Page 123 of Forbidden Empire

“Half-brother,” I shot back, arching a brow. “Don’t get cocky.”

He grinned. “I like to think we got the bad-ass half of the DNA.”

I let him have that one. There were bigger things at stake. Like the door Rhea was hiding behind. I could feel Aidon’s stare burning holes through me, the taut line of his jaw. I knew every muscle in his body was straining not to shove me behind him. But I was leading now.

I’d saved these bastards. I wasn’t going to fade into the background. Not when I could practically taste Rhea’s blood.

Anticipation shimmered through every nerve ending. I saw Rhea’s face, clear as day. Revenge was so close, I could almost reach out and crush it in my fist.

I was at the door when it swung open.

Rhea stepped out, flanked by two more men. Her gaze swept over the carnage, lingering on Aidon, and then she laughed. Threw her head back, hair gleaming, sipping champagne like she was holding court at a palace and not surrounded by corpses.

It was an act, a perfect, icy illusion.

But underneath? She was a monster, a polished, beautiful nightmare with a heart made of razors.

“Oh, Aidon, you are so predictable.”

Her voice dripped with arrogance, every syllable heavy with mockery. She stood there, cool and composed, as if she were untouchable.

As if the world bent to her will and we were nothing, a laughable threat at best. Her confidence was almost impressive, except for the fact that she was so very fucking wrong.

She prowled toward us, her gaze locking onto mine with a predator’s delight.

“Esme, Esme, Esme,” she purred, each repetition a taunt, tongue clicking in feigned disappointment. “You’ve stuck around, I see.”

I said nothing. Let her fill the silence with her poison.

She kept going, relentless, her smile razor-sharp and cruel.

God, I wanted to wipe it off her face with a single bullet. But she just kept circling, trying to get under my skin, even now, moments from destruction. It was almost impressive, the audacity she wore like a crown.

“Did Aidon tell you about the first time he doubted you, Esme?” she murmured, as if she was holding the winning card. As if that might split us apart. Pathetic.

She had no idea with whom she was dealing.

I stepped forward, pulse pounding in my ears, and felt Aidon tense at my side. But for once, he didn’t hold me back. Neither did the others. For a split second, I almost smiled. Maybe I’d finally proven myself.

I squared my shoulders and looked Rhea dead in the eyes. No fear. No hesitation. Just cold resolve.

I lifted my gun and aimed it right at her face.

Her guards reacted, weapons swinging toward me, fingers tightening on their triggers. Behind me, the sound of my own people raising their guns rang out, a chorus of threats in perfect harmony: my army, my family, my choice.

I held her gaze and shook my head.

Unmoved. Undaunted. Ready for whatever came next.

"Rhea, you’re pathetic; you know that, right?" The words dripped from my mouth, cold and sharp, as I stared her down.Disgust curled through me, so hot it almost burned, but the only thing I felt for this woman was contempt. "It might almost be sad, if you weren’t such a complete fucking cunt. But you can’t change what’s already been done. You’re not in control anymore. Can’t you feel it slipping away?"

The way her twisted smile faded.

It was almost satisfying. She tried to meet my glare, tried to match my ice with hers, but now she was the one faltering.

"You’re wrong, Esme," she spat.

Her words came out brittle, desperate, even if she tried to cover it.