Art of Deception (The Black Diamond Series Book 4)

by D. Camille

  He held onto her. “When we get back Callie...no games...no more secrets.”

  She touched his face. “I promise you baby when we're together again, I will tell you everything.” She reached up and kissed him gently.

  Callie removed herself from his embrace and held out her hand. Trent watched her for a minute before turning the gun and placing it in her hand. He kept his hand over hers.

  “If you're lying to me Callie...I swear I will kill you,” he told her with dark eyes.

  She smiled at him. “You know I love when you get gangsta.” She took the gun from his hand and replaced it on her waist before looking back at him.

  “Remember what I've told you Trent. When it starts going down, get your ass out of here. Okay?”

  He nodded slowly. “Okay.”

  Callie bent and lifted her pant leg removing a small pistol. She handed it to Trent.

  “You'll need this and don't be scared to use it,” she told him. “Keep it under the pillow until you're ready to move to the safe room.”

  Trent watched her. “Did you come to bring this to me?” he asked holding the weapon.

  She smiled. “Yeah, but I had to make sure you didn't shoot me with it first.”

  Callie walked to the door and stopped. She turned and touched her necklace watching him. Trent repeated the gesture and she walked out the door.

  *********

  Salvador Esteban sat in the room with his right hand man Pedro and Agent Marcus Graham. An additional two guards were posted outside the door.

  “The plane landed but Senors Black and Jackson were not aboard. When the plane stopped to refuel they must have exited the plane somehow.”

  “Dammit!” Salvador exclaimed. “Do we have any idea where they are now?”

  Pedro shook his head. “No, but we know where they are heading.”

  “They're going to try to ambush us,” Salvador said looking at them.

  Pedro laughed. “The two of them? That's not an ambush.”

  Salvador turned to Marc. “What do you know about their plan Agent Graham? Do they have any ties down here?”

  Marc shrugged. “Ray has ties everywhere. You know that.”

  “Are they loyal?” Esteban asked.

  “Extremely.”

  Salvador stood. “We just have to wait until they arrive. Make sure everyone is on guard and ready. We don't know how they're coming but we know they will be here soon.”

  Pedro nodded and left to carry out orders. Salvador looked over at Marc. “Bring Mr. Parker in here. I want him in my sight when his comrades arrive plus I have a surprise for him.”

  Marc stood and went to retrieve Ray. He passed Callie in the hall as she exited from the room where Trent was being held. He lifted a brow at her and she smiled before disappearing down the hall.

  Ray stood as the door opened.

  Marc entered and glanced around the room. “Esteban wants to see you.”

  Ray walked toward him. When he reached him, he looked down into his dark glasses. “You ready for what's about to go down?” Ray asked.

  “I was born ready.”

  Ray smiled. “Your ass might die that way too.”

  Marc nodded towards the hall. “This way.”

  Ray walked out the door with Marc behind him. They reached the room where Esteban was waiting. Salvador looked up and smiled.

  “Senor Parker, please join me.” He gestured to a seat as Marc left the room leaving them alone.

  Ray took the seat. “Why the games Esteban? If you want me dead why don't you just kill me?”

  Esteban laughed. “Oh I am Senor Parker, but I have little surprise for you first.”

  Ray lifted a brow.

  “Do your friends know our little secret?” Esteban asked.

  Ray's eyes narrowed.

  “Do they know that my grandfather had your father killed, because your father killed mine? Then you had the nerve to kill my brother.”

  “I killed your brother because he was peddling drugs and kidnapping women, the same reason my father killed yours,” Ray clarified.

  Salvador smiled. “Is that what you told your friends?”

  Ray remained silent watching him.

  “Hmmm...does your beautiful sister know that her parents' car accident was not really an accident at all?”

  “It definitely won't be an accident when I handle your ass,” Ray told him.

  “I think I will tell your friends when they arrive. I'll tell them that you started this whole Black Diamond team as just a way to try to carry on your father's legacy.”

  Ray leaned back. “You can tell them whatever you want. It won't change the fact that your clock is ticking.”

