by D. Camille
Isis looked surprised. “Did she know who you were?”
“Apparently yes, but I had no idea who she was.”
“Daddy says he never told Mommy the truth,” Isis said sadly.
Isabelle felt her heart tremble. Of all the people in the world ,Isabelle loved her mother more than anyone. Losing her had been devastating. Finding out that she died without knowing the truth about her husband was shattering.
“Mommy didn't deserve that,” Isabelle whispered.
Isis took her hand. “No, she didn't.” Isis frowned. “I'm never falling in love with a man with secrets.”
Isabelle squeezed her hand. “Sometimes it's inevitable.”
Isis looked at her confused.
“Are you planning to meet with her?” Isabelle asked her sister releasing her hand.
Isis shrugged. “If she doesn't like you, then she probably won't like me either.”
“Whatever you decide, it's fine Isis. You don't owe anyone anything. This is Daddy's mess.”
Isis nodded.
“And don't let him sweet talk you into anything that you don't want to do. Okay?”
Isis smiled. “Okay Isabelle. You sound so much like Mommy.”
Isabelle smiled at her sister looking into her matching dark brown eyes.
“So are you and Ray a couple now or what?” Isis inquired leaning closer.
She looked away with a slight smile. “We're enjoying each day.”
“From the looks of it, you certainly are.” Isis laughed. “I can't believe it! You and Ray Parker, getting it on,” she teased.
“Isis.”
Isis laughed. “He set you straight huh? I told you.”
Isabelle looked at her sister. “Isis.”
Isis put her hands in the air. “What? I'm just saying.”
Isabelle lifted a brow. “What about the guy who sent you the flowers? Is he setting you straight?”
“No. He found someone else,” Isis looked away. “He says he's in love with her.”
Isabelle looked concerned. “Were you in love with him Isis?”
Isis stood. “That's just it Isabelle. I wasn't. I'm not.” She walked to the window. “I mean he's cute and smart and nice but I don't know...” she trailed off.
“Don't know what?” Isabelle asked.
“I liked his attention. I mean I never imagined us getting married or anything but I did like him...more than a little,” she confessed.
Isabelle stood and went to the window putting her arms around her sister. “I'm no expert on men by any stretch of the imagination, but I can tell you this Isis...for a long time I thought that a certain man was handsome, smart and nice but I didn't burn for him. I didn't desire him more than I ever imagined possible. ”
Isabelle looked her sister in the eye. “I didn't find myself anxiously awaiting until the next time I could see him or touch him. Now I know...that is worth waiting for.”
Isis looked at her sister in awe. “Wow!”
Isabelle smiled. “I'm so glad I didn't settle for anything less.”
“But there are only so many Ray Parkers,” Isis pointed out.
“Actually there's only one Ray Parker,” Isabelle confirmed. “But there is one who will make you feel that way one day.”
Isis smiled and checked her watch.
“I have a performance tonight but I will be in touch with you.” She hugged her sister and headed for the door.
“Take care and I love you,” Isabelle told her as she walked out the door. She watched Isis climb into her car and take off before closing the door. Turning she went back inside her apartment toward the kitchen. She hadn't heard from Ray today but that wasn't unusual if he was working. She figured she would probably see him later tonight. She still had items two and one left on her list. She smiled to herself thinking about them.
The doorbell rang and she smiled wider. Quickly she went to the door and opened it with a sexy smile only to find Jordan and Sean on her doorstep.
“Hey guys. What a surprise?” She showed them inside and into the living room.
She watched as they stood in her living room dressed in all black. “You guys can have a seat,” she offered.
“We're here to take you with us Izzy,” Jordan told her.
Isabelle looked surprised. “Take me? Take me where?”
Sean looked at her. “Ray instructed us that he wanted you protected.”
“Protected from what? Where is Ray?” she asked suspiciously.
Jordan and Sean shared a look. “He's been taken.” Jordan told her.
Isabelle felt her heart drop. “What?”
“Jordan and I are leaving to find him as soon as we drop all of you off at a safe location,” Sean told her but Isabelle was still on the fact that Ray had been taken.
“Are they going to hurt him?” she asked afraid.
Jordan came to her. “Ray can take care of himself. He wants you safe.”
“We need you to come with us now Izzy,” Sean told her.
Isabelle looked at both men, her childhood friends, protectors and confidantes. She tried to move but stayed frozen in place. Jordan took her arm gently and began to lead her to the door.
“I need to pack a bag or something...” she said absently.
Jordan kept walking. “Ray's already taken care of it.”
Isabelle stopped and looked into Jordan's dark eyes. “You two aren't who I think you are. Are you?”
Jordan shook his head. “No Izzy and we haven't been for a long time.”
She turned to Sean. “Let's go Izzy. Everything will be fine.” Sean told her before following behind them.
Isabelle quietly followed to the waiting car with her thoughts racing. Inside the vehicle, the ride was silent as Isabelle tried to regain her thoughts.
“Can you tell me where I'm going?” she asked them.
“Ray's safe house in the mountains,” Sean supplied.
She nodded and retreated back into her thoughts again. Ray had been taken but by whom and why?
