Page 65 of The Dark Side

Chapter twenty-four

Bowling

Ittookanhourfor the driver to bring Jolie wherever Adrik decided for their 'non’-date. She thought for a moment she was actually going to see her parents until they passed the 1-4 interstate and kept heading north. She'd never been up toward Ocala. There were plenty of empty landscapes and cows. It was a different kind of pretty. If she ever had the ability to travel, she'd go north. She always wanted to see mountains and snow.

They pulled into a nearly empty parking lot with only one car, and Adrik leaned against his black Lexus. He looked incredibly sexy, wearing black shoes, light jeans, and a dark shirt. The shirt was tight around his chest and arms, amplifying the muscles. He pushed off the car and approached her door. She took a deep breath to calm her shaking.

Adrik held out his tattooed hand, and she took it. His grip was firm, and it caused sensations down her spine. "I'm surprised," he murmured as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. "You know how to dress sexy."

Her knees wobbled. She swallowed before she replied. "I have many skills," she quipped.

He led her to his car, and replied, "I hope bowling is one."

"Bowling?"

"I like to bowl."

Jolie sat in his car on his leather seat. The interior was personalized with a dark blue. The car smelled like him, his cologne filling every nook. She wanted to drown in it.

Adrik sat beside her, starting the car. The engine vibrated like a purring tiger. He was clearly proud of his car, watching her expression as he revved the engine. She knew she had to compliment it. "Pretty car."

"Pretty? No. Fucking gorgeous."

Jolie shifted, clenching her thighs tighter. She didn't know what about him made her so turned on. Every word out of his mouth could ignite dirty thoughts. She never had this problem before. It was almost unfair how much he clouded her rational thoughts. She could forget the real reason she was here. She could forget how he's a murderer. She could forget that he's supposed to be evil.

But it wasn't right.

He's not a good man. No matter how he treats me. He kills for a living.

Jolie reached into her purse and clicked the pen. It made her nauseous. She didn't want to do it, but her conscience told her she had to. "You've been pretty busy the last couple of weeks. What do you do?"

Adrik shrugged. "Boring shit."

Adrik didn't know how to talk about his work without lying. And one thing he was realizing was that he didn't want to lie to her. He wanted to have someone to talk to without a wall up constantly. And as stupid as it sounded, he found himself trusting her.

Adrik looked at his hand on the steering wheel, once more searching for any sign of blood. He had come from the warehouse at the dock. The man who attacked Jolie had been left in handcuffs for over twenty-four hours. He had been lying in his own shit and piss. He was shivering and desperate, terribly dehydrated and hungry. At first, Adrik thought he had enough torture, but then the man spoke. Talking about Jolie, how she screamed and trembled. He made shit up, talking about fucking her and enjoying it.

The monster in Adrik, the one he tried so hard to conceal, seeped out of him. He had not been kind or gentle. He took the man's hand and broke all five of his fingers one by one, enjoying every cry from his broken lips.

Torture wasn't necessary, but Adrik enjoyed it like a hobby. He had gotten good over the years, learning how to extract the most pain. He found it humorous how some of the smallest actions can cause the biggest cries, like pulling fingernails or flaying skin. The speed at which it's done causes the best reactions; slow and steady were the common denominators.

And by the time he was done, there was only blood and broken bones. It wasn't until the end, till the man was already dead, that Adrik forgot to ask him why the Toxins had targeted Jolie.

Gil took him to a getaway house to shower and find clothes. He had barely managed to meet Jolie in time.

Now, guilt was burying him. He couldn't be honest with her about what he did. She would never talk to him again.

"You're always gone."

"Yes. I own a few dozen businesses. I make my rounds throughout the month. I've been trying to update, but my father believes the old ways are best. Even though I made us more money." Finances was one of the things he didn't mind talking about, and he was eager to share with her the problems he was facing. It was something she would understand better anyway.

"Then, show him that."

"He doesn't listen."

Jolie frowned. "That must be frustrating."

"Very. He never listens. It's why my brother and my father do not get along. I've learned to deal with it. My father won't be around forever. I just have to wait."