Page 48 of The Dark Side

Adrik huffed a barely there snicker. Alexei suppressed his smile, relieved he got Adrik off the edge. It wasn't always easy. Alexei approached, with his hand up before resting it on his brother's shoulder,"What did he say?"

When no answer came, Alexei nodded, understanding the silence. Their father required sacrifices, and it never mattered what it was. It still took a toll.

If Adrik ever asked him, Alexei would kill Yakov in an instant. He had no love for that psycho of a man. And though it would be against their code, and he'd be cast out, he'd do it for his brother.

But until then, he pretended to be a good son.

"Papa knows what he's doing. You got to trust in it,"Alexei said with bitterness, words that had been forced down his throat.

Adrik stepped out of his brother's hold."You don't believe that."

Alexei kept his eyes on him, searching for any sign that Adrik wanted what he couldn't say, but Alexei wasn't sure and wouldn't risk being wrong. Adrik loved their father still. He couldn't lose Adrik because of their differences."About this girl."

Adrik rolled his eyes."She stays."

Alexei rushed after him, grabbing his arm and pulling him to the side."And she is just a tutor?"he asked.

Adrik slapped him on the arm, the casted one—"Yep"—and smiled as his brother winced.

"Then, I could ask her out?"

Adrik snapped back around, brows knitted.

Alexei shrugged and explained,"She's got nice tits."It was an off-the-cuff comment, unwilling to admit he was attracted to such an odd woman.

"She's not really your type."

Alexei tilted his head as he thought of all the women he'd dated. They were primarily oddballs, some of them downright ugly, but a sense of humor usually got him."She kind of is,"he corrected."You remember Melissa?"

Adrik looked down at their feet in memory. Alexei was a late bloomer. He didn't get his first girlfriend till tenth grade, three years after Adrik. And even then, he didn't lose his virginity until senior year, which Adrik made sure to make fun of him for every chance he got. And the girl he finally gave his cherry to was Melissa. She was an anime-lover with pink hair. She carried a Naruto backpack and dressed as the female character with pink hair for fun.

It was the first and last time his brother had been in love.

"How could I forget?"Adrik stepped back, crossing his arms, trying to figure a way out of this mess. He couldn't date Jolie, but he sure as hell didn't want his brother to. So, how did he make her unavailable?"I hear she's a lesbian."

Alexei blinked."You think?"

"Yeah. Yeah. That's what I heard, anyway. I could be wrong."

"I don't know. I flexed earlier, and she liked it."

Adrik cackled to hide the jealousy inside. If Jolie liked Adrik, there was no certainty she wouldn't want his brother. They looked alike enough despite their personalities differing on many points. Alexei might even be a better match for her than he was.

"Alright,"Alexei conceded."That sucks."

Adrik slapped him on the shoulder,"Sorry, brother."

Adrik turned away, and his smile fell as he moved through the house to find Jolie. What if she realized he was off-limits and directed her attention to his more available brother? He'd hate them both for it, and it wouldn't even be their fault. He needed to ensure she knew her purpose here: to teach his daughter. Nothing else. She stayed without a boyfriend for the past few years, so she could go a little longer.

Adrik could hear his daughter's giggles from down the hall, and it eased his upset. The anger dripped out of him like candle wax. He stopped in the doorway, watching Helina run about the room, with a princess costume on, as Jolie sat in the center, trying to get her to stop. But with zero communication, Helina ignored her.

Adrik hissed, and Helina stumbled when she noticed him. She stood still, putting her head down.

Jolie smiled with relief. "Ah, thank you. I think she thinks I'm here to play."

In Russian, Adrik explained what Jolie was doing here, and when she found out she was learning English, she jumped in Jolie's arms. Jolie held her, kissing her forehead. "Let's learn."

Adrik was about to speak to her when Katia suddenly came up behind him from the hallway, touching his arm. He moved out of her way, with disgust on the curve of his lip. He couldn't stop himself from chastising her."Your outburst at breakfast was petty."