by D. Camille
“What’s going on with Lil D, Jade?” Six asked, not wanting to talk about Diamond and Xavier anymore while he ate.
Jade turned to Six. “He’s freaking out, trying to figure out why his bodyguard sent him a text telling him that he’s done, and that he’s run off with the two young girls he wanted for himself.”
“You’re still monitoring their phones?” Six questioned.
Jade nodded. “I’m on it.”
“Lilac, what do you have on those organs?”
Lilac frowned. “After they were delivered to the hospitals, they were immediately removed from the containers.” She reported. “I can’t believe they accepted those at some major hospitals. I’m tracking who signed for them, and what their protocol was for checking the origins.”
Six shook his head. “The net gets wider and wider…”
“It’s a good thing there’s eight of us,” Lilac told him. “Because there’s more than enough to follow up on.”
There was another knock and Six went to open the door for Justice, who came in all smiles.
“What’s up Heirs?” he announced, coming inside and heading over to the food.
Six took his seat. “Have some food, Justice…”
Justice smiled. “I’m paying for it.”
“Boy, sit down.” Jade told him and he winked at her.
After making a plate, Justice found a seat. He looked around the room and frowned.
“Where are Diamond and Xavier?” he questioned.
Jade answered. “They’re having breakfast together.”
Skye lifted a brow and drank her juice.
Justice looked at her for a minute. “Is she going to be ready for the meeting today with the Ambassador?” he asked Skye.
“I hope so…” Skye answered. “If not, we can go without her.”
Justice frowned. “Nah, we can’t. She’d better have her ass ready to go.”
******
Diamond opened one brown eye to the bright sunlight outside. She moaned softly, as warm lips kissed the back of her neck.
“Are you awake, goddess?”
She closed her eyes again. “No.”
Xavier laughed. “Do you want breakfast, because pretty soon it’s going to be lunch?”
Diamond stretched in his arms, then turned to face him.
“Blissful risings,” Xavier told her.
“Great awakenings, my gift…” Diamond said, kissing him.
He smiled. “I see we made it through the storm last night.”
She wrapped a naked leg around his waist underneath the covers. “We could make our own storm, right now…” Diamond whispered.
“We didn’t use protection last night and we don’t have any now.” Xavier reminded her.
She rubbed his chest. “I know, and I knew that when I came to you last night.”
He looked into her face. “You fulfilled my every fantasy last night, Diamond…but I don’t want to get you pregnant, in order for you to marry me and start a life together.”
She frowned as he continued.
“Yes, I want to have a family with you…but I just got you, and if possible, I want time to be your husband before I’m a father.” Xavier told her.
“So last night?” Diamond asked.
“Last night was the most incredible night of my life and I want those nights with you for the rest of my days. I wasn’t thinking about getting pregnant and if we did…then my dreams have come true earlier than I anticipated…but if not, I want to build a life with you before we build a family.” Xavier explained. “Can you understand that?”
Diamond smiled. “There you go, being all damn mature…” She moved closer. “You know that Skye knows everything about the human body, and she told me that I’m safe right now. Which is why I came to you with no protection. I wanted to be with you completely for our first time together.”
Xavier lifted a brow. “You’re safe right now?”
She nodded. “So…when we get back to LA, we can start using protection until we’re ready.”
“You’re good with that?”
“I’m good with you,” Diamond told him. “I wouldn’t trap you into anything, baby.”
Xavier frowned. “You’d never have to trap me, Diamond.”
She smoothed his brow. “I know that, but I don’t want to be having a baby a month after our wedding, either.”
He kissed her lips and caressed her smooth leg. “So I can have you for breakfast?” Xavier asked, against her lips.
“And lunch…” Diamond breathed, as his hand began to pleasure her.
Xavier began rapping one of his erotic songs telling her what he was going to do to her, then proceeded to do it…more than once.
