Empire of Hate (Empire #3) by Rina Kent

Even Aiden and Levi were only his ‘heirs’ until they gave him grandchildren.

Landon and Brandon and even Eli, Aiden’s only son, don’t compare to Glyn. Which is why the twins joined their parents today, but she’s snuggling with Jonathan and his wife.

We invited Astrid and her family for a barbecue at the pool. Lan and Bran are making a mess in the water and Levi watches them with a proud expression as he grills some meat.

And fine, I had nothing to do with the inviting part, Nicole did. If it were up to me, I would be lost between my wife’s thighs all weekend, praying to never be found.

The two stepsisters’ relationship isn’t roses and unicorns, but it’s been improving over the years. Jayden and Uncle Henry played a big role in that.

Astrid cares for him like a true stepsibling in a way she never cared about Nicole. And Uncle Henry has been bringing them together every chance he got—with mine and Levi’s reluctant help.

I finally understand why Captain is so possessive of Astrid’s time. It’s bloody miserable whenever I have to spend time without Nicole.

When I think back on the years I lived without her, I can’t fathom how I survived.

She’s always been the missing piece in my life, the calm to my storm, and the peace to my wars.

I’ve always seen her as a queen, but it took me years to realize she’s the queen of my kingdom.

The years I’ve been married to her have been the happiest I’ve ever been. It’s when I found the balance I couldn’t reach before her.

As if reading my thoughts, Nicole appears on the house’s threshold, holding Conrad’s little hand as he does the drunk walk on his unsteady feet.

He recently started walking and he’s been laughing uncontrollably since.

Nicole watches him with a soft smile that penetrates the walls of my fucking chest and settles in the organ that’s beating for her and the family she gave me.

Seeing Nicole smile is no different than floating in the orbit of the sun and soaking in its warmth.

She’s come a long way since her traumatic experience and became the woman no one can mess with. A woman with purpose, a successful chef, and the most doting mother I’ve ever seen.

And I’m the lucky bastard who managed to have that woman.

The one who got the queen.

She’s wearing a simple peach-colored dress that falls to her knees. The only jewelry she has on is the wedding ring that I had made from the most expensive emerald available and the necklace I gave her when we were thirteen.

She’s never removed it since the day we got engaged.

And that box? She replaced those depressing pictures with new ones. Our wedding picture, her birthday picture, where we celebrated with all our friends and I kissed her senseless. There’s also our first family picture with Conrad, and last but not least, the ultrasound of the upcoming member of the Sterling family.

Nicole still doesn’t show, but she glows with the pregnancy. She’s so beautiful, it fucking hurts to look at her sometimes.

“You might want to wipe that drool, Bug.” Astrid’s voice, as mocking as it is, doesn’t break my fixation on the woman slowly approaching us.

My woman.

“Might want to practice what you preach, Bugger.”

“Me?”

“Your kids would testify to the unhealthy amount of PDA they witness on a daily basis.”

“That’s called giving a positive parental example.”

“Obviously. With tongues!”

“You have no right to judge when you look like you’re going to piss yourself by just looking at her.”

“I’m just thinking about how I will fuck her when all of you people are ruining my Sunday.”

“Gross.” She stands, shaking her head. “I’m going to find my man.”

“Don’t you dare shag in my house,” I warn and she just laughs, waving me off.

It’s my turn to stand up, the urge to close the distance between me and Nicole is like a fucking need.

I really should’ve had her for my own this weekend.

And every other weekend.

Upon seeing me, Conrad slips his hand from his mother’s and runs to me with the preciseness of a monkey on crack. His entire focus is on his legs, completely and utterly fascinated that the things actually work.

He trips and falls, but he giggles as if the whole ordeal is a comedy show, then he continues running.

I crouch and open my arms and he crashes straight between them. “Daddy!”

“Hey there, buddy.” My fingers ruffle his light hair and he giggles like a ball of sunshine.

I never thought I would become a father, not when my own was a scum who only fathered his dick. But the moment Conrad was born and the midwife placed him in my arms, I knew I would die for him. No questions asked.

When Nicole and I first got married, I admit to wanting children only to stake a claim on my wife, but that’s changed since I became a father.

And I have the woman standing in front of me to thank for that.

She’s the one who taught me that not all fathers are the same. That just because mine was the worst, doesn’t mean I’ll be like him.

Holding Conrad with one hand, I stand up and grab Nicole by the waist with the other, pulling her against me. “How are you feeling?”

“A little hungry.”

“Hold on a second while I beat Levi for not grilling the meat fast enough.”