Origins (The Black Diamond Series Book 3)

by D. Camille

  Lily smiled showing her dimples. “We're family.”

  Everyone agreed with her and they all took seats around the table as Carolyn stared at everyone in fascination. She couldn't believe they were all in her home and had done all this for her. Lunch was a festive occasion with Carolyn falling completely in love with Diamond. She glanced over at Sean with Lily and smiled at the love for each other she saw in their faces.

  Sean looked down at Lily and caressed her cheek. “Thank you my beautiful Lily.”

  She stared up at him. “For what?”

  “For being the incredibly sweet and kind woman that you are.”

  Lily gave him a sexy smile. “I think you can thank me in a few more ways.”

  “I believe I can accommodate that.” He winked down at her.

  “Hmmm, I know you can.”

  Sean took her hand. “Six days.” He brought her hand to his lips before pulling her into his arms.

  Lily held him in return and looked up at him. “I don't have to wait six days for everything, do I?”

  Sean looked at his watch. “Not even six hours for what I have for you.”

  She lifted her face to his accepting his loving kiss.

  **********

  Callie sat at her desk thinking about Trent. There was just something about that boy; something that she couldn't seem to resist. They'd gone to the library, bike riding, hiking and to the movies. He'd started his Secure Programmer project so he was now focused on staying on track and not falling behind in his studies. Callie appreciated how when Trent got serious about something he handled his business. She also liked his funny side that made her laugh all the time. Callie knew that his Wonder Woman was still in the picture and it was now time for Callie to handle that situation.

  The door opened and a tall, handsome, dangerous looking man entered the lobby. He nodded at the security and made his way over to Callie's desk. She watched as he walked toward her with a determined stride in his black Armani suit and dark sunglasses. He reached her desk and nodded at her. His deep dark chocolate skin stood out against the expensive white dress shirt he wore.

  “Hello. I'm here to see Ray Parker,” the deep voice stated.

  “May I have your name?” Callie asked.

  “Agent Marcus Graham”

  Callie lifted a brow. “Let me get him for you.”

  Callie called in to Ray and he stated he would be right out.

  “He'll be right out,” she relayed.

  “Thank you.” He nodded.

  Callie studied him while he waited for Ray. He was around six three, very well put together and looked like he was packing a piece underneath his suit jacket. He looked to be in his mid-twenties. However, the thing that stuck out the most was his aura of danger. This was clearly not a brother to mess with. While Ray was not a brother to mess with either, this guy had a different type of danger. He had a subtle, understated element that indicated he could do a lot of damage without ever saying a word.

  Ray came into the lobby and the two men greeted each other with a manshake and a brief hug.

  “I'm glad you made it,” Ray told him.

  “You call and I come.”

  Ray smiled. “Did you meet Callie?”

  “Not officially,” he answered.

  “Callie this is Marcus Graham. He's with the FBI. Marc this is Callie.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Marc stated.

  Callie smiled. “You too.” He nodded.

  Whew! This brother was about the business. Did he ever smile, she wondered.

  Ray turned to Callie. “When Trent gets in send him into my office,” he instructed.

  She nodded then Ray showed Marc into his office. Callie watched them go shaking her head. She went back to her work until Trent came through the door all smiles holding a bag in his hand. Now this was better, she thought. He reached her desk and held her with those dark eyes.

  “Hi Callie.”

  “Hi Trent,” she smiled back at him.

  “I brought you something,” he told her.

  She looked confused. “What did you bring me?”

  He handed her the bag and she took it watching him.

  “You didn't have to bring me anything Trent.”

  Trent smirked. “Girl, open the bag.”

  She smiled and quickly opened the bag and glanced inside.

  Callie looked back up at him before pulling the small stuffed panda out and staring at it.

  “You told me you didn't need a big ass panda so I brought you a little one. Plus you gave the other one to the little girl at the festival,” he told her.

  She turned to him. “That's really sweet Trent.”