Rushing to meet her family, Diamond returned to her room and got dressed as quickly as possible, before joining Six, Skye, Jade and Justice downstairs in the waiting car.
“Hey, sorry I’m late…” she said breathlessly.
They all looked at her and remained silent until Justice asked, “What the hell you been doing?”
Diamond smiled at him. “Mind your business, little brother.”
He shook his head. “Okay…we’ll be home tonight.”
Skye smiled at Diamond and Diamond winked at her with another smile.
“That was some storm last night,” Skye commented.
Jade agreed. “I thought the earth was shaking.”
Diamond flushed. “Yes, I felt it too.”
Skye laughed and everyone looked at her as Six groaned. Diamond’s stomach growled and Justice turned to her.
“Is that your stomach?”
Diamond placed a hand on her abdomen. “Yes, I haven’t eaten yet.”
Justice looked at his watch. “It’s one in the afternoon.”
Jade laughed. “Justice, stop acting like you’re dumb. Diamond was getting her freak on with Xavier last night…and this morning.”
Diamond turned to her sister with a frown. “Thank you, Jade.”
Jade shrugged. “It’s the truth. I saw you tipping down to his room in a raincoat.”
“Mind your business, little sister.” Diamond told her.
Putting her hands up, Jade said, “Hey, I’m not mad at you.”
“Can we not?” Six asked. “I could care less what Xavier and Diamond do outside of the mission.”
“Thank you Six,” Diamond replied.
He looked at her. “I just don’t want to throw up.”
She frowned again. “All of you, mind your damn business…” Diamond ordered.
“Then keep your business private,” Justice told her, angrily. “Nobody needs to know all that. Damn!”
They all arrived at the government building and exited the car. Inside they went through security and were shown to a conference room overlooking the Detroit River.
A few minutes later, the man walked in and Skye’s breath was taken away by his presence. He greeted them one by one.
“The Blacks, correct? Diamond, Justice and Jade…Princess Sage’s children.”
They all returned his greeting and handshake. “Yes, it’s nice to meet you.” Diamond replied.
He moved to Six and bowed his head slightly and extended his hand. “The Sun God. Welcome.”
“Thank you for meeting with us,” Six replied, shaking the offered hand.
When the man moved to stand before Skye, their eyes connected as he held out a hand to her.
“Princess Skye…”
Skye felt his voice reverberate throughout her body as she stood staring at him. Everyone watched as she slowly lifted her hand to his. When he touched her, Skye’s brown eyes widened…and when he bowed his head and kissed the back of her hand, she thought she’d faint.
“It is my pleasure to meet you.” His deep voice touched her ears. “I’m Kyros Lewis, your new U.S. Ambassador.
Skye found her voice. “No, the pleasure is mine, Mr. Lewis.”
He smiled and her heart jumped in her chest. Releasing her hand, Kyros tu
rned back to the others. “Please, let’s have a seat.”
Turning back, he held Skye’s chair out for her to sit. “Here you are, Princess.”
“Thank you,” Skye said sitting, and Diamond lifted a brow at her cousin’s reaction to the handsome new Ambassador.
Kyros took a seat at the table and smiled at the group. Skye wished that he would stop, before she threw him on this very table. Instead, she admired his body in the tailored suit, of top quality. His choice of patterns and color impressed her creative eye.
“I want you all to know that I am honored to serve as your village’s Ambassador.” He looked at Skye. “I understand, Princess, that you are very involved with the relations between the U.S. and the area. So I want to tell you personally, that I am here to serve you.”
Skye smiled. “I am very much looking forward to being served by you, Ambassador Lewis.”
Chapter 23
Diamond sat on the plane with her back against Xavier. The two occupied one of the sofas as the aircraft moved swiftly through the air. Their attention was focused on the tablet in Diamond’s hand, and they were studying the information on the screen. With an arm around Diamond’s midsection, Xavier listened over her shoulder, as she explained the process.
