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

love away when he broke things off. That’s proof he didn’t love me the way I did him. I never expected our lives to come to this. Every couple goes through hardships and tribulations. Diesel took ours to a whole new level when he broke it off with me. I will never forgive him for that.”

This is not right. Couples survive this kind of thing all the time, and especially ones that have been together as long as they have.

My blood boils. I try to formulate words to ask why she would call about Diesel since I’ve returned to New York if she likes this guy so much, and why she waited so long to tell me. Instead, I’m going to remind her of the reasons why she’s been doing those things.

“I’m sorry. I’m just a bit shocked. I’m not happy for you at all, Amber. In fact, I don’t believe you’re thinking rationally. Dray is working on a parole hearing. You’re aware of that. Diesel is keeping his nose clean, and you, of all people, know how hard that has to be for him. He could be out in a few more months. Possibly sooner. Then you could work things out. I don’t understand why you aren’t waiting. You know him better than anyone, Amber. You’ve loved him most of your life. Diesel still loves you. He always will. Don’t give up on him, please. I can help you get through this until he gets out.”

If my brother isn’t aware of this, it’s going to crush him. Hell, knowing Diesel, he’s already been informed. Likely plotting out all the ways he can cut off the man’s head and place it on a stake. All the more reason he needs to get out on payroll and get her back. Diesel has killed more people than I can count, that I’m sure. Killing whoever this man is could toss him back in prison for the rest of his life, especially if he isn’t thinking straight.

Damn you, Diesel, for doing this to her and you. I mutter in my head. I can’t even imagine what he feels if he knows. I’d much rather swallow razor blades than think about the damage this will cause or how hard it has to be sitting in a tiny cell while Amber’s out here involved with someone else. My brother is violent. He’s downright evil when he wants to be, and he’ll kill this man she’s dating. He’ll come out of there a hardhearted, callous man. It makes me want to ask her out of curiosity who this guy is so I can warn him.

It’s best for my peace of mind that I don’t.

She’s going to regret this. God help her; she will.

I shouldn’t be angry with Amber. Diesel is the one who brought this on. Except I am. He’s my flesh and blood. My loyalty will always lie with him. Whether he’s hurt Amber or not.

“We all know why he shoved you away. He didn’t want you to wait for him. He didn’t want you to see him behind bars. Seriously, Amber, what are you doing getting involved with someone? Diesel isn’t going to let you go.” She would have waited in a heartbeat. No questions asked.

“He already has,” she whispers. “I don’t need your help. I’m doing what’s best for me. I don’t expect you to be happy for me, Victoria. At least, not yet. I’ve had my heart broken, something I never thought Diesel would do. But I’ve also learned to patch it back together again. I’m not going to beg your brother to come back to me. He can go to hell if he thinks I’m his anymore. I’m not, so you can stop trying to convince me we belong together. I’m happy. Either you accept it, or you don’t. The choice is yours.”

She’s right. The choice is mine. I choose to accept Amber is making the wrong one for her and Diesel. I chose to believe she’s distancing herself from me, and I don’t like it.

I don’t believe for one second she’s happy. In a way, she’s lost. More so than I ever was. I mean, she and Diesel have lived together for years. Diesel fronted the money for Amber’s restaurant. Not that she’s hurting for it. Not that her family wouldn’t have given it to her. It was Diesel’s gift to help make her dream come true. She’s an excellent chef—one of the best in the nation.

I’ve never seen her like this. This isn’t like her. Amber is one of those women with a backbone to stand alongside a man like Diesel. There’s not a mean bone to be found in her body. Now it seems she’s full of them.

My jaw tightens, locking the words in place about asking if there’s something else going on. They try clawing to the surface. I shove them down and remind her yet again of the life the two of them share. “What about the house, the restaurant?”

“Those are the other reasons I’m here. I’m paying him back for the restaurant and his half of the house. If you could give him this, I’d appreciate it.”

My eyebrows draw up with confusion. The pain and anger within me only amplifying when she reaches into her purse, pulls out an envelope, and slides it across the desk.

“If you think I’m giving whatever that is to my brother while he’s in prison, you can forget it. You can do it yourself.” I’m not playing this game with her.

“I’d tell him I was giving it to you if he’d see me. Please, just take it. You don’t have to tell him you have it. Give it to him when he gets out. Give it to Dray to give to him. I don’t care.”

“I can’t,” I reply, grabbing the envelope as I stand, round the desk, and shove it in her face. “If you want to end things with him for good, then you do it yourself. I don’t