Today, I’m featuring my debut novel…I’m friending myself. LOL!
Check out the excerpt, the free download for the first five chapters AND the giveaway. So, now I’m friending you too.
Let’s go!
DESCRIPTION
Camille Blackwell, an undercover FBI agent, poses as a jewelry purchaser in an international diamond trading company in hopes of identifying the domestic players in a vicious rebel group suspected of trafficking conflict diamonds.
The Bureau requests CIA renegade Marc Fulton’s assistance with sweeping international intelligence to identify the major rebel organizations with finances and stateside connections strong enough to evade criminal prosecution, despite Camille’s objections.
Sparks fly when Marc and Camille meet, their attraction is instant and tense. However, both resolve to focus on the case. But when Camille receives an encrypted memory stick from a murdered co-worker Marc may be the only person she can trust.
Black Diamond is the eagerly anticipated debut novel by Ja’Nese Dixon. True love, like black diamonds, is rare and precious; but when murder and a persistent criminal threaten a frail relationship, can love triumph?
In a borderless game of cat and mouse, will a chance at happily ever after be thwarted at deadly scheme of the faceless leader of the Imperial Dynasty?
PROLOGUE
“Life is precious, dear, don’t you think?” he asked in a chilled tone that caused her blood to run ice cold through her veins. She clutched the phone to her ear, contemplating her next step. He was nearly a day away by flight. What could he possibly do to her?
Pushing her thoughts aside, she refused to let her mind answer the frightening question left hanging. Instead, she refocused on his successful attempt to scare her into submission.
“Yes, I know life is precious. However, I strongly doubt whether you do,” she responded.
Ashanta Kenani was a proud Angolan woman, but pride would not solve her dilemma. She sat in her small condo, alone, near the edge of her bed with her shoulders back in mock courage. He had a way of making her feel like a child, which usually meant her emotions would overrule her common sense. Her mind could not process the scene fast enough to register the threat lying behind his words.
Ashanta pulled the phone from her ear as if it were poisonous. His light-hearted laughter floated through the air. His cryptic influence had transformed her life into a living hell. She knew all too well that he could fool almost anybody with his good looks and charm – but not her; not anymore.
“Call it what you may, but, I promise you this, cross me and someone will die.”
The silence that followed caused her more concern than his threat.
“But,” he continued, sarcastically, “I doubt you will take my words seriously, with you being in the States and all. So let me send a message that translates well in any language. Would you hold for a minute dear? Someone wants to speak with you.”
Ashanta sprang to her feet and began to pace the floor. Who could it be? The passing seconds felt like hours. What had she gotten herself into? How would she get out of it? And, how many people where going to pay for her stupidity?
The muffled voices on the other end of the line caused her to lean closer into the phone, as if it would help her recognize his surprise guest. It helped. What she heard caused her eyes to burn as her determination melted into pure fear; then hatred.
“Don’t…don’t…!”
Ashanta held the phone in a death grip. She recognized her mother’s frail cries in the distance masked by the commotion of wrestling. Then the phone tumbled to the floor.
“Momma!” Ashanta screamed. She hoped her ears were failing her. What was he doing with her mother?
“Hello…” A strained voice seeped through the line.
“Momma…Momma, what are you doing there?” Ashanta shrieked.
“Ashanta? Baby, I’m scared—“
“Shut up! Either do as I say or you will lose more than your finger. Now, pick-up the phone and tell your daughter hello for us all.”
She cringed as every muscle in her body responded to his words.
“Don‘t! I promise…“ Ashanta wanted to show him that she would comply with his wishes. “I promise I will do whatever you want. Just leave my mother alone. Please…please don’t do this.”
Amidst the commotion, she could hear him laughing. The laughter was not one of mutual amusement, but of the devil-playing cat and mouse games. Unfortunately, she was the mouse…trapped.
Sling. The sound of metal sliced through the air. Tears began to stream down Ashanta’s face.
“What was that? Answer me, damn it…Momma?” She screamed for her mother, for him, for anyone.
The line went dead.
Ashanta fell to the bed, crying. Who would pay? She heard the question ringing in her mind as she stared blankly at the phone now buzzing in her hand. She took several deep breaths, attempting to slow her racing heart. The answer was clear; her family would pay the price for her ambition. He would harm her mother, her father, and even her young sisters if it served his purpose. She now knew her naiveté and determination had sealed a deal with the devil.
“Talib, you son of a bitch, this is not over!”