Dirty Empire: A Dark Romance

by K. D Clark

  “It's getting better. Yesterday was a good day.” It will be a long time before Hazel can heal from the abuse she’s suffered, but at least it looks like we’re moving forward.

  “Mhmm.”

  “What?”

  “You’re pretty serious about her, huh?” Dustin asks.

  “Miles really fucked her up.”

  “That’s not what I asked.”

  I let out a sigh and take a drag of the cigar before placing it back in the ashtray. The smoke erupts from my mouth and fills the air.

  “I don’t know. I want to help her. She’s different.” I’m not sure how to put it into words. I feel an obligation to help Hazel get back on her feet, but I’d be lying if I say there isn’t something deeper there. I’ve fucked a lot of women, but I’ve never felt as strong of a connection. She’s brave and ambitious, and I can’t wait until I get to see the real her. The one that I know is hiding underneath all of the trauma she’s been through. But relationships are dangerous. They only end in tragedy. My parents’ marriage is enough to prove that. It was proven again with Hazel and Miles’s situation. Relationships did something to people. It changed them. That’s why I’d kept all my relationships at a distance. I had no plans to change who I am.

  “So, what happens after you help her?” Dustin questions.

  “I don’t know.”

  “I’ve been married for twenty years, man. Give it a chance,” he encourages.

  I take another drag of my cigar before putting it out completely. “So, did you get a promotion?” I ask to change the subject.

  “Still working on it, but that bust put me in the running. Hey, I got to go, but I’ll see you around.”

  “See ya’.” I hang up the phone and place it on the desk. The grass is bright green outside my window, flourishing under the blazing sun. A movement to the left catches my attention. Hazel is standing by the pool with a towel wrapped around her body. Her dark hair is pulled up in a bun at the top of her head like she doesn't want to get it wet. Her skin has paled from the amount of time she’s spent in her bedroom, but I hope it will take on its beautiful color again.

  She drops the towel at her feet, revealing a pink bikini that barely covers anything. I feel like a fucking peeping tom, but I can’t tear my eyes away from her body. It’s perfect. Her waist is smaller than her hips, which gives her that hourglass shape. Her breasts bounce as she walks to the edge of the pool and dips a toe inside.

  My dick strains against my jeans as I watch her sit down and then slide into the pool. I’m tempted to stop work right now and join her when my phone vibrates on the desk. The name of my real estate agent flashes across the screen. Fuck.

  “This is Mav,” I answer.

  “Good evening. This is Marcie. I have some exciting news. We are ready to close the deal on the clean energy establishment. We’ll just need you to come in to sign the final documents.”

  “Thanks, Marcie. I’ll stop by there in the morning.”

  “We’ll see you then – and congratulations on your new purchase.”

  I hang up the phone. It’s happening. While I had owned many businesses over the years, I’m particularly proud of this venture because it could be the fresh start I longed for. It’s going to allow me to cut ties with arms trafficking.

  I look out the window again. I can only see Hazel’s head because the rest of her body is underwater. She made it clear the first time she was here that she’s glad I’m getting out of the business. It shouldn’t care what she thinks, but for a strange reason, I do.

  *****

  The morning hits me in the face with its steady stream of sunlight. It peeks through the curtains at six am. Morning has always been my favorite part of the day, and usually, I had a strict routine, but I’ve fallen off the wagon. Before I can talk myself out of it, I pull on my sweatpants and walk down to the gym. The smell of bacon fills my nose. Isabella must have been cooking breakfast already. My gym is located in the west wing of the house. I have the same equipment that any box gym would, which is nice because I doubt there are any decent gyms on the island.