  “Do you miss them?” Salvador asked. “Your parents?”

  “Do you miss your brother and your father?” Ray asked lifting a brow.

  Salvador nodded. “You are a very formidable opponent Senor Parker.”

  “So I've been told.”

  “When playing against a worthy opponent one must always have...how do you say it...an Ace in the hole.”

  Ray watched him as he walked around.

  “But you must save that Ace for the perfect time. When your opponent is least expecting it,” Salvador said with a smile. “It makes him rethink his strategy.”

  Ray wondered what the hell Esteban had up his sleeve. He knew Sean and Jordan would be arriving soon with guns blazing and he didn't want them to walk into something totally unexpected.

  “Let's stop playing these damn games Esteban,” Ray told him.

  Salvador smiled. “As you wish Senor Parker.” Esteban walked to the door and called Pedro. “Bring her to me.”

  After a few minutes, Ray watched as the door opened and Pedro entered the room with a woman in her late fifties. When she looked up, Ray saw eyes the color of his and a face that he'd stared into for the first ten years of his life. She watched him in shock then lifted her hands to her face.

  “Ray?” she whispered.

  Ray slowly stood to his feet. His heart was beating faster than it ever had in his life as he watched the woman come closer. It was as if he was looking at an aged version of his sister Sage.

  “Sun God?”

  Ray couldn't speak. He couldn't breathe. He continued to stare at the woman who was now mere inches away from him.

  “Who are you?” Ray asked looking down at her.

  “I'm Silver Parker. I have a Sun God named Ray and a Baby Goddess named Sage. I was married to Special Agent Ray Parker IV.”

  Ray continued to watch her. If this was a trick, it was a damn good one he had to admit.

  “Don't you want to greet your madre Senor Parker? Don't worry we've taken very good care of her, haven't we Senora Parker?” Esteban asked.

  Ray looked down at the woman. “Describe my tattoo,” he ordered.

  “It would be a rising sun located on your back, on the upper right shoulder. It would have twelve intricate rays, one for each of the zodiac. You would have had it done on your eighteenth birthday like your father did if your Aunt Ruby and Uncle John told you the tradition,” she told him watching him closely.

  Ray slowly bent at the waist with his hands on his knees trying to compose himself as Esteban watched with a smile on his face. He glanced over at Pedro who was also smiling.

  “De nada Senor Parker for taking care of something so special to you. My grandfather made sure no harm came to her. She was simply the trophy for avenging his son's death.”

  Ray took a deep breath and reached for his ankle. Before he was completely upright again both Salvador and Pedro had bullets in their foreheads. At the sound of the gunshots, Marc rushed into the room along with the two guards. Ray let off two more precisely accurate shots before lowering his weapon. Marc looked at the four men on the floor then at Ray.

  “I'm assuming the plan has changed?” he asked lifting a brow.

  “We have to get the hell out of here now! Get Callie and Trent!” Ray barked.

  Marc and Ray
froze as they heard the loud whistle before gunshots started to ring out.

  Ray turned to Marc. “Jay and Sean are here. Move now!”

  Chapter 18

  Trent heard a loud whistle then gunshots ringing in the air. He moved quickly to the door grabbing the chain around his neck. Unlocking the door, he stepped into the empty hall and made his way to the safe room with the gun in his hand. He entered, locked the door behind him and waited.

  Trent could hear yelling amid the gunfire in the hall. He held onto the weapon tightly watching the door. When the door opened, Marc was on the other side. Trent raised his gun and Marc reacted by quickly pulling his and pointing it at Trent.

  “I'm not here to hurt you Trent. I came to get you out of here,” Marc explained slowly.

  Trent kept his gun pointed. “Where's Ray?”

  “He sent me to get you.”

  Trent's eyes narrowed. “I saw you with Esteban.” Both guys kept their guns pointed at each other.

  Marc sighed. “Look Trent, I was undercover. We don't have time for this!”

  “I'm not going anywhere with you,” Trent told him firmly.

  “Then I will have to take you,” Marc responded just as firmly.

