Page 22 of The Dark Side

Jolie reached for the phone, putting it on speaker as she dropped her head on the table. "Hi, Mom."

"Don't 'hi, Mom' me. Why haven't you answered the phone?"

"I was busy."

"With what?"

"Classwork."

"You couldn't answer the phone and ease my panic because you were doing classwork?"

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?"

"Oh, my God, Mom! I'm a grown adult. If I don't want to answer, I don't have to."

There was a pause, and then—"Where's this attitude coming from?"

Jolie groaned.

Chapter nine

Marriage

AdrikparkedhisblackLexus next to the line of cars in the garage under his house. Fifteen vehicles parked in the marble-floor showroom, all exotic and of vibrant colors. His collection was one of the things he was proud of.

Adrik waved goodnight to his bodyguards and took the elevator to the fourth floor of his estate. The mansion overlooked Tampa Bay Harbor, and though most of the house was made of windows, they were bulletproof, and one-sided, so no one could spy on him. Adrik passed his wife's room contemptuously, wondering if she'd pop out to argue or curse him. He didn't want to deal with her tonight, so thankfully, he got by without a problem.

Adrik stopped by his daughter's room, peeking his head in. It was pink thrown-up everywhere, with a Barbie Dream House in the corner, a princess castle against the left wall, a canopy over her massive queen bed, and stuffed animals to keep her from falling off the mattress. She slept peacefully, and it eased his stress.

Adrik went to his room down the hall. He kept his distance from his daughter by choice. He hoped anyone trying to assassinate him wouldn't mistake his room for anyone else’s.

Adrik stepped into his room and locked the door behind him. It was a habit he had started when he was younger. Five years ago, someone broke in and nearly managed to kill him. There was a scar on his back where the bullet hit. His father had been the one to stop the intruder. He blew his head off right in front of Adrik with his shotgun. It was a night that stayed with him.

To his disappointment, his wife, Katia, sat on his bed. Adrik ignored her as he removed his sweater and stood before his dresser. He unclasped his Rolex and placed it carefully back in its container. Then he pulled his gun from the back holster and laid it beside a wad of money and his wallet.

"Where have you been?" she asked.

Adrik took out pajama pants and slammed the drawer shut before he went to the bathroom, slamming that one as well. He flicked the shower on to warm it up, then rested his hands on the sink.

Katia was like a honey badger. She was sweet when she wanted something, and if she didn't get it, she became a fucking psychopath.

Adrik had only two regrets, and one of them was marrying Katia. Like any young teenager, there were expectations of what a wife would be like. He thought his mother was a prime example of a perfect partner. She was supportive, encouraging, sweet, and challenging. His father would compliment her constantly on being such a wonderful wife. So stupidly, Adrik believed all wives would be as easy.

Plus, it would be pussy he didn't have to work for.

What was the bad side of marriage?

I was such a dumbass,Adrik cursed at himself before he jumped into the shower.

Katia was from a wealthy military family in Russia. But like his father, her father, Boris, had to leave Russia when things got too hot with law enforcement. By the time Yakov came to Tampa, Boris was already set up nicely with the harbor. To form a positive partnership, they married their children together to keep it. Adrik and Katia had only met twice before they were forced to wed. She tried hard to avoid it. And so had he. But when push came to shove, neither could disobey their parents.

Their wedding night had been horrible. It hadn't been his first time with a girl, but it had been the first time he screwed someone while they were crying. And maybe that put a damper on things between them. But he knew, like she did, that they had to have a child as soon as possible. It was expected.

Days turned to weeks. Every month when she failed to get pregnant was another horrible moment between them. She learned to shut off. And he learned to get the deed done as fast as possible.

Over time, a friendship grew between them, and the sex got better. Adrik even started to feel something for her. He had been so happy when he learned she was pregnant. He recalled how he had lifted her off her feet and kissed her with vigor: joyful, proud, and in love.