Page 14 of Possessing the Prince

“I did not lie. None of these decisions are up to Abena. She is ungrateful. She must fulfill her duty to this family.”

Senya crosses his arms in front of his chest. I know it's only a matter of time before he puts his hands on my father. Thomas realizes this and tries to come to Dad’s rescue, but Senya’s look stops him in his tracks. Until this moment, my brother was quietly cowering in a corner. I didn't even notice he was in the room. As I look at him, I notice the black eye and the scrapes alongside his head for the first time. They must have dealt with him earlier. Senya continues.

“Chief, with all due respect, Abena is a thirty-six-year-old woman. She will decide who and when she wants to marry. She does not want to marry Chief Apeagyei’s son; therefore, she will not. As long as Abena is mine, she will never do anything that makes her uncomfortable or unhappy. My whole life is now dedicated to making her the happiest woman in the world, and I will not tolerate anyone disturbing her peace. Not even you.”

Yes! God, yes!He makes me forget myself when he talks like this.

My father decides not to respond to Senya directly. He knows there is no way he will win that battle, not with Senya’s two brothers present. Never mind that one of those brothers is the king. Instead, he turns his wrath toward me and looks to Thomas for support. Thomas doesn’t meet his eyes at all, knowing this is a lost fight and he's not willing to make enemies of Kofi, Adom, or Senya…at least no more than he already has.

“You little whore!” my father explodes. “You know the plans that we have for you. Our family will not survive this. It is bigger than your needs. Everything we have is based on this marriage going through. You will do as I say!” He puts his fingers in my face and I feel like his finger is going to hit my eye with every word he says. “You are an ungrateful little bitch.”

I feel the slap across my face, but I’m in disbelief.He really hit me.Before I know it, I'm being pushed out of the way. This is exactly what I did not want to happen. All hell is about to break loose. I feel Adom swiftly grab me as I hold the side of my face. Thomas stands wide-eyed not knowing what to do. Kofi is trying to hold Senya back. I don't know how he got to Senya so quickly, but I see that Senya’s fist is drawn back like he is ready to punch my father in the face.

My father yells for his men, but they take one look at what is going on and hesitate. Senya breaks free from Kofi, grabs my father, and slams him into a nearby couch. It’s no easy feat, as my father is a large man, but once he hits the couch, Senya bends down very closely until they are face to face and pulls a switchblade from the side of his kente.

I don't even know where he kept it all this time.Does his kente have pockets?I will have to ponder Senya’s hidden weaponry later because the more pressing issue is that my father's throat is in danger of being slit. There is a knife in his face, and his two men are being held at bay by their king. Kofi orders them to retreat, and they do. Then he turns and calmly calls Senya’s name.

“Senya,” Kofi begins slowly, “We are not here to shed blood. Put the blade away.” Senya’s breaths are long, loud, and hard. I know his heart is racing because I feel it thumping in my own chest. He doesn't know how to come out of the haze of anger he is in. Fuck, I need a drink.No!I need Senya, and I can’t have him if he commits murder.My father’s murder!I step in.

“Senya, please! Please don't hurt him—it’s not worth it.” Just when I think my pleas are falling on deaf ears, Senya takes another deep breath, grits his teeth, and addresses my father.

“You, Chief, are a lucky man. Because your daughter does not want your blood spilled here today. Make no mistake about it, without her intervention, not even my brother was going to keep this blade from piercing your fat neck.”

Senya straightens to his full height. My father looks up at him with contempt, but I know he’s scared. Senya seems not to care. He continues to lay down the law.

“If you ever put your hands on Abena or demean her in any way again, I will kill you. I hope that is clear. And to help you with this problem, she is coming home with me so that she is not in your presence to tempt your death. I would hate to see you lose your life, old man.”

My father finds some courage that he should have left hidden. “How dare you talk to me like this! You dare threaten me? An Ashanti chief?! You can’t just take my daughter!”

Senya laughs. “First, I outrank you, old man. You need to accept that. Second, that was not a threat, that was a promise. Now, like I said, she’s coming with me.”

“Wait!” I say and move from Adom’s side. This is all moving way too fast. I need some time to think. I will never be able to resist Senya if we move in together right now. This is not going to plan at all. I’m not ready to play house right this second. I thought I had at least another month before that happened.

“Senya, this is my home; I’m not ready to live with you yet. Things just got out of hand. My father now understands that we will marry. But let’s keep our original plan and honor the engagement period in separate homes.”

Senya snaps his head in my direction. “Abena, this is no longer your home. There is no love here. You are mine to protect… and to make happy. There is nothing else to say. I will send for your things tomorrow. Now let’s go. We are leaving.”

I know there's no turning back. After my father put his hands on me, that was it for Senya. He no longer deems this house safe for me, and I guess I shouldn’t, either. I don't know what Senya has planned for me over the next 365 days, but for once I really do believe it's nothing that I won't want. I just want to be safe, and right now, Senya is my best chance at safety. It’s only a year.I can do this.

“OK, Senya, I'll go.”

Thomas finally speaks up when he hears me agree. Coward. “Hold on just one minute. Look, I don't know how this all got so crazy, but if you're really going to marry Abena, we should discuss what the bride price will be.”

Unbelievable!Leave it to my brother to bring up money at a time like this. After all this drama, he still wants to know what money, influence, or goods the family will get out of this. Senya sucks his teeth and rolls his eyes.

“I will have my agent call you tomorrow. I am sure the proposal will be to your liking, and if it's not…” He holds the knife menacingly before finally tucking it back in his kente. “Let's go!” Senya gives the command to anybody and everybody at one time. Even the king gathers himself and walks out. Senya holds his hand out to me, and I take it.

I’ve lived in my father’s house most of my life. When I’m not in London, I am here. But I know without a doubt that today, I'm finally going home. And I’m scared I may never leave.

Suspicion

Senya

Once we are outside of Owusu’s home, I turn to Abena to ensure she’s OK. She is a bucket of tears, and my heart breaks. I take her in my arms and try to soothe her with soft words and earnest kisses to the top of her head, but she is inconsolable. I look up at Adom and he nods, knowing all too well about the long road of care and restoration that a broken woman needs. Abena needs me, but I must take care of some business before I leave this house tonight.

I do not plan for either of us to ever step foot on this compound again, but before we can close this chapter, I need to know what kind of trouble Kwabena Owusu is really in. The actions of him and Thomas were that of desperate men. My background in intelligence affords me the ability to read people even when the book is closed.

Thomas seemed intent on offending me from the moment he saw me. I have known Thomas as long as I have known Abena, and he has never been a fool. Shrewd, dishonest, and even greedy, yes, but never a fool. Talking to me the way he did and continuing to do so even after Adom kicked his ass was odd. He’d wanted me to leave, and it’d had little to do with my mother’s Ewe blood. That I know for sure. Thomas couldn’t care less about who Abena is fucking or married to as long as she is safe, sober, and covered in diamonds. However, he does care about saving his own ass, and that means doing his father’s bidding.

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