Art of Deception (The Black Diamond Series Book 4) Read online

  Ray nodded. "Then she rocked your pitiful ass world and you agreed to help her."

  Ralph frowned. "Yes."

  Ray shook his head and looked down at him. "What does she look like?"

  "She has a caramel complexion and she's uh, very well...endowed."

  Ray looked away. Caramel complexion and very well endowed. Shay. Shana. Shana White. Could it be? He had noticed there was no love lost between the two women at Sean's engagement party, but would she go this far?

  Ray looked back at Ralph. "How do you contact her?"

  "She calls me, but I haven't heard from her today."

  "You have a number?"

  Ralph shook his head. "Her number comes up unavailable."

  Ray looked at him. "And you didn't find that strange?"

  Ralph shrugged and Ray shook his head as he motioned for him to stand. "Alright, let's get this done."

  Ralph looked confused as he got to his feet. "What done?"

  "Your ass whipping."

  Fear came across Ralph's face. "You're not serious."

  Ray nodded. "Oh, hell yeah. This is to teach you not to threaten women, especially the woman that belongs to me; and I haven’t forgotten that your ass tried to pull that trigger a minute ago."

  "Okay. I apologize and I'll apologize to Isabelle," he pleaded.

  "I know you will, still not stopping this ass whipping though."

  Ralph took a deep breath. "You don't have to do this Mr. Parker."

  "Yeah, I do. I promised Isabelle," he told him. "And the answer to the question you asked her about who was going to stop you..."

  "It's Ray Parker."

  Chapter 6

  Trent arrived with Kent at Jordan's house the next afternoon for his birthday party. They pulled up to the front door of the estate and Kent’s eyes widened.

  "Dude, what in the hell? Your brother lives here?"

  Trent smiled. "Yeah, and he doesn’t allow cussing in his house so you should chill on that, because he will kick your ass."

  Kent nodded and got out of the car glancing around at the massive structure before turning to Trent.

  "I know they’re in the mafia. I don’t care what you say."

  Trent laughed as he led Kent inside the house. Sage, Lily and Diamond greeted him at the door all smiled.

  "Happy Birthday!" they shouted in unison.

  Trent smiled and hugged both women while Diamond leapt into his arms.

  He turned to Kent. "Kent these are my sisters Sage and Lily. Sage is Jordan’s wife and Lily is Sean’s wife," Trent informed him before turning his attention to his niece.

  "And this little doll is my Diamond girl," he said kissing her cheek and twisting her curly ponytail. "She loves me more than she loves her own daddy."

  "Shut up boy," Jordan said entering the room along with Sean and Ray.

  Trent laughed as he watched his brothers enter dressed in all black-black slacks, black shirts and black shoes. Kent greeted Trent’s brothers with handshakes.

  "Are you guys planning to rob somebody?" Trent asked taking in their attire.

  Sage and Lily smiled as all the guys frowned. "No, we’re not robbing anybody. You can thank Sage and Lily for this get up," Jordan told him. "They have us scheduled to participate in your little lip sync battle tonight."

  Trent put a hand to his face. "For real?" he laughed. "What are you guys doing?"

  "You’ll see." Sage told him giving Lily a look.

  Trent shook his head. "Now this, I have to see." He couldn't imagine what his family was going to perform.

  "Don’t sleep Little Bruh. We’re bringing it hard," Ray told him and Trent laughed even harder.

  "Okay. Don’t hurt yourselves ‘cause me and Kent got the show stopper." He gave Kent a pound and both guys smiled.

  Sean smiled. "We’ll see."

  Diamond wanted to get down and walk so Trent lowered her to the floor before she made her way over to her daddy grabbing his leg. Jordan bent to pick her up and smiled at her.

  "It’s okay baby. We all know you love Daddy the most," Jordan said holding her closely.

  Everybody shook their heads before leaving to go outside to the grounds. Outside on the massive grounds was a huge tent filled with tables and chairs. In addition, there was a large stage, lights and a massive projection screen. Below the stage was a dance floor with lights strung along the edges.

  Trent looked around at everything. "Wow!" he said in amazement.

