Art of Deception (The Black Diamond Series Book 4)

by D. Camille

  Trent put his hands to his face. “I can't believe this. This can't be happening right now. She's supposed to be coming home with me...” he choked out.

  “Let's go home.”

  Trent slowly walked back to where Sean was standing and looked him in the eye. “I'm sorry Sean.”

  “You're fine Trent. I know you're hurting. One day maybe you will forgive us.” Sean hugged his brother.

  Trent boarded the plane and sat in the back compartment with Sean while Jordan joined Ray and the mysterious woman who looked so much like Sage in another area. Jordan turned to Ray with questions in his eyes.

  Ray let out a breath. “Jay this is our mother. Momma this is Sage's husband, Jordan.”

  Jordan looked shell shocked as he stared at the woman who stared right back at him. “You're married to my Baby Goddess?” she asked him softly.

  “Yes.” This was all he could get out as he was in still in shock. He lifted dark eyes to Ray who ran a hand down his face.

  “My family has a history with the Esteban's. My father was a Special Agent with the FBI targeting drug trafficking. He killed Salvador's father in a sting. Salvador's grandfather then ordered a hit on my father. All this time it was ruled an accident but according to Salvador, it wasn't. They've been holding my mother for all these years.” Ray lowered his head trying to process the fact that his mother had been a hostage for over twenty years. He'd rescued thousands of women, but had not been able to rescue his own mother. He wondered how in the hell he was going to explain this to Sage when he returned.

  His mother reached over and took his hand. “I am so happy that you found me Sun God. I wished every day to see my children again.” She touched his face. “You are so beautiful. Look at you, such a strong man, just like your father.”

  Ray placed his hand over hers. “You are beautiful Momma. Sage looks so much like you...and Diamond.”

  “Who's Diamond?” she asked confused.

  Jordan answered. “She's your granddaughter and the most incredible little girl in the world.”

  Silver's eyes brightened. “I have a granddaughter? How old is she?”

  “She's almost two,” Jordan supplied.

  “Will I get to see her?” Silver asked hopefully.

  Jordan smiled. “Of course. Every day if you want.”

  She smiled at him and turned back to her son. “Do you have children too?” she asked Ray.

  Ray laughed. “Nah. I'm not even married.”

  Silver nodded. “You haven't found your Moon yet.”

  Ray remained silent as his thoughts drifted to Isabelle. He wondered what she was doing. Had the women embraced her as he'd hoped they would? Was she thinking about him? He turned back to his mother.

  “Did they hurt you?” he asked.

  Silver shook her head. “No. Not at all. They treated me more like a guest than a hostage. I was luckier than a lot of the women they held.”

  “How did they get you?” Ray questioned.

  “The accident. There was something wrong with the car and Ray lost control sending us over an embankment. I woke up as I was being pulled from the wreck. I could see Ray slumped over in the seat. The men pulled me out and then the car exploded,” she finished tearfully. “They took me away and I never saw my children again.”

  Ray squeezed her hand. “I'm sorry Momma.”

  Bright brown eyes met bright brown eyes. “You took care of the Baby Goddess?”

  “I did my best,” he answered humbly.

  Jordan smiled at Sage's mother. “He did the best job any brother could do. Sage is beautiful, smart, strong, loving and kind. Her brother loved, protected and provided for her. He helped her become the incredible woman that I married.”

  Ray smiled at Jordan and nodded.

  “You sound as if you love my daughter very much,” Silver commented.

  “Your daughter is my life. There is nothing I wouldn't do for her and our daughter,” Jordan affirmed.

  Silver smiled and looked between the two men. “You two have a bond that seems to be more than brothers-in-law.”

  Ray looked at his mother. “Jordan, Sean and Trent are my brothers. Trent is both Jordan and Sean's biological little brother.”

  “The young man who lost his girlfriend?” she asked sympathetically.

  Ray let out a long sigh. “Yeah...”

  Silver shook her head sadly. “That poor boy, my heart goes out to him. He's devastated.”