  He leaned on her desk. “You're really sweet Callie.”

  She smiled up at him. “You remember that night?” she asked.

  “How could I forget? That's when you became my shero.”

  They stared at each other until Ray came across her speaker. “Callie can you bring some water for Marc? And tell Trent to get his ass in here because I know he's here.”

  Callie scrambled to the phone. “Sorry Ray. I didn't tell him you wanted to see him. I'll be right there with the water.”

  She looked up at Trent. “Ray wants you in his office.”

  “I heard. Who's Marc?” he asked.

  “FBI.”

  Trent lifted a brow. “I'll take the water since I'm going in there,” he told her.

  “Thank you...and thank you for the panda.”

  He winked at her. “You're welcome.”

  Trent got the water and headed into Ray's office. He looked at the man in the dark suit, handed him the water then glanced over at Ray.

  “Have a seat Little Bruh,” he told him.

  Trent sat and glanced at the two men.

  “Marc is here to help us out with the case of the missing women. If Esteban is involved we will need some additional assistance on this,” Ray explained and Trent nodded.

  “I'll need to know everything you have on the case,” Marc told Trent.

  “Okay.”

  Ray nodded. “Trent will put everything together for you and he'll also be available to assist you with anything you need,” Ray told Marc.

  “Good," Marc responded.

  Ray looked at Trent. “So why don't you get a head start on that information?”

  “I'm on it,” Trent said standing. He nodded at Ray and Marc before leaving the office.

  Marc watched him go then turned to Ray.

  “That's the genius?”

  “Yeah, he's also Esteban's new target.”

  Marc nodded. “You're handling Esteban?”

  “Yes. He's mine,” Ray confirmed.

  “Wouldn't want to be him.”

  Ray smiled. “Thanks for coming.”

  “Are you kidding? Ray Parker calls and people move. Besides, I could never repay you for all you've done for me.”

  Ray shrugged. “I didn't do anything that I need to be repaid for.”

  Marc leaned forward. “You got me off the streets, trained me and got me focused. You paid for my college and then you recommended me to the FBI. What doesn't need to be repaid?” he asked.

  “You did all the work to become the top agent that you are. I take no credit for that,” Ray told him.

  “Well I give you all the credit, so whatever you need it's done.”

  Ray sighed. “I need you to find these women. I don't know why he has them or what he's doing to them.”

  Marc nodded. “Done.” Marc's demeanor turned even more serious. “I'm also here to investigate someone.”

  Ray lifted both brows. “Who?”

  “A Milton Martin.”

  “For what?” Ray asked.

  “Money laundering and criminal ties, among other things.”

  Ray ran a hand down his face. “Damn...”

  “You know him?” Marc asked.

  Ray nodded. “Yeah...”

  “A friend?”

  “Hell nah...” Ray answered.
r />   “Am I crossing you on this?” Marc questioned.

  Ray shook his head. “Nah, do your job bruh.”

  Marc nodded and stood. “You ready to decipher this clue?”

  Ray stood too. “Yeah, the sooner I know what I'm dealing with the better.”

  The two men exited the office.

  *********

  Isis knocked on the door to her daddy's office and he called for her to come in.

  “Hi Daddy!” she said coming to kiss his cheek.

  Milton smiled. “There's my beautiful girl! What are you doing here?”

  Isis took a seat across from his desk. “I wanted to see you.”

  “How much?” he asked.

  She smiled. “I don't want any money Daddy. I want to talk to you about Isabelle.”

  Milton sighed. “I have nothing to say about your sister.”

  “I want you to get along.”

  “Your sister needs to get her life together,” he commented.

  Isis shrugged. “It's her life Daddy.”

  Milton frowned. “And her life reflects on us.”

  “I'm proud of my sister. I look up to her. She's smart, beautiful and strong,” Isis told him.

  “She needs to find a suitable man and get married.”

  “It's her choice Daddy.”

  Milton looked away. “Your mother would be appalled at your sister's behavior.”

