Origins (The Black Diamond Series Book 3) Read online

“So fine that you make women fall out,” Trent explained.

  Jordan smiled. “I am.”

  “She said I was fine too…not fall out fine though.” He smiled wickedly.

  “Oh really, what kind of fine were you?”

  Trent cleared his throat. “I’ll just keep that to myself.”

  “So that’s your ‘one’?” Jordan asked going back to his food.

  Trent looked away. “Nah…”

  Jordan stopped. “I just spent a damn fortune in there and she’s not this ‘one’ you went on and on about?”

  Trent looked at his older brother. “I don’t know what to do Jordan. I’m kind of confused right now.”

  “What’s confusing? You met one girl, thought she was fine and wanted to get with her. Now, you’ve met another girl, who you also think is fine and now you want to get with her. That’s normal.”

  “But Callie knows about the other girl so she’s put the brakes on.”

  Jordan frowned. “How in the hell did you let her find out about the other girl?”

  Trent sighed. “They met and I had to introduce them.”

  Jordan shook his head. “That’s messed up. You need to tighten up your game.”

  Trent looked at the table. “I’m beginning to think I’m not a player at all. It takes too much work.”

  Jordan laughed. “Tell me about Callie. She seems like a nice girl.”

  A look of happiness came across Trent’s face. “Callie is…like sunshine.”

  “What the hell? Boy what is wrong with you?”

  Trent smiled. “She is Jordan. She makes me feel warm and happy inside.”

  Jordan shook his head. “You must get that sensitive side from Sean.”

  Trent smirked. “Come on Jordan. You know Sage makes you feel warm and happy inside,” he teased.

  “Yeah, Sage makes me happy but I’m not walking around talking about she’s some damn sunshine.”

  “I guess Sean is the sensitive one,” Trent agreed.

  Jordan shook his head and went back to his food as Trent continued.

  “Callie’s just so cool and completely honest. She keeps it one hundred all the time.”

  “You want somebody who’s going to lie to you?” Jordan asked.

  “Nah…”

  Jordan looked up. “She reminds me a lot of Sage.”

  Trent looked confused. “How so? Callie’s short and Sage is tall. They don’t resemble each other at all.”

  “Callie can kick some ass, I can tell. She’s strong but still sweet like Sage.”

  Trent smiled. “Yeah, I read about Sage. It doesn’t scare you that she’s able do the things she can do?”

  Jordan looked at his food. “Sometimes, yes.”

  Trent laughed. “Well Callie is cool with us hanging out, so I’ll see what happens.”

  Jordan rolled his eyes. “Make sure you keep condoms on you.”

  Trent looked confused. “Why?”

  “I can already tell that you and Callie are not too far away from smashing,” he warned.

  Trent grinned broadly, “For real?”

  Trent’s food arrived and he ate heartily smiling the whole time. Jordan watched him while shaking his head and wondering when he was going to be able to eat another meal at his own house.

  *********

  Ray answered his door to find his sister and niece. He kissed them both and ushered them inside holding Diamond who had reached for him as soon as she saw her uncle.

  “You must really want to see me?” Ray asked as Sage sat on the sofa.

  Sage leaned back. “How are you Sun God?”

  “I’m good Goddess. What’s up?”

  Sage shrugged. “Why don’t you tell me what’s new with you?”

  “Just working, lots of cases”

  Sage nodded. “Hmmmm….”

  Ray watched his sister.

  “I understand you and Jordan had an altercation last week?” she questioned.

  Ray laughed. “Jay and I always have altercations.”

  Sage nodded again. “What was this one about specifically?”

  “You know Jay, he’s always tripping about something.”

  Sage laughed. “Yeah, I know Jordan.”

  She looked around the room. “How’s the Temple, Sun God?”

  Ray paused. “The Temple’s fine. Why?”

  Sage shrugged “Just asking. Any visitors that I know?”

  “What the hell Sage? What’s going on?”

  “Why don’t you tell me?”

  Ray nodded. “This is about Isabelle isn’t it?”

