Delaney Diamond's Blog, page 12

The Prequel to Ethan: Chapter 1

I’m writing a prequel to Ethan, which takes place seven years before the novel so you can see how Ethan and Skye met. I’ll drop a chapter every morning until the release on Friday. Enjoy!

Photo by Steve Daniel on Unsplash

Ethan exited the office building he owned in the middle of Atlanta and took the elevator to the first floor. Normally, he used a driver, but tonight he was driving himself. He climbed into his luxury sedan and pulled out of the covered parking lot. The drive to The Rose Hotel was not far, and the moment he saw the twenty-story building rise up from the roadway like a beacon in the night, a sense of satisfaction filled his chest.

The Rose Hotel had been his first major project and was named for his mother. He still remembered her teary-eyed smile during the grand opening, and occasional visits grounded him and reminded him of how far he’d come.

“Good evening, Mr. Connor,” the valet said as Ethan stepped out of the vehicle.

“Good evening, Tiffany.” He handed the young woman a few bills and strolled into the lobby with his silver briefcase in hand. One of the hosts took the case and went to the elevator, on their way to drop it off in his private suite where he’d be spending the night.

When he built this place, he had the foresight to include several livable suites that could accommodate long-term residents willing to pay for the privilege. One of them remained empty, which he personally used. It was convenient if he didn’t want to drive all the way out to his property, but also because it allowed him to have the pleasure of female company overnight without them intruding into the more personal space of his home.

Ethan went to the small bar and his usual pre-dinner drink. Narrow and long, the bar was tucked into the hotel just off the lobby, cloaked in darkness offset by glowing blue lights in the ceiling. Leather barstools lined the front of the black bar like militia—the soft leather of the armrests and back supports adding to the comfort of the seats. A local artist’s colorful prints filled the dark wood walls across from the bar and looked down on the tables where a few guests whispered together and enjoyed after-work drinks.

“Good evening, Mr. Connor,” the male bartender said in a subdued tone, setting a glass of Cognac in front of Ethan as he settled onto one of the stools. Ethan nodded a greeting and took a sip. Excellent.

Only minutes later, a flash of gold caught the corner of his right eye, and he twisted his head to see a stunning woman enter the bar. As she passed behind him, his eyes lifted to the mirrored wall so he could continue watching her progress.

The gold dress she wore fastened over one shoulder and lay snug on her thick curves, the provocative attire broadcasting it was perfectly designed to be removed. The back dipped enticingly low above her generous backside, the soft-looking material ending at her knees and complimenting a pair of sexy heels whose straps crisscrossed up her calves.

With two stools between them, she stepped up to the bar and turned toward Ethan with an arched eyebrow. That’s when he was hit with the full frontal view. Definitely no bra, and not even those pasty things women wore over their nipples, because hers prominently poked at the gold material.

Her tawny-gold skin brightened the room, and so did the large gold earrings adorning her ears. She wore her hair piled on top of her head and red lipstick that highlighted a pair lips designed to be kissed often and thoroughly.

“Can I help you?” she asked, voice filled with antagonism.

Despite the confrontational tone, the sound of her voice was intriguing—low, with a husky undertone that hinted at sensuality.

“Why so angry? Dressed like that, surely you know men are going to pay attention to you.”

Her lips tightened. “I don’t care what men think. I dressed like this for a specific reason.”

“And that reason is…” Ethan prompted, curious despite himself. He wasn’t in the habit of picking up women at his hotel, but this one definitely held his attention.

“White wine spritzer,” she said to the bartender.

“I’ll pay for your drink if you answer my question,” Ethan said.

“I can pay for my own drinks.” She pulled a credit card from her wristlet and set it on the bar top.

“I’ll take care of her drink,” Ethan said to the bartender, who nodded his understanding.

She tilted her head at him and frowned. “Excuse me, but who the hell are you?”

“Ethan Connor.”

