Art of Deception (The Black Diamond Series Book 4)

by D. Camille

  “Give him some time. This has to be completely overwhelming for him.”

  “We had to protect him at all costs,” Sean said sadly.

  Lily hugged him to her. “He'll realize that.”

  Sean held her in return. “I hope so Lily. I don't want to lose my brother. I just found him.”

  *********

  Sage opened her eyes to find Jordan and Ray standing on each side of the bed. They both looked worried and tired. She reached out a hand to each of them and they took them quickly.

  “Are you alright?” Jordan asked.

  She nodded and looked at Ray. “You said Mommy's alive. Where is she?”

  “She's here. I brought her home,” Ray told her stroking her hand.

  Her eyes opened wide. “She's here?”

  Ray nodded and watched his sister.

  Sage sat up quickly and both men went to assist her. “I want to see her!” she told them trying to leave the bed.

  “Just sit down Sage. We'll get her for you,” Jordan said holding her in place on the bed.

  Sage watched in anticipation as her brother walked out of the room and returned with the woman who had given her life. Their eyes met and hers watered as her mother came closer to the bed watching her.

  “Mommy?” Sage said in a little voice.

  “My Baby Goddess...” She reached her and gently placed her arms around her.

  Sage hugged her in return. “Mommy...” she said as the tears rushed down her face.

  “Oh how I've missed my babies,” Silver said through her own tears. “So much.”

  Jordan and Ray quietly left the women alone in the room. They both wanted to give Sage time to speak with her mother in private since they'd had time on the plane. After exiting the room, Ray walked to the other side of the house where Isabelle was still sleeping in the master bedroom. He found her curled in the middle of the bed and stood silently watching her. Ray called her name softly and waited for her response.

  Isabelle heard the deep baritone summoning her from the depths of her slumber. She opened her eyes and smiled at the bright brown eyes staring down at her. She jumped from the bed into his arms and he caught her easily before holding her securely.

  “Are you alright?” she asked staring into his face.

  He nodded and she placed her face in his neck. “I was so worried about you,” she whispered.

  “I'm fine Goddess. How are you?” he asked rubbing his hands down her back.

  She tightened her hold on him. “I'm so happy to see you.”

  “I'm happy to see you too Belle.”

  “Is everyone alright?” she asked.

  He shook his head and touched her face. “No. Everyone didn't come back.”

  “Who?” she asked warily.

  “Callie...” he breathed.

  Isabelle held him close. “I'm so sorry.”

  After a few minutes, he sat on the bed with her on his lap facing him. “I found my mother in Colombia,” he blurted out.

  Isabelle looked at him confused. “You found your mother?”

  He nodded slowly lowering his head. “She's alive. She had been held there all this time,” he whispered.

  “Oh my! Where is she now?” Isabelle asked in shock.

  “I brought her back here with me.”

  Isabelle placed her arms around his neck. “Oh Ray... I can't imagine what you're feeling right now,” she whispered.

  Ray was silent for a few minutes before he lowered his head and kissed her still sleep-warmed neck savoring her jasmine scent. “I missed you Goddess.”

  “Don't leave me like that again,” she told him in that no nonsense voice that he loved. “I don't know what I'll do.”

  Ray laughed. “I don't plan on that happening again.”

  She smiled. “I missed you too.”

  Ray's hands went to cradle her behind. “You should kiss me and show me how much before we go out there to see everyone.”

  When she placed her luscious lips on his Ray felt his world slightly tilt back into position. He had been off since he'd realized that his mother was indeed alive. He needed Isabelle's warm energy to help him balance himself again. Ray had never deviated from a plan before and it didn't sit well with him that he had put his team in that position. He needed to get himself right and Isabelle's sweet kisses were helping him move in that direction. He laid her down on the bed and allowed himself a few minutes to be simply soothed by her love.

