Page 3 of Dirty Empire

“You tried it with me? After all, I’ve done for you?” He grits his teeth as he speaks. I can barely recognize the man above me. How have I let my life get to this point? To the point where I die by the hands of a man I once loved? “Feel that? Not so nice now, is it?” His grip is like a boa constrictor, and I have no defenses. I can’t fight against him. I’m not strong enough. My limbs became weak, and my hands drop from his arms.

Just as darkness starts to cloud my vision completely, I hear a door slam.

“Hey! What the fuck are you doing?” The deep voice bounces off the walls, commanding attention.

Miles drops his hands from around my neck. I instantly start to cough, rolling onto my side to try and get some air into my lungs. They burn as I try to control my coughing and take raspy breaths at the same time. Tears slide down my cheeks and drip onto the sheets.

“Maverick, stay out of this. This is husband and wife business. Wait outside,” Miles says.

I take deep breaths, getting all the air into my lungs. The feeling starts to come back to my limbs, but I feel; shaky like I’ve been on a rough roller coaster ride. I hold my throat; it’s on fire. Finally, able to think I look around the room. Miles has climbed off the bed and stands across from another man.

What had Miles called him? Maverick?

He stands tall, over six feet at least. He has broad shoulders, and the way he fills out his suit makes me think he has a hard body underneath. His presence takes up the entire room, filling the space with hostile energy.

If I weren’t so scared of my husband, I’d be terrified of this man. Now, was the time for a getaway, while Miles is distracted. I’m weak, but I need to move now.

I scuttle further up the bed, inching toward the edge. If I can get off the bed quietly, maybe I can crawl to the bedroom door without Miles seeing me. I look towards the door to see the man that might have just saved my life.

Maverick’s dark eyes flicker to Ares, who is lying naked, face -down on the bed where Miles has left him. Then, he turns his angry stare on me. Ice fills my veins as he looks at me. I’m not sure what to make of his expression. There isn’t a hint of pity; instead, it’s almost like he’s disgusted. My body’s on full display, still completely naked, but I’m too scared right now to care. I hold his stare as I place one foot onto the carpeted floor. Maverick might not be a good man, but I pray that he at least helps me escape.

Everything happens in a split second. Maverick shoves Miles, and he has no time to defend himself. Once Maverick disabled him, he lands a punch to the side of Miles's jaw. A crunch fills the air, and my stomach turns at the sound. Startled, Miles shakes himself off and rears up like an angry bull, ready for war.

Maverick flicks his head from side to side, cracking his neck.

“You’re a pussy,” Maverick says, his voice surprisingly calm.

“Did you see what she did to me? See this asshole?” Miles slaps Ares, who is still unconscious, on the shoulder to demonstrate.

I watch Maverick’s face. He doesn’t look like he cares so much about Ares. Why did he save me? He didn't have to do that. During the fight, I’ve managed to wedge myself between the door and the hallway.

I peek through the crack in the door to see Miles struggling to catch his breath. He’s doubled over, huffing and puffing from the scuffle. “What the hell do you care?”

Maverick doesn't answer, still holding his ground near the doorway, ready for the next round. Lucky for Maverick, Miles is out of shape. My fingers tremble as I hold the doorknob.

“Get the hell out of my house! We’re done!” Miles yells.

Maverick holds his position for a moment as if trying to get his anger under control. After a moment of complete silence, he straightens his suit jacket.

“I don’t do business with a woman-beater. You’re a coward.”

He starts toward the door. I let go of the handle and hid in the hallway bathroom.

His footsteps sound on the steps before he slams the front door so hard it sounds like it almost comes off the hinges. Miles follows after him, probably to make sure he left. What the fuck just happened?

I go back into the bedroom and find Ares has woken up. His head is bleeding from a small cut above his eyebrow. He gathers his belongings from the floor. I grab him before he can storm out.

“I’m sorry, Ares. I’m so sorry!” I grab the sides of his face and try to kiss him, but he pulls away.

“Don’t, Hazel. Just don’t. Never call my phone again. This is fucking bullshit,” Ares slurs his words as he speaks. His neck looked like a swollen basketball from the strangulation, and vicious red stripes marked his throat. Maybe he needs to go to the hospital. How long can someone go without getting oxygen to their brain? He was passed out for a long time. I don’t get a chance to say anything else because he storms out the door. Fuck, fuck, fuck. The sound of my heart pounding filled my ears.

I’ve got to get away from this man. He’s going to kill me if I stay here.

“Where is that son of a bitch? I’m going to kill him, and then I’m going to take care of her!” The sound of Miles's voice carries from one of the lower levels.

I grab my phone from the bedside table before throwing on a t-shirt, jeans, and flip-flops. I can barely hold my phone because my palms are so sweaty. I make my way across the top floor of the vast mansion. I don’t know where Miles is, but I can’t risk running into him. I sneak through one of the hallways to the staff elevator and take it down to the staff entrance. Thank god this house is so damn big it’s easy to go unseen.

What am I going to do?He’ll find me wherever I go.

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