She sat on a barstool and crossed her legs. “Well, Mr. Connor, as I explained a few minutes ago, I don’t need you to buy my drink,” she said in a saccharine voice that conveyed anything but sweetness.

“I understand, but I’d like to. Seems to me you might be having a bad night, and maybe having a stranger buy your drink could make the night a little bit better for you. Enjoy.” He lifted his glass in a silent toast and turned away.

They were both silent for a while, and then the bartender brought over her wine spritzer, and she took a sip. Ethan was still very much aware of her, and though he was interested, he wasn’t going to push. There were plenty of women willing to do much more than have a conversation with him. Women wanted security, and money meant security. He’d learned that lesson a long time ago, in the bitterest of ways. Looks and personality couldn’t compete. The man with the money always got the girl.

“I was stood up.”

Ethan turned in her direction. “Excuse me?” he said, though he heard exactly what she said.

She took a deep breath and let it out, staring into her glass. “You wanted to know why I was upset, so I’m letting you know why. I was stood up.”

“He must be a damn fool.”

That brought a smile to her lips, and she shot him a sidelong glance. “We were supposed to have drinks in the bar, chat for a bit, and then go to dinner, but he’s a no-show.” She shrugged.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Are you married?”

“No.”

She turned further in his direction, so he had a good view of her lovely face again. “No? A man like you?”

“What do you mean, a man like me?”

She eyed him up and down. “Well, you dress well. Nice suit. Expensive watch. And you’re what… late twenties?”

“Good guess. I’m twenty-nine.” Ethan twisted in her direction, letting his right arm rest on the bar top.

“You should definitely be married, which means you’re like all these other men out here. You don’t want anything serious.”

“You’re quick to judge.”

“But I’m not wrong. Honestly, as a woman, I don’t know why we bother. No one wants to date anymore or sit down to a nice meal and have good conversation and get to know each other. Instead, I end up at a bar talking to a stranger because my date stood me up.”

Ethan felt himself smiling. “I promise you, not all men are like that.”

“You’re different, right?” she asked, but there was a teasing tone to her voice.

“No. I’m exactly the kind of man you want to avoid.”

Her eyebrows jerked up for a fraction of a second. “That’s quite an admission.”

“I don’t play games. I prefer to be open and honest.”

She lowered her gaze and tapped a painted nail on the stem of her glass.

“The right man for you is out there, somewhere,” Ethan added.

“I guess I’ll have to keep looking.” She drained her glass of wine and slipped off the stool. “Thank you for the drink. Have a good evening.”

She headed toward the exit, and once again his gaze followed her progress behind him, and then he turned his head to watch her walk out the door at the end.

The bartender let out a low whistle as he wiped down the bar. “I would never stand up a woman who looked like her.”

Ethan silently agreed.

___________

Ethan arrives on January 28, 2022.

Buy links: Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | BN | Apple | Kobo | Google Play

Join my Readers Lounge to participate in the release party and book chat in February.

The post The Prequel to Ethan: Chapter 1 appeared first on Delaney Diamond.

How a trip to Belize influenced the novel Ethan

Ethan is the first book in the Family Ties series about a blended Black/Hispanic family. Most of the story takes place in Atlanta, but several chapters are about Ethan and Skye’s getaway to Belize. 

I visited Belize a few years ago, and it really made an impression on me. The place was so chill, the food is good, and the people are friendly. Being from the Virgin Islands, it reminded me a lot of home. I briefly mentioned Belize in Love Me, but this time I included more details to transport you to the country. 

Ethan and Skye hadn’t taken a vacation in a couple of years, and when Skye complained Ethan often worked during their vacations, he told her she could plan everything. She chose to visit Hopkins Village, a less touristy part of Belize. While there, they learned about the Garifuna people, whose food, music, and traditions greatly influence the community. They ate hudut–a fish dish that includes coconut milk and mashed plantains–and went to a beachside restaurant to listen to Garifuna musicians sing and play the drums–all of which I was lucky enough to experience firsthand. 

