by D. Camille
Xavier looked at her. “I don’t think you can do that.”
She shrugged. “I did, and no one disagreed with me.”
He shook his head. “I see Diamond Black has shown up…”
“And showed out,” she added. Diamond patted the bed next to her. “Come here, baby. I need to check on you.”
Xavier walked over to the bed and laid next to her, then Diamond looked down into his face.
“Are you okay?” she whispered concerned, touching his face.
“I’m fine.”
She smiled at him. “You know, overindulging in blunts, bitches and booze can be dangerous…”
“I think so, too.”
Diamond stroked his head. “I’m proud of what you did tonight, Xavier.”
“I’m sure there were moments when proud wasn’t the word you’d use.” He told her with a frown.
She shook her head. “No, I watched you save a girl. You got her to trust you, get away from a horrible abuser and give you information on how to save more victims…so I’m very proud of what you did.”
“She was seventeen, Diamond.” Xavier closed his eyes. “He sent her in there with a grown ass man and I could’ve done anything to her.” He sighed. “There’s no telling what’s been done to her.”
“They tried to drug our sisters and they treat the Goddesses like nothing!” He snapped. “I want to fuck Lil D up right now. It’s taking everything in me to finish this mission before handling his ass. Why is this allowed to continue and why are so many damn people just turning the other way, watching this shit?”
He sat up and hung his head. “I’m sorry.” Xavier took a deep breath. “I’m frustrated and I’m angry as hell right now.”
Diamond touched his damp hair. “You don’t have to apologize. If you weren’t angry, you wouldn’t be a man that I could love.”
Xavier looked over at her. “A few weeks, Diamond, and this is over.”
She touched his bare arm. “Until the next mission…this is our lives, Xavier. The lives we chose, and it’s always going to be a part of us.”
Diamond stared into his handsome face. “Just like we’re always going to be a part of one another,” she whispered.
Xavier leaned over and placed his face close to hers. “Thank you for chasing me,”
Diamond smiled. “It’s easier than I thought.”
He touched his forehead to hers. “I love you, my Goddess.”
“And this sexy girl, loves her undercover thug…” She slipped her hand around the back of his neck and slid her mouth over his.
Chapter 17
The Heirs gathered the next morning in Six’s suite, where Skye had an early breakfast buffet set up for the team. The women were making plates while the men sat down talking, allowing them to go first.
“Man, last night was wild!” Justice told Six and Xavier.
“Tell me about it,” Xavier agreed.
Six frowned. “Little dude was trying to drug Lilac and Jade. He’s lucky I didn’t beat his ass on that damn bus.”
Both Xavier and Justice looked angry.
“What the hell is wrong with these dudes?” Justice said, shaking his head.
“The level of disrespect is amazing,” Xavier replied. “Doing this to our own women?”
Six grunted. “Predators every damn where…”
Diamond walked over with two plates and handed one to Xavier. “Here you go…”
He looked up and smiled. “Thank you, Diamond.”
Xavier took the plate as Diamond took the seat next to him.
“Where’s my plate?” Justice asked her.
Diamond turned to him. “Your Momma is in LA. Get your ass over there and make your own.”
“Xavier’s Momma is in LA, too.” Justice said, standing to his feet.
She shrugged and began eating from her plate. “Maybe I just like him better…I mean, he’s nicer and much better looking.”
He smirked at her. “Yeah, okay…you wasn’t saying that last night when you broke the headset.”
Xavier looked at Diamond. “You broke the headset?”
Six stared at Diamond. “You’re paying to replace it, too.”
“Send me the bill.” Diamond told him, as the other women joined them.
“What happened to the headset?” Xavier asked impatiently.
Justice smiled. “My sister broke it when you slipped in the room with the little teenager. She thought you was about to go DEEP undercover…”
“Shut up, Justice!” Diamond snapped, then stared down into her plate.
Xavier looked at her. “Diamond…?”
