by D. Camille
The second one laughed. “You gotta pay your taxes to move up the chain.”
Six watched Xavier, as Alex listened through his necklace.
“Pay my taxes?” Xavier questioned, lifting a brow.
He shrugged. “It’s the game, nigga.”
A man joined them at the table dressed in a three-piece suit. He looked Xavier over, then smiled before extending a hand.
“I’m John Brown.”
Xavier gave a fist bump to the man’s hand, while Alex began running the man’s name through his database.
“Who you?” Xavier asked, looking him up and down.
“I’m a publicist. I’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the business.” John told him. “I overheard you talking and I think I can help you out.”
Six continued to watch Xavier interact with the group.
“You think so?” Xavier asked.
He nodded. “I’m sure of it. With your looks and uh…talent. I can take you places you never imagined.”
Xavier agreed slowly. “I’m wit’ it.”
The man produced a card and handed it to him. “Let’s meet tomorrow after the rehearsals at my hotel.”
“Where you staying at?” Xavier questioned, taking the card.
He named the same hotel where the Heirs were registered.
Studying the card, Xavier nodded. “Bet, I got you.”
John smiled. “Good, I’d hoped you say that.”
Downstairs, Justice kept an eye on all the women as they worked the room. His eyes landed on his sister, who stood talking with a man in a designer suit, while sipping a drink. The dark-skinned, clean shaven man stood about six-foot two with a slim build. His expensive watch sparkled as he lifted his drink to his mouth.
“So you’re the X-Ception’s Personal Assistant?” the man asked, looking at the diamond ‘x’, hanging between her breasts, and continuing their conversation.
Diamond nodded. “Yes, I am.”
“Do you like that?” he questioned.
“The X-Ception is a wonderful person.”
He sipped his drink. “You’re much too beautiful and classy to be running behind some wannabe rapper.”
Diamond laughed softly. “Is that what you think I’m doing, Jason?”
“I know that you could be doing better.”
“I’m doing fine,” she told him, and took another sip. “But tell me what you think you can do for me…”
He looked her over. “I can put you in a position worthy of your status.”
“My status?”
“I can tell you’re accustomed to the finer things in life, and I have access to those things.” Jason informed her.
“The X-Ception’s career is about to take off.” Diamond rebutted.
Jason smirked. “These young, dumb ass rappers don’t know shit. They’re getting used for everything they have…thinking that they’re making a name for themselves.”
Diamond frowned. “Don’t you work with them?”
He shrugged. “I work for the money.”
“Do you know a lot about this industry, Jason?” Diamond questioned.
Sighing, he answered, “Too much…”
She smiled. “Maybe you’d like to tell me about it over dinner one night, while we’re on the tour?”
“I’d love to,”
Diamond agreed. “It’s my job to be on top of things for the X-Ception.”
“Are you two wetting the sheets?” Jason asked.
“Inappropriate question, Jason,” Diamond checked him.
He smiled down into his glass. “I’m sorry. I’m not accustomed to a woman of your sensibilities on this tour.”
“It’s simply respect,” she pointed out.
“I agree.” Jason looked at her. “And thank you for reminding me…”
Diamond went back to her drink before she felt a presence at her side.
She turned and saw angry dark eyes. “I was lookin’ for you.”
Diamond put on a smile. “The X-Ception meet Jason Stewart. He’s a publicist on the tour.”
Xavier looked at the man who he’d clearly seen sizing up Diamond. Jason stuck out his hand and Xavier raised a hard fist that Jason switched to in greeting.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Jason said, and Xavier turned to Diamond.
“I need my Assistant, if y’all don’t mind.” He told her.
She placed her drink on the counter. “Of course not, I’m at your service.”
Xavier led her away with a hand on her back. Diamond thought they would be returning to the table, but instead, Xavier led her out to the car. Inside, she turned to him in confusion.
“Where is everybody?” she asked.
“Was that the Jason Stewart on our list?”
She lifted a brow. “Are we debriefing?”
Xavier sat back. “Diamond, I saw how he was looking at you.”
“I’m Diamond Black.”
“What did you two talk about?”
“He’s very familiar with this tour and we’re going to meet for dinner to see what I can get out of him,” she explained.
Xavier turned to her. “Dinner?”
“Yes, I saw his interest and so I’m going to play on it. That is why we’re here…” she reminded him. “He may have some pertinent information.”
“How did you connect with him?” Xavier questioned.
“He approached me and I recognized his name from our intel.” Diamond explained. “So I entertained him.
He nodded. “And where is this dinner supposed to take place?”
“We didn’t get that far, because some angry guy came and whisked me away,” she told him.
His eyes darkened. “He asked you if we were wetting the sheets,”
Diamond bright eyes widened. “You were reading his mind?”
“Hell yeah, I was reading his damn mind…and I didn’t like what I heard.” Xavier said firmly.
“I can’t control his thoughts,” Diamond defended.
Xavier looked at her. “What were you thinking?” he asked.
She looked away and he waited until she returned her gaze to his.
