Diamond (The Heirs Series Book 2)

by D. Camille

  “Abroad.”

  “You do this very well,” Jason complimented. “You’re very practiced at not letting a man get to know you…”

  Diamond lifted a brow. “Trust, many men have tried…”

  “Have any succeeded?”

  She subconsciously touched the chain around her neck.

  “There’s only one who knows me…better than myself at times. He can practically read my mind.” Diamond told him, thinking about the man waiting outside in the car for her.

  At the other table, Justice rolled his eyes across from Skye. “She thinks that’s cute…” he smirked.

  Skye smiled. “It is. Who knew Diamond could be swept off her feet?”

  Jason stared across at Diamond. The more she put him off, the more he wanted to know who she was. He loved a challenge and it seemed Diamond wanted to be his next one.

  “I’d love to get those names from you,” Diamond brought him out of his musings.

  “And in exchange?”

  “Thank you?” she answered.

  The waitress came and removed their plates while asking about dessert.

  “No, thank you,” Diamond replied. “Just the check please?”

  “I’ll be right back with that.”

  When the waitress walked away, Jason asked, “Would you like me to text you the names?”

  “No, you can just tell me.”

  He looked at her. “You know that when you called me, your number didn’t display?”

  “Yes, I know that.”

  “I’m beginning to think that I should be the one who needs to be on guard,” Jason told her.

  Diamond grinned. “That’s probably not a bad idea.”

  “Do you want to write them down?”

  She shook her head. “No, I won’t forget…”

  Actually, Lilac, Jade and Alex were checking them out, immediately upon being spoken. Jason completed the list and stared at Diamond.

  “What do you actually know about them?” Diamond asked.

  “Just that they’re people you might want to steer clear of…”

  Diamond agreed. “Thank you, Jason.”

  The check arrived and Diamond watched as Jason took care of the bill.

  “Would you like for me to leave the tip?” she offered.

  “No, I can take care of it.” He placed a credit card inside the small leather folder. “Company perks…”

  She smiled. “Well, thank you again.”

  “Since you have my number, feel free to call me,” Jason told her, softly. “If you have any more questions about the tour…or anything else.”

  In the car, Xavier shook his head. “This dude right here…”

  Six agreed. “He gets an “A” for all that damn effort.”

  Inside, Diamond held Jason’s gaze. “I’ll remember that. You’ve been a great help, Jason. It’ll make my job a little easier.”

  When the waitress returned with the receipt, Diamond grabbed her bag and got to her feet, and Jason stood, as well.

  “Let me walk you to your car,” he offered.

  “That’s not necessary.” Diamond told him. “I have some work to do with the team tonight, and they’re picking me up.”

  “Okay…it’s been a pleasure, Diamond.” He took her hand and kissed it. “Maybe in one of the next cities, you’ll be free for lunch or something.”

  “We can play it by ear,” she told him, retrieving her hand. “And I’m sure I’ll see you around the venues…”

  He followed her to the door and watched Diamond walk to the dark car. Jason frowned as the X-Ception’s bodyguard step out and their eyes connected, before Jason glanced inside the vehicle and saw Diamond slide in, next to the man in the diamond chain.

  Six gave Jason one last look, before climbing inside, and closing the door.

  Jason watched the car drive off and thought to himself, that he would make sure he saw Diamond again. Jason Stewart hadn’t gotten to where he was in this business, by backing off easily. He was a man that made things happen.

  He’d warned Diamond about the others…because she would soon find out that she was no match for him.

  ******

  “Are you ready to divert the cameras, Alex?” Xavier asked, as the group prepared for the ritual.

  “All set,” Alex replied. “Put your earpieces in so that you all can hear me.”

  All seven Heirs simultaneously added the devices to their ears. “Check.”

  “Are we good with the route?” Jade asked Alex.

  “Yes, thanks for mapping the hotel. I’m tapped into their system and ready to lead you to the room, without being detected.”

  Six nodded. “Okay, let’s go…”

  With their ritual attire, the group made their way covertly from their room, to the room they sought.

  “Stairwell cameras are diverted and the area is clear,” Alex announced in their ears and they moved silently forward in unison.

  The group reached the desired floor and waited for Alex’s command.

  “Cameras on the floor, now diverted. Move in now Xavier, he’s alone…”

  Xavier walked to the door and knocked, while the team waited out of sight. The door opened and John Brown smiled at him, wearing a robe that hung open.

  “The X-Ception…I was hoping you would come back.” John said looking at Xavier, dressed in all black. “Black looks good on you.”

  Xavier nodded. “What up? Can I come in?”

  John backed up. “Of course.”

  After Xavier stepped inside, John turned to close the door and was immediately caught up in a death grip around his neck. He lifted his hand to Xavier’s arm to no avail and was soon out cold.

  “He’s out,” he announced, dropping John to the floor and opening the door to let in the team.

  Skye moved in quickly and stuck a needle in John’s neck, rendering him completely unconscious. “We have about thirty minutes,” she told them.

  Diamond looked at the near naked man on the floor. “Oh, that’s so damn nasty.” She turned away as the guys carried John into the bedroom.