  Sage crossed her arms. “To use your own words, all these damn women out here and you want to get involved with Isabelle?”

  “Not your business Sage.

  Sage threw up a hand. “Don’t even say that to me Ray! Don’t!”

  “I can see who the hell I want and both you and Jay need to worry about your own relationship,” he told her.

  Sage got to her feet. “Does she have a damn spell on all of you?”

  Ray began, “Isabelle is a very sweet and….”

  “Kind woman. Yeah, I’ve heard it. Repeatedly,” she snapped.

  “What’s your problem with Isabelle Sage?” Ray asked.

  Sage turned to him. “She has my damn husband ready to commit murder for her and now she has my own brother defending her to me! That’s my problem.”

  Ray went to his sister. “Goddess, believe me, whatever happens between me and Isabelle doesn’t affect us.”

  “I don’t want you and Jordan arguing,” she told him.

  Ray looked confused. “That’s inevitable. Jay talks too damn much.”

  Sage smiled and looked at her brother. “You like her?” she asked confused.

  Ray nodded slowly. “More than I ever thought I could.”

  Sage studied her brother. “Really?” she asked softly.

  Ray studied his niece as his sister continued to study him.

  “Is she your Moon?” she whispered.

  Ray hesitated then shrugged.

  Sage’s hand went to her mouth. “The Gods!”

  “Don’t get carried away Sage. I said I don’t know.”

  “But you didn’t say no. You’ve never said you didn’t know.”

  Ray smiled at her. “Go home to your husband.”

  Sage hugged her brother. “I love you and if Isabelle is the Sun God’s Moon, she will be my Moon as well.”

  Ray hugged her back. “Thank you Sage. You are forever my Baby Goddess and I love you.”

  *********

  Sean and Lily were driving from the restaurant where they’d booked the room Lily wanted for the engagement party. Sean drove while Lily was deep in thought.

  “Is there something we need to discuss?” Sean asked glancing over at her.

  She turned to him. “No. I’m just thinking about Sage.”

  “What about her?”

  Lily shrugged. “She said I should have booked the entire restaurant instead of a room for our party,” Lily explained.

  “Is that what you wanted?” Sean asked.

  “I think a room is fine. Sage says that when we all get together with other people things tend to get out of control.”

  “I told her it was mostly her and Jordan.”

  Sean nodded. “That’s true. Those two are constant fireworks.”

  Lily turned to the window. “I think I got Jordan in trouble,” she said softly.

  Sean frowned looking over at her. “How?”

  “I told Sage that Jordan was upset about Ray and Isabelle and she wasn’t happy.”

  Sean took her hand. “That’s Sage and Jordan’s issue.”

  Lily smiled.

  “Did you also tell her about tonight?” he asked.

  Lily shook her head. “No, of course not! Jordan would have a fit!”

  “It doesn’t take much for that to happen,” Sean commented.

  “We’ll see how tonight goes. I doubt either of them will be able to do it,”
Lily told him.

  “I know.”

  Lily smiled at him. “It will be good practice for us though.”

  Sean smiled back at her. “Yes, it will.”

  Lily settled back into her seat and watched the scenery with a smile on her face. After a while, she turned to him.

  “I’m so happy that your mother will be at the wedding.”

  “Me too, thank you for waiting.”

  Lily slid him a look. “You’re the one who didn’t want to wait in the first place.”

  “I still don’t. Each day without you is like an eternity.”

  “You see me practically every day,” Lily told him.

  Sean held her gaze. “It’s not the same.”

  “You know, I’m so in love with you.” She smiled at him bringing his hand to her lips.

  He gently stroked her cheek. “I can’t wait to take you away.”

  “What are we going to do for two weeks in Kenya?” she asked slyly.

  “I have several ideas.”

  Lily laughed softly. “I’m sure you do. Will Benjamin Rucker visit us?”

  “Yes,” he confirmed.

  “What will he be a master of this time?”

  Sean smiled. “He’ll be a planter.”

  “A planter?”

