed him harder and was about to respond when Tatianna came up behind him. ”Did you see who came? Agent Mally. Let us greet our longtime friend.”

His father”s hand drifted from his back, and Alexei watched them walk down the line, greeting the FBI agent with patronizing excitement. He stared at the back of his father”s head, imagining what it would be like to put a bullet through it.

”Are you okay?” Jolie questioned, a hand on his forearm. The touch pulled him, a pleasant distraction that he focused on. He was glad she didn”t know Russian.

”My father was raised in an old tradition where a woman is seen and not heard. I, however, was raised by my mother.” They change their direction to see Tatianna giggling at something Mally said. ”I know better.” Dutifully, Alexei added, ”And so does my brother.”

Jolie snapped her head back to the table. Mally was here. This woman was insane. Why would she come to a lion”s den? Did she have no fear? The tension that had faded over the last few days returned with a vengeance, and Jolie struggled to keep her fingers from shaking. Mally was more conniving than Jolie understood. How had she managed to come to a private, invitation-only dinner?

What if she tries to talk to me here? She”ll expose me.

Jolie had to tell Adrik before Mally did. She”d be able to get him to understand that she hadn”t wanted to do it, but she felt forced. It was never her intention to betray him.

Is that what I”m doing? Betraying him? But I haven”t given Mally anything.

Alexei stood, cutting into Jolie”s panic. ”Excuse me, princess, I”ve been summoned.” He motioned to Adrik, who was now standing with Gil and two other people.

”Oh, don”t leave me.” Jolie grabbed onto his hand. He had become her protector at this party, and she dreaded any moment without him.

Alexei chuckled, squeezing her fingers. ”You”re strong; you can handle it. As long as Katia doesn”t talk to you.” They both glanced toward her, and her consistent look of contempt was as constant as Adrik”s scowl of envy. ”Good luck,” Alexei winced, regretfully slipping out of her fingers.

The smile couldn”t stay off his lips even as he was accosted by cousins, hungry to know who the woman was and if he was really dating an American. The disgust and judgment they didn”t try to hide were noticeable in their glances and lip curls.

Alexei excused himself after answering a few questions, ignoring the insults about her state of dress and her less-than-perfect features, and joined his brothers in their circle.

Gil was the first to comment, ”Looks like you and the tutor are having a good night.”

Alexei held a drink, dodging Adrik”s gaze as he stared at the liquor, swooshing it around, and carelessly said, ”She”s fun.”

”Any sparks flying?”

Adrik interrupted, ”Enough.” He clenched the glass in his hand, watching his brother, waiting for his attention, but Alexei was distant. Perhaps he put too much faith in his brother”s loyalty. Alexei had feelings for Jolie; no amount of denial could erase the way his brother laughed.

But that wasn”t a conversation for this place. Adrik turned his attention to his cousin. ”How much are you willing to sell your stock for?”

Jolie left the table, unwilling to sit and meet the prying eyes of strangers. Alexei had introduced her to most of them, cousins and aunts and uncles, but it was apparent none of them approved of her. The word, americanum, was easy to figure out. Being American was a problem for all of them. Thankfully, most of the night was spoken in English, as the younger generation wasn”t as bilingual as they should be, so she was more aware of the festivities. The amount of love Yakov showed his wife was surprising. He gushed on her every chance he got, making a speech in her honor and showing her rare affection that she adored, leaning into him and smiling nonstop.

Jolie leaned against the bar, sipping her water while watching Mally leave the rooftop. The woman turned at the last minute and met her eyes, but Jolie quickly bowed her head as her heart raced.

What did Mally expect from her? She wasn”t made to be a spy. Jolie hadn”t brought the pen with her for multiple reasons, but none of those excuses sounded good enough for the agent. This place was probably a goldmine of information, but like every guest here, she had been searched before being allowed entry.

Jolie looked over her shoulder nonchalantly, finding Adrik. He was standing beside his brother, so anyone could think she was looking at Alexei. He wore a matching tux, and Alexei and Adrik were models on the runway side by side. Anyone passing would call them twins, but she could see their differences. Alexei viewed the world with humor, without stress or worry. But Adrik appeared with a dark cloud hanging over him. His gaze constantly scanned the crowd, eyeing people, trying to find their deception. She wondered what caused him to be so paranoid.

His blue eyes landed on her as he took a sip of his drink. Jolie quickly bowed her head to hide the flush on her cheeks and the shiver that rolled down her body. The power of his stare was overwhelming. To have a man like him desire her gave her a confidence she hadn”t possessed before. Jolie lifted her head to meet his gaze, but he turned away, focusing on Katia.