Justice continued, “Hell, he was the one smoking blunts and knocking back Remy…then creeping in bedrooms with juveniles.”
“Justice,” Alex warned, over the monitor.
“But it’s all part of the cover,” Justice said, walking over to the spread of food.
Jade shook her head at her brother.
Xavier continued to stare at Diamond. “You broke the headset?”
She looked up. “I broke it in half and threw it across the room.”
Skye agreed. “And did a lot of cursing…”
Six shook his head, and followed Justice to get food.
“I’m not going to go that far,” Xavier assured Diamond.
She looked back into her plate. “I wasn’t sure…”
Xavier sat his plate aside, then gently removed Diamond’s from her hands, and sat his aside as well. He held her hands in both of his. “You should be…” he told her.
The women watched, remaining silent.
“You know I don’t control my temper very well, sometimes…” Diamond told him.
“I’ve seen it on more than a few occasions.”
Diamond smiled. “I’m sure you have. I’m good now…”
He lifted a brow. “Do I have your permission?”
“No, there are too many people in this room, right now.” She shook her head slowly watching him and Xavier read her facial expression instead.
Their eyes held until he leaned over and she touched her lips to his.
Justice and Six returned with their plates. “Oh hell nah!” Justice complained.
Six took a seat. “Can we get started? We have a lot to cover and Xavier has an appointment.” He began to eat. “Diamond, start with your contact with Jason.”
She turned to Six. “He showed up at the restaurant where I was having dinner with Tara and Stephen.”
Xavier looked at her. “What?”
Justice frowned. “What the hell was he doing there?”
“He said, having dinner, but he was very interested in Stephen and Watson Entertainment. He told Steph that he’s been trying to get acts signed with them.”
Alex chimed in. “He was overly interested and now that he’s seen Diamond with them, he may be trying to see if he can find another way in.”
Xavier and Justice shared a look. “Today,” Xavier told him and Justice nodded.
Six looked between the two and went back to breakfast. “Lilac and Jade.”
“We didn’t get any information from those idiots,” Jade told him. “They just wanted to take advantage of me and Lilac, and I’m worried about them using those date rape drugs on other women.”
Diamond shook her head. “What the hell have we walked into?”
Xavier looked at her. “A Pandora’s Box.”
Six turned to Justice. “What about you, Justice? What’d you learn from Ciara?”
“She wants me to do some work with her.”
“What kind of work?” Diamond asked.
“I didn’t get to find out,” Justice explained. “The X-Ception had to leave with his crew.”
Xavier asked, “What do you think it is?”
“Dude, no idea. We played this little cat and mouse game, trying to feel each other out. I don’t think she’s just a dancer.” Justice told him.
“You want me to talk to her?” Xavier asked.
“She
’s started to trust me,” Justice relayed. “Let me get with her again, and see what I get.”
They all agreed and Diamond said, “Be careful Justice, women can be just as treacherous as men.”
“Okay, and watch Jason’s ass.” He told his sister.
“What do you have Alex?” Six questioned.
“A few things…I checked out the address that Janay gave for the house she was being kept in. I’ve put some eyes over there and as soon as I have something to report, I’ll let you know. Currently, the girl is being put up at a spot not too far from her home, until we can let her go. I found out that her family has been searching for her, so I’m sure they’ll be glad to get her back.”
Xavier sighed. “He took her across the country. They probably would have never found her and the police weren’t going to do a damn thing. She was just another missing black teenage girl.”
“That’s why our father’s began…and even now that’s still part of our work,” Diamond told him.
“You’re right, Diamond.” Skye agreed.
Six looked at them. “That’s our work.” He checked his watch. “And it’s time for the X-Ception to handle business before tonight’s performance.”
Diamond looked over at Xavier. “Do your thing.”
“Thank you, goddess.”
Six and Xavier stood and disposed of their plates, along with Jade and Lilac, then headed out the door. Diamond stood and took Justice’s plate with a smile.
