Empire of Lust

EMPIRE OF LUST J.L. BECK Copyright © 2023 J.L. Beck Cover design: Haya Designs All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. CONTENTS 1. Bianca 2. Callum 3. Bianca 4. Callum 5. Bianca 6. Callum 7. Bianca 8. Callum 9. Bianca 10. Callum 11. Bianca 12. Callum 13. Bianca 14. Callum 15. Bianca 16. Callum 17. Bianca 18. Callum 19. Bianca 20. Callum 21. Bianca 22. Callum 23. Bianca 24. Callum 25. Bianca 26. Callum 27. Bianca 28. Callum 29. Bianca 30. Callum 31. Bianca Empire of Lies is Coming Soon About the Author BLURB I made a mistake. At sixteen years old, I fell for the wrong man. Callum Torrio. Ruthless billionaire. Dangerous villain. My best friend’s father. At twenty-one, I gave up hope he would ever notice me. He’s twenty years older than me, and an arms dealer for the mob. The smart choice would be to forget he ever existed. But that’s not possible. His icy blue gaze, sculpted physique, and huge rough hands play a vivid part in my dreams. Then one night, everything changes. Every fantasy I ever had, he brings to life. Dominant and possessive, he praises and worships me. He makes me feel like a woman when all my life I’ve felt sheltered and controlled. But Callum has dark secrets and a past that refuses to let go. I knew he was a bad man, but I never would have anticipated this… AUTHOR NOTE Thank you so much for picking Empire of Lust as your next read. I’m thrilled to have you dive into a brand new world with me. However even if I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone I do feel inclined to offer a list of triggers for those that might be triggered by material in this book. The hero in this book is not like the hero in any other book I’ve written. He knows what he is doing wrong and he doesn’t care. He’s controlling, possessive, over the top and manipulates the heroine into situations that you might find very uncomfortable. If you do not like alpha heroes, very steamy sex, and dirty talk please do not read on. If you’re okay with those things this is the book for you. No matter what you choose, please read at your own discretion. This book contains the following triggers: Spanking, violence, manipulation of birth control, explicit sex, death, cheating (not between MC’s), age gap, grooming, rape, dub-con situations, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. BIANCA “Let me get this straight.” My best friend Tatum leans over, her elbow squeaking on the leather seat of the town car while a glass of champagne teeters in her hand. Gently, she brushes strands of her sunshine-blonde hair from her heart-shaped face. “You graduated from college today, and your boyfriend of five fucking years couldn’t bother to attend the ceremony or hang out with you after?” I grind my teeth. Does she have to be so honest? Her bluntness is nothing new, even if she’s slurring her words after all the alcohol she’s consumed today. There were five graduation parties at which we absolutely had to make an appearance. Her words, not mine. And sure, it was fun, but it might’ve been better if I’d felt like I was actually there. Present. Instead, all I could do was watch everyone else celebrating their next step in life while I remained apart, wondering what was broken inside me. I guess my absent boyfriend is as good of an excuse as any, even if it doesn’t ring entirely true. There are deeper issues, but I’m not ready to face those yet. “Unfortunately, he has to work early in the morning.” I feed her the lie he’s given me one time too many. “I can’t blame him for trying to be an adult.” “An adult would’ve requested the day off. It’s not like he hasn’t known the graduation date for months.” She offers a blithe shrug. “I don’t buy it for a second, Bianca.” Like always, she’s calling my bluff. All I can do is shake my head. “The only thing that matters is that it’s important to you,” she continues. “If he really wanted to be here, he would be. He’s treating you like you’re an afterthought, and it’s bullshit. If he was a real man, building a future with you would be the most important thing to him. I know you don’t want to believe it, but you don’t mean shit to him, and that makes me want to slash his tires and tell him what a stupid fucker he is.” Sigh. I wish I knew what to say, but there is no response that will make her happy with my choice to stay with him. Lucas has burned me so many times it’s impossible to see the good that may or may not be left in him. I don’t know why I stay. Maybe it’s the fear of being alone? Or maybe I’m hoping he’ll come around. The truth is, I don’t know. It’s not like there’s a ring on my finger or a family that we’re planning. I can’t spend the rest of the night listening to her say things I’ve already heard—and told myself—a million times, so I grasp at something to divert her. “Hey, it’s not all bad.” I smile. “Him blowing me off means we got to spend the entire day together and the rest of the night, too. And last time I checked, your devoted boyfriend couldn’t be bothered to hang out tonight, either.” I cringe as soon as I say the words out loud. Regret is a shot I didn’t prep a chaser for when I see the smug grin on her full lips slip. “Yeah, well, I guess we’re