Tarnished Empire: A Standalone Enemies-to-Lovers Billionaire Romance

by Ava Harrison

  Now to see if the real bastard who killed my brother covered his tracks.

  Once I hang the phone up, I walk into my room. Now that I’m alone, it hits me.

  It’s the same feeling I have felt for years, but different.

  Guilt.

  An uncontrollable guilt.

  For years I have harbored guilt in my soul over my brother’s death, a death that should have been mine. The only thing that kept me going was revenge.

  Today changed that.

  Today changed everything.

  In my life, I have done many wrong things. I have done horrible things, but never have I become my father.

  Never have I been that cruel, that sick and depraved.

  My hands are stained with death, but until today, they were never tainted with a death that did not belong to me.

  George.

  I killed an innocent man.

  He was never meant to die.

  I reach for the decanter in the corner of my room, pulling the crystal stopper out and downing the contents.

  His life was not mine to take.

  50

  Phoenix

  It feels like an eternity ago that I was last on this yacht. Things have changed epically in only a matter of months, but here I am, back here, and I’m okay with that. The truth is, I’m more than okay. I’m finally happy again.

  Today was a hard day for everyone on this boat, but in truth, for Alaric, it is so much more than that—the past four years of his life were a lie. Now, I can’t find him on this giant boat. I need to make sure he’s okay.

  I start to wander through the decks, and then it dawns on me the one place I haven’t checked—his stateroom.

  It’s funny. I was on this boat for two weeks before, and I still can’t find my way around it.

  As I’m walking, I see Cristian. He must note my confusion because he points behind him.

  “He’s that way. The door all the way at the end.” As I begin to walk, I feel the boat move.

  The last time the boat left port, I was desperate to get off, but this time, I’m not worried about how I’m going to get off. It would be fine with me if I never had to again.

  I just need Alaric.

  As soon as I open the door to his stateroom, I see him. “Are you okay?” I ask as I approach. Alaric is sitting on the bed with his back toward me.

  But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know he’s stressed out.

  I can’t even imagine what he must be thinking.

  “No. Not really,” he admits as he turns to face me.

  My tongue feels dry in my mouth as I take in the expression on his face. There are not enough words in the dictionary for me to help him. The only words I can conjure are, “I’m sorry.”

  He gives me a tight smile, silently thanking me for trying, but knowing it’s not enough. Nothing will be. Not until he finds out what happened all those years ago. That day still haunts him, and now, his wounds are open and gaping again. They are old scabs that are bleeding again.

  “It’s not your fault,” he says, and although it’s true, it’s not my fault, I just want to help him.

  “Talk to me.”

  “I’m a monster. You were right. I don’t know how to do this.” He buries his head in his hands.

  “Do what?”

  “Forgive myself. I don’t know how you can even look at me.”

  I stare at him and shake my head. “I don’t understand—”

  “George,” he whispers, and it feels like someone punched me in the chest. I step closer, my legs touching his. “I thought”—he takes a deep inhale—“I thought it was justified.” He looks up at me, his blue eyes dull and hollow. “My father, he killed for sport. I vowed to never be like him.” His head drops down toward the ground, breaking our stare.

  “You’re not.”

  “Aren’t I?”

  “Listen to me, Alaric.” I place my hand under his jaw and make him look up at me. “You are nothing like your father.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because you feel guilt. Because you feel remorse. Because of this.” I place my hand on his heart. “What can I do to help?”

  His hands wrap around my thigh. “Love me.”

  I lean down and kiss the top of his head. “I already do. I didn’t tell you because I needed to know you would fight for us … I should never have doubted you, and for that, I’m sorry. I loved you then. I love you now, and I’ll love you forever.” I place his hand on my belly. “We both will.”

  “Let me love you, then,” he says, and I look down at him to meet his gaze.

  The color of his eyes reminds me of the ocean on a stormy day, dark and endless. “Okay …” I take a step back, his hands dropping to his sides, and he watches as I remove my shirt and then my pants. He stares at me without blinking, until I’m naked and then walking to the bed.

  Then I’m on it, but he still hasn’t moved. He doesn’t undress, and I wonder if I read this wrong, but when I move to cover myself, he shakes his head.

  “Just because I’m still dressed doesn’t mean I don’t want you, but right now, I just want something different,” he says, and I level him with my best fake glare.

  “And what would that be? Because I’m not doing anal.”

  Alaric breaks out into a boisterous laugh, and the sound warms my heart. Even though my joke is stupid, it’s exactly what Alaric needs to pull him out of the daze he’s in.

  “Good to know, but no, that’s not what I meant,” he clarifies.

  “What did you mean, then?”

  “Here, let me show you.” He crawls onto the bed and lies down beside me, resting his hand on my belly. I’m not showing yet, but it doesn’t matter to him.

  “Thank you,” he says.

  “For what?”

  “For giving me something to look forward to, something to want to live for. I have spent the past few years never caring if I lived or died, but now, because of you, because of the baby …” He lowers his body and places his lips on my stomach.

