Empire of Hate (Empire, #3)

by Rina Kent

It’s exhausting, though. Being Daniel’s target, his nemesis, his enemy has always been so fucking tiring and I’m not sure just how long I’ll be able to take this.

What the hell am I doing? It took me years to tuck away those unrequited feelings and all the pain that came with them. Years. Damn years. And it still feels as if I’m stuck at the same point.

I need to take care of this business as soon as possible. The more she lurks in my fantasies, the harder it’ll be to chase her away.

I can’t live with Nicole in the same city and also hope to be able to breathe properly.

It was that way in the past, too. I hated wanting Nicole despite knowing my best friend’s feelings toward her.

At that moment, I wanted Jayden to be mine and hers. A link that would connect us for years.

This is the reason I hate blondes. I always, without exception, see them as her.

“You’d rather be bewitched than admit you want me?”

“Sure thing.” “Really?” “Of course. You just have to say the magic words for it. Repeat after me, no other people.” My lips twist, then I snap my fingers in her face. “Get the fuck out.”

“Why?” Her question is a haunted whisper as she closes her hand into a fist and hits me with it across the chest. “Why them and not me?” Hit. “Why is it never me?” Hit.

“No

matter what I do, you don’t look at me.” Hit. “I’m right in front of you,...

I’ve witnessed it in the courtroom when someone reaches their limits and their mind collapses. When it gets to be too much and the only way out is losing their shit. I just never thought I’d see Nicole in such a position.

I can feel myself stumbling, backpedaling, and falling back into a deep, dark abyss. Into my old stupid, unhealthily obsessed self.

Why was I so worried about telling him again? It’s not like he cares. Never did and never will.

“I know your face, Nicole. No need to worship at its altar all the time.”

He really is disgusted with me, isn’t he? Just like back then. It’s ending before it even started.

what the fuck have you done to sour her mood?

There’s pain in my palms. So this is real. He’s actually taking my side over Astrid’s. His best friend Astrid.

You hated him. You fucking spiked his drink and raped him!” I can feel Daniel stiffening beside me as my fingers turn clammy. I stare at him, dumbfounded. He told her I raped him? I…raped him?

because I wanted her since I knew what wanting someone fucking means.”

“She’s with me now and that’s that.” I can’t stop looking at him, at the seriousness in his features and his tone. At the way his jaw is set and his lips are in a line. I want to kiss those lips. To get on my tiptoes and let the world see that I’m with him.

That I’m his. That he’s mine.

“He wanted to see you.” Why? Just so he’d blame me? Kick me while I’m down as she likes to do? I can take that from her but not from him.

twisted shit to get my attention and I chose to see her in the exact opposite light.

Nicole must’ve felt so fucking lonely with no one to turn to.

You never fought for me as I fought for you!”

my bombshell wife,