Empire of Sin (Empire #2) by Rina Kent

People like me aren’t allowed such a luxury.

“So, it’s you.”

I freeze, my stomach dropping at the sound of the accented voice coming from my right. It’s British, too, and while it’s calm and collected, it’s not Knox’s.

If anything, it’s even more sinister.

I whirl around to find Daniel leaning against the wall, arms and ankles crossed and a look of pure contempt darkening his cobalt blue eyes.

Holy shit.

Was he there all along? Wait, no. Knox would’ve seen him if he was and he would’ve told me and—

“I was becoming suspicious with his frequent visits to the fourth floor so I decided to start my own private investigation and followed him. I had to wait until he was out to find out who he was coming here for.” He stares at his watch. “Twenty minutes is a record for him. He usually gets bored and finishes quicker than that.”

My skin heats and crawls, and I wish I could somehow vanish into thin air as if I never existed.

Daniel watches me intently, as if he can comb through my thoughts and my deepest, darkest desires.

“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I attempt to play dumb, but my unsteady voice doesn’t cooperate.

“Really now? Do you mind telling me what you did in that supply room all this time?”

“Work.”

“Is that a new word for sex?” His expression and tone don’t change. They’re actually more composed, as if he’s completely in his element.

I’ve heard a lot of things about Daniel, mostly that he’s a player and easygoing, but no one mentioned his threatening, sinister side, because that’s what it feels like right now.

Being threatened.

Watched.

Desiccated.

He pushes off the wall, and it takes everything in me not to turn around and run. Because I know, I just know that it would encourage him to come after me even stronger.

Daniel circles me and the hairs on my nape stand on end as he stops in front of me. “You’re not his usual type, so now, I’m wondering what made him interested in you. Do you care to shed some light on the mystery?”

“How will I do that?”

“Simple. Let’s fuck.”

“W-what?”

“Tonight?”

“No!”

“Why not? Oh, not a good time?”

“Not a good pairing. Why would you think I would ever want to have sex with you?”

He appears genuinely baffled. “Why not? Knox and I go three-way with no problem.”

“Huh?”

“We fuck the same women, often at the same time.”

My stomach lurches and I think I’m going to throw up the cupcakes Gwen gave me earlier.

Did Daniel say he and Knox fuck the same women at the same time?

Yes, I think he did.

But that’s not what’s bothering me. What’s bothering me is the fact that Knox could and would share me with his friend.

The thought causes my stomach to cramp and my heart to shrink in its ribcage.

If he’s so used to that, why wouldn’t he do it now? After all, our relationship is all about sex.

“So?” Daniel asks. “What do you think?”

“About?”

“Fucking me. For the record, everyone prefers me since I’m obviously more charming.” He accentuates his words with a grin that showcases his dimples.

And I can see it, his charm, the reason why many women would prefer him. Daniel is the type that oozes sex appeal and can effortlessly grab anyone’s attention. He has a striking kind of beauty that glows from afar and blinds once you get close.

But he doesn’t have Knox’s intensity and he certainly doesn’t make me feel like I’ll jump out of my skin due to his presence alone.

“No,” I say simply, easily, and with so much assertiveness, it makes him pause.

“You don’t have to answer now. Think about it.”

“I don’t need to.”

“This is interesting.” He circles me again before stopping in front of me. “Is it because of Knox? He wouldn’t care.”

Well, I would. But I don’t say that, because I don’t have the voice to. So I just shrug, even though my heart is bleeding.

It’s not supposed to, but it’s metaphorically dripping all over the ground.

It’s funny that I left my family to avoid being hurt and used, but it feels as if I’ve landed in something much deeper and more painful.

And I need to distance myself from it.

From him.

The source of the shattering pain in my chest.





23





KNOX





Something’s changed.

I can’t quite pinpoint it, but it’s there in Anastasia’s stiff movements and silence.

Last night, when I fucked her against the kitchen counter, she was oddly quiet, then she curled up on the sofa and fell asleep

Usually, we have dinner together and talk about the case, or anything, actually. She talks nerdy to me about some new software or coding, her eyes brightening the more I listen. I’m not really interested in all that stuff, but the fact that she talks to me with that hyper tone of hers is an accomplishment. It’s the only time she leaves the prim and proper side of herself in the background.