  He looked at her. “He’ll be planting seeds that grow into little lilies.”

  Both of her dimples appeared. “He always gets the job done.”

  He gave her a sexy smile. “I know.”

  *********

  After visiting with his sister, Ray had some business to take care of. He'd been going through the video footage at his building for the week and hadn't liked what he'd seen. He drove through the streets of LA looking for the individual he needed to have a talk with and found him sitting on a porch of an abandoned building.

  He stepped out of his Aston Martin DB9 and looked around. Today he was wearing a fully loaded shoulder strap and no jacket. He wanted the locals to know he was not the one to mess with this afternoon.

  “Calvin Jones!” he called out.

  Calvin looked up and saw Ray. His eyes widened.

  “Yeah, you know I'm here to kick your got damn ass!” Ray told him. “Why are you at my building bothering Callie?” he stormed.

  “I needed some money,” Calvin told him.

  Ray shook his head. “You don't come to my building asking Callie for shit do you hear me?”

  “She's my daughter!” Calvin yelled.

  “Are you trying to make her have to fight off every drug dealer in LA to pay off your damn debts?”

  Calvin turned away. “She wasn't hurt last time!”

  “No she wasn't! 'Cause she's not a little punk bitch like her crackhead Daddy.”

  Ray grabbed him and turned him around. “Listen to me! Nobody's coming after Callie ever again because I've already made it known she's under my protection now.”

  “And if I catch your ass at my building again, I'm going to smoke you. You hear me?”

  “I don't care. Callie wouldn't help me anyway, to hell with her.”

  Ray raised a brow. “Don't try me Calvin. Stay your ass away from Callie.” Ray shook him once before releasing him.

  Calvin watched Ray take off with hatred in his eyes.

  Chapter 15

  Jordan returned home later that evening from his shopping trip with Trent. Leaving his packages in the car, he went inside to find Sage. She and Diamond were in the media room where Sage was watching a documentary and Diamond was playing with her many toys. Jordan smiled and entered the room taking the seat next to Sage.

  “Hi pretty girl,” he said taking her hand.

  She turned those brown eyes on him. “Hi Jordan, did you have a good day with Trent?” she asked.

  Jordan nodded. “Yeah, we went shopping.”

  Sage rolled her eyes. “More clothes?”

  Jordan shrugged. “Just a few things”

  “Yeah right, don't even think about using my closet or Diamond’s,” she told him.

  “I may have to build some storage.”

  Sage shook her head.

  “What do you want for dinner Jordan? I know you haven’t been eating.” She watched him.

  “I’m scared.”

  Sage smiled. “I’m not going to hurt you Jordan. Please eat.”

  Jordan brought her hand to his lips. “I’m sorry baby. I don’t want you to be mad at me.”

  “I’m not mad at you Jordan. I don’t want you and Ray fighting,” she told him.

  Jordan sighed. “I know. I promise you I won’t fight with him about Izzy.”

  “Now anything else I can’t promise, because Ray is irritating as hell.”

  Sage threw her arms around him kissing him softly. “Thank you.”

  Jordan held her close. “I don’t want you upset and I don’t want you to poison me.”

  She looked into his eyes. “I wouldn’t poison you Jordan.”

  He lifted an eyebrow.

  “What? Serving you something you don’t like isn’t poisoning you,” she pointed out.

  He gave her a look. “Yeah, okay, I have other plans for dinner tonight anyway.”

  Sage looked surprised. “You’re going out for dinner?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I have a date,” he said slyly.

  Sage froze. “What did you say?”

  Jordan smiled. “I have a dinner date.”

  “A dinner date?” Sage snapped. “With who?”

  Jordan shrugged. “A woman I need to take care of some business with.”

  Sage pushed away. “A woman?”

  “Yeah, I made reservations for us,” he told her.

  Sage took a deep breath. “Jordan, I’m seriously about to beat the hell out of you.”

  Jordan backed up. “What?”

  “What the hell are you talking about you’re having dinner with some woman?” she screamed and Diamond looked over at her mommy.