  A little while later Ray led Isabelle out to the living room where Sage and Jordan were sitting on the sofa next to Silver who had Diamond on her lap beaming at her. Lavender sat in a chair adjacent from them watching them with a smile on her face while Sean and Lily sat in another chair. Ray glanced out on the deck and saw Carolyn sitting with Trent. He sighed and shook his head before leading Isabelle to where his mother was sitting.

  “Momma, this is Isabelle...Isabelle this is my mother, Silver Parker,” he introduced them.

  Silver looked up at the beautifully elegant woman who had appeared with her son. She took in the possessive hand he had on her back and the way his brown eyes gently caressed her.

  “Hello Mrs. Parker,” Isabelle said politely extending her hand. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”

  Silver sat Diamond on the seat beside her before she stood. “It's a pleasure to meet you as well Isabelle,” Silver said smiling while taking Isabelle's hand.

  Sage and her mother shared a look before her mother's attention went back to Isabelle and her son. “Sage and Jordan have invited me to their home to spend some time with my beautiful granddaughter. Is that okay with you?” Silver asked her son.

  “Of course, I'll come and see you later,” he told her.

  Sean stood with Lily. “We can debrief later at Jordan's,” he told Ray. “I think everyone wants to go home right now.”

  Ray agreed and Sean went to retrieve his mother and brother. When Trent entered the room, Ray stepped over to him. “We'll talk later Little Bruh,” he said placing a hand on his shoulder.

  Trent nodded before walking out the door to one of the waiting cars. Jordan took his family along with Silver in one car and Sean rode with Lily, Carolyn, Lavender and Trent. Standing at the door Ray and Isabelle watched them all take off before turning to one another.

  “I need some food and a bath. Will you stay with me?” Ray asked pulling her into his arms.

  Isabelle smiled. “Do I have a choice?”

  “No, unless you walk down the mountain.”

  She put her arms around his neck. “I guess I have to stay since I have no desire to walk down a mountain.”

  “What do you have a desire for Goddess?” he held her with his gaze.

  “You.”

  Ray lifted her into his arms. “You have to feed me first. I'm starving.” She gave him a sexy smile and he laughed softly.

  “For food beautiful.” He gave her a look in return. “Then I can feast on you.”

  *********

  The car pulled up to Trent's apartment as the first stop and he turned to his family. They all looked at him with sympathy.

  “I'll talk to you guys later,” he told them reaching for the door.

  “Do you want someone to stay with you?” Sean asked.

  Trent shook his head. “Nah...I'm cool. I just want to be alone right now.”

  Sean looked skeptical. “It's not a problem Trent, or you could come home with me and Lily.”

  “Or with me and Lavender,” Carolyn inserted.

  Trent continued toward the door. “I just want to be by myself. I'll check in later,” he assured them exiting the vehicle.

  He let himself inside and headed straight to his bedroom. The last time he'd been in this bed, Callie had been with him. He closed his eyes and laid face down on the covers still smelling her scent on his sheets. He just wanted to drift far away and possibly never return. Fatigue from the emotional distress he'd suffered the last few days took him over and he submitted to the blessed darkness that envelop
ed him.

  *********

  Silver Parker sat in the media room at her daughter and son-in-law's impressive home. She watched Jordan with his daughter and smiled at the love they had for one another. She remembered her own husband with their Baby Goddess. Turning she looked at her baby girl. Sage had grown into a beautiful woman and her love for her family was evident on her face.

  “Give Daddy a kiss Diamond,” Jordan told his daughter.

  Diamond grabbed his face and puckered her little lips placing them on his. “Mmmm...”

  When she finished Jordan turned to Silver. “Sage taught her that.”

  Sage's eyes narrowed. “Okay Jordan.”

  Jordan smiled and sat Diamond in her playing area before turning to the women. “I'm going to get cleaned up so I'll leave you ladies to spend some time together,” he announced before walking over to his frowning wife. He lifted her face to his and kissed her softly.

  Sage smiled up at him. “I'll see you later.”