I also had the pleasure of a lizard invading the space of my beachside apartment, so I gave Ethan and Skye the same problem. The lizard didn’t bother me, but Skye is creeped out by it. Lucky for her, she had Ethan to get rid of the pest. I wasn’t so lucky and learned to live in harmony with my reptile roommate. LOL. 

The scene below is an unedited excerpt from the book, where Skye discovers the lizard in the bathroom, and Ethan saves the day. Then things get a little heated ;).

____________

Skye undressed and went into the bathroom. There was no shower curtain or door, only a beveled half wall to contain the spray. She stepped onto the cool tile and reached up to turn on the water, only to find a pair of tiny eyes looking at her from several feet above. The green lizard was back.

She screamed and hopped out of the shower.

Seconds later, Ethan burst through the door.

“He’s back.” Skye pointed into the stall.

Ethan peered in. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. I told you before, he’s probably more afraid of you than you are of him.”

“I seriously doubt that, since he keeps coming up in here, into our space.”

“He’s not going to bite you.”

“No, but he could jump on top of me while I’m taking a shower.” She shivered in disgust. “Get rid of it, Ethan.”

His eyes dropped to her breasts. “If you like, I can stay in here and protect you.”

She’d forgotten she was stark naked. “That’s not funny.” She snatched up a towel and held it in front of her.

“I thought it was,” he muttered.

“Would you please get him out of here.”

“If I try to catch him, he’ll probably run higher up the wall. I’ll have to be strategic.”

“I’ll let you figure that out.” Skye hurried from the room.

She sat on the arm of one of the chairs in the living room, and Ethan came out and took the broom, a bowl, and a plate into the bathroom.

“What are you doing with all of those?” Skye called.

“Let me worry about that. You stay your pretty little behind out here and let me handle this.”

“Yes, sir.”

After a minute or two, Ethan exited the bathroom with the plate over the bowl.

“Eww. Is he in there?” Skye whispered.

“Yes. Do you want to see him?”

She hopped up from the chair. “No! Get it out of here. Maybe you should kill him so he won’t come back.”

Ethan shot her a glance.

“Fine, don’t kill him, but he better not show his face around here again.”

Ethan released the lizard to the outside, dumped the dishes in the sink, and washed his hands.

Skye sidled over and wrapped her arms around his waist. “My hero,” she murmured, kissing his back and running her hands up and down his naked chest.

“You know you can’t do that and expect me to stand here and do nothing.” He turned to face her.

“We were both at the beach. We should both take a shower,” Skye suggested with false innocence.

“Hm. You make a good point.”

She took his hand and led the way into the bathroom. She removed the towel and then helped Ethan out of his swim trunks.

They climbed into the shower together and let the water run over their skin. Ethan made sure to brush off the sand, paying extra attention to her breasts and ass. Her skin tingled with every stroke, and she returned the favor by running her hands over his muscular body, indulging her need for further contact by kissing his chest, licking his nipples, and nipping at his Adam’s apple.

Ethan squeezed moisturizing shampoo into his hands and proceeded to wash her hair. Instead of standing behind her, he stood in front, and she wrapped her arms around his torso. They were skin to skin as he worked his magic.

She always enjoyed when he washed her hair, which was nothing like going to the salon. Ethan’s hands were gentle but firm as he massaged the lather through the strands. The scent of the shampoo’s herbal oils filled her nostrils and added to the sensual experience of him taking his time to give her the simple pleasure.

Skye closed her eyes and tipped back her head, humming her pleasure as his fingertips moved along her temple and to the base of her skull. Ethan followed with the deep penetrating conditioner, and in between the washing and conditioning, his lips found their way onto her shoulders, and every so often his hands splayed across her rib cage and squeezed her breasts.

By the time he finished, she was a quivering mass of raw nerves, ready to straddle his hips and ride him to oblivion.

____________

Ethan arrives on January 28, 2022. Preorder links coming this week.

Join my Readers Lounge to participate in the release party and book chat in February.

