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

it. No questions asked. I’m getting the same vibes from Aaron now that we’re alone.

I don’t like it, but I’m going to have to get used to it. It won’t be long before he’s the boss. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t take over very soon.

The mere thought of possibly having to look someone in the eye, to be behind closed doors of one of the people who had their hands in murdering my family is not something I’m comfortable with at all. At the same time, my thoughts are consumed with a fierce desire to wrap my hands around her neck until she talks.

I’m not afraid of her, I’m afraid of myself. How I might kill her the minute I see her.

I’d rather it be me, though, to smack her around if need be, then having Seth hurt a woman he’s not convinced is involved.

I, on the other hand, have tried convincing myself a kindergarten teacher who has to have the patience of a saint to deal with a classroom of adrenaline excited five-year old’s wouldn’t be involved in such a horrific crime. The woman’s life is as pure as the Virgin Mary.

There’s not a dirty mark on her record. It’s quite odd, too, that both she and her boyfriend would take leaves of absence from the school in an email claiming they were going to teach in a third world country and not a colleague has questioned it. Not a soul that we’re aware of has checked on their whereabouts. Not that either has any family, and up until Karina started dating Jack, she lived like a hermit. No family, no friends. It’s no wonder she took to her brothers and let them into her life.

“You will, and that’s an order.”

I blanch, folding my arms across my chest and glare at him. “If you’re trying to make me mad, you’re doing a fine job of it. You don’t have to talk to me like that, Aaron.”

He keeps it up and almost boss or not, I’ll slap him across his face.

“Listen, I’m sorry, but damn it if I could get a read on her, I wouldn’t have asked for your help, Victoria. Karina would either be guarded around the clock or dead already.”

Yes, he did tell me that after Roan told me to talk to her. I just wish I’d been made aware instead of being blindsided when Seth dropped me off and drove toward Aaron’s barn to deal with Jack.

Aaron won’t hesitate to put a bullet between her eyes either. He’s a ruthless control freak, and he’ll make a great boss—the type of guy who doesn’t take mercy on many.

Even me.

Dropping my head, my gaze settles on the hem of the black and white cigarette pants I made for myself but never wore until tonight. I paired them with a shirt I made to go with a sequin skirt. It’s an off the shoulder black silk loose-fitting top.

It’s been such a long time since I’ve dressed up like this, and no one besides my family has ever done what Seth did for me today.

Seth surprised me at work around lunchtime with a dozen red roses and a box of chocolates in his hands. Handing them to me and apologizing for forgetting Valentine’s Day. I would have been busy to do anything on that day. The bakery was swamped from open to close. The days leading up to it I made dozens of the well-loved red velvet cakes Mom used to make. I came home, showered, and went straight to bed.

Seth whisked me away to be pampered at a full-service spa. I’ve had a massage, been waxed, a mani-pedi, facial, a hair trim, and makeup done. Then he spoiled me even more by telling me I had fifteen minutes to change for dinner, and like a typical woman, I had no idea what to wear. But the minute I saw this outfit, I snatched it off the hangers, quickly got dressed, and met him in the hallway.

My jaw dropping to the floor when he stood in front of the front door in a black suit and holding out my red coat.

When Seth took a brief call from someone, his voice muffled as he simply stated we’re on our way, tossed several hundred-dollar bills on the table and rushed me out the door. I thought he might have another surprise for me. He’d spoiled me rotten enough today, and if he had something else up his sleeve, I was going to kick his ass.

But when we climbed into his truck, and I asked him where we were going. He didn’t answer. Aaron did a couple of minutes later when Seth called him. Stating he was returning his call and I was with him. His deep voice booming through the cab of the truck as he filled us in on how they found Karina and Jack.

Rocco located them earlier this evening. They’d been living in Jersey City in a motel, and neither has spoken a word since Aaron and several men busted in.

Aaron knocked Jack out cold before he had the chance to pull the trigger on a gun he had in his hand. Karina ended up taking a bite out of Aaron’s arm that looks like she clamped her jaws down tight and broke through his skin. He backhanded her, tied her up while explaining who he was, and ended up gagging her after she wouldn’t talk, and shoved both in his trunk, then driving to his place.

“Interrogating someone isn’t how I saw myself helping. What if I’m wrong and you kill an innocent woman?” The thought of holding Karina’s life in my hands feels like I’m being sentenced to my own death.

“You have no choice. We need answers. You need answers. I get this isn’t something you normally do, Victoria and fuck all if it isn’t killing me to ask you. Only one man has paid the price. If that little hellcat had anything to do