Page 85 of Reclaimed By My Ex’s Bratva Brother

My chest felt like something had been carved out of it. I wanted to argue back. But I couldn't find a single word strong enough. Brinny only had to reach out her hand, and he'd let go of me and walk to her. The truth was more brutal than any argument.

"Who Varlam wants to marry is his business. I'm just his assistant." I forced down the lump in my throat.

Brinny looked at me mockingly, clearly seeing through my facade.

"Honestly, I'm starting to pity you. In love with Varlam but never getting a drop of love back, then having to pretend nothing can hurt you." Her gaze dropped to my chest. "And this necklace—he casually gives it to you, and you start thinking you're special?"

I instinctively touched the necklace, but she reached out first, hooking the crystal pendant, her long sharp nails scraping my skin.

"What are you doing?" I tried to pull away from her hand.

But she gripped harder, the delicate chain digging into my neck. The next second, she yanked hard, the crystal pendant falling into her palm.

The sound of the chain breaking was soft, but my neck felt like it had been slashed.

"He prepared a ring for me before." Brinny looked at the pendant, her voice suddenly going gentle. "Not this kind of crystal you can buy by the crate, but a one-of-a-kind diamond ring he personally selected. He got down on one knee wanting to put the ring on my finger. I just didn't accept it at the time."

She didn't need to raise her voice, but every word precisely stabbed the most vulnerable place in my heart.

I knew full well she was telling the truth. A man as proud as Varlam wouldn't easily forgive someone who left him. Unless that person mattered enough that even being hurt couldn't make him truly let go.

"Done?" I asked. "Then give it back."

I didn't want to admit that what I treasured so much was just a stone Brinny wouldn't deign to look at.

"You still haven't given up." Her expression changed to an unsettling calm.

The sea breeze passed between us. A muffled cheer came from somewhere far off, like it belonged to another world.

"Since you care so much." Her hand moved toward the sea. "Go get it yourself."

She opened her hand. The brown crystal sailed over the railing, plummeting toward the water.

"No!" I immediately lunged toward the railing, reaching out to grab it.

But the necklace had already disappeared into the water, my fingertips only touching cold air. Brinny's laughter came from behind me.

"What the hell do you want?" I whirled around, shouting at her.

She was too close, close enough that I could see the madness in her eyes. A terrible premonition swept over me.

Her hand suddenly shoved my shoulder. The deck beneath my feet was already wet. I stepped on a small patch of water, my shoes slipped. I instinctively tried to grab something, but my body went straight over the railing. The world tilted before my eyes.

I was done for. I'd been pushed into the freezing seawater.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Briony

The ocean hit me like a wall of ice. Salt water flooded my nose, crushing the world into murky blue. Gravity dragged me deeper. My arms clawed uselessly through the water.

"Help—" The ocean choked off my voice. I spat it out, lifting my head again.

"Help!"

Music still played on deck. Laughter too. No one heard.

I looked up toward Brinny. She was still standing there. Those blue eyes locked on me, colder than the water, full of malice. Her mouth curved slightly. Then she grabbed the rail and swung her leg over. Smooth. Practiced.