Empire of Hate (Empire, #3)

by Rina Kent

An unhealthy obsession is to have an extreme interest in something or someone. It’s to constantly think about them. It’s to do something repetitively, even against your will. It’s to have a compulsive preoccupation with them and being unable to chase them away, no matter how much you try.

Loving something that hurts you is also an unhealthy obsession, I think.

“When we grow up, will you marry me?” His eyes widen, but he looks away. My heart shrivels and breaks in my chest. Once again, it was all for nothing.

If life throws you a lemon, you should probably eat it or else you’ll remain hungry.

“I put ecstasy in that drink you had earlier,” I say instead of giving an embarrassing answer to his question.

“You have the beauty of a fucking angel, Peaches.” He rests his chin on my stomach, his eyes clashing with mine for a brief second. “Too bad you possess the personality of the bloody devil.”

Sex didn’t really interest me. More accurately, sex with other people who aren’t Daniel didn’t interest me.

I sit there and wait. And wait. But Daniel never came back for me. And just like that, I’ve become invisible again.

Aiden Astor, read Cole’s message again. Slowly this time. Xander *laughing out loud emoji* Ronan Wait a minute. It’s always sunny in the desert, so it doesn’t miss the sun. Cole Exactly.

She was an angel with a devil’s appearance. Now, she just looks like a broken angel. A devil on his second try of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” the Guns N’ Roses version.

All that took place when I was broken to fucking pieces after I heard from Astrid that she saw Nicole having sex with Christopher. When, in fact, he was raping her. When, in fact, she’d been silently screaming for help.

When I’m done with Christopher Vans, he’ll wish for the fucking Grim Reaper. He’ll wish he’d never touched what’s fucking mine.

“Nicole, however, was and will always be a fucking queen.”

“You’re the only woman I wanted with a desperation that bordered on both pleasure and pain. The only woman who drives me fucking insane but I still can’t look away from. My fixation with you made me hate all blondes because they reminded me of you. Brunettes aren’t my type, Peaches. You are. And you know what, your condition about exclusivity is bloody useless. Ever since you came back into my life, I haven’t been able to see another woman, let alone fuck her. It’s you. Only you.”

“The art of pain is an abstract form of vengeance,”

“Uncle Aiden isn’t a twat. He only says the truth. Besides”—Landon furrows his brow—“you made Glyndon, who’s spoiled and unnecessary.”

“I told you to not call your sister unnecessary, Lan,” Astrid says in a teacher’s voice.

“But sh...

“I stepped on my pride to love you. I crushed my bleeding heart, then gave it to you. All I wanted was for you to see me, to not make me invisible. All I wished for was a tiny piece of your heart, a sliver of your attention, but you never gave me that. You never fought for me as I fought for you!”

It’s hard to hate you and even harder to forget you, but loving you was the easiest thing that I’ve ever done. It was natural, inevitable, and fucking infinite.”

“I lied.” He taps my chest. “My home is wherever you are. You’re my home, Nicole.”

I’m his. He’s mine. Probably since we were kids.