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

by Ava Harrison

  The game is back on, and as Maggie rushes up to me, her heels clinking against my marble floor, she hands me my glass of Louis XIII.

  I take a swig. It burns as it trails down my throat, scorching old demons that once lay dormant.

  They deal.

  Words are spoken.

  Cards are flipped.

  The winner revealed.

  I know the victor without looking.

  I know the prize too.

  A life.

  The question is whose?

  Chapter Two

  Ivy

  It’s an unusually warm day for the end of winter.

  Normally, the ground is still frozen and fresh snow covers all the surfaces this time of the year.

  But not today.

  Today, the sun is out, and I can feel spring in the air.

  It invigorates me. Breathes new life into my heart. Something I need right now with everything going on. My mother isn’t getting better, and it’s silently killing me.

  It’s a good day, though. She always does better when the outside world is beautiful. It’s as if she is a flower, and when the sun is out, she blooms.

  I live with my parents in the brownstone they own in the West Village. I’m twenty-two—old enough to move out and old enough to live on my own—but leaving this place would mean I leave a piece of my heart.

  My garden.

  Her garden.

  I’m the only one who takes care of it now. Like everything else in this house, they would leave it to wilt and die if it weren’t for me. So, instead, I’m on my knees pulling all the weeds and dead plants from the ground.

  It’s the reason I stay. My mother lost her will to tend to it years ago, around the same time she lost her will to live. She might still be here with us, but she is a shell of the woman she once was.

  So, now I tend to it. Using everything she taught me, I bring it back to life, year after year.

  My hands touch the withered stems, then I grab them. The hard ground loosens as I free the dead plants and place them in a garbage bag.

  After I finish pulling the weeds, I stand from where I’m kneeling, grab the garbage bag, and then turn toward the back door to the house. Through the large bay window, I can see my mother standing there. She’s in the kitchen, and even from where I am outside, I can see the blank look in her eyes.

  She’s vacant. Hollow.

  Some days are worse than others.

  From what I can gather, today will be one of those days.

  My father never came home last night.

  It’s not unusual for him, nor is it unusual for my mother to be more despondent the day after.

  He’s probably having an affair. Whenever I ask him where he’s been, he says he had to work late. I know better and, unfortunately, so does she.

  “Hi, Mom.” I walk up beside her and place a kiss on the top of her cheek. She inhales me, probably smelling the fresh air that clings to my skin, and then she looks up as if it invigorates her.

  “Where is your father?”

  From where I’m standing, I can see straight into her eyes. They used to be a vibrant blue, much like my own. I’ve always been told I look like her. Sandy blond hair that falls in loose waves down my back and large blue eyes. Now, we no longer look alike. Her blond hair has gone gray, and her eyes have lost their sparkle.

  But at least they’re no longer blank. Staring at her, looking into her eyes, I can see recognition. I give her a tight smile, taking a step closer to her, and reach for her hand.

  “I don’t know, Mom,” I answer, my voice low with uncertainty.

  She pulls her hand from mine, lifting and running it through her disheveled hair. She pushes the strands around as if trying to tidy up and look presentable for him. If my father wasn’t such a prick, I would think it was cute. But unfortunately, he is, and she deserves better.

  She deserves to be someone’s everything.

  “I saw him before. He was here . . . angry.” Her voice dips on the last word.

  My eyebrow lifts. I didn’t see him, but he probably was here. I don’t doubt it.

  It would make sense; he comes and goes as he pleases without a care in the world. He gives no shits of the havoc he causes Mom. Especially when he is angry. And he has been furious recently.

  On edge.

  Another reason I stay here. Her being alone here is not an option.

  Just in case.

  I don’t trust my father. It’s not that I think he’d hurt her, but something is off with him. I’ve often wondered if Trent realizes something is up. I’d ask him, but he’s too busy running around the city, and we don’t catch up that often.

  No two siblings could be further apart or more different.

  I’m a homebody. I like the simple things in life. I live at home and tend my garden and work part-time as a florist.

  He’s all about the money and prestige. The nightlife. Living fast and hard. He’s so cliché.

  The paps love him.

  He’s their favorite “billionaire trust fund boy.” Although by the looks of the house I live in, I’m not sure the title fits anymore.

  Listen, I don’t judge him. If he wants to party and play the field, that’s fine for him. I want none of that, but that doesn’t make me miss him less.

