Page 27 of The Dark Side

Adrik hated how she threw his words back in his face. "I can't, actually," he revealed. "My family has strict rules. Think of it as an interview."

Jolie folded her arms, putting space between them, metal walls for encouragement. She didn't understand him. If he needed a tutor that bad, he could always hire one from some website. Why send mixed signals?

Maybe it's all in my head. Perhaps I'm hoping for more. He's so attractive, and I'm ridiculously desperate that I'm reading into things. Because he's right. He wouldn't waste his time with someone like me.

"I'm being serious when I ask you to tutor my daughter."

Aggravated with herself, she pointed out, "There are tutors everywhere. Why me?"

"Because you put her life first instead of your own. I can't pay enough money for someone like that. You don't even know her and already want the best for her. And so do I. That's why I want you." The way the sentence ended was too much truth. "To teach her," he added.

The guards ran up to them, panting and out of breath. They had taken the stairs down the forty-floor building, and neither were in suitable shape. "Sir," Dima huffed. "Can we take this inside?"

Adrik wouldn't be distracted. "I want to invite you to dinner."

"I'm busy," Jolie shot back.

Adrik cackled. "No, you're not." He held out his hand, and Dima slipped a business card into his hand. He held it out to her. "Get to know me. Ask me what you want. Maybe I can convince you."

Jolie felt defeated. If he wasn't after her sexually, where was the harm in getting to know him? And maybe, if she had the audacity, she could help Mally take down this mafia king. Wouldn't that be an excellent service to all the children he eventually ensnared? She took the card with reluctance. "What's this?"

"Call it, and they'll give you instructions."

"For what?"

Adrik backed away, disregarding her question. "Work out your ass. It needs more shape."

Jolie scoffed, embarrassment creeping on her face. When he entered the building, she turned to look and only ended up cursing. "Jerkface."

Chapter eleven

Push

JolietookoutherAirPods as she stepped into her apartment. She felt better working out, massaging all the tension in her shoulders. For an hour, she forgot about the shootout, the blood on her floor, and the police station. It felt so unreal that it all happened to her. She reverted to the eighteen-year-old girl who felt lost and scared when she saw her boyfriend rob a bank. Everything about him transformed, and she no longer knew who he was. She had been in denial for most of it until she showed up at the police station, with a statement clenched in her hand.

But I'm not eighteen. And I'm not naive.

Maybe she was a little, but not enough to go on a date with Adrik without backup. She'd have to tell her mother. Not the whole truth, but some of it, so if something did go wrong, she'd have help.

Red flag: needing backup to go on a date.

"Ming! Tae-Tae!" she called out, surprised they weren't mewing at her feet.

The floor creaked just behind her, and Jolie spun around as a man covered in black made a grab for her. She jumped back, slamming into the fridge. She dived for her panda cookie jar, swinging it as he touched her arm. She smashed it into his head. He fell back, holding his face.

Every action from there was purely instinctual.

Jolie snatched the pen off the table and ran, diving into the bathroom, slamming the door, and locking it. She clicked the pen, screaming incoherently into it, but some form of 'help' or 'hurry' got out of her panic.

She flipped her head about madly, trying to find anything to help her. There was no exit in this box. The small window wasn't big enough for her to squeeze through. Jolie flung her gaze around, searching for weapons. There were tweezers, a razor in the shower, a bunch of towels—

The assailant smashed his fists on the door, and it vibrated from the brutal force.

"Get the fuck out of my house!" The curse word felt like a jalapeño on her tongue, but she didn't regret it as she rummaged through the bottom of her sink. More toilet paper, candles, tampons, hairspray, and a lighter.

Relief poured over her, and she took up the hairspray and lighter.

Pieces of wood broke as the man began to break the door down.