Empire of Hate (Empire #3) by Rina Kent

I’m the fun-loving Daniel.

The heart-of-the-party Daniel.

The charming Daniel.

But now, I’m channeling the vengeful spirit of a fucking warrior.

Christopher jerks from his slumber. At first, he blinks as if he doesn’t know on what planet or decade he exists.

Then his attention falls on me and he squints before recognition settles on his sickeningly good looks.

It’s people like him that get away with it. Sons of men in power, sons of men who taught them that women are only good at spreading their legs.

“Daniel?” he croaks.

“The one and only, motherfucker.” I punch him again, sending his face flying backward.

A splash of blood explodes on his face and drips down his chin. Next, it will be his goddamn teeth.

“What the…what in the bloody fuck…?” He shakes his head, blinking rapidly. “Why are you doing this?”

“You don’t know, huh? Probably had it written down in your memory as a good fuck, then moved on to your next victim.”

His eyes widen a little and then he laughs, loud, in a bark. “It’s about Nicole, isn’t it? I knew you were a puppy in love when you almost hit me that day you found me with her. Ruined my fun that night, but I got her anyway, Danny. Here’s a little life lesson for you. If you leave something behind, someone else will pick it up.”

My jaw clenches and I feel myself about to lose control, about to strangle him to death. But that would mean he’d get away with it easily.

So I erase his words, the fact that I pushed her to him by being a brainless fucking twat, and square my shoulder. “Is that why you seduced her mother and married her while she was in prison?”

“I told Nicole I only fucked her because she looked like her mother, but it’s the exact opposite. I went to her mother to relive a fetish of sorts. Have you ever fucked a mother and a daughter? The feeling is exquisite. She didn’t bleed like Nicole, though. Pity.”

“What the fuck did you just say?”

“She was as dry as a desert, Nicole, and I guess she started bleeding. I never liked lube as much as I did at that moment.”

A roar echoes in the air and I realize it’s mine as I kick him, sending the chair and the scum in it tumbling backward.

His deranged laughter echoes in the empty space. “And you know what the funny part is? The bitch kept calling your name like a fucking chant. Daniel…Dan…help… You weren’t there to do that, were you, Prince Charming? And guess fucking what? She’ll never forgive you for not coming to her rescue.”

I grab him by the collar, then crash my head against his. Blood explodes on my temple and slides to the collar of my shirt.

The physical pain is nothing compared to the searing injury that’s ripping my soul apart.

She called for me.

She came to me right afterward.

And I wasn’t there both times.

Fuck!

Christopher shuts up for a second, then grins like an unhinged psycho. “I’m gonna have her back, Danny. With my kid. We’re a family.”

“Death is all that you’ll have.” I take his head and jam it against the dirty floor. “Did it feel good to hit her head on the floor, Chris? Did you feel so powerful by taking her power away? Did you get high on it? Hard for it?”

I stand up and before he can move, I slam my Prada shoe on his head. I wore them today for their sturdy soles, and is that a crack of bone I hear?

“You fucking—”

“Doesn’t feel so good when the tables are turned, huh?” I kick his head until he drools blood and his eyes slip out of focus.

“Then what did you do? Ah, right.” I’m surprised by my calm tone considering the fucking need to rip his teeth from his skull. Still stepping on his head, I squash his dick with my other foot like it’s a useless cigarette. “You used this thing to rape her. To hurt her. Make her bleed. That will happen to you, too, not in that particular order, then I’ll put so many objects in your arsehole, you’ll wish for death. Maybe then you’ll know how it feels to be violated. By the end of tonight, you’ll be dickless, raped by a metal rod and other stuff. On Monday, you will withdraw the custody case and live in fear, Christopher. That man who got you here, I’ll pay him extra to keep you in his sights. If you raise your head from the gutter you live in, I’ll have it cut off. If you go to someone for help, I’ll have you erased off the face of the earth. Remember, Christopher, you’ll stay alive, not because I can’t kill you, but because death is too easy of a punishment for you. I want you to stare at where your dick once was and wish you never fucking touched her.”

“You will…” he croaks. “Have another man’s waste.”

“The only waste of air is you. As for being a man, you won’t be one in about five minutes—not that you ever were.” I jam his head harder, so he eats the dirt and stops talking. “Nicole, however, was and will always be a fucking queen.”

One I don’t deserve, but can’t move away from either.





By the time I’m finished with the fuck, I want to throw myself off a bridge.

Not because of what I did to him—I would repeat that in a heartbeat. His wails and screams and blabbering like a baby didn’t affect me, not one bit.