Empire of Lust (Empire, #4)

by Rina Kent

“Don’t even finish that fuckin...

“I meant my affection and company, asshole. As if I would ever discuss with you or anyone else what my wife and I do....

“It wouldn’t have been there in the first place if you hadn’t put us all in this motherfucking situation. J...

“If I answer that, will you tell me why it ha...

“Why did she have to be what?” “The woman who gave birth to your only offspring.”

“Allow me to call bullshit on your and her nonsense.”

A smug smirk covers his awfully symmetrical face that he could’ve used to become president if he’d chosen his family’s political route.

“I might have allowed you and Aspen to claim amnesia in front of Gwyneth, but I know for a fact that no amount of alcohol would cause you to forget everything. Besides, if there was fu...

“Didn’t know you were an expert on the resident witch’s sexual flavors and drunk attitude. Y...

“And that’s any of your conce...

“You’re Gwen’s husband, who, according to a DNA test, happens to be that witch’s daughter. I’m under a moral obligation to stop whatever shitty mothe...

“The word moral has never existed in your vocabulary, so once again, I’m calling bullshit on that and your well-crafted but still flimsy excuses. Why don’t you tell me the real reason you’re so terribly inter...

“If by interested in her, you mean I’m interested in expelling her from the planet, then sure. I’m searching for methods to summon aliens as we speak. My efforts will remain in full operating mode until she fu...

“If you say so.” He smirks again and I’m about to rearrange his f...

“we can punch anywhere but the face a...

Yes, the main reason behind the marriage was to protect my assets and blah fucking blah,

but they ended up falling for each other for real. I attempted multiple strategies to separate them, ranging from manipulation, to divide and conquer, to pure violence.

The same Aspen who has a habit of antagonizing me for sport.

And that knowledge made me lose control of my car and the wreck sent me into a coma.

In retrospect, the witch is the reason behind this marriage and my constant need to sever Nate’s dick snuff movie style.

My plan comes to a screeching halt when a cloud of vanilla perfume surrounds us. Gwen appears by Nate’s side and has changed into some jean shorts, a loose top, and her signature white sneakers—that she definitely wore with her wedding dress earlier.

When she smiles, her rainbow eyes glimmer with a myriad of colors. “I’m ready, husband.”

Kill me, please. Or him.

Either would do—but prefe...

Which is how our partnership began and would’ve been perfect if not for the small detail that he took away my daughter.

“Is it about Aspen?” he asks, and the moment she flinches, I slowly open my Zippo to stop myself from clenching my fist.

Gwen wanted a mother and had the sleep talks to prove it even before she knew it was Aspen.

“No…yes…I mean, have you run into her? I’m pretty sure I saw her during and after the ceremony, but she wasn’t at the reception, right?”

“No, because running away is what that woman does best,” I say coolly, flipping my Zippo shut.

“That’s not true,” Nate counters with calm. “King...

That’s it. This fucker will die in his ...

“Dad…?” Gwen looks at me with that pout that’s able to smash through ...

“I did not kick her out. I just reminded her that my hospitality isn’t infinite and I was approaching my limit. But I didn’t think she’d need t...

Or maybe she did leave a trace since she tattled to Nate, who’s watching me with a slow smile.

“I was only talking to her.” “By trying to intimidate her.”

“Hey, fucker, whose side are you on?”

“Gwyneth’s. She wanted her mother here today and you had no business tr...

My daughter gives me that kicked puppy look again that makes me feel lo...

She’s never gone against me, except for when it comes to the bastard ...

And I’m starting to think Aspen will soon belong on the list of “People Gwen stan...

Even though she was hurt by her absence, she still watches Aspen from afar and of...

Gwen’s phone lights up in her hand and she smiles, then clears her throat and answers, “Hello? Aspen?”

Speak of the fucking devil. I mean witch. My angel listens for some time, kicking an imaginary rock and tightening her hold on Nate’s arm, then says, “It’s okay.”

She bites her lower lip and whispers a ...

As soon as she hangs up, she looks at Nate and blurts, “She congratulated us on the wedding and apologized for leaving abruptly. She said somethi...

“Something unexpected?” Nate frowns. “She wouldn’t have left your wedding...

“What?” Gwen asks. “Nothing.” He smiles at her, t...

And considering that woman’s infuriating intent to be part of her daughter’s life, my guess is it’s something dangerous.

Anyone who’s met me knows I am prone to violence, exploit fine things, and have an unending feud with my stepmother.

Nate says I like doing things the hard way, but that’s only because the easy way is more boring than sleep.