Jolie”s smile drifted.

Katia clung to his arm, looking at him with a mischievous smile. He leaned down and nuzzled her cheek, saying something into her ear that made her gush.

All the good feelings fled, and she turned her attention to the other brother as a distraction.

Alexei was talking to a woman, too. She was ridiculously close, the side of her fat breast touching his arm as if she didn”t know. The woman giggled and reached across to caress his bicep. Jolie knew the woman was entirely wrong for him. Without ever having a conversation about it, she already knew Alexei”s type. She was his type, and it was something she was trying not to bring awareness to.

Jolie knew what kind of man she attracted in high school and college. The loners, the nerds, the acne-covered, the quiet and distant. But she wasn”t attracted to them. She liked guys with confidence, like Vincent and Adrik. The fact that they weren”t all that different was obvious to Jolie. But she was different. She was no longer an innocent teenager. She could handle Adrik”s dark side in a way she could never have dealt with Vincent”s.

Alexei glanced over his shoulder at her when the woman touched him, but Jolie turned away. Whether she turned from him or Adrik, he didn”t know and didn”t care. He removed the woman”s hand from his arm and left the circle. Adrik was in a more challenging position. He couldn”t leave his wife, but Alexei had no such obligation. Jolie was his priority, and the world would know it.

Alexei leaned his elbows on the bar, his jacket touching Jolie”s arm. Perhaps it was slightly forward of him, but he had drunk plenty tonight and was happier than he had been in a long time, so pushing the limit to what he could and couldn”t do wasn”t as intimidating. She was his date; if he didn”t touch her at all, it would be noticed. Jolie smiled at him, but then her gaze went over her shoulder. He could see the devastation on her face, tearing his stomach apart. Alexei clenched his teeth, fighting the urge to chastise his brother for doing this to her. He ordered another drink before telling her, ”Don”t watch.”

Jolie shook her head and assured, ”I”m fine.”

”They are faking, you understand?”

”Yeah, that”s what Adrik says.”

”We may not be perfect, but we aren”t liars. It”s a pet peeve. We have tempers, and lies are a quick way to get on our bad side.”

A silly smile stretched on her face, ”You have a temper?”

He chuckled, sipping his drink, ”Most will say worse than my brother.”

”I don”t see it.”

Alexei shrugged, ”That”s because I don”t brood.” They glanced over their shoulders. Adrik was alone and looked tense, miserable, and ready for a fight. They chuckled, leaning into each other.

Jolie felt relaxed in Alexei”s company. It made her confident enough to ask, ”Do you know what happened to the man that attacked me?”

Alexei”s dark brows knitted. ”Someone attacked you? When? Who? What happened? Are you okay?”

She giggled as she watched every expression on his face. There was no way Alexei talked about killing her. There was too much care in his face. Jolie shrugged. ”I”m fine. It was a bit ago.” Alexei clenched the bar, his knuckles turning white. Jolie rested a hand on his arm. ”Adrik told me the police couldn”t find him. But a, um…a person I knew said he was killed. I”m just wondering what happened.”

Alexei didn”t need to know what happened to make the right assumption, but it was probably something Adrik didn”t want her to know. The panic receded, and Alexei took a small sip of his drink. Adrik would have taken care of it, but it aggravated him more than it should have because Alexei wanted to be the one to take care of it. To be the one to take care of her.

”Come on. Before another of Katia”s friends accosts me and my temper comes out.” Alexei threw back the rest of his whiskey and slapped the glass on the table harder than needed.

”Oh, and I was just starting to enjoy myself.” The sarcasm wasn”t lost, and he cackled, resting a hand on her lower back. It gave him a thrill he didn”t want to acknowledge.

They stepped inside the hotel and into the foyer of the elevator. Two guards were standing, and one pressed a button for them. Into his wrist, the soldier whispered to the guards in the garage to prepare their cars.

Adrik and Gil entered behind, and Alexei dropped his hand, feeling slightly ashamed. ”After party?” Gil suggested, leaning on his crutch.

”I”m done.” Alexei shook his head. ”My body hurts. I need a bath.”

”A bath…what a pussy. What you need is a Swedish massage.”

Adrik stood on the left of Jolie, staring at her through the steel of the elevator doors. She met his gaze shyly, fighting a grin. She looked beautiful tonight, and he fought himself from approaching her the entire time. A spotlight followed Jolie, a beacon that he couldn”t ignore. He struggled to stop himself more times than he wanted to admit. And every time his brother laid a hand on her, Adrik wanted to punch him in the face. This night left him bitter, but it wasn”t going to end that way.