“I was thinking that I want to do whatever I can to get this over as soon as we can.” She began. “I was wondering what was going on in that VIP room, because I know how it goes down in there.”
“And I was waiting to see you, again.” She finished.
“I’m glad you put him in his place,” Xavier said quietly.
Diamond stared at him. “Of course, I did.”
“He’s planning to try to get you into bed,” he warned her.
“Not a chance in hell,”
Xavier touched her face. “Don’t get him killed, Diamond.”
“You may have to kill him, if he’s involved in this,” she whispered. “But you won’t have to for any other reason. I can handle Jason…”
“I know that we both have to do things, that the other may not like,” Xavier kissed her cheek. “Can we agree to trust each other?”
“I trust you, Xavier,” Diamond said softly. “You’ve never given me a reason not to…”
She turned her lips to his and they touched briefly.
“What happened in the VIP room?”
Xavier tasted her lips again. “One second…” he breathed against her mouth.
One second turned into two, then into several more before their private devices buzzed. They pulled them out and checked the message from Alex.
The team is on their way to the car…
A minute later, the door opened and the rest of the group climbed inside.
“We’ll debrief in my room, fifteen minutes after we arrive at the hotel,” Six announced, and they all agreed.
Diamond put a hand to her lips and focused on the device in her hands, while Justice turned to Xavier.
“So did you at least get a lap dance while you were in the VIP room?” he asked.
Xavier shook his head. “I’m not here for that.”
&n
bsp; Justice smiled. “All part of the cover, you gotta let them know that you’re a part of the game.”
“I’m good.” Xavier told him. “I’ve got this.”
“See, I should’ve been the rapper,”
They all looked at Justice. “No,” Diamond told him. “We’d never solve the damn case.”
He frowned at her. “What were you doing all hugged up with old dude at the bar?”
Xavier glanced at her.
“I was working,” Diamond told him. “Like I came here to do.”
They eventually arrived back at the hotel and disbursed to their rooms. In his room, Xavier headed to the bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes. Removing the tight shirt, he sighed in relief and released his belt.
Thirsty for some water, he walked out into the living room and paused when Diamond was sitting on his sofa.
“Hello, Diamond.”
“Hello, Xavier.” She scanned his naked torso. “I thought I’d wait with you and we could go to Six’s room together to debrief.”
“Where’s Skye?”
“She’s with Lilac and Jade.” Diamond crooked a finger at him. “We didn’t finish our business in the car.”
Xavier approached her. “Were we still talking?”
She shook her head. “No.”
He sat on the sofa next to her and she reached out to touch his bare skin.
“Are you here to chase me?” Xavier whispered.
“No.” She slid her hand up to his neck, to caress the back of his neck.
Xavier smiled. “I’ll wait…”
Diamond traced his sexy lips, with a manicured finger. “We don’t have much time before we meet with Six.”
“What are you asking?” Xavier lifted a brow.
She watched him closely. “Kiss me…for now.”
Xavier touched his mouth to hers and followed her directions. He pulled her closer and she wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself against his warm body. His lips pleasured hers, while he held her in the confines of his embrace.
A few minutes later, Xavier lifted his head and looked down into her face, before Diamond’s eyes opened and she stared up at him.
“I like how you chase me,” he told her, stroking her face.
“I’m not chasing you.”
He laughed. “I’ve waited a long time. I deserve some kind of pursuit…”
“Right now, you’re getting more than any other man would ever get from me…” she told him.
“There is no other man,” Xavier told her firmly. “And there won’t ever be…”
Diamond smiled. “So you didn’t get a lap dance in VIP?” she asked, slyly.
“No, would you like to provide one?”
“I do know how…”
Xavier blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Momma gave Daddy one for his birthday, when they were dating.” Diamond shared.
“Aunt Sage?” Xavier said, surprised.
Diamond nodded. “She pole danced, too…”
He stared at her.
“And before you ask…yes, I can do both.”
Chapter 8
The group gathered in Six’s room to debrief the evening. The area was set up as a temporary headquarters for the team with monitors and equipment strategically placed. The seven were seated with Alex joining the meeting on the screen, remotely from LA.
“Let’s breakdown what everybody picked up tonight,” Six instructed. “Justice, you go first.”
“I met a little cutie who dances for one of the acts. She saw my necklace and wanted a one-on-one with the X-Ception.” He said smiling. “I got her contact information and we can follow up with her to find out what she’s seen or heard.”
Six nodded. “She may know something without even knowing that she does…and if necessary, Xavier can get it out of her.”
Diamond glanced at Xavier as he responded, “That won’t be difficult.”
“I’ll let you handle that.” Six told him, then turned to Jade. “What did you get?”
“Lilac, Skye and I found out that when the tour stops, the guys have private parties on their buses. They party with young girls, and supply them with drugs and liquor.” Jade told the group.
“And then they take advantage of them,” Lilac added angrily.
Skye shook her head. “Some are even underage…” she finished.
Six frowned. “No one contacts the authorities?”
