Brie Surrenders her Heart (After Graduation, #8) by Red Phoenix Page B

girlfriend.”
    “Come on, Brie-a-licious. Let’s get this over with.”
    The two drove to Mary’s apartment, where Mary retrieved the icebox. She opened it and whistled. “Must be a high quality cooler—the ice has hardly melted.”
    Brie took it and set it on the passenger seat of her car, slamming the door shut. “The sooner it’s gone, the better for everyone.”
    Just before Brie drove off, Mary stopped her. She looked uncharacteristically worried. “I think you’re making a mistake getting involved in this.”
    Brie shook her head. “You don’t understand. I would do anything for Sir. Anything .”
    “I know bouncy boobs already said this, but I’ll say it anyway. If you need me, call.”
    Brie waved as she drove away. “Thanks, Mary.”
    While on the road, Brie kept glancing at the cooler. It reminded her a little of Pandora’s box. Inside were words Sir’s mother wanted him to see. Were they words full of hate or healing?
    She knew Sir was off meeting with clients for the day, which was part of the reason she’d asked to see her friends. Thankfully, that left her plenty of time to get rid of the note. She hurried up the stairs and turned on the faucet full blast as soon as she entered the kitchen. Brie slid the heavy block of ice under the heated water and waited, pacing around the kitchen. She became nervous when it seemed to be taking too long. Even though Sir wasn’t due back for hours she wanted the note, and any evidence of it, long gone by the time he came home.
    Brie, why did you bring it here? she chided herself as she watched the ice block slowly melt. But she knew why…
    She needed to know if the note held hope. Was it possible for Sir to make some semblance of peace with his mother before she died? It was Brie’s greatest wish to help make that happen if she could. No one is completely evil, she thought. Every person has goodness in them. She was convinced that the threat of death could bring clarity to the darkest of hearts.
    After what felt like forever, Brie got out a kitchen towel and laid what remained of the cube on the table. She searched through the pantry until she found the toolbox Sir kept there. She grabbed the hammer and started hacking at the ice.
    At first it seemed unbreakable, but once the cracks started the ice fell away in shards. As Brie got closer to the center, she noticed that Mary hadn’t covered the letter in any protective material. More likely than not, the letter inside would be unreadable.
    Maybe it’s for the best…
    But Brie’s curiosity was too great. She continued to hack away until the envelope was free. She stared at it for several seconds before grabbing the scissors and carefully cutting off the top. She felt like a criminal, but there was no stopping now. She had to know.
    Holding her breath, Brie drew out the folded note and opened it. It was smeared, but still legible.
    Thane,
    If my impending death means nothing to you, perhaps your father’s violin will. If you do not consent to meet, I will destroy the violin. Yes, that damn instrument that has been in the family for centuries. It will cease to exist, just like your father.
    So you see, son, Mommy has you by the balls.
    Time to play by my rules.
    “What are you doing?”
    Brie jumped, her heart threatening to burst at being caught. She put the letter down by her side and turned to face Sir. “I thought you were out…”
    “I had a severe headache and decided to come home today to sleep it off. Little did I suspect my own sub would bang a worse headache into my brain. Now answer the question.”
    “I… I—” The tears started to fall.
    “Is that from her?” he stated in a deceptively calm voice.
    She nodded, her throat closed too tightly to allow speech.
    “I won’t even ask how it ended up in such a state.” Sir’s eyes bored into her with a coldness that stabbed her very soul. “You have betrayed me on a level I’d never thought possible.” Sir strode over and took the note