  Kent looked around as well. "Damn! Is this a birthday party or halftime at the damn Super Bowl?"

  Jordan turned to him with a frown and Kent caught his look. "I mean…wow!" he quickly amended.

  Trent looked back at his family. "You guys, I never imagined all this! Thank you. Thank you so much." He hugged both Sage and Lily before turning to his brothers.

  "This is so crazy. I’m tripping right now!" he said happily.

  "We want you to remember this day for the rest of your life. Enjoy yourself and have fun. You deserve it," Sean told him as all his brothers patted him on the back.

  His family went back inside to finish preparations and Trent looked over at his friend.

  "This is crazy dude!" he told him.

  "Your fam went all out! This party is going to be ridiculous!" Kent exclaimed.

  Trent smiled as he looked over and saw the person that made him happiest about today and every day. Callie walked outside dressed in dark jeans, a halter blouse, her signature ankh necklace and high heels. She came and placed her arms around him.

  "Happy birthday baby!" she said smiling up at him.

  Trent leaned down and kissed her. "Thank you," he said before kissing her again.

  Kent watched the pair for a few moments. "Okay, damn! I’m right here!"

  Trent turned to his friend still holding on to Callie. "Callie this Kent, Kent this is Callie."

  "Well, I figured it was Callie the way you was trying suck her face off."

  Callie laughed as Trent frowned. "Nice to meet you Kent," Callie said extending her hand.

  "You too, Callie." Kent looked her over slowly tilting his head to check out her backside. "Now, I can see why you got my boy all twisted."

  "Bye Kent," Trent told him.

  Kent laughed. "Where am I going?"

  "The hell away from me right now," Trent told him.

  "Okay dude. I got you." Kent smiled. "See you later Callie."

  Kent headed back inside the house as Callie turned to Trent. “I bet you two were something in Atlanta."

  "Yeah…"

  "Did you have a good time last night?" she asked.

  Trent smiled. "Yeah, it was cool to hang out with him again."

  Callie smiled at his answer. "So what do you think of all this?" She asked opening her arms to encompass the grounds.

  "This is crazy. I never expected them to do all this," he said honestly.

  Callie reached up to touch his face. "They love the hell out of you boy and I can understand why." She reached up and ran a hand along his new haircut. "You’re sweet, you’re smart, you’re funny and you’re so damn fine."

  Trent smiled. "You’re going to make me start feeling myself."

  Callie shook her head. "That’s one hundred baby," she said softly.

  "Thank you Callie. You make me so happy." He touched her face. "That’s one hundred too."

  She smiled and lifted to kiss him quickly. "I gotta go. I’m helping Ray with the security tonight."

  Trent held on to her. "Why?" he asked confused.

  Callie looked up at him. "Because there’s been a threat on your life and everybody is on high alert. We’re all making sure that nothing happens to you."

  Trent smiled. "You want to come guard me tonight at my apartment?"

  "Do you need someone to protect this sexy body?" she asked running a hand down his chest.

  Trent shook his head. "Nah, I need you to guard something way more precious than that."

  Callie looked confused.

  "I n
eed you to protect my heart, because I’ve given it to you Callie," he said bringing her hand to his chest.

  She spread her hand over his heart. "It’s safe baby. I’ve got superpowers remember," she whispered before he lowered his head to kiss her.

  "There’s the soloist!"

  "Boy I heard you singing all the way outside!" Lotus said as she and Kent approached the couple.

  Trent laughed. "Hey Lotus, glad that you could make it."

  Lotus smiled at him and turned quickly to Callie. "You must be Callie."

  Callie smiled. "Yeah, I’m Callie and you must be Lotus."

  Lotus grabbed Callie’s arm. "Girl, you have to come and tell me your secret."

  Callie looked confused. "What secret?" She glanced at Trent and he shook his head knowing what Lotus was about to say.

  Lotus glanced at Kent. "How to get a brother on lock."

  Inside the house, Ray received notice that Isabelle was arriving. He made his way to the front door to welcome her inside. Isabelle smiled as she walked up the stairs to meet him where he was waiting for her. Ray leaned down and kissed her gently before lifting her face to his.