  “You’re scaring Diamond. Calm down Sage.”

  Sage folded her arms. “Don’t tell me to calm down!”

  The alarm announced visitors and Jordan jumped up to answer it.

  “Come back here Jordan!”

  He turned to her. “Somebody’s at the door.”

  “I don’t care!”

  He smiled at her. “I’ll be right back.”

  Sage fumed and picked up Diamond following him to the door. As she arrived Sean and Lily were entering the foyer. The couple looked at Sage’s face then back at Jordan in question.

  “Hey Sage,” Lily said cautiously.

  Sage looked at the couple. “You two are just in time to see me kick Jordan’s ass!”

  Sean looked at Jordan confused and Jordan laughed before he turned to Sage.

  “Baby, Sean and Lily are here to watch Diamond so I can take you out to dinner.”

  Sage looked confused. “What?”

  Lily walked over to her. “Jordan asked me and Sean to babysit Diamond because he wanted you two to have a night out,” she explained.

  Sage looked to Jordan who was smiling happily. She frowned. “I should still beat the hell out of you. That’s not funny.”

  Jordan came over to his wife and kissed her gently. “Go get dressed pretty girl,” he said taking his daughter.

  Sage calmed down and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You’re going to make me hurt you.”

  He smiled and winked at her. “I know.”

  Sage laughed and turned back to the couple. “Thank you.”

  They both smiled at her and then watched her disappear. Jordan walked over to Sean handing Diamond to him.

  “Don’t let anything happen to my baby,” he warned.

  Sean rolled his eyes. “Jordan, nothing is going to happen to her. Go get dressed so you two can leave.”

  Jordan looked at Lily. “Thank you Lily.”

  “You’re welcome Jordan. It’s a pleasure to stay with Diamond.”

  Jordan walked up the stairs and Lily and Sean turned to each o
ther.

  “Fireworks,” Lily commented.

  “All the time…” Sean said kissing Diamond on the cheek.

  *********

  Isabelle stood on Ray’s doorstep taking a deep breath. It was Saturday night and he’d invited her over to his house for Lesson Three. What exactly Lesson Three consisted of she was unsure, but eagerly anticipated it. The door opened and there he was. She smiled, as brown eyes looked her up and down.

  “Hello Isabelle,” he greeted in that voice that consistently gave her shivers.

  “Hello Ray,” she responded as he ushered her inside.

  He took her hand and continued to gaze at her. “You look beautiful Goddess.”

  She blushed. “Thank you.”

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I think so.”

  “Did you wear your underwear tonight?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  He smiled. “Thank you.” Slowly he leaned down and gently touched his lips to hers.

  “Thank you,” she breathed when he moved away.

  Ray took her hand and led her to the door in his house that she remembered. The room inside was etched in her memory. Her heart pounded as he opened the door and showed her inside.

  “Remember this?” he asked.

  She nodded taking in the surroundings again.

  “I remember you told me that you didn't know what to do with this,” he said touching the pole while she watched.

  “I don't.”

  He watched her. “I also remember asking if you wanted me to teach you.”

  “I remember that,” she said softly.

  “Have you ever seen anyone on the pole?” he asked.

  She shook her head in the negative.

  Ray studied her. “Would you like to see what it looks like?”

  Isabelle looked at the pole then back at him. “Yes.”

  “Climb on the bed and watch.”

  Isabelle kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the large bed covered in black satin sheets then sat back against the pillows. She watched Ray in a black T-shirt that stretched across his magnificent chest and black jeans as he walked next to the bed and picked up a remote. When he pressed a button, Maxwell's Was My Girl began filling the room as he walked to the pole.

  “This is what it should look like...” he said before grabbing the pole and easily climbing near the top.

  Isabelle watched in awe as he slid down on one arm in the most graceful move she had ever seen. He then grabbed the pole with both hands and in one fluid motion flipped himself upside down. For an exceptionally large man his movements seemed light and airy as he twisted and climbed the pole. Sliding down the pole head first he finally twisted and landed on his feet.