  He smiled at Silver and exited the room as Sage watched him go with love in her eyes.

  “Your husband is a very handsome man Sage,” her mother commented.

  Sage turned her attention back to her mother and blushed slightly. “Thank you Mommy. The first time I saw Jordan, I thought he was beautiful.”

  Silver smiled. “How did you two meet?”

  Sage grinned at the memory. “Ray sent Jordan to pick me up at the airport when I decided to move here to LA. I met him that day and I couldn't stop thinking about him...” she began.

  “The Sun God was not happy when we started dating. He and Jordan had attended college together and they were very good friends. It was rough at times,” Sage chuckled.

  Silver nodded. “Your brother was very protective of you?” she asked.

  Sage rolled her eyes. “To the extreme.”

  “Jordan must have cared a lot about you to deal with a Sun God,” her mother surmised.

  “Jordan can handle himself.”

  Silver smiled. “I've noticed.”

  Sage laughed. “You've seen the sweet Jordan. There is another side.”

  “I think that applies to everyone,” her mother lifted a brow.

  Sage nodded. “Yes Mommy, it does.”

  Silver glanced over at Diamond playing with her toys. “Now that baby goddess is going to be something else.”

  “I know. She has a lot of her mother and her father in her. She's very smart and very stubborn.” Sage told her.

  “She's also very loved. I watched how everyone at Ray's house took care of her.”

  Sage turned back to her mother. “We're family. We all take care of one another.”

  Silver nodded. “I'm glad you and Ray found family who love and protect you. Tell me about your brother's Moon.”

  “Isabelle...”

  “Yes, Isabelle.”

  Sage pursed her lips. “She loves my brother and I believe that he loves her.”

  “Do I hear a 'but'...?” her mother asked.

  Sage shrugged. “At one time I would have had a long list of 'buts'. I don't anymore. She is the Sun God's Moon and she makes him happy.”

  “It must be hard for you since you've had him all to yourself. For so long it was just the two of you.”

  Sage lowered her head. “It was Mommy. I love my brother so much. He took such good care of me and I can never repay him.”

  Silver took her daughter's hand. “I'm so proud of you Sage. You're a sister who loves her brother so much that you're willing to put your feelings aside for his happiness. You're a wife to a wonderful husband who could only sing your praises and you're a mother to that incredible little goddess.”

  Sage looked at her mother. “I missed you so much Mommy.” She put her arms around her mother hugging her close. “I always wanted to make you and Daddy proud.”

  “We couldn't have asked for more,” her mother said stroking her back. She looked at her daughter and touched her lovely face.

  “Jordan tells me that you're having another baby.” She smiled at her.

  Sage beamed. “Yes, Lily's mother says it's boy.”

  “Lavender?”

  “Yes. Ms. Masters has the ability to semi-predict things,” Sage told her.

  Silver laughed. “I thought she was a character when I met her. I like her.”

  “She practices the ancient as well. That's how Lily and I connected in college.”

  “What college did you attend?” her mother asked.

  “Oxford.”

  Silver looked confused. “In London?”

  “Yes, Oxford University. The Sun God took care of all my expenses.”

  “Really?”

  Sage closed her eyes. “I never questioned how he was able to manage it, but now I know that he is more than I ever thought.”

  “Ray is more than anyone knows,” Silver told her daughter cryptically.

  Opening her eyes, she looked into matching ones. “I always knew that the Sun God was amazing but he is so much more than I ever imagined.”

  *********

  Ray sat in the deep tub located in the middle of the bathroom with Isabelle behind his back in the warm water. She was using a bath sponge to stream water down his back. Isabelle dipped the sponge then lifted it to his broad shoulders squeezing it and watching the water flow down his rippling muscles.

  “Do you always bathe in jasmine petals?” she asked repeating the action with the sponge.

  Ray smiled. “Those are for you Goddess.”

  Isabelle paused in her motions. “You keep jasmine petals here for me?”