  "How are you?" he asked studying her face.

  She smiled. "I'm good."

  Ray looked at her dressed in casual pants, blouse and heels. "You look beautiful Goddess."

  "Thank you." She reached up to touch the diamond stud in his ear. "I've never seen this before."

  He smiled. "It's for the performance."

  "It's very attractive," she said running her finger along his ear.

  "Thank you."

  Ray escorted her inside and through the house to the kitchen where Lily and Sage were working on preparations. Both women looked up as they entered the room.

  Isabelle smiled. "Hello Sage, hello Lily."

  Lily smiled and went over to Isabelle. "Hello Isabelle," she said giving her a brief hug.

  Sage looked at her brother with his hand on Isabelle's back. Bright brown eyes met bright brown eyes and Sage read the silent message her brother sent. She quickly made her way over to greet Isabelle.

  She smiled slightly. "Hi Isabelle, I'm glad you could make it."

  "Thank you Sage." She looked from Lily to Sage.

  "May I help with anything?" Isabelle offered.

  Sage looked back to her brother. "Sure."

  Ray smiled at his sister then turned to Isabelle. "I have to finish checking on security so I'll leave you ladies to your duties." He leaned down to kiss Isabelle softly on the lips before all three women watched him walk away.

  Lily watched Sage as Sage watched Isabelle who was watching Ray. Isabelle turned to Sage and smiled. "What would you like me to do?" she asked.

  Sage glanced to the door where her brother had exited then back to Isabelle. "Lily and I were just organizing the caterers. You can help us out with that."

  "Okay. Is there somewhere I can put my purse away?"

  "Let me take that for you Isabelle," Lily said coming to take the bag.

  She glanced at Sage before she left the room to put Isabelle's purse away. When she was gone, Sage studied Isabelle.

  "I love my brother. A lot," Sage told her.

  Isabelle nodded. "I know. I also know the feeling is very mutual."

  Sage lifted a brow. "The Sun God has talked to you about me?"

  "Yes, he's told me some things."

  Sage brought a hand to her face before dropping onto a nearby stool.

  Isabelle came and took the seat next to Sage. "Sage, I know this all seems strange considering not too long ago I thought I was in love with Sean. Honestly I wouldn't blame you or Lily if you wanted nothing to do with me."

  Sage turned to her. "Don't hurt my brother," Sage warned.

  “I would never hurt Ray,” Isabelle returned locking her gaze with Sage’s. “Besides, he’s capable of handling himself.”

  Lily returned and saw the two women sitting. She looked from one to the other before stepping further into the room.

  "Everything okay?" Lily asked.

  Sage looked at Isabelle and raised a brow.

  Isabelle paused then nodded slowly. "Yes, everything is fine."

  Sage nodded as well. "Yeah, it is."

  Lily smiled. "Good, let's get to work."

  The party was in full swing as the sun was setting. All the guests had been checked in by security and the perimeter was now sealed completely. Callie walked around checking the grounds with Agent Marcus Graham who had also attended as extra security on site. Callie returned to where Lotus was standing along with Isis.

  "Hi Isis," Callie greeted.

  "Hello Callie," Isis returned politely.

  Both women turned to look at the crowd on the dance floor. Lotus watched the pair for a while before grabbing each of their arms and pulling them inside the house. They both turned to her in confusion.

  "Okay. Let's deal with this right now," Lotus began looking between the two. "Isis, Callie didn't steal your man because you and Trent weren't even a couple, so stop looking at Callie like she's done something wrong." Isis looked shocked.

  Lotus turned to Callie. "And Callie you can stop looking at Isis sideways because she's not that type of chick to go after somebody else's man. Besides, everybody knows that Trent is whipped." Callie frowned at Lotus.

  "Now we can all be one big happy family," Lotus said smiling. "Because I signed us all up in the lip sync battle and we have thirty minutes to practice."

  "What!?" both women shouted.

  Lotus smiled. "Yeah, I'm Beyonce. You two can be any of those girls who stand behind her." She grabbed both women in a hug.

  "Isn't this going to be fun?" she asked as she turned and rushed back outside.