  My eyes fill with tears.

  “I already love you,” he says to my invisible bump. “I will always protect you. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.” He looks up at me, his eyes glassy and full of emotion, and then crawls back up until he’s face-to-face with me. He leans over and kisses me. “After this, I’m done.”

  When he pulls back, I look at him. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m out. I’ll tell your father. Either he can buy me out or I’ll offer it to Cristian.”

  I shake my head in confusion. “Why?”

  “There has been too much death. I don’t want you or the baby in the crossfire anymore.”

  “What will you do?”

  His lip tips up into a smirk. “Maybe Cyrus is hiring?”

  “Isn’t his job just as bad?”

  “Hardly. Ever since he settled down, he really only focuses on the money aspect. He’s given all the rough shit to Matteo to handle, and the investments now go through Ivy’s brother Trent. Cyrus is just a stern face to keep the assholes in line.”

  “Holding the mob’s money still seems pretty rough.”

  “True. Fine, I’ll just retire.”

  His words take me off guard, and I think I stare at him for five minutes before I blink. “Can you do that—”

  His hand reaches up and touches my face. “After this, yes.” Then the movements stop, and his jaw is tight. “Before I figure out who really killed my brother, no.”

  “What do you think happened?”

  “To be honest, I think after Grace died, Damian was in a bad place. I wouldn’t put past him to have gotten into bed with some bad people over grief.”

  “Maybe someone from her family,” I mutter to myself, but his eyes go wide at my suggestion.

  “Maybe that’s it. Maybe that’s the piece of the puzzle I’m missing. Maybe he got into bed with her family and convinced them it was my fault. Fuck!” He grunts, his fist hitting the be
d beside us. “Why hadn’t I seen it before?” He reaches across the bed and grabs his phone.

  “What are you doing?” I ask, lifting my back and resting my weight on my elbows to stare at him.

  “I’m telling Jax this new information. It makes the most sense. Her father lost his in when his daughter died. Maybe this was his second shot to get into the family business.”

  He leans down and kisses my lips.

  “What was that for?” I ask.

  “That was for always listening and loving me regardless of what I say.”

  I wrap my arms around him and bring him closer.

  “Always,” I say against his mouth as I continue to kiss him. Then I tell him with my body just how much I love him.

  51

  Alaric

  After killing the man on my yacht, we drive out to sea. Then we weigh the body down and dump it.

  When this is all over, Phoenix and I will need to go somewhere no one can find us and just be together. Maybe we can dock by our island.

  I’m lost in my own head when Cristian walks into my office.

  “We are going to be docking soon.”

  “Any word from Jaxson?”

  “Nothing yet, but it’s only been two days. I’m sure as soon as he has anything, he will let us know.”

  “Phoenix wants to see her dad,” I say as I stand from my desk and move past him.

  “You sure that’s wise? The last time you were all together, there was a near attempt on Michael’s life.”

  “True. No, it’s not wise. But at the same time, what will you have me do? Keep her locked up like a prisoner on this boat. I already tried that, and we all know how that ended.”

  Cristian smiles. “Congratulations, by the way.”

  I laugh. “Thanks. I’m going to walk away after this,” I say.

  He nods. “I figured.”

  “I’m going to talk to Michael about it today, but if he’s not interested, would you want it?”

  “You would trust your business to me?” Shock registers on Cristian’s face.

  “I would.”

  He nods. “Then yes.”

  “I’m going to see if Phoenix is ready. Find a place for us to meet. Someplace safe. If she’s going to be with me—”

  He understands.

  It’s a few hours later, and Phoenix and I are driving toward the spot where we are going to meet Michael.

  My phone rings in my pocket on the way. I look down to see a name.

  “Jaxson. What do you have for me?”

  “First off”—he pauses—“thanks for the package.” There is no confusing the sarcastic bite to his voice. “However, it was very useful, no matter how unpleasant it was.”

  “Go on …”

  “It didn’t take me long to figure out who the finger belonged to. His name was Vincent Keller. And it appears you were right.”

  My hands tighten into fists. “How so?” I grit out.

  “Before his death, he was employed by Leonard Moreno. Father of Grace Moreno. Business associate of your father and before his death your brother was associated with him as well.”

  I was right. I knew that this was a possibility, but it doesn’t lessen the sting. My enemy is someone I once considered family. How the fuck did everything go so wrong.

  “I need to catch this bastard. What else do you got?”

  “A few addresses.”

  I lean forward in my seat, shocked that I might actually be able to find him today.

  “You have addresses, plural?”

  “I do. In Jersey. A few different buildings. Most look abandoned, but they were all purchased under a shell company. I was able to trace them all back to Moreno.”

  “Fuck.” From beside me, Phoenix takes my hand in hers and gives me a reassuring squeeze. It’s exactly what I need right now. It reminds me to calm down.

  “Yeah, I thought you might say that.”

  “Text me the addresses.” I hang up the phone and take a deep breath.

  “What’s going on?” Phoenix asks.