  “Are the flowers blooming?” My mother’s voice pulls me out of my faraway thoughts. It’s nice to hear. It sounds so crisp, reminding me of good times. When Dad was here, and the madness hadn’t taken root in her mind yet. It reminds me of when the backyard is speckled pink and lush and vibrant.

  There is hope in her voice. Reaching my hand out once again, I take her frail one in mine. “Not yet, Mom. But soon.”

  She nods her head, and then like a channel changing on a TV, she’s no longer here with me. She’s gone somewhere else. Somewhere far in her mind. A heavy sadness weighs down on me, filling my veins slowly. The sound of her footsteps leaving the room makes me take action, and before I know what I’m doing, I’m back outside.

  The first flowers won’t bloom in our garden for another few months. But I still welcome the balmy winter day. Because days like today bring her back, even if only for a short time.

  With my knees back on the hard, weathered grass, I pull again, lifting the earth with my hands. Loose soil sifts through my fingers like grains of sand passing the time.

  A noise coming from in front of where I am, has me looking up to see who’s there. “Trent?” I say, lifting my hand up to cover the sunlight. My older brother steps out from the shadows. “What are you doing here?”

  “Can’t I come to check on my sister?” He tries to say this in a joking manner, but his tone doesn’t match his words.

  I lift a brow in speculation. “You could, but then you wouldn’t be my brother.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” He halts his steps and then stares at me.

  With the bright light gleaming down on me, I can’t see him well. I place my shovel on the ground, and then I stand before making my way to him. When he’s directly in front of me, I look at him closely and then shake my head.

  He looks like shit.

  Normally handsome, he seems rundown and tired. Large dark circles and dull eyes make it appear as though he hasn’t slept in days.

  “Did you come here straight from the bar?” I incline my head to get a better look before narrowing my eyes. On top of his appearance, Trent is acting strange. He’s bouncing from foot to foot, almost as though he’s high or in withdrawal from drugs. “Why are you acting like this?”

  “Like what?”

  “Cagey,” I respond. “Are you high?”

  “No, Ivy.” His voice is stern, not even trying to mask his annoyance at my question. “That’s ridiculous.”

  “Is it, though? You show up out of nowhere, and you look like . . . shit,” I deadpan.

  He takes a deep breath, then shakes his head. His signature smirk appears on his handsome face, and a glimmer of his normally playful personality pop
s through. It reminds me of when we were kids, and we used to play in the dirt together. Trent would grab Mom’s watering hose and sprinkle us like it was raining. After playing for hours, we would both be drenched, and Mom would watch us as she gardened, laughing. “You’re not being very nice, sis.”

  “And you are being shady as fuck.” I place my hands on my hips and purse my lips. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing. I told you.” He stops talking and starts to pace back and forth on the patio in the backyard. His short-lived good mood fading faster than a mirage in a desert.

  What’s going on with him?

  This is odd behavior, even for Trent. I watch as he walks, his mouth moving as if he’s talking to himself, but no words come out, and then he’s pulling out his phone from his pocket. His shoulder tense as he reads what I assume is a text message.

  “Everything okay?” I ask him.

  He looks exhausted and beat as he lifts his free hand and runs it through his light brown hair.

  “It will be,” he says before letting out a sigh. Whatever the text was about is obviously not good because he looks worse off than when he first got here.

  “You’re worrying me. Are you sure? If you need help—”

  He raises his hand to stop me from talking, and I do. Normally, I would fire back a witty comment about how rude it is to butt in, but something tells me I shouldn’t. Maybe it’s the circles under his eyes or the way his brow furrows, but I decide to shut my mouth instead and hear what he has to say.

  “I’m not using drugs, Ivy, but I appreciate the concern. Can’t I just be here to see my baby sister?”

  I opt for a joke, trying to cut the tension hovering in the air between us. “Yes. If that brother is anyone but you.” He chuckles, and then I begin to laugh too. I love the sound of his laughter. He places his hand against his chest in mock disbelief. “Just keeping it real, bro.” I miss this version of my brother.

  We both go quiet after our momentary reprieve from the tension. It’s once again awkward and uncomfortable, and although I’m not close with my brother anymore, it feels wrong. With his shoulders slumped forward, he kicks the dirt with his shoe before looking up and meeting my stare.

  “Is Mom okay?” He finally breaks the silence.

  “You can ask her yourself, Trent.”

  He looks back at his phone before his pale blue eyes meet mine. “On that note, I think I’ll be going now.”

  “Please, Trent, what’s going on? Are you okay?”