  I start on the treadmill before moving on to the weights. Ever since I was young, I liked to stay in shape. The beatings had something to do with that. I wanted to be strong enough to take on any opponent. The lion tattoo on my chest is to remind me of my inner warrior. To never be defeated in battle. I’ve fallen off my routine, but I’m determined to get back into it. Working out helps me clear my head. Almost like a form of meditation. Today I have a lot to think about. Signing for this warehouse means there is no turning back. The energy company is happening. I want Hazel to be a part of it. She needs time, but I can see she’s getting bored staying in the house. She’s explored and taken advantage of all of the activities on the property. Sometimes she has one of my men take her to the market so she can buy more decorations. She’s running out of stuff to do. The other day I caught her sitting in the family room watching trashy reality TV. She’ll never admit she’s bored, but I can tell.

  It takes seven years, sometimes longer, to finish law school. I imagine she’s still in love with the profession. Every business needs lawyers, including my new company. Is that something she’d be interested in?

  A flash of dark hair has me looking away from the barbell above my head.

  “Like what you see?” I joke before placing the barbell back on the rack and sitting up. Hazel stands on the other side of the glass wall.

  “Eh, I’ve seen better.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. I’m glad she’s able to joke again. Walking to the doorway, she leans against the frame. “How is your chest? Are you fully healed?”

  “It’s healed. I’m a fighter, nothing to worry about.”

  “You might be a fighter, but no one is invincible.”

  “I appreciate your concern, Pumpkin. I do. But I’m good. I’ve dealt with worse if you ask me,” I expect her to push more information, but she doesn’t.

  “So, what’s on the agenda today?” She walks the rest of the way into the gym. Still dressed in her pajamas, she looks so innocent. I’m surprised she’s awake so early. Maybe she’s making progress.

  I used a white towel to wipe my sweaty face. “My real estate agent called me last night. She’s sending over the closing documents for the energy company.”

  “That’s awesome, Maverick. I’m happy for you.” The distant strain in her voice strikes a chord with me. She takes a seat on the pull-up machine across from me and crosses her slender legs.

  “Listen. I thought maybe we could do this together. I can run the operations, and you can manage the legal side of things.”

  Hazel paused for a minute before responding. “Are you telling me, or are you asking me?”

  “I’m asking you. I can always hire someone to come in and do all the contracts, but my first thought was you.”

  She takes a deep breath, looking like a deer in headlights. “I don’t know.”

  Well, that’s not the response I was expecting.

  “What’s making you hesitate?” I speak to her as if making a business deal.

  She pulls her bottom lip into her mouth. “I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me so far, Maverick.”

  “Then let me do one more thing for you. I’d rather work beside you than some stranger.”

  “It's just… I don’t want my life to be so entangled in yours that I feel stuck.”

  Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. Of course, she’d want to leave at some point. We don't exactly have a relationship. We’d only slept together once, and soon she’d be having a lot of money coming in from Miles’s estate.

  “I just want to have my own thing going on that’s separate from you,” she rushes out. Her refusal of the position shouldn’t be so shocking. She’d just come out of a relationship where she was completely shut off from the outside world. Logically, she’d want to start rebuilding her life and relationships in her own way.

  “I get it. You don’t have
to explain yourself.”

  She gives me a small smile. “Thank you.”

  “So, what do you want to do?” I ask. Did she already have a plan in place to leave? Her presence in the house has made everything feel a lot lighter. It made me stop dragging my feet and move forward with my new business. It’s as if I’d been living in darkness, and she came bursting in with the sun in her back pocket.

  “I need to figure out how much money I have first and get someone to sell Miles’s property. After that, I want to go back to practicing law, but I’m not sure in what way. I used to be a corporate lawyer before, and I enjoyed it.”

  Her plans don't include moving out, and that gives me some hope. “I’m always here if you need help with any of that,” I offer.

  She nods. “Thank you.”

  “I’m going to shower, and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

  “Sounds good.” She unfolds herself from the machine and walks out the door.

  My eyes are glued to her ass with every step she takes. My dick hardens against my sweatpants. I’ll have to finish myself off in the shower before I join her for breakfast. Since she had come back to the house, I’ve masturbated more than I did when I was a teenager. It’s embarrassing.

