The Blacks: Bonus Prequel (The Black Diamond Series Book 5) Read online

  The Blacks

  Bonus Prequel

  By

  D. Camille

  This is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's

  Imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real.

  Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons,

  living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  The Blacks

  Copyright© 2015 D. Camille

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without

  written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  Visit with D. Camille

  EMAIL: [email protected]

  WEBSITE: www.dcamille.com

  TWITTER: dcamille_maat

  FACEBOOK: AUTHOR D CAMILLE

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to my fam of readers and supporters.

  Thank you for appreciating what I do…

  You are the best.

  Ase’

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I would like to give thanks to the Universe for provision and creativity.

  TB, my editor, friend and taskmaster who keeps me on track.

  Rere Danielle for encouragement and inspiration.

  AW, the best assistant/friend I could have ever found.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  EPILOGUE

  Chapter 1

  Thirty five years ago…

  Eighteen year old Joanna Greer sat across from her father’s desk where she had been summoned to see him. She’d recently graduated from her prep school and was looking forward to joining her friends at college in the fall. Joanna was a beautiful and vivacious young woman with many hopes and dreams for her future. Her parents granted her every wish and she had every material thing any girl could desire, and always had.

  “I need to talk to you Joanna,” her father began and she stared at him. William Greer was a businessman by trade. He owned and operated several businesses in the area. Joanna wasn't sure exactly what her father’s businesses did, since she’d never taken the time to visit any of them, but she knew they were profitable enough to keep her and her family living in luxury.

  “The economy has turned and my businesses are failing,” he told her slowly and Joanna looked concerned. “I have an offer on the table that will allow us all to continue to live our lifestyle.”

  Joanna smiled. “That’s great Daddy. You wanted to share the good news with me?” she asked.

  William shook his head. “No, Joanna. I wanted to tell you that… you are the offer.”

  “What?” she stood from her chair. “What are you talking about?”

  Joanna’s father looked at his beautiful daughter. She was so young and so naïve to the ways of the world and he knew he was about to send her to a wolf in designer clothing, but he had no choice.

  “Justin Black wants to marry you,” he stated flatly.

  “Justin Black?” Joanna echoed. “Are you talking about that old man who has been coming here for dinner the past month?”

  William stood from his chair. “He’s not an old man Joanna. He’s only twenty-six.”

  She turned to her father. “Daddy, I’m eighteen! He’s ancient to me.”

  “He’s going to buy the businesses and give us enough to continue to live this way,” he explained.

  “What if I refuse?” Joanna asked.

  Her father sighed. “Then you will put all of us out on the street.” He watched her silently as she fell into her chair.

  Tears came to Joanna’s eyes. “This isn’t fair Daddy. This is wrong! Why would he want to marry me?”

  William sat back in his chair. “He wants a wife…and a son,” he told her quietly.

  “So you’re asking me to be some man’s surrogate?”

  “He's asked to marry you and he’s promised to take care of you and give you everything you desire.”

  “What if I desire not to marry him?” she demanded.

  Her father shrugged. “Most women would jump at the chance to marry a man like Justin Black. He’s rich, he’s educated and women find him very handsome.”

  Joanna thought about the man whom she’d met a month ago when he’d begun having dinner with her family. The truth be told, he scared her to death. She’d never seen a man like him before and whenever he pinned her with those dark eyes, she trembled. He was dark and mysterious with a neatly trimmed full beard and dark slashing eyebrows. To her, he seemed hard, intense and dangerous. At the dinners, Joanna had been polite and said as little as possible to the very handsome stranger. Justin Black would do the same, having most of his conversation with her parents until he would turn that wicked gaze on her and she would quickly look away.

  Joanna turned to her father. “You would do this to me Daddy?” she questioned.

  “It’s for all of us Joanna. What about your younger siblings?’ he asked.

  Her eyes narrowed. “You mean those children you had with your new wife?”

  William paused. “Mind your manners Joanna.”

  “You want to pawn me off to the highest bidder so that you can take care of your new family and you expect me to be cordial?” she accused. “You left my mother for your so-called business partner and now you want me to save your family?”

  He jumped from his chair. “Now you wait just one damn minute! I’ve taken care of both you and your mother. Neither of you have wanted for anything, so if you want that to continue, then you will marry Justin Black.” He stared at her. “Otherwise, you can kiss all of this goodbye, along with those dreams of attending college.”

  Joanna gasped and brought her hand to her face. “You wouldn’t pay for my school?”

  “I can’t! This is what I’m trying to tell you Joanna!”

  Joanna thought of all of her friends preparing for college. She’d planned that her father would get her an apartment near campus where she and her friends could hang out. Now here he was saying that not only would there not be an apartment, but she wouldn’t even be able to attend at all.

