by D. Camille
“We did good,” Six said with a smile.
“Did you think we wouldn’t?” Xavier asked.
“Diamond was the X factor…”
Xavier smiled. “She came through and handled everything with Jasmine and the innocent victims.”
“Yes, she did that.” Six agreed. “You must’ve put some kind of spell on her.”
“She thinks so,”
Six looked at his notes. “We’ve cleared up a big part of why we’re here. We still have some business in LA with Lil D.”
Xavier nodded. “And Jason is still on the list…”
“And we need to identify this Snowman.” Six added. “When the organs are delivered, we can track where they went, but I’m sure he’s not having them delivered to his doorstep.”
Xavier sat back. “I’m thinking we’re missing something obvious with this Snowman character. Why would they call him the Snowman?”
“We’ve looked in to big time cocaine dealers, dudes with white hair, white dudes period…” Six commented.
“I know, and no matches to this industry.” Xavier frowned. “He’s connected and someone knows who he is...”
Rubbing his head, Xavier continued, “He has to be deeply involved with the tour to know who is doing what…and when.”
“You think he’s on the road with us now?” Six asked. “Maybe that’s who Jason was talking to?”
“If only Diamond had gotten a glimpse of him,” Xavier said, shaking his head.
“She knows his voice,” Six offered.
Xavier frowned. “And he knows who she is…so he’s going to be cautious around her.”
“If that was him with Jason, then Jason knows his identity.” Six pointed out.
“We’ll be paying him a visit soon,”
Six turned his attention back to his screen. “Dude, this whole thing was crazy. People are actually willing to sell other people for their body parts.”
Xavier looked out of the window and sighed. “They lure unsuspecting people, or just outright kidnap them. Some of them have their organs remove while they’re still alive without anesthesia. The people who are paying for these organs are desperate to live, but either don’t realize or don’t care…that other people are dying because of them.”
“We’re about to shut down the operation on this tour.” Six told him. “And when we get to the top of the ladder, hopefully other operations as well.”
“That’s what we do…” Xavier responded watching the highway go by.
He looked up as Diamond appeared. “You guys still up?” she asked sleepily.
“Just recapping,” Xavier told her as she slid in next to him.
“You did good,” she told them with a smile. “Everybody made it back to the bus.”
Six smiled. “We all did good.”
Diamond laughed. “We kicked ass…”
“Even Justice came through,” Xavier told her. “That Black Magic was real.”
She slid a look at Xavier. “Trust, it is…”
He returned her look and Six got to his feet. “I guess it’s time for me to get some sleep.”
“Get some rest, Six.” Diamond told him. “You deserve it.”
“Thanks,”
Diamond waited until he was gone, then turned to Xavier. She touched his face and looked into his tired eyes.
“You should get some rest, too.” Diamond said softly. “You’ve been a busy man.”
“I’ll wind down soon…”
“You still have one more show tonight,” she reminded him.
Xavier smiled at her. “Then the X-Ception is retired…”
“Hmmm…I might like him to visit once in a while.” Diamond moved closer. “I watched you last night…you take your cover on a mission, seriously.”
He leaned in and kissed her face. “I take everything seriously.”
“You always have,” she whispered. “Even as a teenager, you were so mature.”
“My first mission…was Diamond Black.”
She placed her full lips on his. “And it was a success…” Diamond told him.
Xavier returned her kiss, then looked into her brown eyes. “How do you want to tell the rest of the family when we get home?”
Diamond frowned. “I think we should tell our parents first and not just spring it on them along with everybody else.” She held his gaze. “How do you think your parents will react?”
He smiled. “My parents are very chill and open…now your family…”
She closed her eyes. “I can’t even argue. My Daddy, Grandpa Justin, Uncle Ray…”
Xavier kissed her again. “They’ll get with the program eventually.”
Opening her eyes, she stared at him with a soft smile.
“It might be after we’re married for like ten years with a few kids, but…one day.” He finished and she laughed.
“That might be true,” Diamond agreed. “We’re getting married and having a few kids?”
He nodded. “All on the list.”
“Can I see this list?”
“I’m going to frame it for you, and give it to you on our wedding day.”
Diamond sighed. “I can’t believe we’re talking about weddings…”
Xavier pulled her close. “We don’t need a dating period, Diamond. I don’t need to get to know you or fall in love with you.”
He lifted her face to his. “The first time I saw these beautiful brown eyes, I knew that I would love you forever.”
“It’s taken me a while to realize that you’re everything that I want, Xavier.” Diamond told him. “But now that I have, I won’t ever take for granted having you in my life.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, then showed him just how much he meant to her. Last night, Diamond had watched Xavier in full action, and she had not been disappointed. In fact, she’d been overwhelmed by his poise, polish and power.
Indeed, the Gods had sent this man to her because no other drew her in, moved her and excited her, the way he did. He’d told her that he would handle her and she knew that he would try…and she looked forward to the ways in which he’d go about it.
Diamond pulled away and looked into his face again. “I want you to go and get some rest. You’ve been going non-stop since this tour started, working on the mission and performing. I don’t want you to wear yourself out.”