The post How a trip to Belize influenced the novel Ethan appeared first on Delaney Diamond.

FLASH FICTION: A prequel to Heart Stealer

Katherine and Raheem met 8 years before the Heart Stealer novel opens, at a resort in France when he was 23 and she was 36. But how did they meet? I never wrote the backstory but invited readers in my Readers Lounge to help me write a short piece on their meet-cute.

The rules were simple:

We could only add 1 to 3 sentences to keep the story going. Each contributor could add to the story more than once, but not two times in a row. 

I did a little tweaking after the fact. This is the final product.

Katherine shouldn’t be looking at him, but the young man seated at the bar across the swimming pool had caught her eye since she saw him checking in yesterday afternoon. He had deep brown skin, muscles, and an endearing smile which he flashed at employees and fellow resort visitors. As a married woman, it was a bit scandalous to be so distracted by a complete stranger, but she couldn’t keep her eyes off him.

Not sure what to do with the unnerving attraction, Katherine pondered, what if?

What if she approached him? What if he approached her? She shouldn’t be having those kinds of thoughts, but Thurgood had been distant lately, and she was lonely. This vacation was supposed to be a chance for them to reconnect and spend time together, but he canceled at the last minute and she’d had to come alone.

She caught her breath, when to her surprise the young man looked in her direction, smiled, and started walking toward her. 

Katherine wanted to move but couldn’t. She was in awe of the way he moved. All male perfection.

“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked.

“I already have one,” she replied before sipping her pina colada.

“I know. But it’s almost finished and you still look thirsty.”

She smiled faintly. She was certainly thirsty—embarrassingly so—for him. Standing, she picked up her drink and the book she had not been reading and said, “Thank you, but I’ll have to decline.” 

Hurrying inside, she willed her feet to slow down as she headed toward the bank of elevators.

“This is ridiculous,” she inwardly scolded herself. “Why am I behaving like an awestruck teenager?”

“Because he’s fine, girl,” she said aloud.

“Thank you,” replied a voice from behind her.

Katherine swung around, and he was standing right there. She held her breath as he came closer with a slow, steady walk and locked eyes with her. With his gaze traveling from the top of her head to her sandaled feet, he said, “My name is Raheem, and I really hope you’ll tell me your name.”

Taking the time to take in the man who was Raheem, Katherine gathered her wits and stuck out her hand. “Katherine.” As Raheem shook her hand, the electricity of their connection caused her to tremble. “I really need to go.”

“Or you could stay,” he said firmly, continuing to hold her hand.

Katherine hesitated but then decided to return poolside with him. It couldn’t hurt to just talk, right?

Contributors: Celeste W., Thresa D., Ria G.

The post FLASH FICTION: A prequel to Heart Stealer appeared first on Delaney Diamond.

New Year, New Website!

Happy New Year, and welcome to my new website!

I plan to use my blog more this year and so I gave my website a facelift. I had the same design on Weebly for at least four years and decided last fall to go back to WordPress. I kept a clean, minimalist design, but there are new touches.

My logo is at the top, the front page now shows some of my blog posts, my books’ pages have been redesigned, and features-wise I like the additional flexibility I have with a WordPress site.

Blog posts will go out on Mondays. Expect flash fiction, book excerpts, and fun, interesting conversations about love, romance, and film. And, special guest Lindsay the Sexy Diva (yes, the heroine from Wild Thoughts) will be doling out relationship advice once a month in her typical no-nonsense fashion.

Poke around and check out the new site and let me know what you think in the comments.

The post New Year, New Website! appeared first on Delaney Diamond.

The Heart Stealer audiobook is almost here!

Good news! The Heart Stealer audio files have been uploaded, and in a couple of weeks you'll be able to listen to the third book in The Cordoba Agency series.

While you wait, I have a teaser excerpt for you from Chapter 12. The narrator is John Joseph Rogers, who narrated the first two books - Until Now and Until Death.  After you get through with this sample, there's a longer one on the Audiobooks page. Be sure to check that out too. 

