The Black Diamond Trilogy

by Brittani Williams

Diamond looked at him and suddenly his face became familiar. She remembered him and now everything that had happened all made sense. His name was Justice, the younger brother of Deidra, Mica and Johnny’s cousin. “I’m sorry about that. I never meant for Mica to be hurt,” she cried, trying to plead her case, hoping that he’d spare her daughter’s life.

  “The tears are pointless. You took someone very dear to me and because of that you deserve to suffer. I could kill you but I’d rather you live with the pain of all the shit you caused. I hope it was worth it. Remember that line? The shit you said before you shot my cousin.”

  “Please don’t hurt her, she’s all that I have,” she cried.

  “It wasn’t my fault,” she continue to cry.

  Justice displayed a devilish smirk on his face before pointing his gun at Dior’s and shooting her.

  Dior instantly went limp in his arms.

  Diamond began to run toward him, screaming, hoping that what she saw wasn’t reality.

  Before Diamond could reach him he let Dior’s body slip from his hands.

  Diamond reached her just as the SWAT team burst into the building and pumped bullets into Justice, causing his body to jerk before hitting the ground.

  “Oh God, not my baby, please don’t take my baby,” she cried, cradling Dior in her arms.

  The medics who were on site within two minutes quickly took Dior away in the ambulance while fighting to save her life. Diamond was as quiet as a mouse as the detectives drove her to the hospital. Upon arriving in the family waiting room she was told that Dior was pronounced dead on arrival. She immediately fell to the floor and blacked out.

  * * *

  When she woke up she was staring in the face of Detective Jones.

  “I’m so sorry, Diamond, I truly am. If there is anything that—”

  “It’s all your fault. I could have saved her had you let me do things my way,” Diamond yelled.

  “Diamond, no one could have predicted what would happen and we did everything by the book.”

  “By the book? Is that what you call it? In three days I’ve lost my husband and my child. How can you call anything that happened ‘by the book’? I refuse to do this with you right now.”

  “I will let you rest, however, we still need to talk. I understand what you’re going through, Diamond. I will speak with you tomorrow,” she replied before turning to leave through the curtain.

  Diamond turned her back and closed her eyes, trying to remember the life that she’d just lost. Sadly all she could see was pain and misery.

  Chapter Seventy-two

  Lost

  Diamond sat peering out of her bedroom window, remembering how she’d brought Dior into the world. What started out as a plan to hold on to Black ended up making her the happiest woman on earth.

  Diamond couldn’t imagine how her life would have been had she never had the joy of being a mother. She would have never thought that she’d only have such a short time to shower her with all of the love that she had for her.

  “Oh my God, Diamond, I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you call me sooner?” Kiki said, coming through Diamond’s front door, pulling her out of her trance. The two embraced before Diamond closed the door. “I can’t believe it,” she said, shaking her head.

  “I can’t even close my eyes without seeing it. I have to bury both my husband and my daughter.” She fought to hold back tears. She’d been crying so much that she felt dehydrated.

  “Well, I’m here for you, girl. Anything that you need me to do I will have your back. Did you make the arrangements yet?”

  “No. I actually have to go this evening. My mom and dad are meeting me down there.”

  “I know how you feel, girl,” she said, sitting down on the sofa.

  Diamond sat there, looking at Kiki, wondering how she could know how she felt. She’d never lost any of her loved ones, let alone a husband and child. She also wondered why it had taken her so long to come over and show her condolences. It almost made her think back to all of the time that they spent not speaking. She wondered how she could truly call herself a friend and not be there in her times of need. As Kiki sat and talked about how she felt sorry for Diamond and how she could feel her pain, she began to see her lips moving but could no longer hear the words that were coming out of her mouth. She wasn’t in the fighting mood, so she decided to sit tight to see what would come out of her mouth.

  “I’m just trying to figure out my life and where I’m going. I feel like I’m in a never-ending nightmare,” Diamond said with her hands on both sides of her face. She shook her head as quick flashes of the murders crossed her mind.

  “Are you okay?” Kiki asked, noticing the sudden change in Diamond’s facial expression.

  “No, I’m really not okay, but I don’t want to keep reliving everything so let’s just stop talking about it. What’s been up with you? Anything new in Kiki’s world?” Diamond asked, changing the subject.

  Kiki’s face clearly said that something was wrong, but Diamond could never know how what she was about to hear would eventually cause more devastation in life. “He’s not around anymore and it’s breaking my heart,” she replied with a pout.

  “What happened?” Diamond asked, concerned.

  “Girl, I don’t even want to talk about it. It makes me sad. The crazy thing is I’ve been feeling so sick lately and I think that I might be pregnant, but the way things have played out I’m almost afraid to take a pregnancy test.”

  Diamond sat, trying to fight back tears. She’d just lost her only child and here Kiki could be carrying a baby. Deep down she felt nothing but jealousy and envy, and at that moment she wanted to run out of the room and tuck her head under a pillow. “Really? Pregnant? I never thought I’d see the day,” she said, forcing a laugh.

  “Me either. I never thought I’d fall in love either but, hey, life has a way of surprising you.”