  The women searched the outer suite and twenty minutes later, they all gathered in the bedroom.

  “I’m watching the hall,” Alex told them. “Go ahead and start the ritual…”

  Jade handed Six the bag he’d brought along, containing the items they needed. Removing them slowly, he handed each Heir, the one that belonged to them.

  When they were ready, they all looked at one another, then clasped their hands in front of themselves, as Six asked, “Why do we do this?”

  They all lowered their heads and answered, “We do it…for the culture.”

  ******

  “John Brown.”

  Like coming out of a fog, John Brown attempted to open his eyes and focus. When he was able to become coherent, he looked around the room and his mind filled with questions as he realized his hands and feet were bound. He stared at the seven…uh, he didn’t know what they hell they were…surrounding his bed.

  “Oh, you want to know who we are?” Xavier asked, and John turned to stare at him, trying to figure out what he was looking at.

  “We are the Heirs…” Xavier announced behind the exquisite Cheetah mask. “We were raised by the village, to dispense punishment and exact revenge on those who harm the children, descended from the Black Land.”

  John Brown stared at the seven figures all dressed in black, each wearing a different, elaborate mask.

  “These are masks of the animals from the dark continent.” Xavier replied, reading his mind. “They are who we represent.”

  “What do you want?” John asked.

  Xavier looked down at him. “We’re going to start right here,” he pointed to John’s head. “Then we’ll finish where you like to start…down there.” He pointed towards his genitals.

  John had never seen anything like this in his life. Who the hell were these people behind these masks?

  “I just told you that,” Xavier told
him, and he wondered how this man knew the questions in his head.

  “Now you want to know how all of this came about?” Xavier asked.

  The Lioness mask, with bright brown eyes answered, “We got in, then knocked you out with a quick needle to your throat. While you were out, we searched your room, tied you up, and covered your disgusting ass body.”

  “That neck is going to be sore for a while, but not as sore as the Kob is going to make you.” Skye added, behind the Impala mask, and Lilac grinned in her Kob mask.

  “What’s next Cheetah?” Six asked.

  “Let’s see how cooperative Mr. Brown wants to be…” Xavier replied to the Lion mask, then turned to John. “What do you know about black men’s organs being trafficked?”

  John’s eyes widened. “Nothing…”

  Xavier shook his head. “Now we both know that’s a lie. Your first thought was ‘don’t say anything’.”

  “Please, listen…”

  “No, you listen,” Skye told him. “We don’t have all night, so you can answer the Cheetah’s questions or we have ways to make you.”

  “I would listen to the Impala,” Xavier told him. “She learned how to administer serums, from the best…”

  “I’m a publicist. All I do is promote talent,” John whined.

  The Lion mask spoke and John turned to him. “That’s not all you do John. You take advantage of young men trying to live their dreams. You promise them the world, then damage them forever.”

  “Please, just let me go. I won’t tell the authorities…I promise.” John begged.

  The man in the Black Jaguar mask laughed and lowered his head down to John, and John flinched.

  “There is no authority over us,” Justice told him, and he trembled.

  John’s eyes got bigger, filled with fear.

  “What do you know about the black men having their body parts stolen?” Xavier questioned harshly.

  John closed his eyes. “They’ll kill me.”

  “So you’d rather die tonight?” Jade asked, in her Bushbuck mask.

  “Don’t kill me.”

  “Impala, get your tools…” Xavier ordered and John shook his head.

  “Wait! Wait!”

  Skye moved away from the bed to follow Xavier’s orders while John tried to explain.

  “I’m not involved, but I have heard things…” he rushed out.

  “Heard things like what?” Diamond questioned.

  He watched the woman with the Impala mask return with a bag.

  “Someone is making big money on the Black Market…”

  “Keep talking,” Xavier told him.

  John took a deep breath. “There’s a guy. He’s associated with the business and he sends out requirements of what the buyer is looking for…”

  “Explain that,” Six ordered.

  “Um…sometimes, it’s someone with a certain blood type or body build. He wants clean guys, who don’t drug or smoke.” John said quietly.

  “Have you supplied him with victims?” Xavier demanded.

  John swallowed and remained silent, prompting Xavier to read his thoughts. When Xavier grabbed the man around the neck, the whole group froze.

  “You fucking bastard!” Xavier yelled.

  “What is it, Cheetah?” Six questioned, concerned as the group looked on.

  “Tell them what you just thought.” Xavier ordered, releasing his neck.

  John choked for a moment. “I put the X-Ception on their radar.”

  Diamond gasped and her eyes darkened. “Why?” she interrogated.

  “I noticed that he didn’t party last night. He didn’t drink, smoke or partake of the available drugs. Plus, he’s in excellent physical condition.” John said, slowly. “I checked him out real good today.”

  John looked around in confusion. “But I can’t remember anything from this evening…I was hoping he would come back.”

  “You shouldn’t have hoped that,” Justice told him.

  “How many others?” Xavier asked John, harshly.

  John looked away from the terrifying sight. “A few…those who fit the criteria, but I don’t know what happened to them.”

  “What are they looking for now?” Lilac asked.

  John held his breath. “A strong heart, liver and kidneys.”

