Ryan - Empire Series: Empire, #1

By Edie Harrison

 

A scorching new romance about second chances in New York City.

 

Two very different lives collide in the city that never sleeps.

 

Billionaire Ryan King has been groomed for success his whole life; playing by the rules, running his family dynasty Empire, and maintaining his family's powerful legacy in NYC society. His ex-wife made a fool of him, only marrying for his money. He won't make the same mistake again.

 

Mallory is running from the past and trying to survive, the only way she knows how – her obsessed ex-boyfriend Jake is a rising gang boss who has controlled her since the day they left the care system together. Violence and fear are all she's ever known.

 

Mallory's got one chance to get enough money together to flee the city and escape Jake, once and for all.

 

Ryan and Mallory both exist in a city full of lies – will deceit tear them apart?

 

Please be advised this book contains adult content and potentially upsetting scenes. 18+ only.

 

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Write Life
• Release date: Dec 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201267124

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Ryan King stepped out of the bathroom with a towel hanging low on his waist to see Selena, the actress/waitress/model he’d spent the night with. She was still stretched out on his bed, barely covered by the comforter that exposed a fair amount of her admittedly hot body. Selena was watching him, her eyes roaming his body, from his well-toned abs to his handsome face and she licked her lips not trying to conceal a sensuous smile of admiration. While Ryan dried his hair with another fluffy white towel, she climbed off the bed in all her naked glory and sauntered towards him, adding an extra sway to her hips.

Hey, baby, she purred, plastering herself to his still wet body. Her perfectly manicured nails grazed his smooth tanned skin, exploring his hard stomach muscles beneath her fingers.

You should leave, Selena, Ryan bit out, the hint of annoyance that had been building since he woke evident in his deep voice.

Are you sure you don’t want to have some more fun? Selena’s tongue darted out to wet her lips, her hand traveling down his chest to the knot holding the towel to his waist. Ryan quickly caught her arm, staring her dead in the eyes with a blank expression.

No.

Without uttering another word, he strode past her and headed to the closet to get dressed for work. A few minutes later, he emerged to see Selena still standing in the middle of the room, her lips set in a line, a hurt expression marring her face. In truth, he wasn’t concerned about her emotions. From the very beginning of their relationship, he’d told her clearly that it was just sex and the odd date to events. He expected nothing else from her and he thought they were on the same page. Ryan didn’t even intend for her to stay over again, but they’d obviously both had a bit too much to drink at the Gala last night. Every time she slept over, she seemed to get a little more comfortable in his home and that was something he was going to have to take care of. Perhaps it was time to find himself a new fuck buddy. Ignoring her presence, he exited the room, heading to the kitchen for breakfast.

As usual, his morning coffee was already sitting on the kitchen island, steaming hot thanks to his housekeeper. Taking one of the high-backed stools, he enjoyed his black coffee while awaiting breakfast. In a matter of minutes, the chef was done and the dining table was set. His home always ran to precision, a hangover from his parents day. Ryan pulled out a seat for himself, ready to sit down at the same time as his younger brother, Sean, strolled into the room with a wide grin on his face.

I see I came at the right time, brother,

Ryan rolled his eyes.

Good morning, Sean,

Good... Sean was interrupted when Selena strolled into the room, dressed in her clothes from the previous night, a black body con dress that left little to the imagination, coupled with five-inch heels that made her legs go on forever. Oooh... Sean drawled, his gaze pointedly flitting between the scantily clad woman and his brother, who returned his dramatics with a glare.

Ryan ignored the woman and took his seat, preparing to get down to eating when she sauntered to his side and placed a full kiss on his lips, despite his obviously rude demeanor.

I have to leave now, baby, she said.  Ryan kept his expression neutral, not wanting to do anything to lead her on. Will I see you next week? Selena’s voice held so much hope as she asked, but Ryan barely acknowledged her as he reached for his toast. He shrugged in response and muttered something insincere about calling her sometime. Determined to maintain her pride in the face of Ryan’s behaviour, Selena sashayed out, masking her hurt with a bright smile and wave at Sean.

Damn, you’re a cold-hearted bastard, Sean reprimanded his brother as soon as the woman was gone, slumping into one of the dining chairs.

And who’s talking? I’m not taking advice from the man that doesn’t remember the names of the women he fucks, or even what they look like as soon as he’s pulled his cock out of them? Ryan’s expression was mocking. He looked pleased with the blows he was landing, and continued eating his toast.