“This is a tight group,” Jade answered. “Homies don’t snitch on the homies…”
Diamond leaned forward. “So now we’ve added sexual predators to our list in addition to possible kidnappers and organ harvesters?”
Six agreed. “Looks like it.” He turned to Diamond. “What did you find out tonight?”
“I met Jason Stewart and I’m going to have dinner with him to see what he knows.”
Justice frowned. “Dinner? What the hell?”
She turned to her brother. “Yes, dinner. He approached me and I took the opening.”
He jumped to his feet. “My sister isn’t having dinner with some dude pushing up on her, who could be a part of all this!”
Diamond jumped up as well. “You don’t tell me what I’m going to do, Justice!”
The siblings faced off, while the group waited.
“I’ll have dinner with his ass,” Justice told her.
“You’ll fall your ass back!” Diamond ordered.
Xavier stood and stepped in front of Diamond, putting him face to face with Justice.
“Justice, Diamond is well trained. She can handle herself…”
Justice frowned. “I don’t think I asked your opinion on my sister, Xavier.”
Xavier looked at Justice. “Well, I offered it.”
Six rolled his eyes. These damn Heirs…
“This is between me and Diamond.” Justice said firmly.
“No, this is between the team and the job we came to do.” Xavier corrected him.
Diamond placed a hand on Xavier’s back. “Xavier…it’s fine.”
The two men continued to stare at one another, until Six got to his feet.
“Look, we’re not going to do this.” He told them. “Justice, on this mission, Diamond is an agent…not your sister. We all have sisters here, so let’s focus on protecting them and getting our asses back home.”
Six looked at Xavier, then said, “Besides, Jason Stewart is the least of your worries, at this point.”
Justice frowned as Alex chimed in from the screen. Reading his brother’s thoughts, he knew that he was ready and prepared to handle Justice, right now. Everyone turned to the screen as he began.
“Jason Stewart is on our radar, just for information purposes. He’s been around for a while and probably knows a lot of the goings on surrounding this tour and others.” He informed the group. “He doesn’t have a record of violence, but Diamond is a pro and we’ll have eyes on her the whole time.”
Justice turned to Xavier. “I’ll holler at you later.”
“You know where to find me.” Xavier told him.
They all reclaimed their seats and continued with the meeting.
“I’ll probably see him around at the rehearsal tomorrow, and I’ll set a date for the evening,” Diamond told them.
Six nodded. “Jade will scout a location, and get us set up. We don’t want him selecting the venue.”
Diamond agreed. “I’ll make that a part of the agreement.”
“Xavier, do you want to update the team on the VIP room?” Six asked.
“I was approached by a publicist named John Brown, after I put out that I was willing to do anything to succeed in this business. He jumped in like a shark, saying that he could take me places.” Xavier explained.
He looked at Six. “He’s a weird ass predator, and I’m sure I’m going to have to handle him.”
Alex agreed. “I ran him, since he wasn’t on our list. I heard how he approached you and I agree, he is a weird ass predator. He’s not affiliated with
the tour and not on any lists of invites, so I don’t know how he got in there or why…”
Six frowned. “He was clearly there looking for something…”
“I’m meeting him tomorrow after the rehearsal in his room.” Xavier relayed.
Justice chuckled. “He holds meetings in his hotel room? Damn, he’s obvious as hell…”
Xavier shook his head. “He picked the wrong one tonight.”
Six looked at Xavier. “I guess you were the best looking one in there.”
Justice laughed as Xavier frowned. “Good thing you didn’t wear the jeans…” Justice commented.
“Hey, there was nothing wrong with those jeans,” Skye complained.
Diamond turned to Xavier. “You don’t think that he’ll try something with you, do you?”
“Doesn’t matter, he’s going to tell me what I need to know…one way or another. If he tries something with me, he’ll regret it.” Xavier said firmly.
Six walked over to one of his computers and began typing. “So we have Diamond checking out Jason Stewart and Xavier with John Brown. Tomorrow night, we’ll all meet again for updates. Skye, Lilac and Jade, I want you three to find out as much information as you can about the bus tour and the girls involved. We may have some victims out there, that haven’t come forward for whatever reasons.”
“Justice, you’ll be at the X-Ception’s rehearsal tomorrow, connect with the other A & R, see what they know, and get their information about the tour.” Six instructed.
Justice nodded. “I’ve got you.”
“Any questions?” Six asked and looked around the room. “Good job tonight. We’ve made some good progress on the first day. Everybody get some rest, because tomorrow is another day to get us closer to what the hell is going on here.”
“Make sure you charge up your devices tonight, and wear your chains tomorrow, so Jade and Alex knows everyone’s whereabouts.” Six added.
Diamond stood. “Boy, you act like you’re commanding an army.”
Six went back to typing on his computer. “Good night, Diamond.”
Justice and Xavier walked the women back to their rooms. Xavier entered Lilac and Jade’s suite, then sat on the sofa with his sister, while Jade decided to retire to her room.
“My brother and sister tire me out, so I’ll see you two in the morning,” Jade announced.
Xavier and Lilac smiled. “They can do that,” Lilac agreed.