  Isis and Callie turned to each other. "She's crazy," they both said together.

  They both smiled and then looked at each other. "I wasn't looking at you sideways," Callie told her.

  "And I didn't think that you stole Trent," Isis clarified.

  Callie nodded. "Cool. Now let's find that damn Lotus."

  Both women went in search of the infamous Lotus Masters. They found her sitting at a table underneath the tent with Agent Marcus Graham. Marcus stood as the two women reached the table. He looked down at Isis.

  "Hello Miss Martin," he greeted her.

  Isis replied, "Agent Graham."

  Lotus looked between the two. "You two know each other?" she asked.

  Isis looked at Marcus. "We've met."

  Marcus nodded. "Have a nice evening Miss Martin." He walked off into the crowd as the women watched.

  "Now he is fine as hell, two times!" Lotus told them.

  Callie smiled. "He's handsome. A little too serious for me but very handsome," she agreed.

  Isis shrugged. "He's okay."

  Both women turned to her. "Girl, what the hell is wrong with you?" Lotus asked.

  Isis frowned. "He's just not my type."

  Lotus watched her. "So, fine as hell, sexy and dangerous just doesn't appeal to you?"

  "Lotus please."

  Lotus folded her arms. "What did he do to you?"

  Isis looked surprised. "What?"

  "You two know each other so what did he do to you to make you not like him?"

  Isis frowned. "You're very nosey Lotus," she told her.

  Lotus laughed. "You think you're the only person who's told me that? Girl please! Now, what did the brother do to you?"

  Callie watched the interaction with interest as Isis took a deep breath.

  "He's investigating my father," she told her.

  Callie raised a brow in surprise as Lotus leaned closer to Isis.

  "What did your daddy do?" she asked.

  Isis' eyes narrowed. "My father hasn't done anything," she said adamantly.

  Lotus smirked. "Isis, I have to tell you honey, the FBI doesn't usually investigate people who haven't done anything."

  "Are you calling my Daddy a criminal?" Isis demanded.

  Callie looked at Lotus. "I'm not callin
g your daddy anything, but I know if it was my daddy I'd be getting as close as I could to the fine ass FBI agent investigating him," Lotus responded.

  Isis looked appalled. "I'm not prostituting myself to keep him from harassing my father."

  Lotus smiled. "I don't know girl, if you got some of that you might be paying him."

  Callie laughed and Isis turned to her. "This isn't funny."

  "Isis, Lotus does have a point. If you're nice to Marc he might just help you to get your father out of whatever trouble he's found himself in," Callie told her. "Nobody's saying you have to get down with him."

  "But you could," Lotus interjected.

  Callie turned to her. "Be quiet Lotus."

  Lotus shrugged and turned to Isis who was now deep in thought.

  "He's already told me that I won't be a distraction to him," she told them.

  Callie smiled. "Which means you probably already are."

  "Go get that girl!" Lotus cheered her on.

  Isis glanced over to where Marcus was standing talking to Ray, Sean and Jordan. As if he could feel her stare, he turned in her direction. She couldn't see his eyes behind the dark glasses but knew he was staring straight at her. He nodded and slowly turned back to his conversation.

  "Hey Isis girl!"

  Isis' attention was brought back to the table where April was now standing smiling broadly.

  "Hi April," Isis greeted politely before introducing Callie and Lotus.

  April took a seat at the table and turned to Isis. "I'm surprised you let Trent invite all these women to his party."

  Isis glanced at Callie. "I have no control over who Trent invites to his party April."

  April smiled. "Well I know how jealous you can get over your man, like the last time he took me home," she said slyly.

  Lotus leaned in closer watching Callie just as Trent appeared at the table. He said hello to everyone before taking Callie's hand. "Can I dance with my girl?" he asked smiling.

  Callie smiled and stood. "Of course baby, it's your birthday." Trent smiled down at her and led her to the dance floor.

  Lotus and Isis turned to April who looked confused. "Who's she?" she asked.

  "Oh, she's Trent's shero," Lotus told her. "Didn't you see her cape?"

  Isis shook her head and laughed while Lotus shrugged and April looked lost.