  “What has she done Daddy?” Isis asked confused.

  Milton huffed. “Defending those kidnappers!”

  “Kidnappers?” Isis asked confused.

  Milton shook his head. “Never mind about that.” He smiled at his daughter. “At least I don't have to worry about you getting involved with the likes of them.”

  “The likes of whom?”

  “Jordan, Sean and the whole lot of them.”

  Isis thought of Trent and lowered her head.

  “What's wrong with them Daddy?” she asked quietly.

  “None of them are good enough for my daughters.”

  Isis looked at her father. “That's not nice Daddy.”

  “I don't care about nice when it comes to my daughters. You both were raised to be elite.”

  Isis sighed. “Will you be nicer to Isabelle?”

  “I'm not going to let her disgrace this family!” he stormed.

  Isis turned and stared out of the window. She hated when her father got this way in his elitist thinking. Their mother, although raised in abundant wealth, never had those qualities. Isis remembered her mother well as she'd been sixteen when she passed away. Isabelle at twenty-six had stepped in and became the maternal figure she needed in her life.

  Her father had taken their mother's death very hard as Iris had been the only one who could soothe the turmoil that seemed to reside within him on a permanent basis. Milton had his own demons that continued to chase him. Isis loved her father but she loved her sister more. Isabelle had been through a lot in her life and although Isis didn't know all the details, she knew her sister was a survivor.

  Isis knew that Isabelle had not told another soul about her attack even though Isis had tried to persuade her to do so. She smiled as she thought about her sister and Ray Parker. Ray seemed to be as smitten with Isabelle as Isabelle was so obviously over him. Isis believed that Ray was exactly what Isabelle needed in her life and he'd definitely not be afraid of their daddy.

  Isis turned her attention back to her father. He clearly would not be happy about her seeing Trent as he was related to both Jordan and Sean. Speaking of Trent, Isis wasn't sure where he was at in their “relationship” if you wanted to call it that.

  Although she still had deep reservations about Trent's age, she found that she did want to try to spend time with him. Trent was a very sweet and handsome guy and she was sure that girls naturally flocked to him and his flirty personality. However, she sensed something different about this girl Callie. When they had been at the movies, Trent had actually seemed jealous of her date. She had planned to ask him about it that night but all out chaos had happened shortly thereafter.

  Lately, Trent had been busy in his new project so Isis had backed off to let him handle his business. She smiled. He'd be back. Since they'd met Trent had never forgotten about her. Callie may be cute, but could she compete with a Tamale?

  “Isis?” her father called.

  “I'm sorry Daddy,” she said coming out of her musings.

  “Please don't start acting like your sister,” he told her.

  Isis smiled at Milton. “Daddy, Isabelle is a good woman and you should be proud of her.”

  Milton changed the subject. “Tell me some more about your play baby girl.”

  *********

  Callie was gazing at the panda bear on her desk when the beautifully graceful woman entered the lobby. If Callie didn't know better she'd think this was Trent's Wonder Woman, but this woman was a little older. She did however carry herself the same way as Isis.

  “Hello,” Callie greeted as the woman reached the desk.

  The woman smiled warmly. “Hello. I'm here to see Ray Parker.”

  “May I tell him who's here?”

  “Isabelle Martin.”

  “I'll let him know you're here Ms. Martin.”

  “Thank you.”

  Trent stepped out of his office to ask Callie about some files when he saw Isabelle. She turned and smiled at him.

  “Hello Trent.”

  Trent smiled back at her and Callie watched as he came forward. “Hi Isabelle, how are you?”

  “I'm well. How are things at USC?” she asked.

  “Good.”

  Isabelle nodded. “I know Isis really enjoyed her time there.”

  Callie lifted a brow.

  Trent watched her reaction. “Yeah, she has nothing but good things to say about it.”

  Before Callie could call for Ray, he and Marc returned from the third floor. Ray smiled as he saw Isabelle waiting for him and made his way over to her placing a hand lightly on her back.