  “You can say that again.” She forced a smile. At this point she wanted to get the conversation over with and politely escort her out of the house, but she held it together. Her stomach felt nauseated and her body was numb as she hoped this was all a part of a dream, or better yet a sick joke.

  “I don’t know. I will probably take a test eventually, but right now I just can’t bring myself to do it.” She shook her head.

  “Well, if you are, you will find out soon enough.”

  “Yeah. Well, girl, I just wanted to check on you. I have to get down to the club, but if you need me for anything make sure that you call me,” Kiki said before getting up out of her seat to go hug Diamond.

  Diamond reluctantly hugged her. There was something about Kiki that had changed, something that she just couldn’t put her finger on. The warm feeling that she once got from her had turned completely cold.

  Chapter Seventy-three

  Chance Meeting

  Diamond sat at the bar, sipping an apple martini alone. Lately, she’d been trying to find a way to clear her mind without having to hear other people’s opinions, thoughts, or concerns about her or the events that had taken place. She’d buried her family and now she stood alone, trying to figure out what it was she wanted to do with her life. She looked at her watch, noticing that she had just a few more hours before she met with Tommy to square all of their business stuff away. Knowing that she should probably have a clear mental status, she couldn’t bring herself to deal with anything sober. Somehow, the alcohol would help block out some of the bad things that clouded her brain.

  “Is this seat taken?” a deep male voice said in her ear.

  “No,” she said without turning around to face him.

  “I’m sorry to be forward, but I’m wondering why a beautiful woman like you is sitting here all alone? And looking so sad.”

  “I just like spending time alone without anyone talking to me.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to bother you. I just wanted to see if there was anything that I could do to brighten up your mood, that’s all.”

  “
I doubt very seriously if you could help me but thanks anyway.”

  “Well, Diamond . . . That is your name, right?”

  “How did you know my name?” she asked, immediately paranoid.

  “The earrings.” He laughed. “I’m not a stalker or anything.”

  Diamond laughed, feeling silly.

  “Look, my name is Chance. If you would let me buy you a drink, I will leave you to your drinks if you’d like me to. I just wouldn’t feel right walking away without at least trying to give you something to smile about.”

  “Well, I guess one drink won’t kill me,” she replied, finally taking a look at the handsome stranger.

  “Cool. Bartender, can you bring her another round please?” he yelled to the bartender.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “So, Ms. Diamond. Are you in a relationship? Married?” he asked.

  “I was married but I lost my husband.”

  “Sorry to hear that, I really am. I wish that I could take that pain away because I can see in your eyes that it’s still hurting you.” Chance smiled.

  “I’d rather not talk too much about it but I can appreciate your concern.”

  “I understand. I won’t push the issue. Let’s change the subject. I really think that you are a beautiful woman and I would like to take you out to dinner sometime if that’s okay with you.”

  “Uh I’m not sure if—”

  “I’m not asking you to marry me. I’m asking for one harmless dinner.”

  “Umm, I don’t know.” She shook her head.

  “Please just one dinner. If I’m the biggest asshole on the planet then by all means, walk away.”

  Diamond sat silent for a second, pondering the question that he posed. He was trying to convince her that he was her Prince Charming but she wasn’t biting as fast as he thought that she would. Diamond looked down at her watch, knowing that Tommy would be there any minute to scoop her up for their meeting. She didn’t want him to walk in and catch her talking to another man so soon after Black’s death. Not that she owed anyone an explanation, but she still wasn’t in the mood for anyone’s opinion.

  “Okay, one date; that’s all that I will promise,” she blurted, trying to hurry up and get rid of her uninvited guest.

  “Cool. Well, here’s my card. I will let you go so you can get on with your day. I really hope that I didn’t bother you too much or take up too much of your time,” he said before grabbing her hand and kissing it on the back of it.

  She allowed him to kiss her hand before quickly pulling it away.

  “Give me a call, Ms. Diamond, so we can set something up.” He began to walk away.

  “Will do,” she replied. She didn’t have any intention of calling but she entertained it long enough to get him to walk away. He was cute though, there was just so many things going on that she found it hard think about being with a man. It wasn’t that he wasn’t attractive or that she didn’t see his politeness as something that she could get used to, she just wasn’t ready for a relationship as she was still trying to cope with her losses. She turned around to finish her drink when Tommy walked into the bar and headed in her direction. He immediately hugged her once he got near her.

  “We need to go somewhere else and talk,” he said with seriousness written across his face.

  “Why? What’s wrong? I don’t like the way this sounds,” she replied, immediately nervous.

  “Come on. I will tell you in the car,” he said, gently grabbing her by the arm. He pulled out a one hundred dollar bill from his pocket and threw in on the bar to cover Diamond’s bill.

  She could barely wait to get in the car before questioning him again. He entered the car and his ass was barely planted in the seat before she began to speak. “What is it, Tommy? What’s going on?” she asked.

  “I don’t know how to tell you this.” He paused.

  “Just tell me, Tommy, whatever you have to tell me.”

  “I promised Black that I would be here to take care of you in the event that anything ever went wrong and he wasn’t here.” He sat quietly, thinking back to his promise to Black.

