Page 88 of The Dark Side

"But how long until your father finds out? I'm terrified of him. If we do this, he's going to find out, Adrik."

Adrik slipped his hand to her neck, holding her still as he rested his forehead against hers. He knew she was right. He'd have to tell his father at some point. But he was more concerned about whether Jolie wanted to be in his life. He wasn't about to start a battle if Jolie gave up at the first sign of trouble.

"And what about Katia?"

"What about her?" The words came out crisp. Jolie continued to add to their problems, pointing out the flaws. And it didn't help that she brought up the same things even after he reassured her they weren't a problem. "I've told you; Katia and I have nothing to do with each other."

Jolie's cheeks heated up. "I've seen you kiss."

"Yes, we perform. We pretend. But that is all."

She nodded, but it was clear she didn't quite understand. He didn't know what else to say, however.

Jolie touched his chest, fiddling with a frayed edge of his shirt. "And the girls on the stripper poles?"

Adrik chuckled. "I was waiting for you to say something." He nuzzled her cheek, a hand running through her hair. "They are a hazard to my lifestyle. Nothing I can do. However, if you are wondering if I will be faithful, I can only assure you that I am addicted to you. No one else will satisfy."

Jolie laid her head against his shoulder. His scent filled her, a sweet bourbon that created butterflies in her stomach. Her smile stretched, unhindered, and she bit her lip to stop herself from making noises in her throat. To know that a man like him was 'addicted' to someone like her was too much. She felt lost in the euphoria.

Adrik held her, unsure where this left them. There were so many things against them, but Adrik wasn't the kind to dwell on the negative. Having a mafia empire was one of the hardest businesses to own, and yet, he had succeeded. He had no doubts in himself about making this relationship work. But he did doubt if Jolie could handle it, but that was out of his hands.

"I have to go," he whispered, his lips right against her skin. She needed more time, and he had obligations to attend to before the dinner tonight. "Being apart from you is creating havoc in my head."

She giggled and nodded. "Me too."

"Oh, yeah?" He nudged her. "Tell me."

"I can't think."

"What else?"

"I look for you everywhere."

"What about at night? Do you dream of me?"

Jolie clenched her lips together as a wave of heat spread through her cheeks and down into her chest. "Yes," she admitted in a murmur.

His fingers clenched her hip, and he purposely pulled her hard against him and groaned, imagining Jolie fingering herself, with him in her mind. "You're gonna drive me crazy." Adrik shoved himself away, backstepping, and every inch placed between them was a knife in his gut.

Jolie stood, holding her arms around herself as his warmth was torn away. He walked away, only looking back once before he stepped around the trailer. She stayed against the tree, falling more for the mafia man with every second they were apart. But her happiness was being eaten away as her secret about the FBI filtered through it. Now, with her mother's acceptance, there should be nothing keeping her from diving headfirst into love, but a rope kept her tied to a wall, refusing to let her fall.

"How sweet," a voice from the bushes came.

Chapter thirty-three

The Past

Throughthebushes,Santiagostepped out."¿Cómo estás, JoJo?"

Jolie was frozen as she watched Vincent's cousin approach. Santiago was dressed in black on black, with a chain at his hip and four gold necklaces at his chest. He was heavyset, easily over two hundred, while he was her height.

Santiago pointed a fat finger. "Was that who I think it was?"

There was no way he knew who Adrik was. There was no reason for him to know. "Get off my property."

"Or?" he challenged, stepping closer.

She sneered; she could smell the cigarettes and stale liquor from the ten-foot distance between them. Jolie turned from him.