  Trent lifted a brow. “You think you can?”

  “Trent! No!” Callie rushed into the room. She looked between the two guys with weapons directed toward each other. She stepped in front of Marc's gun facing Trent with her hands up. “Marc works with Ray.”

  “Please, put the gun down. Your brothers are here and we have to get out of here!”

  Trent stared at Marc and Callie contemplating. He trusted Callie but could he really trust Marc? He wasn't one hundred percent sure. Plus he still wasn't over the fact that Marc had been arguing with Callie when Isis had seen them.

  “We have to go Trent. This place is mayhem right now,” Callie pleaded with him.

  Trent lowered the gun then Marc lowered his while shaking his head. “You shouldn't point a gun if you're not prepared to use it,” Marc told Trent.

  Trent's dark eyes became darker. “Yeah...I was prepared.”

  Callie looked between the two guys before grabbing Trent's arm removing the weapon from him. Together they followed behind Marc to find an exit from the building.

  *********

  Jordan and Sean entered the building checking rooms looking for Ray, Trent and Esteban. At their signal, Ray's men had begun the onslaught. The Dios Del Sol had actually placed more of his men at the building than Esteban had of his own but they all knew Salvador still had more reinforcements in the area. The shooting had been quick and precise with Sean and Jordan as active participants. Mostly Jordan, since he had come in with guns blazing. They stepped over bodies in the hall as they continued their search.

  A door opened and they both became on instant alert with their weapons drawn. Ray stepped out the door and they watched a woman follow him. Jordan froze as he looked into the woman's face. He was looking at his wife and daughter all at once. Sean too was struck by the resemblance of this woman to both Sage and Diamond. Both men looked to Ray in question.

  Ray shook his head. “We can talk later, the chopper is on the way. Now, let's get out of here.”

  “Where's Esteban?” Sean asked.

  “He's dead.”

  “Did you get the information?” Jordan questioned.

  “No!” Ray barked.

  Both men looked at Ray. “What happened?” Jordan asked.

  “I shot Esteban and that punk ass Pedro,” Ray said harshly walking down the hall to the door. He held his mother's hand as he made his way and she followed quietly.

  Sean and Jordan watched him go. “Damn, what the hell?” Jordan asked.

  Sean shrugged. “I don't know, but he's mad as hell. And who's the woman?”

  Jordan shook his head. “I don't know but she looks just like Sage and Diamond.”

  “I know.”

  “This wasn't part of the plan,” Jordan commented.

  Sean peeked into the room and saw Esteban, Pedro and two men lying on the floor in pools of blood. “I think the plan has been scrapped.”

  Jordan frowned. “Well his ass needs to tell us something.”

  “Let's find Trent and get out of here,” Sean said as he started to continue down the long corridor. He didn't have a good feeling about what was going on.

  Jordan and Sean continued through the house checking rooms. They turned down a hall and ran right into Marc, Callie and Trent. The relief on Trent's face was evident when he saw his brothers. They rushed over to him embracing him and he held them tightly for a moment.

  “Are you okay?” Jordan asked looking him over.

  Trent smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I'm cool...now”

  Sean turned to Marc and Callie. “Good job. Let's go.”

  “Are we still on the plan?” Marc asked. “I think Ray has made some revisions.”

  Jordan shook his head. “Yeah, we noticed that too.” He looked at Marc. “Switch to Plan B.” He glanced at Sean who slowly agreed. Marc looked toward Callie then nodded.

  They all turned and headed outside to meet Ray. Trent looked up as he heard a chopper overhead then watched as it landed in the distance. Ray was already halfway to the landing spot with his mother. Sean and Jordan were walking with Trent asking him questions while Marc and Callie lingered a little ways behind. When they were closer to the chopper, they heard a gunshot ring out then another. Trent turned back and watched in shock and horror as Callie froze then as if in slow motion fall to the ground as another shot rang out.

  Marc watched Callie fall then turned in the direction of the shots. He fired back quickly before turning to Callie's body lying on the grass as Jordan and Sean started towards them.

