Empire of Hate (Empire, #3)

by Rina Kent

“And I don’t remember you having the type of small dick energy to actively ruin a woman’s chances at custody.”

“You hate her and would rather see her lose than help her,” but the least you could do is let her keep a steady fucking job. Now, she’ll be at a huge disadvantage in front of that abusive jerk.”

I was never normal when it came to Daniel. I was either obsessed, completely unhinged, or desperate.

“No one invited you to this shithole.” Jay stands in front of me like a protective shield.

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.

Daniel starts to get up, probably to go throw up what he ate. I quickly pull a lollipop from my bag, open the wrapper, and stuff it between his lips when he opens them. He stares at me for a beat, the lollipop still frozen in his mouth. And then for a moment, a brief moment in time, his expression softens. For a brief moment, I see the stars in his shiny, bright eyes. The same eyes that looked at me and didn’t hate me.

“Did you know I was in New York before you came?” “No. If I had, I wouldn’t have come here.” A sadistic smile tips his lips. “I never took you for a coward who would run away from their past.” “I’m not a coward. I just don’t like unnecessary confrontations.”

What the fuck am I doing? Jesus. Not only have I opened my house to Nicole but also to her brother and cat. And the worst part is that my flat feels…full. There’s no emptiness echoing from the walls or the biting edge of loneliness.

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

“Hey, Dan. If you hurt my sister, I’m going to scratch your BMW and burn your luxurious apartment.”

For some illogical reason, I hoped—no, I wished—that Nicole had been raising our child. After all, I didn’t use a condom that time.

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. With brunettes, I can keep my distance. I can pretend that my type isn’t the only woman with whom sex ever meant something.

She’s the only person I consider a friend around here. And I think I’m also her only actual friend.

Most people, including her assistant, are either intimidated by her or scared of her. She’s even lonelier than me. At least I have Jay and Lolli—and, yes, Lolli counts. Aspen is a true lone she-wolf through and through. Despite her senior partner status and tough bitch persona, she has no one on her side. Aside from Nathaniel Weaver, maybe.

I can’t imagine my life without Jayden. He’s my second chance to do better, to do something good. And I’ll fight for him until my death if I have to.

Why would Daniel keep this snow globe…for twenty-one years? He clearly said he didn’t.

He kisses me like he wants to ruin me and worship my body at the same time. He kisses me like I’m his arch-enemy and only friend.

I don’t know why you’re the only woman I see despite having hundreds at my disposal. I don’t know why I’m blind to them and not you. Never you. Did you put some bewitching mojo in my food?”

For the sake of my sanity and my dick-shaped ego, I have the decency to pretend that I’m getting her out of my system. The plan is still ongoing and working like a charm. It has nothing to do with how much my dick only comes alive around her or that I’ve been obsessed like a second-rate creep with her peach-smelling blonde locks while she sleeps.

Judging by the number of times Grace said you were unavailable while you were locked in your office, I’d say you fuck Gwen like you’re a teenager on his first sex marathon. I doubt any work is involved.” “Thanks a lot for the unnecessary imagery about my fucking daughter, Sterling.” King pushes me away but directs his disgust at Nate. “While I was in a coma. Really, Nate?” He digs his club into the ground. “You’re still alive.”

“I’ll bring you justice and make sure this crazy jerk is locked up for life.” She stares at King. “If you do us all a favor and commit a homicide in, say, Florida or Alabama, I’ll even sit on the front row as they electrocute you.”

By the time we’re done with golf, King and Aspen are seconds away from slitting each other’s throats or fucking on the grass. Not sure which one is more pressing.

And I might have bought a shitload of unnecessary shit on my way home. Like a Minions jacket, a cat toy, and a premium fish.

He might be smart, but he’s as lonely as his sister. They’ve been each other’s world for so long that it feels intrusive to even be in the middle of them. But they let me in anyway, Minions, Lolli, and all.

“You’ll really sleep with other women?” There’s hurt in her tone, a brokenness that fucking guts me. “We’re not in a relationship, Nicole. This is called fucking. No strings attached. Google it.”