“Do they want money?” she asked them.
Jordan shook his head. “No Izzy.”
Isabelle remained silent for the rest of the ride. When they reached the massive property Jordan and Sean escorted her inside where she found Sage, Diamond, Lily, Carolyn and Lavender. She saw the look on Sage's face and quickly went to her enfolding her in her arms.
“I'm sorry Sage,” she whispered.
“I'm sorry Isabelle,” Sage whispered back.
Jordan picked up his daughter as she ran around the room and carried her over to Carolyn. “Can you keep an eye on my track star for a few minutes?”
Carolyn nodded taking Diamond in her arms. She watched as Jordan went to his wife and took her hand leading her into one of the other rooms. Sean did the same with Lily heading in a different direction. Carolyn and Lavender looked at each other then at Isabelle.
“Sit down honey. We're going to be here for a while,” Lavender told her. Isabelle slowly took a seat and closed her eyes.
Jordan led Sage into one of the bedrooms and closed the door. She stood with her back against the door and her eyes level with his chest.
“Sage,” he called her name but she didn't lift her face.
She remained silent not looking at him until he lifted her face to his and saw the tears swimming there.
“Don't do this to me baby,” he whispered staring into her sad brown eyes.
Jordan touched her face. “I need my ass kicking Sage right now.”
She shook her head and the tears fell down her cheeks. Jordan slowly wiped them away looking into her eyes.
“Sage, you're the strongest one here. I need you to keep these women in check and make sure nobody does anything crazy while we're gone.” He rubbed her damp cheek.
She touched his face with her breathing heavy. “You have to come back to me Jordan,” she choked out.
“I am pretty girl.” He kissed her softly. “I have a beautiful wife, a daughter...” He touc
hed her slightly swollen belly. “And a son to come home to.” He kissed her again.
When he lifted his head, he looked down at her. “Will you take care of all of them for me until I get back?”
She watched him and nodded slowly. “You take care of our world.”
Jordan smiled at her. “Have that vacation planned when I get back.”
“Okay.”
He cradled her face in both his hands and she saw a flash of the anguish he was hiding peek through. “I love you Sage,” he gritted out.
“I love you Jordan.”
Jordan pulled her into his arms and kissed her like a man leaving the woman who he loved more than anything in the world while Sage held on to him as if her life depended on it.
In one of the other bedrooms, Sean led Lily inside. He closed the door and scooped her up into his arms carrying her over to the bed where he sat with her on his lap.
Lily touched his hairline on his forehead. “I don't think I can do this my love,” she whispered.
“Beautiful Lily, I need you to make sure everyone stays calm and rational. You're the most level headed one here,” Sean told her.
“How can I let you leave me like this?” she asked brokenly.
“Because you know your warrior will return to his Goddess.”
Lily lowered her head.
“You doubt me?” he asked lifting a brow.
She lifted shimmering eyes to his. “No my warrior.”
He laid her on the bed before laying a hand on her stomach. “I have a little lily growing now. I can't leave my little Goddess.”
Lily touched his face. “Her father is a brilliant warrior. I know he won't be defeated.”
“Only by his beautiful Goddess.” He leaned down to kiss her in the way that she liked until she was moaning.
He looked down into her dark eyes. “I love you Lily.”
“Sean Jackson you are my love, my life and my every wish come true.” She placed her hand over his on her tummy.
He smiled. “Take care of my beautiful lilies until I return.”
She took him into her arms. “Take care of my love.”
He kissed her until it was time for him to leave and Lily walked out with him while her heart splintered.
In the living room, Jordan and Sean gathered all the women giving them instructions. The women listened closely with dampened eyes. They agreed that they all understood what they were supposed to do. Jordan picked up his daughter and hugged her closely as she smiled at him.
“Do you want a treat pretty little girl?” he asked her touching her baby soft hair.
She nodded happily. “Apcots Dada,” she told him.
“You want some apricots?” he confirmed.
Diamond nodded again with big brown eyes. “Apcots,” she repeated.
Jordan looked to Carolyn who quickly realized that was one of the items on their list. She dug into one of the bags she and Lavender had brought with them and pulled out dried apricots. She shook her head finally understanding and handed them to Jordan. He opened the bag and gave some to his daughter. She smiled and kissed his cheek before he walked over and handed her to her mother. He bent and kissed her little face before kissing his wife again. Jordan straightened and walked to the door as Sean turned to Lily and kissed her softly before moving over to kiss his mother. He joined Jordan at the door where they both said goodbye to everyone, then they walked out to the waiting car.
Sage looked around the room at the other women. “The first one who cries and makes me cry, I'm going to seriously hurt them.”
*********
Salvador's plane landed in Colombia and all the passengers were put into a car driving them to his estate. Ray was locked in one room while Trent was placed in another. Ray walked around the room examining his surroundings. There was one door and no windows. The building was an old fortress by its design. Ray knew there were no cameras in the room as the building itself seem to had very few utilities including adequate electricity.
Ray took a seat on the bed that was next to a small table. He wondered what Isabelle was doing. Jordan and Sean should have taken her and the women to the safe house by now. He hoped that she wasn't worrying about him.