  Trent tried to yell, but nothing came out. He tried to run but he couldn't move. He watched as Marc bent to touch Callie then yelled a loud curse. Marc looked up at them and shook his head slowly before violently snatching off his glasses. He lowered his head into his hand as he knelt over her body. Jordan and Sean stopped.

  “Callie! Callie! Callie!” Trent began to shout out loud as his heart burst in his chest. He took off towards her before his brothers caught him.

  “Let me go!” he hollered fighting them off. “Callie! Callie!”

  Another shot rang out in the distance and both Sean and Jordan took hold of Trent.

  “We have to go!” Jordan told him. “Get in the chopper Trent.”

  Trent broke away again. “No! I'm not leaving her! Callie!”

  “There's nothing you can do Trent,” Sean said regaining a tight hold on Trent.

  Ray joined them. “What the hell happened?” he stormed.

  “It's Callie!” Trent yelled and Ray ran to where she was lying.

  “Dammit let me go!” Trent shouted with his eyes filled with tears trying to break away from Sean's hold on him. “I'm not leaving her here!”

  Jordan grabbed him solidly. “Trent, there's nothing you can do!”

  Trent looked back in the direction where Marc and Ray were standing over Callie's body with their heads down and felt his whole world collapse. Ray was cursing and looking around the surroundings. Trent thought this couldn't be happening... not to Callie... not to the girl he loved more than anything.

  “Callie...” he sobbed brokenly. “Callie...” He couldn't stand any longer and fell into Sean's arms sobbing loudly.

  Sean patted his back. “I'm sorry Trent.”

  Jordan sighed and laid a hand on Trent's back. “Trent.”

  “Let me see her,” Trent pleaded loudly. “Please...I have to see her!”

  Jordan glanced out to Ray in question. Ray shook his head and put up a hand indicating it was probably not a good idea to let Trent look at the body.

  “I don't think that's a good idea Trent,” Jordan told him quietly.

  Another shot, closer in proximity rang out prompting Jordan and Sean to grab Trent and start dragging him to the waiting chopper.

  “Callie!” T
rent called her name until he couldn't yell anymore. His brothers loaded him inside and Ray joined them a minute later. He looked into Trent's tortured face.

  “Little Bruh... I'm sorry...,” he breathed on a sigh shaking his head.

  Trent turned and looked out of the window as the chopper took off. He closed his eyes and touched the Ankh around his neck before letting the tears fall...

  *********

  Inside the chopper Trent continued to cry silently as his brothers watched him. The whirl of the blades made conversation nearly impossible so everyone sat in silence with questions in their eyes. When the helicopter landed at the airstrip, the plane was waiting. They all exited and Trent took off walking in another direction before Jordan and Sean went after him.

  “Trent,” Jordan called his name but he kept walking.

  Sean tried. “Trent.” He didn't stop.

  They caught up with him putting a hand on his shoulder. “Don't touch me!” he snapped turning to them.

  They both looked at him before he turned and walked away again.

  “Trent,” they both called his name.

  He turned with angry dark eyes. “What?” he yelled.

  “It's okay.” Sean told him.

  Trent threw his arms in the air. “Okay? How in the hell is it okay? Callie's dead!”

  His hands became fists as he struggled. “She got mixed up in all your bullshit and now she's gone!”

  Trent lowered his head. “She was trying to protect me from people who hated you!” he said in an anguished voice. “I wish I would have never found you!”

  He turned and walked away for a short distance before he dropped to his knees. Jordan looked at Sean before walking to where Trent was on the ground. He placed a hand on his shoulder and felt the trembling underneath.

  Trent eventually lifted damp eyes to dark eyes that matched his. “I'm sorry Jordan. I didn't mean that.”

  Jordan helped him to his feet and pulled him into his arms holding him tightly. “It's okay Trent. We're here. We're going to help you get through this. I promise it will be alright.”

  Trent pulled back and shook his head slowly. “It'll never be alright Jordan. I loved her so much,” he said softly.

  “I know Trent.”