And how about a giveaway?

I have three Audible codes to give away, one each for three lucky listeners, and you can use your code on any of my audiobooks. All you have to do is answer this question in the comments: How do you listen to audiobooks (in the car, exercising, cleaning, etc...?).  

Deadline to enter:  December 3 at 12:00 pm EST

I'll pick three winners at the end of the week. ​Good luck!
___
Eligibility: Codes are only valid in the US and UK.

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The Heart Stealer audiobook is almost here!

Good news! The Heart Stealer audio files have been uploaded, and in a couple of weeks you’ll be able to listen to the third book in The Cordoba Agency series.

While you wait, I have a teaser excerpt for you from Chapter 12. The narrator is John Joseph Rogers, who narrated the first two books – Until Now and Until Death.  After you get through with this sample, there’s a longer one on the Audiobooks page. Be sure to check that out too. 

And how about a giveaway?

I have three Audible codes to give away, one each for three lucky listeners, and you can use your code on any of my audiobooks. All you have to do is answer this question in the comments: How do you listen to audiobooks (in the car, exercising, cleaning, etc…?).  

Deadline to enter:  December 3 at 12:00 pm EST

I’ll pick three winners at the end of the week. ​Good luck!

Eligibility: Codes are only valid in the US and UK.

The post The Heart Stealer audiobook is almost here! appeared first on Delaney Diamond.

Book Blitz & $25 Giveaway for Heart Stealer!

Xpresso Book Tours has organized a book blitz for Heart Stealer, and I’m giving away a couple of prizes!

One lucky winner will receive a $25 gift card or Paypal cash, open to international entrants.All entrants will receive the first 9 chapters of Heart Stealer as  a preview.

Thank you to all the participating bloggers and authors who’ll be posting about my book all week. I appreciate you! Readers, check them out the Heart Stealer $25 Giveaway through the widget or using the button below.

Enter the giveaway hereAmazon | B&N  |  Apple  |  Google Play  |  Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.ukHeart Stealer $25 Giveaway

The post Book Blitz & $25 Giveaway for Heart Stealer! appeared first on Delaney Diamond.

Book Blitz & $25 Giveaway for Heart Stealer!

Xpresso Book Tours has organized a book blitz for Heart Stealer, and I'm giving away a couple of prizes!One lucky winner will receive a $25 gift card or Paypal cash, open to international entrants.All entrants will receive the first 9 chapters of Heart Stealer as  a preview.
Thank you to all the participating bloggers and authors who'll be posting about my book all week. I appreciate you! Readers, check them out the Heart Stealer $25 Giveaway through the widget or using the button below.

Enter the giveaway hereAmazon | B&N  |  Apple  |  Google Play  |  Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.uk


Heart Stealer $25 Giveaway

Only 3 days until Heart Stealer arrives! #TeaserTuesday

The Cordoba Agency is back! In only three more days you'll meet Katherine Stallworth and Raheem Miller and watch them fight their feelings for each other. Raheem is the bodyguard of his former lover, a woman who broke his heart. Awkward. Nonetheless, the chemistry between these two and their suppressed love is undeniable, and no matter what, Raheem will not let anything happen to Katherine. Believe me.