  Ray nodded. “Uh...huh.”

  She smiled and continued her ministrations with the sponge. After a period of time she paused again.

  “Do you want to talk about whatever is troubling you?” she asked quietly.

  He turned slightly to glance at her. “I'm not accustomed to talking with women I bathe with.”

  Isabelle laughed. “I'm sure.” She began again with her sponge moving it across his back.

  Ray lowered his head enjoying her touch.

  “I messed up.” He shook his head. “No, I fucked up, really bad.”

  She laid her hand against his back. “What happened?”

  He sighed. “When I realized it was my mother, I completely abandoned the plan,” he told her. “That's how things got out of hand.”

  Isabelle placed her arms around his neck hugging him from behind. “You didn't expect to find your mother who you've believed to be dead for over twenty years. That had to be a complete shock to you, so of course you would not act as you normally would,” she explained softy.

  “I've never abandoned a plan. Ever,” he said adamantly. “I know better than that. I'm the reason Callie didn't come back with us. I didn't give instructions because I wasn't focused and they had to make their own decisions.” He splashed some water onto his face.

  Isabelle leaned down to his ear. “I know that you are a Sun God, but you are not invincible Ray. I don't believe anyone expects you to be either.”

  “I have to make sure I clean this up, because I left a mess down there,” he said placing a hand on his forehead.

  “Was there any way that you could have known your mother was there?” she asked him.

  Ray thought about her question from many angles and finally answered. “No...”

  “Then how could you anticipate something that you had no possible way of knowing?”

  “I don't know...” he said quietly.

  Isabelle moved around him to face him lifting a wet hand to his firm jaw. “Ray, you've found your mother. A mother who you thought you'd never see again. Don't let your anguish over what you did or didn't do down there diminish that wonderful blessing. I would give anything to see my mother again.”

  Ray looked into her dark brown eyes before kissing her softly. “Thank you Goddess.” He studied her for a few moments reflecting on her words.

  “How are things with your father?” he asked.

 
Isabelle leaned back on her haunches in the deep water and looked away. “My father is not a man that I'm proud of right now.”

  Ray turned her face back to his. “I never want you to say that about me.”

  She smiled and put her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer onto his lap. “You're not a man. You're a god.”

  He captured her mouth kissing her until she could no longer breathe. “And you belong to me...” he whispered against her mouth.

  “Then you should claim me,” she breathed as she settled herself completely over his waiting shaft. Ray halted the coupling and lifted her gently.

  “Not yet beautiful.” he told her reaching for the protection he'd placed next to the tub.

  Isabelle blushed. “I'm sorry.”

  Ray smiled and sheathed himself before turning back to placing her on his lap again. “We don't want any little Sun Gods.”

  Isabelle smiled hesitantly and placed a hand on his cheek. “No, I guess we don't,” she whispered before being swept away on the ride of her life.

  *********

  Later that evening Sean and Ray showed up at Jordan's to debrief the mission. They were gathered in Jordan's office sitting around the table.

  Ray ran a hand down his face. “This is my fault. I left the plan and shit got out of hand.”

  Sean looked at him. “Ray, you found your mother, to hell with a plan.”

  Ray shook his head. “We left too many loose ends and Trent wants to kill all our asses.”

  “I think that boy really does want to kill us,” Jordan confirmed sitting back in his chair.

  Ray looked between Jordan and Sean. “Did both of you agree to Plan B?” he asked watching them.

  They both nodded. “It was all we could do after everything went awry,” Sean explained.

  “We discussed the consequences of that beforehand.” Ray reminded.

  Jordan shrugged. “Now we have to deal with them. At least we'll get our questions answered.”

  “Marc is down there to facilitate clean up,” Ray said rubbing his head.

  “How long do you think it's going to take?” Sean asked.

  Ray sighed. “At least a month, maybe more.”

  Sean nodded. “We all need to keep an eye on Trent. I'm worried he might do something unpredictable.”