Page 35 of The Dark Side

But what was the reward?

Being around a woman I cannot have.

It was stupid and childish, and yet it hadn't stopped him.

He had gotten what he wanted.

As he always did.

Adrik picked at his lips to hide his smile.

Chapter thirteen

New Life

Joliedidn'tpackwhenshe got home. She curled into her bed and cried herself to sleep.

Her life had been stolen from her. This stranger, Adrik, was coming in and destroying everything she worked for. She felt angry at him for making her choose. How could he take away her control so smoothly?

Jolie tried to look on the bright side. She was going to help bring down the Mafia. But that kind of evil was bigger than her. She could help the world little by little with recycling, planting trees, and joining a community service at the local church. These were conceivable actions she loved to participate in.

But taking on the Mafia?

If she had never saved Helina, she would have been left alone, struggling with PTSD like any normal person. And yet here she was, about to lose her whole life.

Jolie wanted to call her mother, but she knew what she would say. Her mom would tell her to go to the police and return home. But Jolie knew, deep down, there was nowhere to go.

He'd find me.

Jolie remembered how easy it was for him to find her house, to know all about her. He had power she couldn't fathom.

A phone rang, forcing her awake. The noise hurt her sleep-deprived headache. She held up her own phone, which was currently off. Jolie sat up, searching, finding a small black flip phone under her pillow. She didn't even know they made flip phones anymore.

"Hello?" Her voice was groggy and terrible.

"Is there anyone there with you?" It was Agent Mally.

"How did you get a phone here?"

"When we were inspecting your place after the attack. Is there anyone there?"

She collapsed against the pillow, too tired to care. "No. A guy is outside the door."

"Turn some music on so he can't hear you."

She hadn't been able to find the remote for the past couple of days and glanced around lazily. She knitted her brows when it was plainly on the couch's armrest. There was no way it had been there this whole time. "Did you find my remote?"

Jolie attempted to get up, but there was too much pain, and she decided against it, putting a pillow on her face. "He can't hear."

"After we finish this phone call, throw the phone in the trash. Bury it and then take the trash to the dumpster. Don't wait."

Jolie wanted to suffocate herself. Was this the kind of life she was going to have now?

"I was going over the recording last night. There isn't anything we can use."

That depressed her. She had wasted so much energy and nerves, and they had gotten nothing. "I can't do it again," Jolie admitted breathlessly.

"You got into the ’lion’s den, Jolie," Mally celebrated. "This is our chance."