  Solemnly she looked at her father. “Will he still let me go to school?” she asked.

  William sighed. “After you’re married he’s taking you to LA. That’s where he lives,” he said quietly.

  “LA? As in California?” she yelled and her father nodded. “I have to leave Atlanta?”

  “He will let you visit. I’ve already discussed that with him.”

  Joanna stood and looked her father in the eye. “There’s no need for visiting because if I have to marry Justin Black, I will never speak to you again.”

  Her father stood. “This is for all of us Joanna.”

  Joanna lifted a brow at her father. “If I become some man’s trophy, then you’d best believe I’m going to make sure it’s all for me Daddy.” She turned and walked out of the room leaving her father to watch her walk out of his life.

  Inside her room Joanna threw herself on her bed in tears. College had been her means of escape. An escape from a broken family, one where her father had deserted her mother and married another woman then started a brand new family. A brand new family that she’d never really felt a part of. Once she had b
egun high school she had come to live with her father to attend an affluent prep school at her mother’s urging. In truth, Joanna was tired of being pawned off on other people and she vowed if she married Justin Black this would be the last time. From now on she would make her own choices, good or bad.

  The phone on her nightstand began to ring and she reached over lifting the receiver. Answering, she heard her mother’s voice on the other end.

  “Joanna what is going on? Your father just called me in a panic.”

  Joanna closed her eyes. “He wants me to marry some strange man so he can keep living his cushy lifestyle,” she told her mother.

  “Who is this man?” her mother questioned.

  “Some guy named Justin Black. He’s been coming here for dinner once a week for the past month,” Joanna explained.

  “Joanna, you don’t have to marry a man that you don’t even know,” her mother told him. “Your father should be ashamed of asking you to do such a thing.”

  Joanna turned toward her window and looked out. “Daddy says he can’t pay for me to go to college,” she whispered.

  “You could always get a job Joanna, or get some loans,” her mother offered. “Your father is about to lose his businesses and he can’t afford it.”

  Joanna frowned at the thought. Did her mother just say ‘get a job’? A woman who had never worked a day in her life? Joanna’s father had taken a trip to the Caribbean and fell in love with the island beauty who had been only seventeen at the time. He’d gotten her parents to agree to a marriage and had swiftly brought her back to the States and given her a fabulous life until he’d found another who had caught his eye.

  “I don’t want a job and I want to go to school with my friends.”

  “Joanna, if you don’t want to work, then you will eventually have to find a man who can provide for you; a man who is able to give you all that you desire. Your father tells me that this man can do that. Maybe you should at least meet with him.”

  “He wants to take me away from Atlanta. This is my home,” Joanna cried.

  “Your father took me many miles away from my home. It is not a terrible thing.”

  Joanna continued to stare out at the surroundings. “Then he left you for another woman.”

  “What happened between your father and I, does not have any bearing on what happens in your life Joanna.”

  Joanna huffed. “There is no way I would let my husband leave me for another woman, I would leave him first.”

  “Think what you want Joanna. You will learn, and most likely the hard way because you are so stubborn and headstrong,” her mother told her.

  “Why do you say that? Because I don’t want to marry a stranger?” Joanna accused.

  “No, because you think this world belongs to you. Your father and I have spoiled you and one day you’re going to find out that you can’t have everything that you want,” her mother said firmly. “If you don’t want to marry this man, then don’t. If you want to go to college then find a way to pay for it. You’re an adult now Joanna, it’s time to make your own decisions.”

  “Fine, I will do whatever I choose and I won’t forget how both you and Daddy are deserting me!” Joanna snapped.

  “No one is deserting you Joanna. It’s just time for you to grow up.”

  Unbeknownst to Joanna, downstairs in her father’s office Justin Black had arrived. He sat comfortably across from her father’s desk watching him.

  “What did she say?” Justin questioned.

  William looked uncomfortable. “She doesn’t want to do it.”

  Justin smiled. “Of course she doesn’t. It seems that not only are you an obtuse businessman, you’re also an obtuse father.” He got to his feet and walked over to one of the windows then stood silently gazing out. Without turning to look at William he said, “Bring her to me.”

  William flustered. “She’s not in a good mood right now…” he began.

  Justin turned to him slowly. “It wasn’t a request.”

  Pinned by the dark gaze William slowly nodded and stood from his chair. Justin rubbed his bearded face as he walked over to the small sofa in the office. Taking a seat he shook his head. “Joanna Greer. You’re going to make me work for you…”

  He smiled. “So I’m going to make sure I’m the man you can never live without.”