  I can go out at any point, pick up a beautiful woman, and get my needs taken care of. It would be easy, but none of them would hold a candle to Hazel. She’s a different level of beauty that I’ve never seen before. I shake my head, walk back to my bedroom, and get in the shower. I place my hand on the shower wall and jerk my dick as images of Hazel flash through my mind. Her perfect tits that had shaken as I fucked her in my bed last time. Her pussy was like a siren, I’ve had one taste, and now it has been calling to me ever since. My breathing became heavier as I imagined wrapping my hands around her long dark strands.

  Every part of her is so soft, so innocent, even with everything she’s been through in her life. She’s the complete opposite of me, and something about that calmed me. My spine tingles before I bust my load all over the shower wall. I feel eyes on me, and I turn to see Hazel standing in the doorway of the bathroom, looking shocked and embarrassed. A small smile creeps across my face, and she quickly turns and walks away.

  Chapter Nine: Viva La Mexico

  Hazel

  Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. My cheeks are on fire as I rush to my bedroom and close the door. I hadn’t meant to walk in on him. He was taking a long time, and after I finished my breakfast and coffee, I’d gone searching for him. I called his name, but he must have been too preoccupied to hear me. I just meant to peek inside the bathroom to make sure he was okay, but once I saw him, it was like my body froze up.

  The veins in his arms were visible from my spot in the doorway as he jerked himself off. I had never seen a man touch himself, but something about it made me clench my thighs together. Nothing has been able to turn me on for the past few weeks, but seeing Maverick like that flipped a switch. I don't even think he realized his lips had been moving as he masturbated. It took me a while to decode what he was saying; Hazel. He’d been mouthing my name over and over again.

  What was I supposed to say to him? “Sorry, I stood in the doorway and watched you masturbate because I’m a pervert?” Although, when he saw me standing there, he didn't look embarrassed at all. He looked amused.

  I change out of my pajamas and into a pair of shorts and a tank top just so I can focus on something else. Once I put on my makeup and style my hair into curls, I know I can’t hide out in my room all day. I step out of the bedroom and go down to the kitchen, where Isabella is chopping vegetables for lunch later.

  “He’s in his office,” Isabella says. She must have noticed my wandering eyes.

  I smile at her and nod. Isabella is native to Tahiti. She has beautiful dark skin and curly hair that she keeps up in a bun.

  “What’s your plans for today?” she asks me.

  Avoid the man that I just watched masturbate, I thought to myself.

  “I don’t know. I want to go swimming tonight, but other than that, I’m not sure.” I’m running out of things to do. Maverick’s estate is beautiful, but there’s only so much I can do to entertain myself. I could spend the day dealing with all the things that came with being a widow; I’d put that off long enough.

  “Hmm, I have to go to the market today if you’d like to join me,” Isabella offers. She’s the only person other than Maverick that I talk to.

  “Yeah, I’ll go.”

  She looks up from the vegetables and smiles, “Great. I’ll let you know when I’m leaving.”

  She fills up a big pot of water and places it on the stove.

  “Hey, Isabella?”

  “Yeah?”

  “How did you end up working for Maverick?” I ask. I’ve always been curious. She turns away from the stove to look at me.

  “I used to cook at a restaurant. It's a big tourist spot near the beach. Maverick came in there one day, he ate the food and then asked to speak with me. I thought he was just an annoying tourist,” she laughs, recalling the memory. “Anyway, he said he was building his house on the island and was looking for staff. He asked if I’d like to cook for him. I laughed right in his face. There was no way I was going to be lured into some guy's house.”

  I smile. Smart woman. “Then what happened?”

  “He kept coming back and asking me to work for him. Finally, I agreed to see what this man was talking about. I took my big brother with me on my first day because I was so scared.”

  I laugh, imagining Isabella coming to work with her big brother as her protection.

