Empire of Lust (Empire, #4)

by Rina Kent

“So fucking what?” I might have the patience of a...

“You didn’t say ‘the witch.’ As in, you didn’t assume it’s her, even knowing full well she’s my right-hand. What gives?”

“Aspen is on vacation.”

He rakes his gaze all over the room, then gives me the same attention before he circles me like a poor imitation of a caged lion.

“Did you get high on your way here, Nate? Either that or I need to check you i...

“I’m just making sure I didn’t somehow land in a parallel universe since Aspen is apparently on her first vacation in a decade and you actually know her given name. I thought she only held the t...

After doing two whole tours around me, he stops in front of me and narrows his eyes. “W...

“She was assaulted.” He pauses, his face hardening. “When? Where? How? Who?”

“Bad enough to be put on mandatory vacation. She was beaten to within an inch of her life but still wants to work as if nothing happened.”

“Aspen is a workaholic to a fault.”

The sound of a crash reaches us. Both Nate and I stare at the source to find Gwen blinking rapidly, a massacre of a di...

Her chin trembles like when she was a little girl and re...

“Aspen…is...

“But Dad said it’s bad enough that she had to go on a mandatory vacation.”

“Did you do it?” “What?” “You always hated her and promised to make her disappear. Did you hit her or pay someone to hit her to scare her away?”

My jaw tightens so hard, I’m surprised it doesn’t snap.

“Watch your mouth, Gwen. I’m your father, not your friend, and you have ze...

“Why not? You threatened to kill her once. I heard you! You’re my dad and I love you, but you’re a merciless man to anyone who goes against you. I learned that the hard way when you nearly killed Nate, your damn best friend, because he disobeyed you, so ex...

I can feel the volcano rising from deep within me and ...

Nate, however, senses the change in the atmosphere and wraps an arm around her waist protectively.

He knows I’d never hurt her, but he also knows she’s pushing me to my very last nonexistent limit.

“I’ve wanted a mother since I knew what a mother meant, Dad. Her absence made me feel empty, like less than a whole person and not worthy of love. I finally found her after twenty damn years, and you had to be selfish about it.

You can be so selfish, Dad. You made me celebrate all my birthdays, even though I hated them for reminding me that I was abandoned that day. But you don’t care about that, do you?

You don’t care that all I think about is getting close to the mother I finally found and being constantly scared that she won’t like me. She’s so smart and successful and I don’t think I can measure up to he...

You hate her and want me to hate her, too, but I’m telling you now that it’s not possible. So stop making everything about ...

“Nate, get her the hell out of here.” I’m surprised I sound calm, even though it’s the “I’ll break all hell loose in a sec” type of calm.

He clenches his jaw but starts to pull her away, because even he wouldn’t want her to see me in my non-human state.

“Get the fuck out, Gwyneth,” I roar,

she flinches before the most loathsome things I’ve ever seen on my daughter stream down her cheeks.

T...

Nate gives me a dirty look, mutters a “fuck you,” then follows her.

I don’t care if the whole world paints me as the worst villain; she should never belong to the herd.

Obviously, it starts and ends with the woman who gave me that miracle.

Lucifer and Cain peek from the door, following her around like clingy children.

“Relaxing is for the dead.”

She gives me an “are you shitting me?” look, then leans on my desk right in the middle of my space and crosses her arms.

The sweet smile that curves her lips nearly gives me diabetes.

“I most definitely will if you keep being a stubborn hellion. The nickname isn’t so cute now that it’s in real life.”

“Cute is the last thing I w...

“But you looked hella cute in that little white dress you wore that night. Bet you d...

“Get out of here before I smack you.” She blows me a kiss.

I physically have to chase her out of my office, to which she laughs and hugs her dogs, using them as armor.

You seem to have the self-care mentality of a toddler, so this is your reminder to clean your wounds and take painkillers.

I still have your sweet taste on my tongue. Five-star meal. Highly recommend.

“I swear to God, Callie. I’m going to throw you out the window.”

“Might have to wait until you meet your visitor.”

There’s a rare sound of glee in Caroline’s voice and when I look u...

The last person I expected to find standing in my apartment stares at me with puffy eyes, a downward expr...

“Gwyneth,” I whisper, still not believing my eyes. She tugs on her sweater, shifts her fe...

Caroline announces with delight, shoving Gwen inside with a less than subtle push.