I sent out a BookFunnel link to the first 9 chapters to newsletter subscribers on Friday. If you missed it, you can still enjoy part of Chapter One below. 
​EXCERPT
Katherine Stallworth stared in horror at the carnage before her and the foul stench of death. Nothing could have prepared her for this.
Her husband’s body lay sprawled across the duvet in the dimly lit room, his dark shirt darker from the uneven circle of blood that covered his entire chest. Dead, and so were his bodyguards.
Keith lay face down at the foot of the bed, his arm at an awkward angle, his weapon butted up against the wall as if someone had kicked it away from his hand. His suit jacket was soaked with blood, and so was the cream-colored carpet beneath him.
Ivan was on the floor, slumped with his back against the bed and his temple touching the nightstand. He would look like someone who’d fallen asleep sitting up, except half his face had been blown off and his white shirt was drenched in blood.
Blood.
Blood everywhere.
Katherine walked slowly over to the bed on shaky knees. Her husband’s pale skin was ashen and drained of life, his mouth open as if in the middle of a scream, and his sightless eyes staring up at the ceiling.
She lifted both hands to her mouth as tears filled her eyes and pain wrenched her heart. “Thurgood,” she whispered into her cupped palms. Who had done this, and why?
Then she heard a noise in the walk-in closet. Her heart jumped, and her mouth fell open in silent panic. She wasn’t alone. The killer was still there!
She backed away slowly, chest tight as she tried hard not to make a sound. When her foot breeched the entrance to the door, a shadowy figure dressed in black exited the closet, and she turned swiftly, rushing down the hall toward the staircase. Breathing accelerated, she gripped the wooden railing with a trembling hand and moved down the stairs as quickly and silently as she could on her toes.
These shoes! The pretty gold heels she’d worn with such pride to the reception she now cursed for their impracticality. Her pounding heart was so loud in her ears and her breathing so shallow, she wondered if the intruder could hear the evidence of her fear.
Her driver and the other bodyguard had already left for the night, but she had to get out of there. She had to get to the garage.
“Hey!”
Halfway down the stairs, she stopped and turned.
A man stared at her from the catwalk. He wore a black ski mask over his head, with openings for his mouth and eyes—eyes that locked with hers and reeked of venom. His menacing posture and the death she’d witnessed provoked an immediate response.
Run!
Katherine took off down the stairs.
“Stop!” he bellowed.
There was no way she was stopping.
Almost to the bottom, a gunshot shattered the wood railing she clutched. She screamed and, in her panic, missed her footing on the stairs. She twisted her ankle. Sharp pain jiggered up her leg, and she went down. Her hands flew out instinctively to protect her face, but she skidded along the edge of the last two steps, scraping her knees, shins, palms, and forearms.
She lost one shoe and landed in an ungainly heap at the foot of the stairs in the foyer with her evening gown crumpled around her upper thighs. Heavy footsteps pounded behind her. Too terrified to turn around, Katherine ignored the burn of the bruises and scrambled to her feet as another man appeared in the open doorway to her right.
“Get her!” the one on the staircase yelled.
She kicked off the other shoe and gathered her full skirt to keep from tripping over the hem. She limped away from them both as fast as possible, fueled solely by adrenaline as she raced into a second hallway and pushed open the door to Thurgood’s study. She slammed it closed and quickly turned the lock but knew her actions would not keep them out for long.
There was a loud boom as one of the men slammed his body against the door, which sent her scrambling across the room. She stubbed her little toe on a chair and cried out, wincing at the debilitating pain but didn’t dare stop, and hopped over to the bookcase beside her husband’s desk.
The master bedroom, where Thurgood was murdered, was also a safe room. But fortunately, there was a second safe room inside his study.
She yanked away two books hiding a plain-looking piece of metal in the wall and pressed her thumb to the silver disc. Right away, the entire shelf popped out, and she swung the door open.
The office door was kicked in at that very moment. The frame splintered and pieces of wood spewed through the air. Both men rushed in, but Katherine slipped between the shelf and the wall and yanked the door closed.
Amazon | B&N  |  Apple  |  Google Play  |  Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.uk

Only 3 days until Heart Stealer arrives! #TeaserTuesday

The Cordoba Agency is back! In only three more days you’ll meet Katherine Stallworth and Raheem Miller and watch them fight their feelings for each other. Raheem is the bodyguard of his former lover, a woman who broke his heart. Awkward. Nonetheless, the chemistry between these two and their suppressed love is undeniable, and no matter what, Raheem will not let anything happen to Katherine. Believe me.

I sent out a BookFunnel link to the first 9 chapters to newsletter subscribers on Friday. If you missed it, you can still enjoy part of Chapter One below.