“You always do that,” she spits out. “Assuming things and confirming them without even asking me about them.” “You never offered an explanation.” She lifts her chin. “I have nothing to explain to you.” “Fantastic.” “Brilliant.” Jayden releases a long sigh, shaking his head like an old man. “Should I go to my room now? Are you going to start kissing?” “Not in this lifetime,” Nicole hisses. “Never,” I say at the same time.

She smiles and it’s as fake as A-list celebrities’ laughs and just as bright. “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.” She lifts a shoulder. “As you wish, sir.”

“Ever since you got a new assistant. Blonde, too. I always thought you hated us.” “I do. No offense.” “Taken.” Knox levels me with a glare. “Apologize.” “I’m sorry you were born with a disgusting hair color, Anastasia. I liked you better when you dyed your hair black.”

A packet is nestled between her fingers. “I thought I would give you a condom so he doesn’t give you the STD he passed to me. Chlamydia. It’s nasty shit and we girls have to look out for each other.”

“Liar. You even brought the right condom size. Large.” “Part of my job.” “Passing out condoms?” “Stopping my boss from polluting the world with his sperm.”

“Sorry to break it to you, love, but you don’t have a golden pussy.” “No, it’s better. Made of diamonds, hard enough that they penetrated your steel-like control. Did it hurt?”

“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, why can’t you see me?”

He’s just a manwhore, and I hate that and him, and every girl who gets to touch him when I can’t. Jealous much? No, it’s way worse. I’m bordering on extremely obsessive. It’s unhealthy, toxic, and all the other terms my imaginary therapist will have a field day with.

“Papa… Please take me with you.”

I love you. I think I’ve loved you since we were kids. I know you think I’m a bitch, but that’s only because I don’t know how to express myself and I was taught to never show feelings. But I promise to change if you teach me how.

“But now I realize it was all for nothing. The excuses, the twisted feelings, and my sappy thoughts that you’d change. Every. Fucking. Thing. You just like to toy with others, to manipulate them, then laugh in their fucking faces. Well, guess what, Nicole? I’m off that list, effective immediately. Don’t come near me, talk to me, or even look at me. I’ll pretend you don’t exist and erase the mistake of touching you from my head. From now on, you’re nothing.”

From the bits and pieces she told me just now, Christopher raped her in her pool house. I told him to stop. I begged him to stop. That’s what she said. He hit her, too, and she recalled everything that happened to her afterward. The pain. The helplessness. Everything.

When, in fact, he was raping her. When, in fact, she’d been silently screaming for help.

And because my ego is dick-shaped, I told Nicole she was nothing when she came to find me. Just after she was brutalized by that fucking scum.

Judging by the way you have panic and anxiety attacks whenever you’re touched sexually.” “Then stop touching me!” She turns around and flings the door open. “I was doing just fine before you came back into my life.”

She tried to tell you back then, too, but you rejected her like a sorry cunt. Is there a way to reach out to eighteen-year-old me and choke him to death? To make him aware of who stood on his fucking doorstep that night? It wasn’t only Nicole. It was Nicole in need of help. It was Nicole traumatized, vulnerable and weak, and the last thing I should’ve done was shut the door in her face.

“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.

Nicole is beautiful under normal circumstances, but when she smiles, her entire face brightens and the universe pauses. At least mine does.

“You were interested?” “Maybe.” “Maybe isn’t an answer.” “It’s the only one you’ll get.” That still paints a smile on her lips; one with blushing cheeks and glittering eyes, and I make it my mission to preserve that smile for as long as I can.

“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.”

She called for me. She came to me right afterward. And I wasn’t there both times.

She’ll never forgive you for not coming to her rescue.

the only lips I remember the taste of. For eleven years, I haven’t kissed other women, never found the reason behind it. Not after I kissed her the day her mother was arrested. In a way, I kept her taste with me until her lips found mine again on the day I fucked her in my office. Nicole is the only woman I want to kiss until we’re both out of breath and sharing each other’s air.

“Do I seem repulsed? I can be disgusted with the whole world, but never you, Peaches. Fuck. You must know what you do to me.”