  “Hello Isabelle.” He looked her over in a black skirt, white shirt and black heels.

  “Hello Ray.” She smiled up at him.

  Ray looked back at Marc. “Isabelle this is Agent Marc Graham. Marc this is Isabelle.” He gave Marc a look. “Isabelle... Martin.”

  Marc nodded at Ray before turning his attention to Isabelle. “Ms. Martin.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Isabelle extended her hand to the man in the suit and sunglasses. He took it briefly and lightly shook it.

  He turned back to Ray. “I'll be in touch.” With that, he strode out of the door.

  Ray turned back to Isabelle. “Come into my office for a minute before we go.”

  Isabelle nodded and Ray took her hand leading her away.

  Trent turned to Callie and she stared at him.

  “Let me guess. She's related to Isis,” she told her.

  He nodded. “Her sister."

  Callie nodded and turned to her work. “Hmmm, you and Ray can double date.”

  Trent frowned. “Ray's dating Isabelle?”

  Callie turned to him. “Didn't you see how they looked at each other? They're probably tearing that office up right now.”

  “Who, Ray and Isabelle?” he asked again confused.

  Callie turned back to her computer. “Go do your work Trent.”

  Trent came back to the reason he'd come out to see her. “I need a file.”

  “Which one?” she asked without looking at him.

  “The one detailing the case of the last woman that went missing”

  Callie looked over her desk and grabbed the file. “Here you go.” She stuck it out to him.

  “Can you bring it to my office?” he asked slyly.

  She looked up. “Why would I bring it to your office when you're standing right here?”

  He grinned at her. “Because I need to tell you something”

  “What do you need to tell me Trent?”

  He shook his head. “I can't tell you ou
t here.”

  Callie raised a brow. “Is it important?”

  “Of course.”

  Callie stood looking skeptical. “Okay. Don't play games Trent.”

  “Girl, come on. I don't have all day,” he grabbed her hand and led her into his office.

  In Ray's office, Isabelle was sitting on top of his desk where he'd asked her to sit while he cleared away his things. He finished with the organizing of his desk then sat back in his chair staring at her. Isabelle felt the warmth of his gaze and her private lady spot reacted immediately in remembrance of what he'd done to that very area. She crossed her long legs and he smiled at her.

  “Will you open them for me again later?” he asked and she blushed all over.

  Isabelle nodded her head slowly watching him.

  “Did you enjoy our time together?”

  She bit her lip. “Very much”

  He watched her silently. “Lean back for me.”

  Isabelle uncrossed her legs and leaned back on the desk.

  “Arch your back,” he instructed.

  She responded lifting her breasts high in the air as her gaze connected with his. Ray licked his lips as his gazed moved down her body and stopped at the area that for her was now on fire.

  “Tell me Belle, what do you remember about our encounter?”

  “I remember being nervous at first.” She closed her eyes in memory. “Especially when you asked me to remove my underwear,” she whispered.

  “I remember my body being on fire as I laid on the bed.”

  Ray waited listening.

  “You told me to relax and let my legs fall apart. I remember closing my eyes and trembling in anticipation...”

  “Then I touched you,” he continued for her.

  Isabelle opened her eyes and looked over at him. “And I died.”

  He smiled. “You died?”

  She nodded. “And went to heaven, because only a god could do that to me.” She smiled a sexy smile at him.

  “What did I do to you?” he asked leaning back crossing his arms.

  Isabelle lifted one leg onto his desk while she leaned back, placing a black stiletto heel on the fine wood and exposing a silken thigh.

  “I felt your... mouth and your...tongue,” she whispered and he nodded. Isabelle closed her eyes again and threw her head back lying on her elbows. “All...over...and...inside of me,” she said breathlessly.

  Ray watched her with her foot on his desk, her back arched in the air and her eyes closed. She was the most beautiful and sexy sight he'd ever seen.