  “What is it, Tommy. I can’t take it anymore,” Diamond yelled, breaking his moment of silence.

  “I got word that Johnny is behind the murders of Black and Dior. I—” He was cut off by Diamond.

  “What? Johnny? I can’t believe that, Tommy. Why would he do that, Tommy? He loves me.”

  “Correction, Diamond, he loved you. That’s some little puppy-love shit that went out the window the moment you shot his sister.”

  “He wasn’t a street dude, Tommy. Who does he even know who would do that?” she asked, still trying not to believe that her first love had ruined her life.

  “You meet a lot of people on the inside, Diamond. I got this info from a reputable source and they told me that he planned all of this shit with some nigga named Reed who was paroled. I haven’t located Reed yet but I have people out trying to find out who the hell he is.”

  “I can’t believe this, Tommy. This shit is all my fault.” She began to cry. “What am I going to do? Does this mean that he wants me dead too?”

  “I don’t know, Diamond, but you don’t have to worry about that. I have your back and I’m going to make sure that no one can hurt you.” Tommy reached out to hug Diamond in an attempt to console her.

  “Am I even safe in my home?” she cried.

  “I’m not taking you home. I’m going to take you to my house and I will have someone watching you anytime that I have to leave. I’m taking you there now. I really don’t want you to worry about this. If you know one thing about me it’s that I keep my word and I promise you I will get everything under control. Do you trust me?” he asked, staring her in the eye.

  “Yes, I trust you,” she said, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

  “Okay, let’s go.” Tommy turned on the car and pulled out of the parking spot, heading toward his house. He had a lot of things to take care of and planned on keeping her safe by any means necessary.

  Chapter Seventy-four

  Expect the Unexpected

  “Where are you going?” Tommy asked as Diamond emerged from the bedroom wearing a short black dress that hugged all of her curves.

  “Uh last time I checked I was grown, Tommy,” she replied with a twisted lip.

  “Diamond, I can’t protect you if you’re going to just run around the street unsupervised. Looks like you have a date or something to me with that tight-ass dress on,” he replied with a bit of force in his voice.

  “As a matter of fact, I do have a date, Tommy, and I really appreciate you keeping watch over me and all, but you’re not my father or my man, okay?” she said, heading toward the bedroom door. Since meeting Chance, Diamond had decided to give him a try even if just to keep her mind off the drama for a little while.

  “I’m not your man yet,” he replied, stopping her in her tracks.

  “Yet? What the hell does that mean?” She turned around to face him.

  “It means exactly that, Diamond. Come on, you know how I feel about you, and there is no way that I’m going to sit back and watch you ride off into the sunset with the next nigga when I’ve been down for you since day one.”

  “I can’t do this with you right now, Tommy, I’m already late.”

  “Well, I will be here when you come back, believe that. This conversation isn’t over, and your little date, he may have won you for the night, but I’m sure to win you for the rest of your life.”

  She stood there with chills running through her body. She’d tried for years to hide her own feelings because of Black, and now that Black was gone there wasn’t anything keeping them apart besides her. Tommy made it loud and clear that he wanted her but she fought with herself to give in, and decided to go on with her date, thinking that maybe she’d be able to deal with it better when she returned or, better yet, maybe he’d forget all about it. Instead of responding she turned and walked out of the room.

  Tommy
didn’t bother to follow her, confidant that things would work out in his favor. He grabbed his cell phone from the pocket of his jeans and dialed Tip, one of the men he’d hired to keep an eye on Diamond.

  “Yo,” Tip yelled into the receiver.

  “She’s on her way out. I need you to follow her,” he instructed.

  “Got it,” he replied before ending the call.

  Diamond exited the house and looked over at Tip’s car before she hit the alarm on her own car. She was certain that Tommy had already instructed him to follow her but she didn’t plan on letting any of that ruin her evening. She was on her way to meet the mystery man who went by the name of Chance. Since the night that she’d met him almost a week prior they’d kept in contact via phone. She was excited to finally get out and have that companionship that she’d missed since Black’s murder. Unaffected by Tip’s trailing vehicle she blasted her Beyoncé CD and sang every word.

  She arrived at the restaurant twenty minutes later, only five minutes later than she was supposed to. She walked into the dining room to find Chance already seated. He stood from the chair when the hostess escorted Diamond over to the table. He was dressed all in black with Gucci sneakers and a Gucci belt to match. His watch almost blinded her as she approached. He immediately reached out to give her a hug and gently inhaled, smelling the fragrance that she had generously applied before leaving the house.

  “You look beautiful,” he said, looking her up and down.

  “Aww thanks, you look very handsome tonight.” She smiled.

  After they were both seated he didn’t waste any time sparking up a conversation. “I couldn’t wait to see you tonight. I couldn’t stop thinking about you ever since we met.”

  “If you’re trying to make me blush, it’s working. I can appreciate a man who knows how to make me smile.” She giggled.

  “Oh, I’m a professional at that. Shit, that’s listed on my business card.” He laughed. “But naw, really, I think that you are one of the sexiest women I’ve seen in a long time. I’m really glad that you decided to come out with me.”

  “Well, you were practically stalking me.” She laughed.