  Ray looked at Jordan before they both lowered their heads thinking how this mission had not gone as planned. Only time would tell how things would work out as there were still too many loose ends.

  Sean sat in the back compartment with Trent watching him closely. To say Trent was devastated was an understatement. Sean had to admit that this plan had not gone exactly the way it was supposed to, but not everything could always be predicted.

  “Can I get you anything Trent?” Sean asked.

  Trent sat staring out of the window at the clouds. “Can you bring Callie back?”

  Sean watched him. “Are you going to be alright?”

  Trent shook his head. “Nah...I'm not.”

  “We're here for you Trent. All of us.”

  Trent nodded. “Thanks,” he said flatly while withdrawing inside himself.

  “What do you need us to do?” Sean asked.

  Trent didn't turn to him. “You've done enough.”

  Sean sighed. “Ray had Marc stay with her to make sure she's taken care of.”

  “You wouldn't let me stay with her,” he said angrily. “You wouldn't even let me see her.”

  Sean rubbed his head. “I know you're angry Trent, but we had to protect you.”

  Trent looked at him. “You should have let me die...because I did anyway.”

  *********

  Later, Ray came to the back of the plane and took a seat across from Trent studying him silently for a few minutes.

  “I'm sorry Trent,” Ray told him.

  Trent turned to him. “She told me she was working for you.” His voice was now coarse from all the yelling he'd done.

  Ray nodded. “She was.”

  “I got her killed.”

  “Nah, Little Bruh you didn't get her killed,” Ray corrected. “The job took her away.”

  Trent looked at him. “Have you ever lost someone you loved more than anything?”

  “That woman sitting in there.” Ray nodded towards the other part of the plane.

  Trent looked confused. “Who is she?”

  “My mother. They told me she died when I was ten. Esteban's been holding her all this time.”

  Trent's eyes widened. “Did you kill him?”

  Ray nodded. “Hell yeah.”

  Trent looked away. “Good.”

  “Callie knew the risks Trent. She cared about you and wanted you to be safe,” Ray explained.

  Trent lowered his head. “I just want to go home.” He then turned to the window. “I wish this day had never happened.”

  *********

  Carolyn sat alone in the living room of Ray's massive house. It was the wee hours of the morning and the sun had yet to begin its ascent. Everyone else was in their respective rooms still asleep. She couldn't rest for worrying about her sons. Were they okay? Would they return? She'd just begun to have a relationship with them and didn't think she could stand losing them both right now. While Trent was accepting of her, they still had not actually interacted like a mother and son. She understood his hesitancy and made sure not to push him. She would accept what he wanted to give since she really didn't deserve anything.

  Carolyn looked up in surprise as the door opened and four men entered with a woman. She saw Trent's face and jumped from the sofa running to him. She grabbed him into her arms.

  “Oh my God! What happened to you?” she questioned pulling back looking into his tortured looking face.

  “It's Callie...” he whispered hoarsely.

  “What about Callie?” she asked looking at the other men
who all had somber looks on their faces.

  Before she got the words out of her mouth, Trent fell into her arms in tears. She held him closely, slowly rubbing his back.

  “Oh no!” she whispered looking at Sean. Turning her attention back to Trent, she watched as he took a step back wiping his face. Without thinking, Carolyn took his hand and led him outside on the deck as the others stood watching. Trent followed quietly as she led him to the seating area.

  “Sit down honey,” she directed as he continued to wipe the tears away. He complied and she placed her arms around him and stood in shock as he wrapped his arms back around her waist laying his head on her bosom. Carolyn remained silent simply giving him the comfort he needed. She rubbed his head as he held her tightly. They stayed that way for a long time as Trent released some of the emotion bottled inside of him.

  When he released her, she took a seat next to him holding his hand. “What can I do Trent?” she asked concerned.

  He shook his head. “Nothing, there's nothing anybody can do.” Trent turned and looked out over the ocean.

