Empire of Hate (Empire, #3)

by Rina Kent

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

“Y-you can have it…” “Thanks, but I don’t play with dolls.” “N-no, you can have t-the snow globe.” Maybe if I share my favorite toys with him, he’ll like me. Maybe he’ll also see the beautiful girl trapped in the snow and think about how he can get her out without breaking her world apart.

His eyes, that I used to predict his mood through, are expressionless, muted, almost as if someone stole the stars from within them and blocked the sun. The only thing that remains is a bottomless blue, like a starless, moonless night.

Ronan I’m here! Miss me, fuckers? Cole As much as the desert misses the sun. Ronan Stop it, you. Don’t make me blush.

“I’m bringing her back as my second assistant and you will stay the hell away from her,” Aspen tells me. No, actually, she informs me, and I’m starting to realize why people find her insufferable. She’s the reason redheads are stereotyped as hellions who only ride the devil’s face.

He approaches us while carrying Lolli as a weapon, which she can be under certain circumstances. “Are you going to let Nikki keep her job?” “Depends on how well she does. And stop calling her that, it’s juvenile.” “Maybe if you stop having her call you sir. It’s demeaning.”

“What does that mean?” “Not so know-it-all now, huh?” He lifts his small chin. “Either tell me or I won’t support you.” “You’ll support me anyway, because you know I’m the one.” “Keep telling yourself that, Dr. Evil.” He places a hand at his hip, like Nicole. “Now what does playing hard to get mean?”

He grins, showing me his missing teeth. Then he reverts to his serious expression. “Hey, Dan. If you hurt my sister, I’m going to scratch your BMW and burn your luxurious apartment.”

“That would be legal advice and I get paid by the hour. Since your only fortune is your Minions collection, I’m not interested in it. I demand another currency. You’ll help me.” “First of all, I didn’t ask for legal advice, so I refuse to pay for it. But I will help you under one more condition.” “What now?” “Can you tell me how to get away with murder?”

Love the banter between these two

“You can’t get away with murder, Jay.” “Yes, I can. Aren’t you a lawyer who helps people get away with it?” “That’s a criminal defense attorney. I deal with international companies.” “So you’re the boring type of attorney?”

The scene in front of me plays out like a clichéd scene from a Disney film. Nicole twirls a giggling Jayden, her own laughter echoing in the air with the grace of a fucking angel. No, Daniel. You’re not thinking about throwing a nine-year-old out the window so you can take his place.

“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.

He reaches for a glass of water at the same time as me. Our fingers brush for a second, two⁠— He suddenly jerks his hand away, stands up, and stalks to his room. My hand shakes as I pick up the water and down it all. But no amount of water could douse the fire inside me. Or the familiar feeling that’s rearing its ugly head from the past. The fact that no matter how much I showered or scrubbed my skin clean, I’m still filthy.

Last night, after I put my plan in motion, I couldn’t sleep. So I rewound every single interaction I’d had with her since that day she nearly died because of fucking peaches. And every line I thought was set in stone is getting blurry, undecipherable. And bloody confusing. But I’ll deal with that. After I deal with him. The man who’s been living on borrowed time since the day he fucking touched her.

“He’s British, Irish, or maybe Russian. No fucking clue. His name is Kyle Hunter and he’s the only one who understands my sarcastic humor at their dinner table. Anyway, he’s your man. But don’t tell me what the fuck you need him for. I’m out of this mess.”

Christopher jerks from his slumber. At first, he blinks as if he doesn’t know on what planet or decade he exists. Then his attention falls on me and he squints before recognition settles on his sickeningly good looks. It’s people like him that get away with it. Sons of men in power, sons of men who taught them that women are only good at spreading their legs.

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 kill you, but because death is too easy of a punishment for you. I want you to stare at where your dick once was and wish you never fucking touched her.”

I raise my chin, despite the pain that’s bleeding in my soul with the lethality of a poison. “Are you repulsed by me because I’m damaged goods?” “Shut the fuck up, Nicole.” “Tell me.” I walk to him, my speed slow and faulty like a crippled animal. “Tell me you don’t want to touch me anymore. Say it, Daniel. Just off me already so I’ll stop having these delusional thoughts about you⁠—” My words end in a gasp when he grabs me by the throat and slams his lips to mine. It’s a hungry kiss, animalistic in nature and with so much heat that I’ll probably suffer from second-degree burns—make that first-degree.

“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 fucked her.” Daniel jerks to a standing position. “I followed her and kicked out Chris because the bloody thought of him or anyone else touching her put me in a murderous mood worse than a serial killer’s. Because she’d been driving me fucking crazy for years and right then, I could pretend it was the drugs that made me do it. And that night? The night you had an accident and nearly died was the happiest night of my fucking life up until that point. Up until I abandoned her in the middle of the fire and found you drowning in your own blood. So she didn’t rape me, Astrid. She didn’t even come after me. I followed her, kicked out the lowlife who was there, and I fucked her until I lost count because I wanted her since I knew what wanting someone fucking means.”