“You, me and Skye need to head over to the venue for the concert tonight…” she told him.
“Cool, I’m ready.”
Diamond walked away with his empty plate. “You’re welcome little brother!”
He smiled. “Thank you Little Pretty Girl.”
******
Six looked over at Xavier. “Are you ready?”
Xavier nodded. “I was born ready…”
Six shook his head. “I can’t wait to see this.”
The two walked to where Lil D’s bus was parked and Xavier beat angrily on the door until it opened.
“Where da fuck Lil D at?” Xavier yelled.
“What you want?” the guard asked.
“Get his ass out here!” Xavier told him.
Lil D showed up at the door, squinting at Xavier. “Yo', what’s up X-Ception?”
“Let me holla at you,” Xavier replied.
Frowning, Lil D said, “Come on in.”
The guard moved aside and allowed Xavier and Six on the bus. Inside, Six pulled his weapon while Xavier grabbed Lil D by the shirt and slammed him against the inside of the bus.
“This is only business,” Six warned the guard, who was going for his gun. “Relax, don’t move…let them handle it.”
Six opened the door for Jade and Lilac, who stepped inside with their guns drawn.
“Get the women in the back.” Six told them and they took off.
A minute later, they returned with two women and kept their guns on them.
“Don’t move…” Six warned the females and they stood watching in fear.
“X-Ception, what the fuck you doing?” Lil D demanded with Xavier’s fists in his chest.
“You set me up, you little bitch!” Xavier yelled in his face.
Lil D looked confused. “What you talkin’ about?”
“Where the fuck is my got damn watch?”
“I don’t know nothin’ bout no damn watch!”
Xavier slammed him again. “You set me up with one of your bitches and she took my hundred-thousand-dollar watch!”
Digging his fists into Lil D’s chest, Xavier lifted a brow. “Now where my shit?”
“X-Ception hold up!” Lil D screamed. “I ain’t even seen Janay. I thought she was still wit’ you!”
“I sent her ass back last night,” Xavier told him. “And this morning my shit was gone! Where she at Lil D?”
Lil D tried to breathe after Xavier slammed him for the third time. “I don’t know! I ain’t seen her ass since last night. I been on the bus all night.”
Xavier put his face closer. “Lil D, you don’t know who you fuckin’ wit’. My dude right there,” He nodded at Six with the gun. “He’ll shoot up this whole got damn bus!”
“Now, I’m only askin’ one mo’ time.” Xavier hemmed him up tightly. “Where. My. Shit!”
Lil D shook his head. “I don’t got it, X-Ception.”
Xavier released him and stepped back, taking a deep breath. “Six, shoot these motherfuckers!”
“No!” Lil D put his hands up over his head, while the women screamed. “I’ll replace it!”
Lil D looked up and watched Xavier whip his weapon from his back like an expert and put it in his face.
“I’m not the nigga you wanna fuck wit’.” Xavier growled. “Get my money now…”
Lil D blinked at the gun in his face. “I don’t got it right this minute, but I can have it soon.”
“Soon?” Xavier frowned. “Nigga who you talkin’ to?”
With his heart beating, Lil D looked at the angry Xavier. “Look, X-Ception, I heard that you been asking how to get into the game. I can help you wit' that.”
“Help me how?” Xavier asked, easing the gun back.
“I know people.” Lil D confessed. “Man, you could buy a hundred of them damn watches.”
“Doing what?”
Lil D swallowed. “On the Black Market.”
Xavier nodded. “Talk…”
“There’s a lot of shit that goes down on this route, and you can buy and sell anything…” Lil D told him.
“What you buying and selling?” Xavier questioned.
Lil D looked over at the women in the room. “Let’s chop it up in private.”
Xavier looked at the women then back at Lil D. “That’s what you selling?”
“I don’t talk business in front of bitches,” Lil D told him.
Six shook his head when Xavier moved the gun closer. “Bitch, you bout to talk right now!” He told Lil D and he frowned.