  Chapter 12

  “How do you get the information?” Xavier questioned John Brown.

  “A private message board is set up.”

  Xavier looked at Jade. “Bushbuck, get his computer.”

  John watched the masked woman leave the room and return with his device.

  “What’s the code, John Brown?” Jade questioned.

  He looked again at the masked group and relayed all the information to Bushbuck.

  “Leopard, I’m sending this to you.” Jade announced when she’d gotten inside.

  Alex responded in their earpieces. “Got it. I’m inside…”

  “Give me a name,” Xavier told John.

  “I don’t have one,” he responded. “I swear…they keep everything secret.”

  Diamond’s eyes narrowed. “Then how do you know this guy is associated with the business?”

  John turned to the Lioness. “The message board is filled with people primarily associated with the music industry and Hollywood. I recognized some of the names in there.”

  “How does the message board work?” Six asked.

  John paused until Six grabbed his throat and growled, “I can’t hear you.”

  “The messages are encrypted.”

  Jade frowned and asked, “You need an additional app to read them?”

  He nodded after Six released him.

  “Yes…” He gave her the name of the app.

  “You heard that Leopard?” Jade asked.

  Alex responded in their ears. “Yes, I’ll let you handle that part. That’s outside of my expertise.”

  “I’ve got it.” Jade replied.

  “What else do you want to tell us before we begin?” Xavier asked John.

  “Begin? I’ve told you everything I know…” John said warily.

  Xavier waited, while thoughts on how to save himself, raced frantically through John’s head.

  “Don’t even think about telling me any lies,” Xavier warned.

  “What else do you want?”

  John watched the Cheetah. “I don’t want anything, but we’re about to give you something.”

  Diamond handed Xavier a black cloth as he continued to speak.

  “You lure hopeful young men into your hotel rooms, offices, or wherever you can do your dirt,” Xavier told him. “You abuse them, then move on to the next.”

  Xavier grabbed John’s jaw roughly and stuffed the cloth into his mouth.

  “I know how long you’ve done this shit, but it ends…tonight.” Xavier told him. “In the morning, you’ll wish that you’d never violated anyone, especially our young men.”

  “Tonight, you’re going to know exactly what it feels like to be a victim.” He finished.

  John’s eyes watered, terrified of what was about to happen to him. When the Cheetah placed a hand on the top of his head, he froze. He looked confused as the animal masked people each began to lay a hand on the next until they’d created a connected chain around the bed. They murmured a low chant, before the hand on his head squeezed tightly, for a long moment. The room felt electrified as they all stood with their heads bowed in a silent meditation.

  The detail of the Cheetah mask drew his attention as the dark brown eyes now focused on his. “What…”

  John blinked at the word.

  “What…” Xavier repeated, then released his head.

  If he was asking him a question, John didn’t know what it was or even if he was supposed to know.

  He felt a prick in his leg and turned to see the Impala, withdrawing a needle from his thigh. John moaned at the prick and felt an immediate surge through his body.

  Lilac smiled. “It’s going to feel good…at first,
” she informed him, as his body relaxed. “Then you’ll be ready to die.”

  They waited until John’s eyes rolled back in his head and he smiled as if in ecstasy. Diamond glanced down at his full erection underneath the robe and frowned.

  “Time to go…let’s meet at the door.” Six announced. “Gather what we need.”

  The women moved out, leaving the men to untie John, who was now lying back in bed and feeling no pain.

  “He’s out of it,” Justice said, shaking his head. “That must be some good stuff Lilac concocted.”

  “For a little while, then he’s done.” Xavier confirmed.

  Six looked down at the man. “Enjoy your last night, John Brown.”

  “Hallway’s clear,” Alex said in their ears. “Move out.”

  Meeting the women at the door, they all removed their masks and returned them to Six. Bags in hand, the group exited and made their way back down to Six’s room, where they took seats and sighed.

  “Damn, rituals are so draining,” Justice said throwing his head back.

  “It’s the power that fills the room,” Xavier explained.

  Six agreed. “That’s why it takes all of us, coming together with one mind to make it successful on this level.”

  Diamond looked at her brother. “I was worried that you’d mess it up, being mad at Xavier.”

  “Oh, I’m still mad at him,” Justice confirmed, looking over at Xavier. “But I’m not trying to mess up the ritual. John needs to go. What he’s done? Abusing dudes and putting Xavier on the block?” He shook his head and looked at Diamond. “Nah, I can handle Xavier, but I’m not about to let somebody kill him.”

  “Thanks, Justice.” Xavier said, with a frown.

  Justice pointed to his face. “You see this?”

  “You’ll live,” Six told him, then turned to Lilac. “How long before John Brown calls for help?”

  She checked her watch. “According to the dosage, sometime around noon he’ll need emergency assistance.”

  “And then the fun begins…” Xavier said.

  ******

  The Heirs called it a night, although it was already almost morning by the time they wrapped up. Xavier accompanied Diamond and Skye to their room, and Skye quickly headed off to bed, after announcing that a Princess needed her beauty rest.

  Xavier sat down on the sofa and Diamond kicked off her shoes and joined him.