  A shadow of something passes over his features before he rubs his temples as if a headache is forming. “I’m just checking on you. I was here to talk to Dad . . .”

  “He’s back?” My stomach muscles tighten. I have no desire to see him today.

  “No.”

  I shake my head in confusion. “I don’t understand. Mom said he was, but I didn’t see him.”

  “Stay away from him.” His tone has my back straightening.

  “Why? You’re scaring me. Did he do something?”

  “Just promise me you’ll stay away from him. I’ll go find him, but in the meantime, can you go back inside? And if anyone comes here looking for him, don’t answer.”

  “What? No. Look at it outside, it’s beautiful.”

  “Please.”

  “Listen, Trent. I appreciate you being here. I love to see you, but I think I can handle Dad.”

  “It’s just—”

  “No,” I cut him off, lifting my hand. “You aren’t here. I am. I deal with him. His mood. I have done a good job raising myself, regardless. But as much as I appreciate your concern, I need to take care of Mom, and right now, that means getting her garden ready.”

  “She’s not getting better?”

  “Her depression is worse in the winter, but when the sun comes out, she does.”

  He looks down and then looks off in the direction of the pile of dirt I’ve made.

  “I love you, sis.”

  “I love you too, big bro. Now let me get back to this. It will be dark soon.” With one last nod, he leaves.

  I can’t help but think something is wrong with him. He said he’s not using drugs, but I’m not sure I believe him.

  Sometime later, when I’m about to stand and head inside, I hear noises. The sound of a car door. Footsteps. From the corner of my eye, I see a shadow. My body pivots to see who’s coming toward me. My mom? My dad?

  Maybe it’s Trent again.

  But when I’m fully turned in the direction of the noise and shadows, no one is there.

  I fight off the foreboding feeling that I’m being watched. As my fingers pull at the remnants of last summer, I swear I see movement. As if the world around me feels it too, the sky darkens.

  I can smell the rain before it starts. The damp, musty air infiltrates my nostrils.

  I should move, but I don’t. Instead, I wait.

  I wait for the crack in the sky, and then I wait for the first drop. Most people don’t enjoy being in the rain, but I love it. It invigorates me. It reminds me of the beginning of spring.

  Rebirth.

  Did you enjoy this sample? Buy Corrupt Kingdom here: Amazon

  Acknowledgments

  I want to thank my entire family. I love you all so much.

  Thank you to my husband and my kids for always loving me. You guys are my heart!

  Thank you to my Mom, Dad, Liz and Ralph for always believing in me, encouraging me and loving me!

  Thank you to my in-laws for everything they do for me!

  Thank you to all of my brothers and sisters!

  Thank you to everyone that helped with Tarnished Empire.

  Jenny Sims

  Angela Smith

  Amy Halter

  Marla Esposito

  Max Dobson

  Gemma Woolley

  Champagne Formats

  Hang Le

  Viviana Izzo

  Thank you to Philippe Leblond for being the perfect Alaric.

  Thank you to Sebastian York, Ava Erickson, Kim Gilmour and Lyric for bringing Tarnished Empire to life on audio. Thank you to Viviana Izzo for all your help with my audio promo! Thank you to Sebastian’s Addicts for being so excited to listen!

  Special thank you to Nina Grinstead and everyone at Valentine PR.

  Thank you to my AMAZING ARC TEAM! You guys rock!

  Thank you to my beta/test team.

  Parker: Thank you for everything! You are the best!

  Leigh: Thank you for always being there and always looking out for me.

  Sarah: Thank you for your amazing graphics!

  Kelly: Thank you for all your input and proofing my audio.

  Lulu, Christine and Suzi: Thank you for your wonderful and extremely helpful feedback.

  Jill: Thank you for all your help.

  Melissa: Thank you for everything.

  Harloe: Thanks for always being there.

  Mia: Thanks for always plotting.

  I want to thank ALL my friends for putting up with me while I wrote this book. Thank you!

  To all of my author friends who listen to me complain and let me ask for advice, thank you!

  To the ladies in the Ava Harrison Support Group, I couldn’t have done this without your support!

  Please consider joining my Facebook reader group Ava Harrison Support Group

  Thanks to all the bloggers! Thanks for your excitement and love of books!

  Last but certainly not least...

  Thank you to the readers!

  Thank you so much for taking this journey with me.

  About the Author

  Ava Harrison is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. When she's not journaling her life, you can find her window shopping, cooking dinner for her family, or curled up on her couch reading a book.

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