  “They shot her,” he whispered. “Sean and Jordan wouldn't let me go to her. They didn't let me tell her goodbye.”

  “Why would they do that?” she asked.

  Trent touched the necklace around his neck still focused on the waves in the distance. “They were trying to protect me. All of them.”

  “From now on, I don't want anybody's protection,” he said adamantly. “And I'm going to make sure I don't need it.”

  Carolyn watched her son closely. It was as if he was transforming before her eyes from a boy into a man.

  “She loved you,” Carolyn commented.

  Trent nodded. “And she showed me every day I was with her.” He moved the chain slowly across his lips.

  “She was the only one who I could just be myself with. It was like we were connected,” he told her. “Callie would do anything for me. She died for me.”

  He turned to his mother. “I didn't want her to do that.”

  “It's rare to find someone who loves you that much,” Carolyn said watching him.

  “When I said I loved Callie people thought I was just talking, I wasn't. Callie wasn't just another girl, she was my everything. She filled my empty heart.”

  He looked down at the Ankh. “Now I have no heart at all.”

  “You're in a lot of pain right now honey.” Carolyn squeezed his hand and he turned to her.

  “I've been in pain all my life. I know what pain is. This isn't pain.” He looked back out over the water as a tear slid down his cheek.

  Carolyn reached over and wiped his face with her heart breaking. “I'm sorry Trent, sorry that this has happened and I'm sorry for not being there for you while you were growing up.” She hated seeing him like this especially when there was nothing she could do to help him. She watched as he studied the horizon lost in his own thoughts.

  After some time had passed, she stood to her feet. “I'll leave you alone now so you can have some time to yourself,” she told him quietly.

  Trent held on to her hand and turned to her. “Will you stay with me?” he asked hesitantly.

  Carolyn cradled his face. “I promise I'll never leave you again Trent.” She placed a kiss on his forehead before holding him close to her.

  Chapter 19

  The guys watched Carolyn lead Trent out to the deck before turning to each other. They all knew this was going to take some time to work through. Ray led his mother to the sofa and showed her a seat before all three went in search of the women they'd left behind.

  Jordan entered the barely lit bedroom and saw Sage and Diamond on the bed. Sage was sleeping and their daughter was awake playing in her mother's hair. After he stepped inside and closed the door a little pair of bright brown eyes spotted him. She smiled lifting her arms in the air. “Dada! Dada!”

  Jordan hurried over to the bed before she did something like trying to jump off on her own. At the sound of her voice, Sage awakened immediately and sat up as Jordan lifted his daughter into his arms.

  “Jordan!” Sage screamed as she threw her arms around both of them kissing his face.

  “Are you alright?” she asked touching him all over.

  Jordan touched her cheek. “Yes, I'm fine baby.”

  She looked up at him. “Ray and Trent?” she asked cautiously.

  “They're here...” he said slowly. “But Callie didn't come back with us.”

  Sage's eyes widened. “What happened?”

  Jordan sighed. “The plan didn't go as we expected.”

  “The Gods Jordan!” Sage put a hand to her mouth. “Where is Trent now?”

  “He's with Carolyn.”

  Sage's eyes watered. “Is he going to be alright?”

  Jordan lowered his head. “I don't know.” He sat his daughter back on the bed and turned to his wife.

  “There was a glitch. Something none of us had planned for...” he began.

  Her eyes looked afraid. “What happened? Is my brother okay?” she asked warily.

  Jordan nodded. “He wants to talk to you.”

  “Where is he?”

  He looked towards the door. “He's waiting. I wanted to see you first.”

  Sage knew whatever this was it was not good. First, the look on Jordan's face told her this may be devastating, coupled with the fact that her brother wanted to talk with her meant this was really something bad. Her hand flew to her stomach as fear began to take its grip.

  “Sage, it's okay pretty girl.” Jordan placed his hand over hers on her belly. “Everything is going to be alright. Don't be afraid.” He kissed her gently.

  Sage grabbed his shirt. “What is it? Tell me.”

