Whet Wednesday - Diamonds And Deceit

I hope everyone is enjoying warm spring weather like we are here in TN. I have the windows open, letting in some fresh air. But tomorrow it's going to turn cold again, I'll have the heat on. Gotto love Tennessee and it's manic ways. 

Today we're looking at the middle of Chapter 10 in Diamonds and Deceit. 
Here are a few links to previous posts to get you caught up. 

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Go back and check older posts. 

In this excerpt, the gang's all here. So let me give you the cast: Enrique aka Diamond Malloy, Amalia Gilbrad Malloy, Arabella Gilbrad, Peyton Gilbrad Boudreaux, and her husbands Sebastian and Thierry Boudreaux. 
Of course Shelbie and Dagan/Hunter are here, and Dagan's friend and low and behold, Arabella's ex Ian. 
I had so much trouble finding just the right excerpt. There's so much going on in this chapter that it was difficult to choose. 
Happy Wednesday all. 

Diamonds And Deceit
Excerpt

“Please don’t make me whistle again. It’s murder on the hearing.” She laughed. “Your support and acceptance mean the world to me.” Shelbie brushed back a lock off Peyton’s forehead and squeezed Amalia’s hand.

She took a deep breath, turning to Diamond, showing him just how much his care of and for them meant to her. “I have to do this alone.”

“No.”

“We’ll get…”

“Shelbie won’t be alone. I’ll be by her side the entire time.”

Shelbie watched in horror as two meaty hands gripped Dagan’s arms, hauling him back, a fist slamming into his stomach. “No.” She lunged, only to be trapped within the circle of her family.

She craned her neck around Diamond’s shoulder trying to get a good look at the scene across the room. Ian grappled with Thierry trying to stop another blow while Dagan struggled in Sebastian’s Iron grip. Peyton’s husbands spouted off, ‘take that, and this is for,’ between blows.  

“Stop. Stop it this instant.” Shelbie pushed against the arms enveloping her. She wasn’t sure if it was the tone of her voice or her struggle to get to Dagan or the tears running down her face that caught everyone’s attention.

Pushing through lax arms, she hurried toward the men. She tried to ignore Dagan, but it was a losing battle. Laying her hands on her brothers-in-law, she swallowed around the lump in her throat. How was she to make them understand? “Guys. I get it. Well, I don’t because I don’t know what happened…” she cut accusing eyes over at Diamond, “And I know you’re protecting Peyton, but,” She disengaged their hands from Dagan, pulling him to her side, “Hunter isn’t here to take us down.” She squeezed him hard, hoping he got the message.

“Shelbie.”

“You’re out of your mind.” Sebastian lunged. “I told you what I would do if I ever saw you again.” Dagan futilely fought to push Shelbie behind him.

“That’s enough.” Ian and Diamond’s word cut through the arguments, pulling them apart in the process.  

“Let me…” 

Diamonds And Deceit

Book Blurb:

Necessity made Shelbie Gilbrad a prostitute and thief, the thrill kept her in the business. But now she’s in trouble and doesn’t see it coming, which is odd because Shelbie’s been plagued by visions her entire life.

As a self-made billionaire bent on revenge, Dagan Hunter Caulfield has resigned himself of never recovering the rare green, teardrop diamond necklace. He’s moved on. His plan to surprise the woman he’s falling for, gets him the shock of his life. 

Shelbie and Dagan’s worlds collide and neither will ever be the same. Yet outside forces pit them against one another, putting their lives in danger. Can he forgive her past? Can she save the man she loves?