“In that case, you’re fine. Dan’s friend is my friend.” Jay pushes past me and offers her his hand and a wide grin. “I’m Jayden, nine years old. I already skipped a few grades and will probably skip more and become a genius who finds a cure for cancer or human stupidity. I haven’t decided which one is more urgent yet.”

“I’m used to it.” Brandon’s clone, Lan, lifts a shoulder. “Uncle Aiden says Mummy and Daddy like making babies.” “Your uncle Aiden is right.” “Your uncle Aiden is a twat, Landon,” Levi says, finally pulling away from his school style make-out session with Astrid. “Uncle Aiden isn’t a twat. He only says the truth. Besides”—Landon furrows his brow—“you made Glyndon, who’s spoiled and unnecessary.”

“He’s definitely taking after Aiden.” Daniel laughs. “My condolences in advance for when he becomes a psycho.”

Still is, from the rumors I read online. His wife and son might have tamed him a bit, but something tells me Aiden King will never change.

Uncle Henry. “I called him on the way here,” Astrid offers and her voice sounds far away, as if it’s underwater. “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. Not from the father figure who taught me how to ride my first bike and put a plaster on my knees when I fell down. Only so I would realize I was only a substitute for his dear Astrid. A silver medal. A second choice.

Ugh T.T my heart

“Yes, and I’m grateful. I’ve been searching for you for years.” “But why? Don’t you hate me?” What resembles pain crosses his features. “I never hated you, Nicole. I admit that after I found out Victoria toyed with Jasmine’s breaks, caused her death, and nearly killed Astrid in that hit-and-run, my sole purpose was to make her pay.”

“She hurt you when you only took care of us,” I continue in a broken voice. “She made me lose you for good.” He takes one step forward. “You never lost me, Nicole. The day I let you walk out of my house is one of the worst regrets of my life.”

A bubble-like pressure deflates in my chest and I can’t control the lone tear that escapes my eye. “I’m sorry, Uncle. I’m so sorry I’m the daughter of the woman who caused you so much pain. So sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, Nicole. I’m the one who’s sorry I let hatred blind me from what’s important.” He pulls back, smiling. “It took losing you to realize you’re my daughter as much as Astrid is.”

“Nice try.” Nicole’s laughing now and I can’t get enough of the sound. Of the carefree nature of it. The fact that it shines through pain is what makes it even more special. I would sell both my kidneys in a buy-one-get-one-free package if that means I’ll see her laugh more.

My magazine cover status is in jeopardy.” She laughs. “It’s their loss. Besides, scars are beautiful.” “How so?” “We’re humans, we’re not supposed to be perfect.”

“I need to check on Jay.” Nicole rummages through her bag. “Ugh, I can’t find the thing. Can you call me?” I would rather not. I like the peacefulness of this moment too much to ruin it, but I do so anyway. She pulls it out and releases a sigh. “Found it.” I pause at the name she saved me as and snatch her phone away. “Are you calling your boss a bloody idiot, Ms. Adler?”

“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.

She told me she could handle it with the cook’s help, but it was either keeping myself busy or bending her over and fucking her with a manner that will provide my staff with tea talk for decades to come. While accidentally traumatizing them.

Me, her, Jay, and I suppose she invited Uncle Henry for dinner so she can spend as much time with him as possible before going back to New York. Double cock-block. But I can’t have that if I want to function normally during the fucking dinner. So when she says she’ll go change then come back, I follow after her like a professional stalker.

“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!”

“Why?” I sniffle through the tears. “Why do you hate to see me cry, take revenge against Christopher for me, leave me your mansion and your money, but still refuse to be with me? Is it so hard to love me?”

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.”

“Did you… Did you just say you love me?” “Always fucking have, Nicole. I only figured it out late, as in when you broke my heart, and I was stupid enough to let it rot inside me and not express it.”

I didn’t mean you ruined me in that sense, I meant emotionally, you arsehole. You keep playing hide-and-seek with me, the moment I think you’re mine, you slip from between my fingers like sand. I’m tired of hoping, pining, and being so irrevocably in love with a man who never looked at me.”

“I don’t like things that can harm you.” “Is that why you assaulted Chris?” “It’s eleven years overdue, but I finally got the righteous type of revenge.” “You got stabbed for it.” “It’s worth it,” he speaks against my lips. “You’re worth it, Peaches.”

He brushes his lips against mine. “Remember when you asked me where my home is?” “You said it was nowhere.” “I lied.” He taps my chest. “My home is wherever you are. You’re my home, Nicole.”

“Remember what you asked me back when we were children?” “What?” “You proposed to me.” My cheeks turn hot. “I was…a kid.” “It still counts and it’s my turn to propose.” He struggles to his feet, then awkwardly gets on his knee. “You’re the only woman I can imagine spending the rest of my life with. The woman I want to wake up next to every single day. You don’t only make me a better man, but you also give me the urge to be more for you. Nicole Stephanie Adler, will you marry me?”

When Nicole and I first got married, I admit to wanting children only to stake a claim on my wife, but that’s changed since I became a father. And I have the woman standing in front of me to thank for that. She’s the one who taught me that not all fathers are the same. That just because mine was the worst, doesn’t mean I’ll be like him.