Shut the fuck up, Sean growled out, not wanting to continue with the line of conversation.

That’s what I thought,

Without waiting to be invited, Sean got a plate and served himself, proceeding to join his brother. They ate in silence, occasionally staring out the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlooked New York City far below them.

MALLORY LAID ON THE two-seater sofa in the small living room, listening to her friend Sam. He was seated opposite her, dramatically giving her the rundown of his latest plan to help her.

So, I also made an ID for you and your full name will henceforth be Mallory Adams. It’s also stated that you passed high school and got a college degree in business, from the University of California, he smiled, pleased with himself, and settling more into the soft but worn recliner, the only other chair in the room.

That’s...err... nice, Mallory commented, but deep down, she was feeling uneasy about lying about her identity, or her ability to pull it off. She knew Sam was doing his best and had to try to make it work.

If she could use the identity to find a job and earn some money, she could finally get out of the New York area. Maybe head all the way to the West Coast where Jake would never be able to find her and start over – far away from Jake, his gang, the drugs, the violence, and degradation. How had life come to this? Mallory’s life was never going to be easy, moving from one foster home to another she’d finally been sent to a decent one at 14. She met Jake and Sam on her first day. It had been as noisy and frightening as every first day in a new place, but they’d been kind to her and soon it seemed like things might be looking up.

Sam was smart and encouraged her to study too. They’d hunker down and revise, dreaming of the day they’d head into the city, get great jobs and live in an amazing apartment together. A couple of years older, Sam’s hard work eventually paid off. With a college scholarship he found a way out though college and worked in the IT sector. Sitting in his small but safe apartment, Mallory was so proud of him. She just wished she could feel proud of herself.

If Sam had been her best friend and supporter, Jake was her first love. Funny, witty, and charming to all, Jake was a loveable rogue character that everyone wanted to do well. His background was as sad as anyone else in the home. A father that knocked him about, a mother on drugs and little hope for a better future. But like Sam, Jake was determined to do better and ‘beat the system’. Mallory was infatuated with Jake and believed his stories of growing up to be rich. They’d have everything they’d ever wanted and a big happy family.

It had felt so nice to finally be surrounded by love that Mallory didn’t consider that it might be wrong for a 17-year-old boy to take her virginity at 14, because he wanted to show her his love. Sam had been friends with Jake for two years, also craving the close bonds that are hard to come by in foster care, but he didn’t quite trust Jake. When he found out about Mallory, he told Jake it wasn’t right. That was the beginning of the end for their friendship and Mallory increasingly found herself stuck between the two most important people in her life. It should have been obvious that Jake was always going to make her choose.

Mallory’s future began to unravel when Jake was offered a mystery job that paid really well. He didn’t think twice about leaving the foster home or taking Mallory with him when she was only 16. With Sam away at college there was no one to talk to, and no one to stop her. The job turned out to be gang related, the money came from drugs, extortion, and girls. At first, they lived in squats, eventually moving into an apartment block owned by his boss, but Mallory wasn’t allowed to leave. Jake said it was for her own protection, men came and went all through the day and night, Mallory was constantly scared. The men all shared girls in the rooms upstairs and she often heard screaming and crying. She had no friends, though she’d talk to some of the passing girls, they didn’t seem to like her. They always called her Jake’s princess.

Jake kept her to himself, told her everything he was doing was for her and that one day they’d live in a big house and have a family. His wit and charisma were still there sometimes, but the old Jake that everyone loved began to fade. In his place was a meaner version, older than his years who would snap over nothing and thought nothing of slapping Mallory or pulling her hair if he was in a bad mood. As his operation grew bigger there were police raids, frequent moves, and increasingly violent behaviour.

Mallory’s life was a dark reality that she knew she had to escape from. She managed to find Sam’s address in the city and planned her escape for three months, arriving on his doorstep one day with the clothes on her back and an array of old and new bruises. He took her in without question and had been helping her heal for weeks. Now was the time to move forward. The first step was to erase her past.

Don’t you think all of this is too much? she questioned, sitting up and staring at her best friend.

Not at all, Mallie, he called her the nickname he’d given her the first time they met, she always smiled, remembering that day. With this information, you’ll be able to get a job with decent pay, but trust me, whatever job you’ll get with this will still be basic, they won’t expect major experience or credentials. You’ll be fine. No one has to know anything about your past, you can save some money and live the life you deserve, he sounded so confident, she so wanted him to be right.

How will I even get a job when I have no experience? Mallory asked, worrying