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Chapter 37 : Falling Apart
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2024-04-03 14:13:35Related chapters
Empire of Deception Chapter 38 : How Far Could I Fall?
*Amelia’s POV*The door creaked open, revealing a space that felt strangely foreign. Everything was just as I'd left it- the couch where Nina and I watched movies together, the kitchen table where we ate breakfast side by side. The walls seemed to be closing in on me, and the air felt thick with sadness. I hadn't realized how overcome by emotions I'd be until I was in the Uber after I'd left Adrian's penthouse."Amelia?" Nina called out from her bedroom. I texted her from the Uber and let her know I was coming home."It's me," I assured her.I hadn't brought anything other than my briefcase and purse, and I already regretted not grabbing some of my clothes. I made my way to my bedroom and carefully placed my bags on the dresser. I looked around in amazement; every surface was visibly polished, and not a single item seemed out of place. I remembered the mess that had been left behind when our apartment was ransacked, and realized Adrian must have hired somebody to clean it up.
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 39 : Everything Went Black
*Adrian’s POV*The glass shattered as it hit the marble floor, pieces of it bouncing as far as I could see. Splintered shards glittered against the tiled kitchen floor, and I found myself enraptured by the kaleidoscope of colors that shone. Throwing it didn’t help the rage that ran unchecked through my body, though. I looked up at my head of security, and he cowered at whatever he saw written on my face.“Why didn’t anyone step in and stop this shit?” I asked him as I stalked toward him. He stepped away, his eyes wide and fearful as he put the large granite kitchen island between us. He was smart to do this, there was something dangerous in my blood tonight.“You told us to watch and never intervene, boss,” he stuttered.I slammed my fists on the countertop and gritted my teeth, "That means don't draw attention to yourselves for the sake of any men who may be following her, you fucking imbeciles.” The man before me sank to his knees, his head bowed in submission. He knew wha
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 40 : The Monday of all Mondays
*Amelia’s POV*As I pulled into the parking lot, the morning sun cast a blinding glare through the windshield. My head pulsed with a dull ache, and my eyelids felt heavy. I had stayed out too late with James. The night had been filled with a sexual energy and guilt.When I got home around eleven-thirty, Adrian had called me twice and texted me once, but I sent him to voicemail. Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind raced with anxiety early into the morning.With a sigh, I exited my car and jogged up the steps into the courthouse. As I entered through the double doors, my calves burned from moving so hastily in my heels. There was a lonely desk in front where an older woman sat hunched over scribbling something in her notepad with intense concentration.She always sat there on Mondays drawing portraits of the people who waited in the lobby, and she'd been doing it for as long as I knew. Her name was Margaret, and everyone in the courthouse treated her like their grandma.
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 41 : Hell, Here I Come
*Adrian’s POV*My head pounded and my mouth felt like it was stuffed full of cotton balls. ‘What the fuck happened?’ I thought to myself. One minute I was checking the perimeter of the warehouse, and the next I was waking up with an excruciating headache. I tried to stand, and I realized I couldn’t move. My eyes shot open, and I saw the dingy walls of the room were painted a nauseating yellow, and the floor was covered in dirt and grime. I heard the sound of footsteps outside the door, and I knew something must have gone very fucking sideways. I was being held captive in some run-down shitty apartment, and MID had to be responsible.Regret began to creep up my spine, I should have told someone other than Bill that I was going out there to check things out. I had made all of my extra security keep tabs on Amelia because I was untouchable, but this wake-up call was proving the opposite. Even the mighty fall when they make stupid ass choices. This was the first time in a long time
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 42 : Tactical Planning
*Amelia’s POV*I felt the vibrations of heavy boots thudding up the stairs and pounding at the front door. Evelyn's eyes widened and her body tensed as she snatched a paperweight from Adrian's desk. I quickly grabbed the fire poker, its end cold against my sweating palms, and stepped in front of her. The door handle rattled and I held my breath, raising the metal bar between us and whatever was outside.Suddenly, the door burst open, and six men walked in. Their faces were set with determination, and I let out a loud, relieved laugh, "Thank God.""Are you two okay?" Adrian's head of security asked. He walked toward us as we threw our weapons to the ground."Yeah, we're fine. Adrian isn't here. But I think I know where he was last night," I informed him, "He was checking out this warehouse. He had to have taken Bill along with him, he wouldn't have gone alone.""You're right," he agreed, "We need to go to the warehouse and see if there's anything there that can tell us what ha
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 43 : It's Not Fun To Be The Prey, Is It?