He began to nuzzle her neck. “I wish that you could come and lie with me…”
“Three days and we’ll be home...” Diamond whispered. “Where I can come and lie with you in that big ass house of yours.”
Xavier smiled against her skin. “That’s my Goddess’ home…I have everything she needs.”
“Yes, you do…” She sat up. “Now go get some sleep. We have more work in LA.”
He yawned and stretched before agreeing. “You’re right, so I’ll see you later.”
“I’ll be right here,”
Kissing her one last time, Xavier headed to the bunk area for the men. Diamond watched him go, then turned to look out of the window. Although it was the middle of the night in LA, she took her phone and dialed the familiar number.
“Hello?” the sleepy voice answered on the third ring.
“Momma, it’s Diamond.”
Sage sat up in the bed, and glanced over at Jordan who was now watching her.
“Diamond, what’s wrong?”
Hearing his daughter’s name, he sat up immediately.
“I need to talk to you,”
Sage nodded. “Okay, is everyone okay?”
“Yes, everything is going fine with the mission.” Diamond assured her.
“Then what’s wrong?” Sage asked, and Jordan lifted a brow.
Diamond sighed and watched the passing scenery. “I’m going to need your help.”
“Diamond, you’re scaring me. What the hell is going on?” Sage demanded.
“I’m in love…”
Sage paused then climbed from the bed. Jordan looked at her in question and she put
up a finger to him, before leaving the room.
Heading downstairs, Sage asked, “Diamond, what is happening out there?”
“The Gods have sent the man that I want to spend the rest of my life with.” Diamond told her.
Sage frowned. “Where is your brother?”
“Justice is fine, and he knows already.”
“He hasn’t called and this man is still alive?”
Diamond chuckled. “Honestly, right now Justice is no match for him. You know, he did all of his training with you.”
“Justice is well trained,” Sage rebutted.
“This isn’t about Justice, Momma. This is about me…and I need you to prepare Daddy for when I return.” Diamond told her mother.
“I don’t think there’s that much preparation in the world,” Sage replied. “You come home after years of traveling, saying that there’s no man in your life…then you leave for a few weeks and now you’ve found the man that you want to spend the rest of your life with.”
Sage shook her head. “No, I can’t prepare Jordan for that.” Sage told her.
“Do you remember when you fell in love with Daddy?” Diamond asked quietly.
“Of course,” Sage smiled. “Jordan Black was hard to resist.”
Diamond sighed. “Then you know exactly what I’m feeling right now.”
“You’re in love after a few weeks, Diamond?”
“No, I’ve loved him for a long time…I just didn’t want to admit it.” Diamond confessed.
“A long time?” Sage questioned. “Who is this man?”
Diamond closed her eyes. “I want to tell you and Daddy, at the same time…”
“Your father will want to check him out,” Sage pointed out.
“He doesn’t need to,”
Sage frowned. “Diamond, you’re a very wealthy woman who also lives a secret life. We can’t have just any man coming into your life.”
Diamond opened her eyes. “He’s not just any man, Momma,” Diamond whispered and Sage heard the emotion in her daughter’s voice.
“You’re sure that you’re in love with him?”
“I have no doubts.”
Sage sighed. “What do you want me to do?”
“I don’t want Daddy to pop off…you know we can do that.”
“Yes, I know…we’re the Blacks.” Sage replied. “Will we meet him, when you get back?”
Diamond nodded. “Yes,”
“Are you all still on schedule to be home in a few days?”
“Yes, everything is on schedule.”
Sage paused. “I’ll do what I can, Diamond…but I can’t make any promises. You know your father…”
“I think if he’s prepared, he might be calmer.”
Jordan walked into the kitchen where Sage was seated at the counter and leaned against it.
“We’ll see…” Sage told Diamond slowly, and Diamond understood that her father was now in the room.
“Thank you, Momma. I’ll see you soon,” Diamond told her. “I love you.”
“I love you,” Sage said, before ending the call.
Jordan folded his arms and lifted a brow. “What’s wrong?”
Sage smiled at him. “Everything is fine.”
He gave her a look. “Diamond isn’t calling in the middle of the damn night for nothing. Now what’s wrong Sage? Do they need our help?”
Shaking her head, Sage answered, “No, they don’t need the Black Diamonds. Diamond says that they’re on schedule to be home in a few days.”
Jordan looked impressed. “They’ve been very quiet.”
“They’re on a mission,” she reminded him. “They can’t be calling home every day.”
“Okay, so what did Diamond need?”
Sage took a deep breath. “She’s in love and we’ll meet him when she comes home.”
Jordan froze. “What the hell did you say?”
“Diamond says that the Gods have sent the man that she’s going to spend the rest of her life with,” Sage explained.
“Oh, hell no! I don’t give a damn about the Gods…they better take his ass back.” Jordan told her.
“Jordan…Diamond is a grown woman.”
He shook his head. “Diamond is my daughter. Who is this dude?” he demanded.
“She didn’t tell me,” Sage answered. “She wants us to find out at the same time, but she wanted me to prepare you.”