  “After I realized I was safe and Maverick was offering me triple the money I made at the restaurant, I agreed. Soon I became more than a cook and started running the household. It's a job that I’ve been hoping a woman in his life would take over.” She eyed me as if expecting me to volunteer. I don't have any plans of leaving the house unless Maverick asks me to, but taking over running this estate isn’t something I’ll ever be interested in.

  I clear my throat, and Isabella turns back around to dump her chopped vegetables in the boiling water.

  “Thank you for telling me your story,” I say.

  ***

  That night, after spending the day with Isabella and successfully avoiding Maverick, I change into my bikini and go down to the pool. It’s dark beside the bright football-stadium-like lights that surround the pool. The entire rest of the backyard is pitch black. It’s kind of creepy. Someone could come out of the shadows, and I wouldn’t even know. I slowly ease myself into the pool, letting my body get used to the water. The pool’s heated, so the water’s warm. I plan to get in the hot tub afterward. I hold my nose and go underwater, letting my hair get wet and ruining my curls. I haven’t taken my makeup off before coming down, so it’s probably smeared across my face. Of course, there had been a pool at Miles’s mansion, but I never used it. Everything’s just different here; it makes me want to live my life. Being locked in a room for weeks on end made me grateful for everything I have, and this house is heavenly. I want to enjoy all the little things in life, even if that means going for a swim by myself in the dark.

  I swim a few laps, loving the sound of my heartbeat quickening from the cardio. I’ve never been into fitness, but it feels good to move my body. I’m free, freer than I’ve been in years.

  “Mind if I join you?”

  I look up to see Maverick walking toward the pool with only his swim trunks on. His muscular chest is completely exposed. His lion tattoo is bright and prominent on his pec. His abs look like they’re sculpted from marble. I almost forget about the reason I’ve been avoiding him all day… Almost.

  “Sure,” I say, trying to sound relaxed.

  He doesn't ease himself in as I did. No, he runs to the edge of the pool and flings himself into the water. I laugh as the water splashes around me.

  “That was dramatic.”

  He smiles at me. “I like to make an entrance.”

  Like how I entere
d his bathroom and just stood there? Maybe I should just put it all out in the open, and we can get over it. I open my mouth, but the words aren’t what I was expecting to come out.

  “Did you sign the paperwork for your company?” I ask. Maverick getting out of the illegal business put me a bit at ease. I know I can trust him, but an activity like arms trafficking would always come with danger. Even if things don't work out between us, for whatever reason, I still don't want him to be in another dangerous situation. The image of him lying on the floor of the house covered in blood flashes through my mind.

  He swims closer to me, and I can feel his body heat radiating off him. The smell of chlorine surrounds us. My fingertips wrinkle from the water.

  “I did. The warehouse is bought, and the LLC is established. Now I can move forward with construction and planning.”

  The smile on his face is contagious. The business must be why he’s in such a playful mood. I like this side of Maverick. He doesn't show it often.

  “That’s amazing.”

  “How was your day?” he asks with a raised eyebrow as if seeing if I’ll bring up the bathroom incident.

  “It was good. I hung out with Isabella a lot. We went to the market together. She told me about how you harassed her until she agreed to work for you.”

  He chuckles. “I liked her cooking.”

  “Does she live on the property?” I ask. She’s always here when I wake up and sometimes late into the night.

  He shrugs. “Not really. She has a room that she uses sometimes, but she usually goes home at night. She’s pretty close to her family.”

  “Hmm.” I move my hands across the water, causing it to ripple under my touch.

  Maverick takes a step toward me, and his eyes focus on mine. I’m lost in the sea of his dark blue gaze. Every inch of my body reacts to him. “Anything else you want to talk about?”

  I flatten myself against the concrete wall of the pool, and he cages me in with both arms. I guess I’m not getting out of this awkward conversation. Can’t he just let it go and act as nothing happened?