  “We were right. It is Grace’s father.” I turn to face her and find her pupils are wide and her mouth is hanging open. “Jaxson has a list of addresses. He’s sending them to me now.”

  The phone chimes again, and there it is, the addresses that can potentially lead me to a man I’ve known all my life. I stare at it for a few minutes.

  “Are we going?” Phoenix asks.

  “You aren’t—”

  “Stop right there. I’m not some weak girl you need to hide away in a tower.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Be that as it may, we are going to check it out.” Then Phoenix does something I don’t expect. She grabs my phone from my hand, looks at the address, and calls her dad.

  “Change of plans. We have a few leads,” she says to him, and after she gives him the list of addresses, she hangs up.

  “You will not enter any of the buildings.”

  “Fine, but I’m coming. I’ll wait in the car. We can’t risk him finding out if Jaxson ran checks. The longer we wait, the better chance he finds out we are looking for him.”

  She’s right. I just hate the fact that she is here with me. Maybe Cristian was right. Maybe I should have kept her locked up.

  We sit silently as we pull up to the first building. Michael isn’t here yet, but I don’t wait. Time is of the essence. I leave Cristian in the car with Phoenix, despite his objections. The first building looks vacant. There are no cars in the parking garage, and when I peek in through the window, there is no movement at all. Walking up to the door, I jimmy the lock and then kick it open, gun in hand, ready to fire.

  The place is completely empty.

  There’s not one piece of furniture, no trash, no sign of life.

  It’s a small office space with faded white walls that are now cream, and dark, dingy carpet. This place looks as though it’s been abandoned for years.

  The next address is even worse.

  At least the first building we went to had carpet. This one looks like it’s been condemned for even longer.

  Where the other building was vacant, this one has trash everywhere. The smell is foul. I don’t even bother to look around—as soon as I open the door, I’m closing it.

  I probably should suck it up, but if I go in there, no way can I get back in the car with Phoenix. She’s finally not feeling sick; the stench from this place would set her off.

  When I step back in the car, Phoenix sniffs me. “What is that smell?”

  Her pregnancy nose is on point. She’s like one of those bomb-sniffing dogs.

  “Nothing compared to what the inside of that place smelled like,” I say as I gesture to the building. “Cristian, head over to the address on Washington.” I turn to Phoenix. “Tell your father to meet us there. These have all been dead ends. I’m sure this one will be too.”

  When we pull the car up to the next location, something is not right about it.

  This whole thing feels wrong. Like we are walking into a trap.

  But what other choice do I have?

  Go back.

  Take her someplace far away from all this.

  No. I need to know. I need to look the bastard who killed my brother in the eye and understand why. Was it for a part I never played in his daughter’s death? Was it just greed?

  We park the car, and it’s only a few minutes later when Michael’s car pulls up.

  I take out my phone and call Jaxson back.

  “Is there anyone in the building?” I ask.

  “From the heat signature … no. It’s empty. But that could be wrong. The building next door has movement.”

  I look at the building in front of me.

  “As long as it’s not coming from the building we’re searching, we should be okay.”

  “Be careful, man. This feels almost too easy.”

  “Like a trap?” I ask.

  “Yes.”

  “I agree, b
ut I have no other choice. This is the only lead we have.”

  “Understand. Good luck.”

  I hang up the phone and turn to Phoenix. “No matter what happens, you don’t leave this car.” Her lips form a thin line. “Dove … say you understand me.”

  “I understand you.”

  “But you didn’t agree?”

  “No. I didn’t. If you are in trouble—” She’s about to go on, probably to lecture me, when Michael knocks on the window.

  “Stay here,” I say again before swinging the door open.

  As soon as I leave the car, I turn to him. “This could be a trap.”

  “It’s most definitely a trap. Sure you want to do this?”

  “I don’t really have a choice. I need to know who set us up. Phoenix and my baby will never be safe until I do.”

  “On that, I agree.” After he speaks, he starts to walk, and I follow. Like the last few, this one is also empty. We search each floor, yet again we find nothing.

  “This whole day is a waste.”

  “No, not necessarily,” Michael responds. “Now where to?”

  “I have to head over to a new property I bought. It’s not too far from here. Got to make sure the construction is coming along. Come with us, and we can talk there. I have some things I need to discuss with you.” He nods and we both head out of the building. “I’ll text you the address.”

  “That was fast.” Phoenix smiles when I step into the car a minute later. “Find anything?”

  “No. But I felt my phone vibrate, so maybe Jaxson has more intel.”

  Pulling out my phone, I find a few more addresses to look at, but those will have to wait until tomorrow. I’m done with this day and still need to talk to Michael about my plans to retire. Closing out Jaxson’s message, I send a text to Phoenix’s dad with where to meet.

  It doesn’t take us long to get there, and when we arrive, I turn to face Phoenix.

  “I’m not waiting in the car.” She narrows her eyes at me like she means business.

  “You are. No objections. It’s a shithole in there. Half the floors are missing. The top floor doesn’t even have walls. You’re staying, and that’s final.”