Empire of Hate (Empire, #3)

by Rina Kent

To the heartbreakingly obsessive souls

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.

But his eyes are what I noticed first. They’re blue and light, but not as muted as Mum’s. They’re glinting in the sun as if they’re reflecting its warmth. As if they’re mimicking the sky and trapping the stars. Yes, stars are visible during the day, but only through his shiny eyes. Not only can they be seen there, but they also have that magical pull. Like Disney films and the wildest fairy tales.

I don’t even know what Chloe, the girl I poured tea for, just said. But I continue to nod anyway, so she’ll keep talking and I can watch him. So I can see how he runs and tackles the ball, then scores. His teammates gang up on him and he grins. I stop breathing. Something happens when he grins or smiles or laughs. His cheeks crease and one set of dimples appear. If he were an angel, those would be his wings. If he were a prince, that would be his crown. Daniel is simply so…beautiful.

This is the only place where I’m out of her sight and can do what I want. Like eating peaches. I’m allergic to them, but they’re my favorite food. I like the calm they bring me after every bite. So what if I have red, swollen lips? It’ll go away after a while.

me core fr

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.

It doesn’t matter how many years pass or how old she gets, Nicole was and always will be beautiful. The provocative type.

“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.”

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

Xander What? Why? Why are you and Levi raising? What did I miss? Aiden Your whole second year in school apparently, because Daniel used to watch Nicole like a kicked puppy who was crushing on the prettiest Chihuahua.

Now, I need to make her less freaked out about oral sex when she’s receiving it and figure out why she withdraws into herself every now and then.

babe… you are DUMB dumb…

“That’s because rumor has it, he’s screwing his assistant. And by rumor, I mean Knox and Sebastian.” “Sebastian?” I echo. Knox is privy to my life like a power-hungry FBI agent, but Sebastian, Nate’s nephew and another junior partner, has the attention span of a bird about everyone who’s not his girlfriend. He’s the personification of devil-may-care, complete with tiny red horns and a tail peeking from between his legs. Knox says that’s his dick, but that’s not the point. Nor is the fact that we discuss each other’s dicks during breakfast.

“I need a favor.” “Of what kind?” His voice sobers up. I’m never the type who asks for a favor. Never. “I need you to hook me up with a member of Anastasia’s family.” “The fuck you need the mafia for when you’re an attorney?” “I need them to tie up some loose ends the law couldn’t.” 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.

“I’m gonna have her back, Danny. With my kid. We’re a family.” “Death is all that you’ll have.” I take his head and jam it against the dirty floor. “Did it feel good to hit her head on the floor, Chris? Did you feel so powerful by taking her power away? Did you get high on it? Hard for it?” I stand up and before he can move, I slam my Prada shoe on his head. I wore them today for their sturdy soles, and is that a crack of bone I hear? “You fucking⁠—” “Doesn’t feel so good when the tables are turned, huh?” I kick his head until he drools blood and his eyes slip out of focus. “Then what did you do? Ah, right.” I’m surprised by my calm tone considering the fucking need to rip his teeth from his skull. Still stepping on his head, I squash his dick with my other foot like it’s a useless cigarette. “You used this thing to rape her. To hurt her. Make her bleed. That will happen to you, too, not in that particular order, then I’ll put so many objects in your arsehole, you’ll wish for death. Maybe then you’ll know how it feels to be violated. By the end of tonight, you’ll be dickless, raped by a metal rod and other stuff. On Monday, you will withdraw the custody case and live in fear, Christopher. That man who got you here, I’ll pay him extra to keep you in his sights. If you raise your head from the gutter you live in, I’ll have it cut off. If you go to someone for help, I’ll have you erased off the face of the earth. Remember, Christopher, you’ll stay alive, not because I can’t k...

“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.”

“I don’t particularly get attached to places.” “I noticed that.” Her tone softens. “I bet you don’t even consider your penthouse a home.” “It’s just a house.” “Then where’s your home, Daniel?” Right in front of me. Wait. What? What in the actual fuck was that thought all about? I didn’t just think of Nicole as my home. I simply didn’t. “Nowhere,” I grumble, my grip hardening on the trolley.

“You always lifted me up just to bring me down harder than before. You touched me just to stop touching me. You kissed me only to never do it again. Did you know that your smiles disappeared whenever you looked at me? That you always looked in the other direction? You ignored me to the point that I wondered if I was invisible. But I’m not, Daniel. I’m right here, I was always right in front of you, looking at you, watching you, being so unhealthily obsessed with you, it ruined me.

“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!”

“You’ll never see me, will you? No matter how much I look at you, give you, or be there for you, I’ll only ever be someone you despise to want. Someone who’s meant to only ever be invisible.”

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.”

Levi watches them with a proud expression as he grills some meat.

fuuuuck he’s such a dilf