Empire of Sin (Empire #2) by Rina Kent

“No one you should worry about.” Knox strides to my side and even though he’s not touching me, his presence brings much-needed comfort.

“Nonsense,” his father says with the same tilt of his mouth. “My name is Ethan Steel. I’m Knox’s father. This is Teal, his twin sister, and this one is Elsa, his other sister. What’s your name?”

“J-Jane.”

I bite my lip after the stutter. Why the hell did I want to say “Anastasia” just now? It doesn’t make sense when I should be keeping my other identity completely under wraps.

“Nice to meet you, Jane.” Elsa leaves her father’s side and takes my hand in a handshake. “I can’t wait to hear all about you.”

“Or…” Knox stands between us and tactfully pushes her back. “You can take the next plane back to London. Take Dad and T with you while you’re at it.”

“Not going to happen. We didn’t come all this way just to leave. Right, Teal?”

Knox’s twin sister nods. “Yes. After all, I’m here because I was wondering what’s making you so different lately.”

“T!”

“What? You wouldn’t tell me.”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“Obviously, there is.” Elsa smiles with clear mischief. “I’m so glad we decided to tag along on Dad’s business trip.”

“Well, I’m not. So the three of you can leave.”

“No,” Teal announces point-blank.

Elsa hugs her by the shoulder. “What she said.”

“I’m calling your husbands.” He reaches into his pocket and retrieves his phone and then he puts it on speakerphone as it rings.

I fidget when I read the caller ID—Aiden.

He picks up with a deep, bored, “Hey, fucker.”

“Hello to you, too, arsehole. In case you didn’t know, Elsa is here, in New York. I don’t see you anywhere near her, which, if I remember correctly, hasn’t happened in the past thousand years.”

“So?”

Knox pauses, then shakes the phone as if he can physically shake the person on the other end. “Hello? Is this Aiden King’s phone? Who are you and what the bloody hell did you do to the crazy fucker?”

“Shut the fuck up and take care of Elsa for these couple of days.” There’s a tinge of annoyance in Aiden’s deep voice. He sounds a bit murderous, too.

I only heard him on the phone, but that’s enough to send a shiver down my spine. I can’t imagine what it’s like to meet him in real life.

My gaze flits to Elsa, who seems nonchalant. She’s gorgeous and appears laid back—which can’t be said about her husband. And I find myself wondering how they’re even together.

Knox’s grip tightens on the phone and that brings my attention back to him. “Or you can come here yourself and pick her up or something? Send your plane over.”

“Not until the forty-eight hours are over.”

“Are you sure you didn’t hit your head? Because there’s no way in fuck you’d let her be away from you for this long.”

Aiden pauses before he says, “I was promised things.”

Elsa smiles, then whispers, “Plural.”

Aiden, who seemingly didn’t know he was on speakerphone, releases a breath, then lowers his voice until it takes an edge. “Fucking plural, sweetheart.”

“I can’t believe you let her manipulate you, King,” Knox taunts. “You’ve lost your touch.”

“Fuck you. If she comes back with one hair on her head hurt, consider yourself dead, Van Doren.”

And with that, he hangs up.

Knox curses, then narrows his eyes on Elsa. “What did you promise that crazy fuck so that he’d let you out of his sight.”

“It’s our secret.” She winks.

“Eww. Disgusting. But this isn’t over.” He directs his phone at them as if it’s a weapon, then dials another number. This time, I see the name “Ronan” on his screen.

As soon as he answers, Knox says, “Come pick up your wife, Ron. She’s an unwanted guest in my flat.”

“On my way,” he says with cheerfulness.

“Don’t you dare, Ronan,” Teal says.

“But he said you’re an unwanted guest, ma belle. I have to come there and beat him the fuck up for calling you that.”

“You promised,” she enunciates.

“Fine, whatever.” He sounds dejected. “Remi and I miss you.”

“Miss you, Mummy.” A tiny voice comes through the phone.

“Miss you, too, hon.” She smiles for the first time since she got here. “Mummy is going to stay with Uncle Knox for a few days, then I’ll come back, okay?”

“Okay! Me and Daddy will wait.”

“That’s a good boy.”

“Ron.” Knox grits his teeth, his words sounding clipped. “Say or do something.”

“My hands are tied, Van Doren. I lost a fucking bet, so I don’t have a say in this.”

“Why do I have to suffer the downfall?”

“Don’t call my Teal and Ellie downfall or I’ll fuck up your face, mkay?”

By the end of the call, Knox is breathing heavily, Teal and Elsa are smiling, and Ethan is obviously amused.