*Amelia’s POV*The sun had just set by the time we had everything we needed to rescue Adrian. All of the men were dressed in tactical gear, and we walked to the van and settled in for the drive across town. The air hummed with anxious energy, and Nina said, "I don't know how cops do this shit. I'd never be able to relax.""Right? I feel sick to my stomach and my hands are shaking," I replied.A hush fell over the people in the van, and we all contemplated what was to come. James had been quiet all evening, and I think it was mostly because he knew I cared for Adrian.He leaned in close to me and whispered, "It was stupid of you to ever get involved with a man like Adrian. You're never going to be safe in his world, Amelia. He can't protect you, he can't even protect himself."He was right about never being safe. Even after the MID case was over, Adrian's life would always be dangerous. We weren't dating or exclusive, but I realized at that moment that I wanted to be something
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 44 : The Death Of A Friend
*Amelia's POV*James had interrupted an intimate moment between Adrian and me, and I was mortified. I walked into a different room, away from the two men, and opened a window to get some fresh air. The night air entered my lungs quickly, making them expand as it rushed in. I took deep breaths and tried to focus on grounding myself.I was fucking pissed at Adrian for how he had treated me the last time we saw each other, so how did he have me falling over myself at the chance to kiss him? He hadn't even initiated anything in the bedroom, I did it of my own volition. Was this Stockholm Syndrome or what? I didn't understand how I had gotten so emotionally involved with him, the man without emotions.I did see a glimmer in his eyes when he thanked me for saving him, though. There was something there, he felt the same things I was feeling. I was sure of it. My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of scuffling and shouting behind me.I turned just in time to see Bill sprin
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Empire of Deception Chapter 45 : Federal Jurisdiction
*Amelia’s POV*Sirens wailed as the cop cars, ambulances, and firetrucks careened around the corner and pulled up in front of the building. Numbly, I stood in the dew-wet grass of the early morning and watched as emergency responders approached us. The men who had helped us rescue Adrian had left because James had said it was too suspicious for civilians to have an armed SWAT team. It was just Nina, James, Adrian, and me standing and waiting to be questioned. We had readied our story, and then James called it into the local precinct. He had told them we had gotten a call to come pick Adrian up from the address. Bill had already tied up the men from MID and was holding Adrian hostage, but we didn’t know it until we got there. There had been a struggle, and Bill was killed. The men from MID may have a conflicting story, but they were criminals, so it would be their word against ours. We just needed to stay consistent. “Ma’am, are you alright?” a kind EMS worker asked as she place
Last Updated : 2024-04-03
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Empire of Deception Chapter 50 : The Darkness That Brought Us Together
*Adrian’s POV*My breath tickled her neck and I lightly bit into her earlobe, eliciting a soft moan from her. I had carefully pinned Amelia's wrists above her head, keeping her trapped beneath me. The contrast between the vibrant California sun-kissed hue of her skin and the stark white tile of the bathroom floor was striking, and I could've easily stayed in that moment forever.“I bet you’re already wet, aren’t you? You don’t even know what your punishment is yet, and I bet your panties are drenched,” I muttered, “You keep trying to pretend you don’t fucking love my dark side. Yet, here we are.”Her eyes widened and her lips softly parted, “Please, Adrian,” she begged, her voice barely above a whisper. I loved how I could make her body come alive beneath my touch, “Please what?” I asked, trailing my fingers up her arm, savoring the sensation of her skin against mine. “Punish me. I deserve it,” she pouted, her bottom lip poking out deliciously. I used my left hand to hol
Empire of Deception Chapter 49 : Insolent Little Goddess
*Amelia’s POV*“No, Amelia. Not just sex. I want this. Us,” Adrian admitted.I felt my face get hot, and my stomach lurched at his statement. Adrian's eyes, those same hazel eyes that had first drawn me in, bore into mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. He had always been a master of charm, but this time, he was unveiling something deeper, something more profound."Adrian, you can't just drop a bomb like that on me," I stammered, my fingers nervously toying with the sheets. "I mean, it's not like I don't want this too, but..."He sighed, his hand reaching out to gently cup my cheek. "But what, Amelia? We can't keep pretending that this is just a casual thing. I can’t keep pretending." I could feel him struggling to say those words, and they rang true, but my fear ran deep-rooted in the knowledge of Adrian's troubling history of lying, manipulation, and deception. The shadow of his past actions had cast a dark cloud over our relationship, making it difficul
Empire of Deception Chapter 48 : I Need To Tell You Something…
*Adrian’s POV*“Hello, ‘wife’”, I said as she stepped into the living room and set down the grocery bags full of food. She rolled her eyes and flipped me the bird, “Don’t stand up to help me all at once. It’s not like I just carried all this shit up three flights of stairs.” I stood up from my spot on the couch and walked over to help her. Things between us had been a little tense since the WPP placement. We both missed our old lives and to say we hadn’t had to adjust would be a lie. Amelia had been emotional, and I resorted to anger and rudeness whenever I was uncomfortable.It’d be perfectly acceptable for Amelia to kick me in the nuts for how I’d treated her. Not only since we’d moved here, but before that, during what had happened with MID, as well. My life had slowed down exponentially, and it allowed me to look back on my life and come to some new realizations. We silently unpacked the groceries Amelia had picked up, and I thought about everything I wanted to tell he
