The Empire (Filthy Trilogy 3)

I lean in and slide silky strands of her hair behind her ear. “Isaac will never hurt you. You have my word. We’ll have a service pack your house up and put it in storage. You can lease the house or sell it. And so we’re clear, my money is your money now. We’re going to the bank and—”

“No, Eric. I can’t—”

I kiss her. “You can. We’re together now. Sharing my life means sharing my life, baby.”

“I need to earn my own way.”

“You have a job with double the salary you were earning at Kingston.”

“What? No. I was making six figures and—”

“And we pay well. This isn’t about you being my woman. We pay anyone we think is an asset better than anyone else would for a reason. Loyalty. You’ll make the investment worthwhile.”

“This is what you do for everyone you hire?”

“I promise you, Harper, I wouldn’t lie to you. I’ve had too many lies in my life and so have you.”

She takes my hand. “I won’t let you regret hiring me. I won’t let Grayson regret hiring me either. And we both know I got this job because of you.”

“You got this job because of your experience at Kingston.”

“With your help, but I really am going to make you happy you believed in me. I want to prove myself. I think maybe Mia can help me carve out my little place outside of your success.”

“She will eagerly do that and more.”

“I like her. Oh God. You need to call Grayson.”

I curse. “Right. You’re right.” I stand up and hunt down my phone to find about ten text messages from Grayson and three calls. I dial him.

“Holy hell, I’ve been worried,” he answers. “How are you? What can I do?”

I walk to the window and stare out at the dark city without really seeing it, replaying the past week in my mind as I update Grayson. “My God. You’re the heir.”

“Yes, but I don’t want the money or the mob connections that come with it.”

“You have to take down Isaac or he’ll keep comin

g.”

“I will. I am. That’s next. After tonight.”

“That sounds like a plan.”

“Always,” I say. “You know I always have a plan. I’ll update you soon. Right now—”

“You need your woman. Understood. Tell Harper Mia and I are here if she needs us.”

“She knows that already,” I assure him before we say our goodbyes.

I turn to find Harper curled in a corner of the couch, her glass in her hand. “All is well?” she asks.

“Yes. He’s eager to lend his support to you and me.”

She straightens and I sit down next to her again. “How are you feeling about your father?” she asks, as if her mind has been solely on me.

I consider that for a moment and I have no real answer. “I don’t know. I’m not sure him being gone has really hit me.” I nudge her shoulder. “How are you feeling about your mother?”

“Hurt. I feel hurt like I never even knew her. I feel like I’ve been alone for a very long time, and pretending I wasn’t. I knew. Some part of me knew.”