Jordan frowned. “Prepare me? Prepare me for what? Prepare me to handle some little dude?” He stopped. “Where the hell is Justice?”
“She says that Justice knows…”
“The hell?” Jordan roared. “Why hasn’t he called?”
Sage placed a hand on his chest. “Relax, Diamond says that Justice isn’t really a match for this guy, yet.”
“Not a match?” Jordan roared. “I told that damn boy not to train with his Momma.”
She grabbed his shirt. “I trained him well. You want me to demonstrate?”
Jordan removed her hand from his shirt and looked down into her pretty face.
“She says she’s in love, Jordan,” Sage told him softly. “And I can hear it in her voice…”
Sighing, Jordan brought Sage’s hand to his lips. “Justice may not be a match for him yet, but I know for damn sure, he’s not a match for me.”
“Jordan…”
“Don’t Jordan me…I sent my daughter on mission and some dude has gotten all in her head?”
Sage looked at him. “He’s in her heart, too.”
“His ass better not be in her bed…”
******
That night the X-Ception performed his last set and met with the team in his dressing room.
“Tomorrow night, we’ll be back in LA!” Six announced. “Mission accomplished.”
Xavier smiled at Diamond. “I can’t wait to get back.”
“Me too,” she agreed.
“We’ll hit Lil D’s house in a few days. We’ll let him get back and settled into his routine.” Six informed them.
Skye looked at Xavier and Diamond. “Are you guys telling the family when we get back?”
Diamond sighed. “Yes, and thank you all for not saying anything and letting us announce it.”
“Daddy has been blowing up my phone,” Justice told her. “I’ve just been letting it go to voicemail.”
“Is he mad?” Diamond asked.
Justice frowned. “He’s Daddy…what the hell you think?”
Xavier looked at the siblings. “It’ll be fine.”
“Like what if Daddy and Uncle Jordan get into a fight over this?” Lilac asked Xavier.
“Daddy’s not going to fight Uncle Jordan.” Xavier replied.
“My Daddy did,” Six told them. “All the time…”
Xavier glanced at Six. “Well my father isn’t going to fight Uncle Jordan, because there’s no reason to…”
“Okay…” Six said, shrugging. “I’m bringing the popcorn.”
Diamond intervened. “My Daddy is not going to fight Uncle Sean, so just stop with that.”
Xavier took Diamond’s hand. “Let’s all go back to the hotel and prepare to go home. We’ll deal with everything else when we get there.”
Everyone agreed and Six looked at Justice. “You’re going to take care of Jasmine?”
Justice nodded and looked at his watch. “Yes, she’s meeting me after she gets all of her stuff.”
“We’ll see you later then,” Xavier told him.
Justice agreed and headed out to a waiting car, that took him to the bus of Jasmine’s crew. He stepped outside the car and saw her exiting the bus with her bags. The driver met her and relieved her of her gear, before Justice showed her inside the car.
She smiled at him. “Thanks for the ride to the airport.”
“It’s no problem.” Justice returned her smile.
“Thank you for everything, Justice.” Jasmine told him. “My brother has been vindicated.”
Justice nodded. “Stay off of rap tours, okay?”<
br />
“I’m done.” She agreed. “I can do a lot more than shake my ass.”
He looked her over. “That’s a talent now, don’t sell yourself short.”
She laughed. “You’re so sweet. I’d have never guessed that there was a real thug underneath those nice suits.”
Justice chuckled. “Yeah, I’m going to work on my thugging skills a little more when I get home.”
“I like how you are,” she told him.
He winked at her. “What are you going to do now?” Justice asked.
Jasmine shrugged. “I’m not sure. I’ve been so focused on avenging my brother, I haven’t stopped to think about my own life.” She looked at him. “It’ll be nice to be back with my mother, and tell her that the people who did this to James have paid…”
“You know that we’re letting you go, trusting that you’ll keep our secret.” Justice reminded her.
Jasmine took his hand. “Are you kidding? You all are my heroes and heroines…I’d never do anything to harm you, after what you’ve done for me and my family.”
Justice squeezed her hand. “I admire you for what you’ve done, Jasmine.” He told her. “I have sisters and I know that they’d give their lives for me, so that quality really impresses me.”
Jasmine flushed. “That’s nice of you…”
“What do you want to do with your life, Jasmine?” Justice asked.
She sighed. “I’ll probably enroll back in college. I still have another year to finish…I dropped out when James was killed.”
“What were you studying?”
“I was studying Communications, but I think I want to do something in law enforcement. We need more of us who are interested in solving the cases that involve our people.” Jasmine told him.
Justice nodded. “I can see you doing that. You were running your own covert mission on this tour.”
“I knew you weren’t who you said you were,” she teased him.
“Damn, I need to work on my acting skills, too…” Justice said, shaking his head.
“Nah, you were cool.”
The car stopped and Jasmine peered out of the window. She saw the lone plane in the distance and turned to Justice.
“Is this the airport?”
He shook his head. “Nah, I got a private flight to take you home.”
Her eyes widened. “What? You didn’t have to do that…”
