Empire of Sin (Empire #2)(77)

His anger is raw, furious yet still calm. And I’m in the middle of it now. Worse, I think I’ll be swept away by it.

“If you repeat the word “nothing” one more time, I swear to fuck…” he trails off, his nostrils flaring.

“Can’t you just leave it alone?”

“No.”

“Knox…”

“Why are you building a wall between us, Anastasia? Hmm?”

“I am?”

“I feel it, and it keeps getting taller with every passing second.”

“Maybe that wall was supposed to be there from the beginning. It’s safer. For both of us.”

“You mean, for you.”

All the anxiety and fear of the unknown rush to the surface, exploding in a myriad of red-hot temper. “Yes, for me! You have no idea who I am or what you’ve gotten yourself into. The day you do, you’ll curse the moment you met me. I’m defective, okay? Do you know what I do to people? I destroy them.”

“You can’t destroy me, beautiful. That was done way before you came along, so how about you tell me what’s haunting you?”

“How do you know something’s haunting me?”

“I saw it that night. In your ocean blue eyes. They were a little bit haunted, a little bit broken. Just like me. Usually, I don’t get close to people who give off vibes that resemble mine, but you were the exception, my little liar. You still are.”

“You shouldn’t have made me an exception.” I sniffle. “I’m bad for you.”

“And I’m bad for you, too. You don’t see me asking you to leave because of that. In fact, I never will since I happen to be fucking selfish. When I covet something, I keep it. I don’t throw it away and I certainly don’t let it slip from my hands. So you’re fucking stuck with me, Anastasia.”

“What if I want to leave?”

“No, you don’t. You’re just running away because that’s what you’re good at, but you’ll quit that fucking habit with me. Do you know why?”

“Why?”

“Because I’m keeping you. Whether you like it or not.”

I see it then. The determination.

The stubborn determination and the raw possessiveness.

And something tells me it’ll just get worse from here on. That he’ll not only demand to know more, but he’ll also keep me. Whether I like it or not, as he said.

If anything, the more I fight, the harder he’ll chain me to him.

Because he’s decided that he covets me. Wants me.

He won’t allow me to run or escape or search for an alternative solution.

And I can’t stay. Not if I want to keep Adrian and Kirill away from him.

The painful decision thuds against my ribcage with crushing reality, leaving me hollow.

My words are barely audible when I whisper, “I want to break up.”

A muscle works in his jaw and his fist flexes on the wall. I think he’ll move his hand, whether to choke or grab me, I don’t know, but he doesn’t. Instead, it remains there, as stonelike as his presence, as if he’s pining for patience. “What the fuck did you just say?”

“I…want to end this. Whatever this is.”

There’s a manic light in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. “Hmm. I don’t think you were listening, Anastasia, because I just told you that won’t be happening.”

“You can’t tell me what to do. I’m breaking up with you.” My heart bleeds with every word out of my mouth, but I’m so thankful for my calm tone and the false composure in it.

My brain realizes this is the only way to protect him. The only way I’ll keep him out of the sniper’s range.

If he’s out of the picture, Adrian won’t have anything to threaten me with.

This time, Knox’s hand finds my throat, the hold is tight and unyielding, as if he’s driving his words home. “You can break up with me all you want, but you’re still fucking mine.”





31





KNOX





My mood has been shit since yesterday.

Since Anastasia said we were breaking up.

I haven’t seen her—properly, at least—since that encounter in the firm’s hallway. Not only did she leave work after dropping that bomb, but she’s also ignored my calls.

I was a few seconds away from turning into a raging arsehole. Even though, per Dan’s words, I already was one.

He invited me and Sebastian for dinner at one of the few restaurants he approves of. He’s posh like that, a picky eater to a fault, and never eats out unless it’s absolutely necessary.

I might have glared and glowered during that whole dinner until they’d finally had enough and kicked me out for ruining their meal.

When I went to her flat, Anastasia was already sleeping in a curled-up position on the sofa. I wanted to wake her and continue where we left off, but I couldn’t when I saw that delicate frown on her face.

This morning, she got up earlier than me and went to work.

With all the prep I’ve had to do with Sandra, I haven’t been able to go find her. And when I finally got the chance during a small break, she wasn’t in the IT department. Chris mentioned she was out with Gwen.