Confess - Kathy Coopmans

"I love you."

Three words have kept me from the love of my life for the last nine years. We made a promise to one another, one that she broke, leaving me no choice but to let her go.

That choice led her to a life of ruin and me to live with a mountain of regret.

It didn't matter that I wanted her. What did was those three words, the ones that, no matter how bad I wanted to say them, terrified me.

I wanted to own her.
To worship her.
Instead, I only pushed her away.

I pride myself on not being afraid of anything. Those three words, and what they'd mean to her if I spoke them, are the only exception.

I am the Diamond Empire's Consigliere, and I have a secret to confess.

I had no idea she did, too.