Now, in an empty hallway, Adrik was finally allowed to give her his attention. And he was not going to hold back.

Gil slapped Adrik”s arm. ”What about it, bro?”

Adrik didn”t break from her and vaguely said, ”I have plans.”

Gil followed Adrik”s stern stare and realized what he was looking at. It pissed him off. He was losing the only brother who actually liked to party. ”No, you don”t.”

The doors opened, and with a hand on her back, Adrik pushed Jolie and turned to Gil and Alexei, ”Get the next one.”

”Don”t,” Alexei hissed, trying to stop the closing doors, but Adrik winked at him, a not-so-subtle ”fuck off.”

Gil growled and snapped his head to Alexei. ”He”s out of control.”

When the doors shut, Adrik held Jolie”s waist, guiding her back against the wall. She panted heavily in anticipation, and he watched every expression on her face. Adrik kissed her harshly, haphazardly, and she met every twist of his lips. Her hands gripped his shoulders, diving into his hair and holding him close. She broke from him, slightly pushing back. ”Adrik, anyone can come in.”

Adrik grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head with one hand. ”I don”t care.” This elevator was suited only to go all the way to the garage. No one could interrupt them. He kissed her neck and her naked collarbone. And then, what he thought about doing all night, he slipped her halter top down, releasing a breast into the air. His first sight of her nipple, and it was hard and ready for his mouth. She struggled, twisting, but it was all a show. She wanted it; there was no denying it. He licked her nipple once before taking her breast in his hand. It filled his palm like a water balloon, and his thumb rubbed over her hard nub.

”Stop,” she whispered half-heartedly, trying to free her hands with little effort.

Adrik nuzzled her neck, and groaned, ”I want you to have some ideas of what I”m gonna do to you.”

The doors opened, and Adrik shifted only slightly to hide her. ”It”s my guards,” he assured, but she still fought. He chuckled against her, squeezing her nipple with his thumb and forefinger. She gasped, pulling away while pushing into him. He adored her pathetic attempt at modesty, watching her face and all the desire that poured into it. ”You fight, and yet you want it.”

”Someone can see.”

”No one can see,” he said, leaning in, kissing her, his tongue finding hers, just as needy.

”Sir,” a guard called from outside the elevator.

Adrik hated it. There was never enough time with her. He eased back, letting her go, and she quickly put her breast back in. He grinned, watching as she tried to fix her appearance, but she looked wrecked after one minute alone with him. He couldn”t imagine an entire night. ”I”m coming to your room tonight.” He turned to leave.

”No.”

His brows knitted, and he turned back to her. ”No?” Adrik quickly approached, backing her up till she hit the wall. He gripped her thighs, lifting her up, and forced them around his waist as he pressed hard into her, forcing her to feel all he had to give her. ”I”ve told you before—no one says no to me.”

She struggled to speak, a wave of hunger caught in her throat. She had never been manhandled with such perfection. His lips teased her, and she closed her eyes, the nip on her skin sending shockwaves of desire through her. ”I want to wait,” she admitted, and even as the words came out of her mouth, she hated herself for it.

”Wait?” He ran his nose down her jaw and then stared at the top of her breasts as they heaved for air. ”I”ve waited enough.”

”Two weeks—”

”A month. I”ve wanted you from the first night I met you.”

The confession filled her heart with warmth, and she kissed him crazily, digging her tongue into his mouth as if she could be inside him. With a dangerous growl, he thrusted against her hard before he yanked from her, dropping her to her feet clumsily.

He panted harshly and stepped back. ”One week,” he bargained.

”Three.” Jolie adjusted her dress, keeping her back against the wall. Her legs were Jello, and she didn”t trust herself to walk.

”Two,” Adrik bit. ”What is the point of this, exactly? Except to drive me insane?”

”I”m not gonna just get into bed with you. I was taught to wait till marriage.”

Adrik sneered. ”I thought you were a feminist. That rule only existed to keep women virgins because they were worth more pure.”

”Sir—”

”Quiet! I know,” Adrik spat, taking a step out of the elevator only to turn back to her. ”Two weeks? That is what you want?”

”And three dates.”

Adrik nodded once, spinning on his foot. The car was waiting for him, and he dived in. The guard shut his door. ”Wait,” he said to the driver. He watched Jolie, a hand on the wall as she steadied herself. He smirked, admiring the destruction he had caused. She slowly made it to her car, and as soon as she was in, he ordered the driver to go.

Adrik sat back. He didn”t care about the dates, but this was his strangest arrangement. No woman had denied him in such a way. He”d make these two weeks the worst of her life. Being horny for twenty-four hours was a painful way to live, and she was about to find out.