  “Let Ray talk to you baby.” He picked up his daughter. “I'll be right outside the door.”

  Sage felt her heart beating at a frantic pace as she watched her husband and daughter walk out of the door. A second later her brother entered and she ran to him hugging him.

  “Sun God!”

  Ray held his sister closely for a moment before looking down into her face. “How are you Baby Goddess?”

  “I'm afraid,” she answered honestly.

  He nodded. “Come and sit with me.” They both moved over to the bed and sat next to each other. Bright brown eyes looked into a similar pair. Ray took her hand in his much larger one.

  “I have to tell you something...” he paused.

  Sage was in total terror now. The Sun God never struggled with anything. He always told you just how it was and laid it out plain. Him having difficulties was something Sage had never experienced before. She squeezed his hand.

  “Just tell me. I'll be fine. I know you love me,” she told him watching his face.

  He began slowly. “While in Colombia I learned that Salvador Esteban's grandfather was responsible for Momma and Daddy's car accident. It wasn't an accident at all...” He stopped at Sage's gasp.

  “Mommy and Daddy were murdered?” she whispered in shock.

  Ray cleared his throat. “Daddy was.”

  Sage looked confused. “I don't understand. What do you mean 'Daddy was'?”

  “Esteban had a surprise for me in Colombia.”

  Sage waited trying to figure out what he was talking about.

  “Sage, Momma is alive.”

  Sage was certain she had not heard him. She looked into his face. “What?”

  “Momma didn't die in the car accident. She was kidnapped and she's still alive,” he explained.

  Sage let the words roll over her right before she fainted dead away. She fell forward into Ray's arms and he let out a curse before calling for Jordan who rushed into the room grabbing his wife.

  “What the hell Ray?” Jordan demanded lifting her in his arms.

  “She fainted,” Ray said quickly arranging the pillows as Jordan laid her out on the bed. They looked at each other.

  “Damn, I knew this would be too much,” Jordan told him. “I told you she's pregnant.”

  Ra
y looked down at his sister with concern. “We'll have to see how she does when she wakes up.”

  *********

  Sean entered the room where Lily was still sleeping. Quietly he walked over to the bed and sat on the edge watching her. He was relieved that this part was over and he was back at home with his wife. Leaving her, so soon after their wedding, had not been easy and the thought of possibly not seeing his child had been almost unbearable, but now he was home. Sean bent and kissed her lips causing her to stir slightly. He continued to kiss her until she awakened completely.

  Lily felt a touch on her lips followed by increased pressure until she willfully submitted. She opened dark eyes to look into dark brown ones and smiled showing both her dimples. Lily reached out and touched his face.

  “I'm not dreaming?” she whispered.

  “No, but you are my dream come true,” Sean told her.

  Lily wrapped him in her arms. “My love, are you alright?” she asked holding him tightly.

  “Yes, now that I am back with my Goddess.”

  She pulled back. “Ray and Trent?” she asked concerned.

  Sean sighed. “They're both back as well but they both received a shock in Colombia.”

  Lily looked confused.

  “Esteban was holding Ray and Sage's mother. Apparently she didn't die in that car accident all those years ago.”

  Lily's hand went to her mouth. “Sage's mother is alive?”

  Sean nodded.

  “What about her father?” Lily inquired.

  “Esteban's grandfather had him killed. Ray and Esteban had some type of family feud that's been going on for years,” Sean explained.

  Lily shook her head thinking about her friend. In college, Sage spoke of her parents often, the little she did remember of them. How was she going to take finding her mother alive?

  She looked up as Sean continued, “Things didn't go as we planned,” he said quietly and Lily touched his head.

  “What happened?”

  “Callie didn't come back with us and Trent is taking it very hard,” he told her staring into her face. “He blames me and Jordan, and he's right.”

  “I'm sorry,” Lily told him softly.

  Sean shook his head. “I hope that one day he will forgive us. Forgive us for who we are and what we've done.”