  Chapter 2

  The knock on the door brought Joanna’s head up from her pillow where she’d laid it after her conversation with her mother. Her father’s voice came through the door asking if he could enter and she slowly agreed, bidding him entrance.

  She watched as he came inside and closed the door behind him. Joanna sat up and faced her father wondering what he wanted now.

  William cleared his throat. “Justin is here in my office and he wants to see you.”

  Joanna’s heart leapt. “What does he want?”

  “He wants to speak with you…privately,” her father relayed from across the room.

  Joanna stood to her feet still filled with the anger from the conversations with both of her parents. “Fine! He wants to see me, here I am!” she snapped. William watched his daughter stomp out of the room then headed toward the stairs and shook his head. Joanna was stubborn, headstrong and sometimes just plain reckless. He wondered how Justin Black would handle her.

  Joanna entered her father’s office and stopped, staring at the man who rose slowly from the sofa. He was tall, at least three or four inches over six feet. She thought to herself that he seemed to be in excellent shape for a man his age, but it was his eyes that totally ensnared her…so dark they looked like bottomless black holes. Those dark daggers started at her manicured toes, then up her shapely legs pausing only for a moment on her full young bosom. His journey continued up to her luscious lips then finally locked onto her startled eyes.

  “Joanna.”

  The uttering of her name combined with that deep voice and wicked eyes caused Joanna to fluster. Who was this man that caused her heart to beat faster and made her palms sweaty with just one word?

  “Please, come have a seat with me,” he invited silkily.

  Joanna coerced her legs to move and slowly walked over to the sofa. Justin waited until she was seated before joining her. He then turned to her and stared into her face.

  “Hello Joanna,” he gave her a sexy smile that made her knees week.

  “Hi…” she managed to respond caught in his spell.

  “I know that your father has discussed with you the fact that I want to marry you.”

  She nodded watching him.

  “He tells me that you are not in agreement with that,” Justin lifted a brow.

  Joanna looked away. “No. I’m not,” she whispered softly.

  “Is there someone else whom you would prefer?” he asked and she turned to him quickly.

  “Of course not! I’ve never even had a boyfriend,” she confessed.

  Justin smiled again at that. “Why don’t you tell me why you’re so in disagreement with becoming my wife?”

  “Because I’m only eighteen and you’re…” She glanced away. “Much, much older,” she finished quietly.

  Justin laughed softly. “You’re right. I must seem almost ancient to you.”

  She turned back to him. “And I want to go to college!” she said passionately.

  Justin nodded. “There are colleges and universities in LA, very many in fact.”

  “You would let me go?” she questioned.

  “Of course, I want my wife to be educated to teach my son,” he informed her.

  Joanna stared at him for a few moments. “Why are you doing this? Are you punishing my father?”

  Justin leaned back. “Is it a punishment to take his beautiful daughter and give her everything she desires?”

  “Did he ask you to take me?” Her eyes narrowed.

  Justin watched the fire behind her eyes and knew he would be taking her all right and very soon.

  “No, taking you is what I’ve wanted to do since
the first time I saw you.”

  Joanna felt there was another meaning behind his words but when he gave her that wicked smile again, her thoughts fled.

  “May I take you to dinner tonight Joanna?”

  Joanna looked startled. “You want to take me out?”

  “Yes, I want us to get better acquainted,” he explained. “Maybe it will make your decision easier.”

  “So this isn’t a done deal, where I have to marry you no matter what?” she asked confused.

  Justin lifted a brow before reaching for her hand and holding it gently. “No man wants a woman who doesn’t want him in return. It’s my job to make you want me just as much as I want you.”

  Joanna glanced down at her hand in his. His grip was firm yet gentle, as if he was relaying that he wouldn’t let her go but also that he wouldn’t hurt her.

  “Will you let me take you out?” he asked watching her.

  Joanna lifted her eyes to his and smiled. “Yes.”

  Justin stood to his feet bringing her along with him while still holding onto her hand. He stared down into her face.

  “I will see you tonight Joanna.” He brought her hand to his lips and turned it over before placing a soft kiss inside her wrist.

  Joanna thought she would faint from the touch of his full lips on her skin. She locked eyes with him and whispered. “I’ll be ready.”

  Justin watched as she walked to the door. Joanna Greer had a beautiful body along with a matching face. She was around five six with luscious curves. Her dark hair was in a pony tail that hung down her back to her shoulder blades. She glanced back at him before exiting the room and he nodded at her.

  Justin licked his lips. “Oh yes Joanna, you’ll be ready,” he said to the empty room.

  A few seconds later the door opened and William Greer appeared. He looked warily at Justin as he made his way to his desk.

  “Do we still have a deal?” William asked taking his seat.