Chapter 17 – Emika
Like a drug, I was starting to get addicted to Adrik’s touch. His kisses and even the way he looked at me always ignited a flame within me. It was clear to me now that resisting him was next to impossible.
I didn’t want to anyway.
Why would I resist the man who’d made a woman out of me? Why would I deny myself the pleasure of his hands and his magical tongue?
No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t get him out of my mind because he was a welcome distraction. At this point, I was already dealing with a lot, and these memories were the only things keeping me sane.
My grandfather had put me in a really tight spot, making it difficult for me to choose a side. I just recently realized that he already had his own way of getting the information he needed about the Tarasov business.
Why did he need me, then? Why recruit me into this dangerous scheme?
Now, Adrik was starting to suspect me—he could sense that I was hiding something. That night in the library, if he’d pushed a bit harder, I might’ve confessed out of fear.
I could still recall the frown on his face when he’d walked in on me staring blankly into space. The fire in his eyes was hot enough to roast me alive. His glare was so intimidating that I almost peed myself.
That night, I thought he’d found out about my conversation with Richard Beaumont. I thought he was going to strangle me to death with his bare hands. It was something he was capable of.
Men like him didn’t take betrayal lightly, and in this world, the punishment for that was death. I hadn’t been so afraid since the day those Italians ambushed my convoy.
It took everything in me to stand in his presence without stuttering and sweating profusely. It was the only way I could make him believe that I had no idea what my grandfather was planning.
I couldn’t even imagine what would’ve happened that night if he’d found out the truth. It was a good thing the situation de-escalated as quickly as it had. It would’ve been a different story if not.
How long was I going to keep lying to him?
Well, in my defense, I hadn’t divulged any information at all to Richard Beaumont. But would that even count on the day of reckoning? Because that day would come. It was just a matter of time.
From what I’d gathered, it appeared Adrik had captured my grandfather’s errand boy. The man was being holed up somewhere no one would find him. Knowing how this game worked, he was probably being tortured by Adrik’s men every day.
Adrik would want some answers, and by answers, I mean names. He’d need the names of those tied to this operation, directly or indirectly.
Honestly, that scared the shit out of me.
I wasn’t sure who else was aware that Richard had recruited me into his team. Did the errand boy know about my indirect involvement in the case? Would he give me up as one of Richard Beaumont’s moles?
I had no idea what to do or what to expect from this whole messed-up situation. The only thing strong enough to help ease my stress was my intimate relationship with Adrik.
These memories and the way they made me feel were the only reason I hadn’t lost my mind yet.
Now that Adrik was aware of Richard’s interest in his family business, it was only a matter of time before all hell broke loose. It would be a nightmare the day those two monsters went to war.
And the crazy part was that I’d be the one stuck in the middle. I’d be the most affected because both sides would demand my fierce loyalty. Richard Beaumont would claim that I was his flesh and blood, and so, I must choose family first.
Adrik Tarasov, on the other hand, might not necessarily force me to choose him. But he was my husband, and in the eyes of the law, he was now my immediate family. As his wife, I should take my husband’s side.
This was going to be a tough decision for me.
Although both men were monsters, and I was supposed to pick my poison, one was still a lesser evil. At least Adrik cared about me in his own dark, twisted way. My so-called grandfather only cared about himself and the money in his bank account.
These thoughts kept me up late at night, stealing chunks of what little joy I’d managed to find in this place.
The next day, while I was working in Adrik’s office, the door opened, and a tall man in a tailored suit walked in. His presence commanded attention, his cologne filling the air.
Even though this was my first time seeing him, I knew deep down that he had the Tarasov blood running through his veins. There was just something about the Tarasov men that set them apart from the regular folks.
The stench of wealth and power!
This man was at least six feet tall, with ash-brown hair and a chiseled jaw that accentuated his ruggedness. His blue eyes were cold and almost lifeless, his expression dark and unreadable.
He had a faint scar that cut along his cheekbone, adding to the air of danger that clung to him.
Adrik reclined in his chair and said something to this newcomer in Russian. The man’s expression softened ever so slightly, and he responded in the same language.
I didn’t understand Russian, but I always recognized sibling banter when I saw it. Even after the visitor settled into the chair in front of Adrik’s desk, the two kept going back and forth about God-knows-what.
I faced my work, eyes fixed on my lit screen, pretending not to notice them. Until the visitor spoke to me.
“Hello, Emika,” he greeted me politely.
I looked in their direction and replied with the same courtesy. “Hello.”
“Do you know who I am?” he asked, not in a proud manner, but a curious one.
My gaze flicked toward Adrik, but his expression remained as blank as always. I shook my head. “No, I do not.”
“Shame,” he muttered to himself. “The name’s Artur. Artur Tarasov.”
I knew it.
“Your husband is my brother.”
“Older brother,” Adrik chipped in.
My lips curled into a smile. “Nice meeting you…in-law.”
“Pleasure’s all mine.” He returned his gaze to his brother, and the two continued their discussion.
Most of the time, they spoke in Russian, throwing in a little English every now and then. I could barely piece together what they were talking about. But from the English fragments I heard, I figured it had to do with a new shipment and some kind of alliance.
This was the exact kind of information that Richard wanted me to report back to him. However, I didn’t think I had it in me to play that role. In fact, the mere thought of being his spy made my stomach twist.
It was a good thing that the two brothers spoke mostly Russian. At least that way I’d have an excuse. Language barrier.
Even if they spoke English and I heard everything they said, I didn’t think I’d report back to Richard. It just didn’t seem right to me at all.
At that moment, I decided that I would rather keep my mouth shut. At least for now. Until I was sure what to do.