Empire of Deception Chapter 47 : A New Life
*Amelia’s POV* “Sarah, do you have a minute?” Mia leaned against my office door and asked.I sat aside the report I was working on and looked up, “Of course, what’s up?”Mia was wearing a button-up Hawaiian shirt and black slacks. Her blonde hair was pulled back into two buns that sat on top of her head, and her blue eyes sparkled with charisma. She was adorable and seemed like a really fun person, though we hadn’t talked much. She reminded me a lot of Nina. The non-profit I worked for, Sunshine Global, had a business casual dress code with an emphasis on casual. It had been a month since Agent Gregory had whisked me away from DC and shoved me into a new life as Sarah Mitchell, research liaison. I was in charge of finding new projects to take on all across the state of California, and Gregory thought my background as a lawyer would make it a good fit for me.It was a huge adjustment, but I was beginning to see why he had placed me here. Outside of being a force in the court
Empire of Deception Chapter 46 : I'll Be Here When You Wake Up
*Adrian’s POV*I sat in the sterile hospital room, the hum of machines and the faint scent of antiseptic filling the air. The harsh fluorescent lights overhead cast an unforgiving pallor on everything, and the room seemed too small to contain the weight of our collective worry.I watched as Amelia lay unconscious in the hospital bed, her face pale and fragile against the white sheets. Nina was next to her holding her hand, and I desperately wanted to trade places with her. Almost losing Amelia had put into perspective how much she meant to me, but I was still working through those emotions. Because of that, I continued to keep my distance.James and Evelyn also sat in a tense silence, their faces etched with concern. I hadn’t wanted James there, but Nina was insistent that Amelia would want him to know she was okay. In the end, I caved and called the son of a bitch. I watched his face and could see the strong emotion he felt while staring at Amelia’s angelic sleeping face.The
Empire of Deception Chapter 45 : Federal Jurisdiction
*Amelia’s POV*Sirens wailed as the cop cars, ambulances, and firetrucks careened around the corner and pulled up in front of the building. Numbly, I stood in the dew-wet grass of the early morning and watched as emergency responders approached us. The men who had helped us rescue Adrian had left because James had said it was too suspicious for civilians to have an armed SWAT team. It was just Nina, James, Adrian, and me standing and waiting to be questioned. We had readied our story, and then James called it into the local precinct. He had told them we had gotten a call to come pick Adrian up from the address. Bill had already tied up the men from MID and was holding Adrian hostage, but we didn’t know it until we got there. There had been a struggle, and Bill was killed. The men from MID may have a conflicting story, but they were criminals, so it would be their word against ours. We just needed to stay consistent. “Ma’am, are you alright?” a kind EMS worker asked as she place
Empire of Deception Chapter 44 : The Death Of A Friend
*Amelia's POV*James had interrupted an intimate moment between Adrian and me, and I was mortified. I walked into a different room, away from the two men, and opened a window to get some fresh air. The night air entered my lungs quickly, making them expand as it rushed in. I took deep breaths and tried to focus on grounding myself.I was fucking pissed at Adrian for how he had treated me the last time we saw each other, so how did he have me falling over myself at the chance to kiss him? He hadn't even initiated anything in the bedroom, I did it of my own volition. Was this Stockholm Syndrome or what? I didn't understand how I had gotten so emotionally involved with him, the man without emotions.I did see a glimmer in his eyes when he thanked me for saving him, though. There was something there, he felt the same things I was feeling. I was sure of it. My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of scuffling and shouting behind me.I turned just in time to see Bill sprin
Empire of Deception Chapter 43 : It's Not Fun To Be The Prey, Is It?
*Amelia’s POV*The sun had just set by the time we had everything we needed to rescue Adrian. All of the men were dressed in tactical gear, and we walked to the van and settled in for the drive across town. The air hummed with anxious energy, and Nina said, "I don't know how cops do this shit. I'd never be able to relax.""Right? I feel sick to my stomach and my hands are shaking," I replied.A hush fell over the people in the van, and we all contemplated what was to come. James had been quiet all evening, and I think it was mostly because he knew I cared for Adrian.He leaned in close to me and whispered, "It was stupid of you to ever get involved with a man like Adrian. You're never going to be safe in his world, Amelia. He can't protect you, he can't even protect himself."He was right about never being safe. Even after the MID case was over, Adrian's life would always be dangerous. We weren't dating or exclusive, but I realized at that moment that I wanted to be something
Empire of Deception Chapter 42 : Tactical Planning
*Amelia’s POV*I felt the vibrations of heavy boots thudding up the stairs and pounding at the front door. Evelyn's eyes widened and her body tensed as she snatched a paperweight from Adrian's desk. I quickly grabbed the fire poker, its end cold against my sweating palms, and stepped in front of her. The door handle rattled and I held my breath, raising the metal bar between us and whatever was outside.Suddenly, the door burst open, and six men walked in. Their faces were set with determination, and I let out a loud, relieved laugh, "Thank God.""Are you two okay?" Adrian's head of security asked. He walked toward us as we threw our weapons to the ground."Yeah, we're fine. Adrian isn't here. But I think I know where he was last night," I informed him, "He was checking out this warehouse. He had to have taken Bill along with him, he wouldn't have gone alone.""You're right," he agreed, "We need to go to the warehouse and see if there's anything there that can tell us what ha