EXCERPT

Katherine Stallworth stared in horror at the carnage before her and the foul stench of death. Nothing could have prepared her for this.
Her husband’s body lay sprawled across the duvet in the dimly lit room, his dark shirt darker from the uneven circle of blood that covered his entire chest. Dead, and so were his bodyguards.
Keith lay face down at the foot of the bed, his arm at an awkward angle, his weapon butted up against the wall as if someone had kicked it away from his hand. His suit jacket was soaked with blood, and so was the cream-colored carpet beneath him.
Ivan was on the floor, slumped with his back against the bed and his temple touching the nightstand. He would look like someone who’d fallen asleep sitting up, except half his face had been blown off and his white shirt was drenched in blood.
Blood.
Blood everywhere.
Katherine walked slowly over to the bed on shaky knees. Her husband’s pale skin was ashen and drained of life, his mouth open as if in the middle of a scream, and his sightless eyes staring up at the ceiling.
She lifted both hands to her mouth as tears filled her eyes and pain wrenched her heart. “Thurgood,” she whispered into her cupped palms. Who had done this, and why?
Then she heard a noise in the walk-in closet. Her heart jumped, and her mouth fell open in silent panic. She wasn’t alone. The killer was still there!
She backed away slowly, chest tight as she tried hard not to make a sound. When her foot breeched the entrance to the door, a shadowy figure dressed in black exited the closet, and she turned swiftly, rushing down the hall toward the staircase. Breathing accelerated, she gripped the wooden railing with a trembling hand and moved down the stairs as quickly and silently as she could on her toes.
These shoes! The pretty gold heels she’d worn with such pride to the reception she now cursed for their impracticality. Her pounding heart was so loud in her ears and her breathing so shallow, she wondered if the intruder could hear the evidence of her fear.
Her driver and the other bodyguard had already left for the night, but she had to get out of there. She had to get to the garage.
“Hey!”
Halfway down the stairs, she stopped and turned.
A man stared at her from the catwalk. He wore a black ski mask over his head, with openings for his mouth and eyes—eyes that locked with hers and reeked of venom. His menacing posture and the death she’d witnessed provoked an immediate response.
Run!
Katherine took off down the stairs.
“Stop!” he bellowed.
There was no way she was stopping.
Almost to the bottom, a gunshot shattered the wood railing she clutched. She screamed and, in her panic, missed her footing on the stairs. She twisted her ankle. Sharp pain jiggered up her leg, and she went down. Her hands flew out instinctively to protect her face, but she skidded along the edge of the last two steps, scraping her knees, shins, palms, and forearms.
She lost one shoe and landed in an ungainly heap at the foot of the stairs in the foyer with her evening gown crumpled around her upper thighs. Heavy footsteps pounded behind her. Too terrified to turn around, Katherine ignored the burn of the bruises and scrambled to her feet as another man appeared in the open doorway to her right.
“Get her!” the one on the staircase yelled.
She kicked off the other shoe and gathered her full skirt to keep from tripping over the hem. She limped away from them both as fast as possible, fueled solely by adrenaline as she raced into a second hallway and pushed open the door to Thurgood’s study. She slammed it closed and quickly turned the lock but knew her actions would not keep them out for long.
There was a loud boom as one of the men slammed his body against the door, which sent her scrambling across the room. She stubbed her little toe on a chair and cried out, wincing at the debilitating pain but didn’t dare stop, and hopped over to the bookcase beside her husband’s desk.
The master bedroom, where Thurgood was murdered, was also a safe room. But fortunately, there was a second safe room inside his study.
She yanked away two books hiding a plain-looking piece of metal in the wall and pressed her thumb to the silver disc. Right away, the entire shelf popped out, and she swung the door open.
The office door was kicked in at that very moment. The frame splintered and pieces of wood spewed through the air. Both men rushed in, but Katherine slipped between the shelf and the wall and yanked the door closed.

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