“I watch my stocks closely,” Diamond told him. “The market is volatile and I love the challenge it presents. I’m always moving and trading.”
“What are you trading now?” Xavier asked.
“Hospital stock.”
“Why hospital stock?”
Diamond smiled. “It’s about to take a deep nosedive, when the CIA announces that several hospitals are receiving Black Market organs for their patients.”
Xavier smiled. “A little insider trading?”
She shrugged. “Available information.”
Pulling her closer, he kissed her neck. “Let’s go over those lists again on this case. I have a feeling that we’re missing something.”
Diamond agreed. “Okay, can’t look at it too many times. Plus, I know that you’ll figure it out eventually.”
“You have confidence in me?”
She turned back over her shoulder. “You’re my gift.”
Xavier touched his lips to hers for a moment before they got back to business. Diamond pulled up the lists that they received from Steph and the information Jade had acquired from John Brown’s computer.
“Jade cross-referenced the lists, and compiled a master for us, spotlighting those names that show up on both lists.” Diamond explained. “And Alex interviewed Steph’s staff, but still nothing pops up…”
They both studied the screen containing the long list of names, and Diamond scrolled through, until Xavier stopped her.
“Right there,” Xavier pointed at the screen.
Diamond looked at what he was pointing at. “What about them?”
“Look at their connections,”
“They’re connected to both Watson Entertainment and Whitlock Studios,” Diamond commented. “In addition to several other entertainment companies.”
Xavier nodded. “They’re instrumental in forming music tours and securing filming locations…”
Diamond agreed. “So they know the geography and have deep ties to the industry.”
“Look at the name…” Xavier told her. “I think it fits the moniker…”
She stared at the name on the screen, then shook her head. “Okay, I don’t get it.”
“Goddess, I think this is our Snowman.”
“How do you know that?” Diamond asked, confused.
Xavier took the tablet and typed in something before showing it to Diamond.
Her bright brown eyes widened. “The Gods! You’re right!”
******
The plane landed and the Heirs prepared to exit. There were three waiting cars on Tarmac 10 and six people standing outside of those cars to welcome them.
Xavier turned to Diamond inside the plane. “We’re home.”
She kissed him. “Yes, we are.”
The rest of the Heirs looked at them. “We have your back,” Skye told them and everyone agreed.
“We might need a ritual to get through this one,” Diamond replied.
“It’s going to be fine,” Xavier assured her.
The group waited until the door opened, then headed down the stairs to their parents. Each set of parents greeted their children with smiles and hugs.
Jordan looked at his oldest daughter, before taking her into his arms. “We need to talk,” he whispered in her ear.
“I know Daddy,” Diamond replied softly.
Isabelle smiled at the group. “We’ve arranged a welcome home party for the Heirs to congratulate you on a mission accomplished,” she told them happily.
Xavier and Diamond shared a look. Neither had been expecting a party where the entire family would probably be gathered. As Alex moved next to Xavier’s side, Xavier turned to him.
“You shouldn’t do it now…” he warned.
“I’d rather deal with it before we get to the rest of the family.” Xavier told him.
Alex sighed. “Okay, you always like a challenge.”
Xavier went to stand next to Diamond, who was hugging her father, before Jordan looked up and smiled.
“Xavier, good job.” Jordan held out his hand.
“Thank you, Uncle Jordan.” Xavier returned, then asked his parents to come over. “Momma, Daddy, do you mind stepping over here?”
The Heirs all paused and Diamond felt her heartrate increase.
Sean and Lily moved closer, as well as everyone else. Xavier looked at Jordan and Sage then Diamond placed a hand on his back, before each of the Heirs followed suit, each placing a hand on another’s back.
“What the hell is this?” Jordan asked.
The other parents watched as the Heirs stood united in their ritual stance.
“Aunt Sage, Uncle Jordan…” Xavier began. “I have loved Diamond for as long as I can remember. There has never been another woman for me…and now that Diamond has returned, we’ve begun our relationship.”