Ray was also concerned about Trent. He'd seen that he was scared and he'd also noticed him and Callie sending each other a private signal. He shook his head. He had to make sure Trent didn't lose sight of the severity of the situation. Although they had a plan, not everything could always be controlled.
Ray figured that Jordan and Sean should be boarding the plane now and he wondered about his sister. He knew that she would not take his disappearance well. Ray hadn't wanted to put Jordan in the position of telling her he was missing, but that couldn't be avoided. He'd constructed this plan down to the smallest detail and needed everything to work properly for it to be successful. Ray checked his watch and looked at the door. A few minutes later, it slowly opened and a beautiful Latina woman stepped inside carrying a tray.
“I've brought you some food,” she told Ray coming into the room closing the door behind her.
“Thanks.” Ray watched as she brought the tray over to the bed.
She sat the tray down next to him on the bed then turned to face him. She ran a hand along his cheek.
“I am so happy that you are here Dios Del Sol,” she whispered.
Ray smiled at her. “Did you bring me everything I need?” he asked.
“Si. It's all on the tray.”
“Gracias bonita,” he whispered to her and touched her face.
She smiled and kissed him gently on the lips before quickly exiting the room and locking the door behind her. Ray lifted a brow and watched her go.
*********
Jordan and Sean strapped themselves in their seats as the plane began to take off.
“Are you ready Jordan?” Sean asked.
Jordan nodded. “Yeah...”
“How did Sage take the news?”
“Not good at first, but we got through it,” Jordan sighed.
Sean nodded. “Is she going to be okay?” he asked concerned.
“I need to bring her brother back.”
“And her husband,” Sean added.
Jordan looked out the window then back at Sean. “Sage is pregnant.”
Sean smiled. “Lily is too.”
They both laughed for a moment then sobered.
“This used to be our life, jumping in planes and handling business but I can't leave my wife like this,” Jordan told him.
“I know. Me either. This is my first child and I plan to be there for every milestone,” Sean said running a hand down his face.
Jordan gave him a look. “No loose ends. Everything is eliminated this time.”
“Everything,” Sean agreed.
They lapsed into a silence both thinking about the wives they had left behind. Jordan reached into his shirt and pulled out the chain Sage had place around his neck before he left. He took the silver Ankh into his hand. She'd told him it was for protection. He smiled and looked up as Sean pulled a matching chain out of his shirt with the same medallion.
“Sage?” he asked and Jordan nodded.
“Lily?” Jordan asked.
Sean nodded. “Yes, it's for protection.”
Jordan sat back in his seat. “Let's handle it.”
“It's handled.” Sean sat back as well.
*********
Sage sat in a chair across from Lily while Lavender, Carolyn and Isabelle sat on the sofa. The women had been deep in their own thoughts about what was going on with their men.
“We should probably make some dinner. It's pretty late and I know none of us have eaten,” Carolyn told them before walking into the kitchen along with Lavender and the bundles they had brought along with them.
In the kitchen, Lavender and Carolyn began unpacking the bags. As they sat the packages on the massive counter Lily, Sage and Isabelle all felt their hearts melt over all the items they saw.
Carolyn sa
w their faces and looked confused. “You all know what this stuff is for?” she asked.
Lily pointed at a few things. “These are my favorite,” she told Carolyn.
“Those are my favorite,” Sage added pointing at some of the other items. “And those are Diamonds.”
They looked at the remaining ones and turned to Isabelle. “Those are mine,” she whispered.
Lavender and Carolyn smiled. These men were something else. They weren't anything what people believed them to be but they were clearly everything to these very fortunate women. The women began the task of preparing a meal.
“I wonder where Ray keeps his mixing bowls in this palace?” Sage said aloud.
“The cabinet next to the dishwasher,” Isabelle answered automatically.
Sage paused. “You've been here before Isabelle?” she asked lifting a brow.
All the women looked at Isabelle. “Yes, Ray has brought me here,” Isabelle answered. All the women looked at Sage.
“I didn't even know he had this place,” Sage commented. “But I guess there was a lot I didn't know about my brother.” She went back to her task.
Isabelle looked at Sage. “There's still a lot I don't know,” she said softly.
“Will it matter?” Sage questioned looking up.
Isabelle smiled. “No. It won't.”
Both women smiled as they all continued preparing their meal. Lavender took out a sage stick and began to burn it. The thick smoke floated throughout the kitchen.
Sage frowned. “Ms. Masters that sage stick is very strong. It's making me feel nauseous.”
“Me too Momma,” Lily added.
Lavender smiled. “That's because those boys that you two are carrying are going to be something to deal with. I need to start cleansing right now.”
Both Lily and Sage gasped in shock as Carolyn and Isabelle looked at the two women.
“You're pregnant?” Sage asked Lily.
Lily nodded happily. “Yes, you too?”
Sage smiled. “Yes.” They hugged each other.
“Were you wearing your waist beads?” Lily asked as they separated.
Isabelle turned to them.
Sage nodded. “Yes. Were you wearing yours?”
“I had some special ones made.” Lily told her.
Lily turned to her mother. “Are you sure they're boys?” she asked.
