Concede (The Diamond Empire Book 1) by Kathy Coopmans (bts book recommendations .TXT) 📕

all she does. I’d do the same if I were her. I just hate the sad look on her face when I can’t give the answers she wants to hear. Diesel doesn’t mention her at all. The one time I brought her up, he about knocked me out of my chair with a warning glare.

Amber frowns. Squinting against the late morning sun shining through the window, and moves to sit in the chair on the other side of the desk like she’s getting ready for an interview with a stranger instead of someone she’s known her entire life.

What is going on with her?

Her face falls, and she huffs out a breath, and when she looks me straight in the eye, she’s smiling, and I’ve not seen a genuine one on her face since before Diesel’s arrest.

A sinking sensation settles in my stomach. More troubling is the way she’s smiling. I recognize it. I’ve seen it the past few days when I look in the mirror.

With me, it’s expected. With her, it’s shocking.

“I met someone. He’s the reason I’m here. Well, part of the reason, there’s also...” She pauses, looks around the office, her eyes landing on a family picture hanging behind me on the wall. Amber is in the photo. It was taken long ago.

She’s as much a part of the family as I am. She always will be regardless of what just came out of her mouth. Words I’d like to shove right back in and ram down her throat.

Amber is the daughter of Andre Solokov, the boss of the Russian mafia. Also, Alina Diamond’s brother. The two families were once rivals. Despite the fact, the Solokovs are the biggest drug dealers in the world. There’s loyalty there, and I respect that, however this I can’t. Because Amber knows, she damn well knows my brother loves her.

The two are more opposites than Seth and me. Diesel is rough and ragged. Always wearing worn jeans, t-shirts, or button-ups rolled to his elbows, where Amber dresses to the nines. I made her wedding dress as well as several others for charity functions. Those are the only times I’ve ever seen my brother dress up, and I’d imagine he pitches a fit, but for her, he’d do anything.

Said to say, the day they were supposed to get married has come and gone. It was this past June.

“Excuse me, what did you just say?” I spit the words out so rudely that I can taste the sharpness of them on my tongue. My stomach knots, and I clench my fist from stopping the sudden urge to smack some sense into her.

I don’t want to get into a verbal war with Amber, but I will if it makes her see she is making the biggest mistake of her life.

“You heard me. I don’t want to lose you over this. We’ve all lost so much already. I understand you think it’s me betraying Diesel. I’d probably be the same way if I had a sibling. You need to remember it was your brother who told me to move on. I’ve done that. I’ve moved on. So for you to sit there and look like you want to strike me is a bit much, don’t you think?”

She’s not going to lose me. Not when I don’t buy her words are true. Still, I’m not going to sit here and pretend I’m happy for her. I’ve pretended enough in my life.

“No, it’s not. You can’t just waltz in here and drop a bomb in my lap and not expect me to try to reason with you. I’d never hit you. I’m devastated, Amber. When did you meet this man?” I ask, fighting the disappointment in her and Diesel taking root in my chest. “And don’t say it’s not my business. You made it mine by coming here.”

Nervousness dances across her expression, her eyes begging me to let this go. To let her say what she has to and be on her merry little way.

That’s not happening.

“Three months ago, but I’ve known him for a long time. I’m not here to argue with you. I’ve made my decision. There are things I want in life, children, happiness, among other things. I’m not getting any younger. I thought I’d have it with Diesel. He proved me wrong.”

Three months? That means she was dating him before my family died. She could have told me long before then.

“So this is your biological clock talking. For God’s sake, Amber, is three months even long enough to know that this man is the one to give you those things? If your answer is yes, then by all means, go on with your life. You clearly don’t deserve my brother.”

She blanches as if I did hit her. Good.

“Oh, that’s rich coming from the woman who fell for a man that can’t keep his dick in his pants. You’re living together too, I hear.”

“Wow. That’s not fair. How dare you bring Seth into this.” Seth has changed, and frankly, so have I.

“Then don’t you dare ask questions about a relationship you know nothing about.”

I just stare at her, my mouth hanging open slightly. The woman looking back at me isn’t the woman I know. Amber is sweet and kind, and she’s acting like a bitch when she’s not even close to one. We’ve always been such good friends. You’d think during this challenging time, we’d get closer. But no, she’s pulled away. The only time she calls is when she wants to know about my brother. She never returns my calls. Never stops over like she used to.

She’s hard and spiteful.

I suppose what my brother has done would make her that way. Still, to come in here and cast judgment is beneath her. If anyone should, it’s me. This is my brother she’s betraying, and she damn well knows it. She fucking knows why he pushed her away.

“Nothing in life is fair, Victoria. Listen, a part of me will always love Diesel. He threw that