Everyone remained silent and waited.
“It’s…Xavier?” Sage asked Diamond.
Diamond stepped forward. “Yes, I’ve also loved Xavier for a long time… I’ve finally admitted it to myself and like he said, we’ve started our relationship.”
“WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?” Jordan repeated.
He stepped toward Xavier and Sean moved in front of his son.
“It’s okay, Daddy…” Xavier told his father.
Ray stood watching Jordan and Sean face one another, while Sage and Lily went to their husband’s sides.
“Relax, Jordan…” Sean told his friend.
Jordan frowned. “Relax? This is my damn daughter, Sean!”
“This is my son,” Sean shot back.
“Jordan…” Sage touched his arm.
Lily did the same to her husband. “Sean…”
Xavier and Diamond both stepped forward. “This isn’t necessary,” Xavier told the two men.
“We’re both adults and you can’t change a damn thing!” Diamond added, hotly.
Jordan turned to her. “You left here telling me that there was no man in your life, then you go undercover on a damn rap tour, and now you’re in love? What the hell is that Diamond?”
Diamond frowned. “I told you, I’ve always loved Xavier…I just didn’t want to cause this exact situation!”
She looked from Jordan to Sean.
“Daddy, please don’t do this…” Diamond pleaded with her father.
Jordan turned to Xavier. “You think you’re going to take my damn daughter? You’re like my son, Xavier!”
“Then you know me,” Xavier told Jordan. “You know what kind of man I am.”
Jordan looked back at Sean. “Did you know this?”
Sean nodded his head. “Lily told me a while ago about her thoughts on Xavier’s feelings.”
Sage turned to her friend. “Lily?”
; “Of course I know my warrior’s hearts, but this was between Xavier and Diamond. Sean and I decided to not interfere and allow the Universe to work things out.” Lily told him.
Jordan shook his head. “Am I the only one here, who doesn’t understand this?”
Everybody nodded and Jordan stared at his wife. “Sage, really?” Jordan questioned.
“Jordan, it’s Xavier.” Sage told him. “I was scared that she was bringing a Nico or something…”
Frowning, Jordan, snapped. “We’re about to have a Nico situation!”
“No, we’re not.” Sean told him, firmly and calmly. “Not even close…”
The two men faced one another again and Ray intervened this time.
“Look dudes, we’ve played this movie before…and I had a starring role.” Ray told them. “Jay, Diamond is a grown woman.”
Jordan glared at him. “Shut the hell up Ray! I had to fight you all the damn time for Sage, and you weren’t even her damn Daddy!”
Isabelle now stood at her husband’s side. “Jordan, Ray’s just trying to help…”
Sage lifted a brow and raised a hand to Izzy. “I’ve got this Isabelle.”
Ray frowned at his sister. “Then get your damn husband,” Ray told her, causing Jordan to turn to him.
Lilac shook her head. “I tried to tell y’all…”
“Would you all please just stop!” Diamond yelled. “This shouldn’t be an issue! I should’ve never come home!”
Turning, Diamond ran away from the group and Xavier immediately followed her. He caught her from behind, a short distance away, and when he turned her in his arms, he saw the dampness in her eyes.
“Diamond…” Xavier pulled her into his arms. “Don’t…”
She held on to him with her face buried in his chest. “I didn’t want to do this to the family,” Diamond cried. “I hate seeing this…”
Xavier rubbed her back, whispering in her ear. “It’s okay…”
He lifted her face to his. “What do you want, goddess?” Xavier asked softly.
Diamond touched his face. “I just want you…”
As the family watched from a distance, Xavier pulled out his phone and pressed a button.
“Send me a car to Tarmac 12.”
Putting his phone away, Xavier lifted Diamond in his arms and began carrying her away from where the family stood.
Jordan watched them get further away, before taking off and everyone followed. Justice got to his father first and stopped him.