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

at me. The girl can pick up on problems as well as any Mitchell can.

Lane has done a damn good job raising her on his own after Lexi’s cunt of a birthmother walked away. He took the bull by the horns and devoted himself to his daughter. Now that he’s married to Sienna, who loves Lexi like her own, my princess has the life I always wanted for her.

A life she deserves.

Full of love.

“Don’t you worry none. I’ll make a list.”

I’m sure she will.

“How’s school? You best still be getting good grades.” Lexi is smart as a whip. The last time I helped her with math, I cheated and used Google. She got a hundred percent. I’d have failed. I didn’t understand a damn thing I was telling her.

“Duh, are you kidding? You know I am. Dad would whoop my butt, and I wouldn’t be able to swim anymore. Want to know a secret? It’s huge. Like the biggest one in the world. You can’t even tell Victoria because she might tell Mom.” Lexi starts giggling, blushing, and places her hand over her mouth.

Doubt Lane would lay a finger on her. Scold, and take away swimming? You bet.

“I’ll cross my heart not to tell anyone unless you’re going to tell me you have a boyfriend, then I’ll have to fly down there and scare the shit out of him. Tell him he can’t hold your hand on the playground and definitely no kissing.”

“Gross. If he tries kissing me, I’ll punch him in the face. Wait? How did you know that was my secret? You also swore. Guess you have to send me money now. I’m going to use it to buy a case for my phone. Lots of glitter and pink.”

“Well, shit, I guess you should take a look under your bed before you buy one.”

“That’s more money. I swear you, Dad, and Uncle Logan will never learn. You guys are the biggest suckers.”

Excitement spreads across her face. Laughter filling my ears when the phone drops, and I’m staring at the ceiling for all of five seconds before she comes back into view, her smile so wide and infectious as she rips open the pink package and squeals, causing my heart to clench.

“Oh, my God. This is the case I wanted. How did you know, Uncle Seth? It’s so pretty. How do I put it on?” she asks, holding it up for me to see.

“You showed me when you conned me into buying that pink jacket we saw online.” Leaning back, I prop my legs on my desk while explaining how to snap it in place. It takes a while, but once she does, and after seeing every wall in her room from the phone going in every direction, she comes back into view.

“I didn’t con you into nothing. You and Uncle Logan asked what I wanted for Christmas. I showed you. Now let’s get back to my boyfriend. His name is Dalton.”

Ah, the famous Dalton. I should have known. Lexi talks about this kid all the time.

“Not so fast. Let’s talk about me being a sucker. You swindling me, girl? Playing me with that cute little face, knowing I’m going to give in and cuss?”

“Me? Never.”

“Yeah, right.”

“What can I say except I take after my dad and uncles.”

That’s right, she is a Mitchell, and we always get what we want.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Victoria

“Stop with the restlessness, Victoria. He’ll be out any second.” I hear Dray, but my eyes are stuck to the massive steel door only feet away as I wait for it to open and reveal Diesel.

Come out and let me take a good look at you. I need to see that you’re okay.

I chant over and over in my head like I’m casting a spell. If only I actually could, then he wouldn’t be in prison in the first place. Our family wouldn’t be dead, my baby wouldn’t be, and Diesel and Amber would be married.

Life doesn’t work that way, so instead of dwelling on things, I can’t change. I focus on how excited I am to be able to hug my brother finally, and he’s going to hug me back. They’ll be no more cuffs and chains on him during visits again.

It couldn’t have come at a better time in my life.

I still feel as if I’m falling to pieces some days. My spirit is continually screaming for the missing piece that had been ripped away. But with Seth by my side, I’m doing so much better. If anything, I’m stronger, strengthening this transformation to shove my fear away and talk about it with the therapist. Alina gave me her number the other day. I have yet to call, but I will. It’s the only way I’ll get through life with Seth.

In the meantime, my insides fester, and they’ll continue until Maxim is in hell with his brother. The same goes for the person who holds the mystery ring. If they had anything to do with my family’s death and losing our baby, they can rot alongside them. Seth filled me in on everything, showing me a picture in case someone is stupid enough to come into the bakery with it on.

Vengeance. I want it as bad as wanting my brother out of prison.

A few tears leak from my eyes. They have nothing to do with Seth and me. They connect to me being so happy when Diesel isn’t. I know my brother. He’s fighting within himself no matter how much he’ll try and hide it.

Dray, on the other hand, is way too good at hiding things. There’s no better time than now to call him out on it.

“I’m still pissed at you, Dray, for not telling me you got Diesel to low risk. Why would you keep that from me? Especially after I told you about Amber?” My tone is a cross between a sulk and a tease for two reasons.

One, I caved and told him about Amber on the way here. He admitted he