“I can put you in contact wit' my people.” Lil D told him, quietly.
Xavier sighed heavily. “Lil D, I’m ‘bout to blow your fuckin’ brains out.”
“Listen, nigga…they got connects in Hollywood and shit. They sit in they cushy offices and we do they dirt down here.” Lil D told him. “Delivering shit…”
“Give me some names, nigga.” Xavier told him.
Lil D gave Xavier some familiar names and Xavier stopped him at one. “Jason Stewart, huh?” Xavier asked.
Lil D nodded. “He want yo' little fine ass worker, bad. Everybody see that…”
“Why?”
Lil D looked confused. “’Cause she fine as hell and she got a fat ass…”
Xavier frowned. “When this next delivery?”
“The next drop is at the Ohio stop.” Lil D told him. “Janay might be there…that’s where I picked her up when I got her.”
Xavier’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll be at that drop wit' you, and you gone get my damn money, and set me up with yo’ people.”
Lil D nodded. “Okay…you cool X-Ception. I never had no beef wit' you.”
“Cross me Lil D, and I promise this will be your last tour.” Xavier told him.
“We good, X-Ception. I wasn’t trying to get yo’ shit taken.” Lil D said. “I owe you one. That’s my bad.”
Xavier stepped back and put his gun away.
Lil D relaxed and nodded.
“This for my inconvenience,” Xavier said, before he punched him in the face. Lil D fell to the floor and Xavier turned to the other people on the bus.
“When he wakes up, remind him of what I said…” Xavier told them.
Jade and Lilac moved to the door and Xavier followed. Six looked at the guard.
“Just business…”
The guard nodded with his hands up. “We cool. Don’t come back…”
Six smiled. “Tell your dude don’t make us, because it won’t be this easy next time.” He walked off the bus.
“You got eyes on our backs, Alex?” Six asked.
“You’re clear,” Alex replied to Six’s earpiece. “They’re trying to revive Lil D.”
The four climbed into the car and pulled out their devices.
Six turned to Xavier. “So you just wanted to punch him?”
“I wanted to kill him,” Xavier replied.
Alex showed up on their screens and then a split screen of several camera views inside Lil D’s tour bus.
“How many cameras did y’all plant?” Six asked.
“Xavier planted two in the main compartment and one in the bedroom. Justice planted one in the other bedroom. So we have a pretty good layout of the bus and who’s moving through.” Alex answered. “Also, Lilac and Jade planted both a camera and alert device, telling us whenever the door opens and closes.”
“No surprises,” Xavier told them. “I don’t trust his little ass either. A damn near thirty-year-old rapper still calling himself Lil…what the hell?”
“I think it’s because he’s short, not because he’s young,” Six pointed out.
Xavier looked at him.
Six shrugged. “At least that’s what I hope it is…”
“He acts like he’s twelve.” Jade commented.
“That’s just it Jade. This is all an act.” Xavier told her. “The whole time, he was thinking about calling some dude named Snowman. We need to find out who that is…”
Jade nodded. “I’m on it.”
Xavier looked at Six. “Jason’s next.”
Six agreed. “I assumed that was your next move.”
******
Diamond and Skye set up Xavier’s dressing room for the evening’s concert while Justice sat and sipped a bottled water.
“Thanks for the help,” Diamond told him.
“I’m not his staff. That’s y’all job.”
Diamond frowned at him. “I’m going to go and check on Xavier’s dinner order.”
Skye was selecting the X-Ception’s attire for the concert. “Okay, you know what he likes.”
Looking at Justice, Diamond said, “I sure do…”
“Girl, go order the food.” Justice told her. “And stay on budget…”
Diamond frowned. “He can have whatever he wants.”
“Apparently,” Justice told her with a frown.
Skye smiled and went back to her tasks as Diamond left the room. Walking with her backstage credentials around her neck, Diamond headed to the caterer’s area. On the way, she spotted Jason heading down an empty hall.