Page 3 of The Dark Side

Helina mumbled something off Jolie's shoulder, and instantly, the giant 200-pound killer replied with soothing Russian words that rolled off his tongue with a gentleness Jolie didn't think he could possess. It unnerved her.

She plugged the key into her back door and led them into the house. "Stay on the tile, and don't bleed on anything."

The apartment was barely a livable space. Being in the city was costly, and with a teacher's salary, she was lucky to get this. It was a loft, with her bed behind a screen in the corner, a couch, a bookshelf, and a kitchen. The bathroom was the only thing separate.

The kitchen was an eight-by-eight square, with a tiny two-person table pressed against the wall. The only reason she splurged on this apartment building was for the cute balcony. It was the perfect atmosphere for reading. No one used the fire escape.

Meows greeted them, and two cats jumped up on the kitchen table. "Get down," Jolie hissed, moving to the couch. She tapped on the little girl's shoulder, and with hesitancy, Helina plopped on the sofa, but when she spotted the cats, Helina squealed and jumped up to chase them. They darted to the bed, squeezing under it, and Helina followed suit, calling them sweetly in a foreign language.

Alexei rested Gil in a chair before turning and reaching for paper towels, just as Jolie had her hand on it. She leaned back. He towered over her by five inches, and his oversized chest was intimidating. Being in a suit didn't hide his muscle. Instead, it made it much more apparent. Her cheeks burned with the uncomfortable thought. "Sit down," she ordered to get him out of her way. She grabbed the roll of paper towels when he stepped back. "Shouldn't you guys go to the hospital?"

Blood was dripping like a leaky faucet, and though Gil's leg was propped on the second chair, there was already a puddle forming. He reached for the roll of paper towels, but Jolie ripped some off and put it on the floor.

Alexei snatched the roll from her hand. "Just stay out of it. For your safety." He began to wrap it around Gil's leg, but the pain in his arm stopped him.

Jolie scoffed. "My safety?" Jolie grabbed the paper towels back. "I was out of it till there was a gunfight while I was shopping." She wrapped it around Gil's leg several times, but he needed something more substantial.

Gil rolled his head back, panting, "I need the Doc. Call them again. Tell them where we're at. I'm not feeling good."

As Alexei took out his phone, it rang. "It's Adrik."

"Shit."

Alexei held out the phone to Gil. "You talk to him."

"He's your brother. You talk to him."

Alexei scoffed. "He's your brother, too."

"He likes you better," Gil pointed out.

"That's why I'm not talking to him."

Jolie held out her hand. "Give me the phone."

They looked at her. Then they looked at each other. The phone continued to ring. Gil shrugged, and Alexei handed her the phone.

"Hello?"

A man sounded off on the other end with, "What…Who the hell are you? Where's Alexei?"

"He's apparently afraid of you."

Alexei scoffed, shaking his head, but Gil nodded with a smile.

"You know what? I don't care. Where's my daughter?"

Jolie glanced around the room. "Talking to my cats."

"And where is that?"

"In my apartment."

"Girl, if you don't start giving me some fucking answers—"

"My name is Jolie, not'girl.'"

"Are you threatening my kid?"