Page 15 of Possessing the Prince

Speaking of Chief Owusu, he was relentless with his lies even when we pointed out his deceit. He put his integrity and the little standing he had with Kofi on the line to try and stop me from marrying Abena. More importantly, Abena seemed shocked at her father’s machinations. Abena’s father never surprises her, but he did today.

Then he hit her. I cannot even think about him putting his hands on my wife without flying into a murderous rage. But I must, because I am about to go back in that house and make sure he and Thomas tell me everything about what is chasing them down. What do the Owusus have hanging over them that they apparently cannot buy themselves out of? They must have known that I would pay handsomely to marry Abena. But it did not matter.

I rain a few more kisses onto Abena’s sweet-smelling hair and slowly extract her from my embrace. My brothers are clustered around us. “Abena, I want you to go to our home with Adom and Kofi. I need to go back in and take care of some business with your father.”

“No, Senya,” she pleads. “Let’s just go—you don’t have to do anything.” The look in her eyes reflects a level of fear I never want to see again. Do I scare her? What does she think I will do? I would never hurt her family unless they put her in real danger.

I shush her and pull her against my chest again. “Precious, calm down. I am not going to hurt your father or brother. I just have some questions that I need answered before we can move forward. I want to see the contract they have made with Chief Apeagyei. If it is as your father alludes, council law requires that you fulfill the contract unless you marry someone else before they find out.”

Abena’s tear-streaked face is smeared with makeup, and her eyes look wild with worry. All discretion is gone. “Then all is well. We are already married; they can’t do anything to me or our family. We just need to tell Father and he will tell Apeagyei.”

I look over at Adom and Kofi. Kofi‘s face has not changed, but I know he is ready to burst. Adom, however, holds nothing back. “What the hell do you mean, you’re already married? Why are we here going through this charade if that’s the case?”

Abena realizes what she has said and shakes her head in disbelief before dissolving into tears again. I have never seen Abena like this. Even when I used to clean up after her alcohol and drug-filled binges years ago, she was a pillar of strength. A mess, but stoic. Right now, the fear, the worry, and the reluctant love for me are spilling down her face. I pull her close. She needs me. But I need information from her father to keep her safe, and I will get it.

“Adom, that’s not expedient right now. Just know it was necessary. But I promise to explain all to you after I finish with the Owusus.”

Abena moves away from me and shakes her head. “This is crazy…I should have stood up to my father years ago. I'm over trying to please him. I’ve dragged you into foolishness that could have been avoided if I just stood up to him.”

“Well, part of that is true, but you are underestimating tribal law,” Kofi interjects. “If there is an actual betrothal contract, your father has to buy it out or they will simply take you. It happens all the time. They will kidnap you, perform the ceremony, and consummate the marriage before anyone knows what has happened. The kidnapping would be a show of strength, in the face of embarrassment for the Apeagyei clan.”

Kofi starts to rub his chin. I know that’s a sign that he is deep in thought. He sighs and continues. “The Apeagyei’s would simply pretend your marriage to Senya never took place. You never received council blessing. You also never had a public ceremony. Abena’s father never agreed to the match and no bride price was set nor was any dowery exchanged. The public would likely side with Chief Apeagyei. The only real deterrence is money. If you break the contract and the balance is not paid, then their retaliation will fall upon your entire house.”

“What?!” Abena screams. I take her hand. “They would take me? How is that OK? How are women so unprotected in your kingdom?!” She’s a bit hysterical, and that is not generally how she responds to a crisis.

Kofi sighs. “I know, I am working to change some of these ancient practices. But it takes time, and powerful chiefs like your father and Chief Apeagyei make it nearly impossible to get any council support.”

Abena starts to talk at warp speed and pace. “Now things make sense. All of those feelings of being watched after Senya and I were married may not have been fiction after all. I may have been in real danger.”

“Abena, the fuck! What do you mean you felt like you were being watched? Why didn’t you tell me?!” My yelling does not move her. She continues to work out everything in her head while she talks to herself and paces.

“But my father is rich. Why can’t we just make my father pay the balance of what is owed? Why hasn’t he? He will have to once he finds out Senya and I are married. Right?!?” We realize she is asking us a question and Kofi and I exchange pointed looks. I nod, giving him permission to tell her some news I have tried to keep away.

“Abena, your father is bankrupt. Everything he has is mortgaged to the hilt. It has been for a while. Even the money I gave him just over a year ago when I bought out our betrothal contract has gone to creditors. He has nothing but his name and land left.”

She looks at me. “What? What is he talking about? Did you know about this?”

I rush to her side. “Yes. But only that your father was losing money faster than he could keep it. I used my background in intelligence to research your father’s business dealings and hack into his accounts. I apologize for the invasion, but Abena, something did not feel right. I also wanted to know what we could offer him that he would never refuse.”

Abena nods solemnly. “You wanted to know his weakness.”

I grab her knuckles and kiss them. “Yes, Precious. I did not tell you because I did not have a full picture of what was going on and I did not want to worry you. I suspected your father had shady money dealings with the Apeagyeis and worried about your safety. Why else would any man give his daughter over to one of them?”

Abena just stares at me. She is waiting for me to give up more information. I know she wants to ensure she is in the know, but I want to ensure she's not mad at me for spying on her father and keeping that from her. Plus, I have nothing else to tell her. Not right now, anyway. Without her response, I continue.

“Kofi was privy to information that I was not, and I did not want to give you incomplete information.” I place my hand on Abena’s back and soothe her. “Do not fret, Abena. No one will ever take you. That is why I need to know what the balance of this contract is. I also need to find out what kind of people we are dealing with. If needed, I will pay the balance myself.”

“You can’t do that, Senya. This is my problem, not yours.”

I place my fingers on her lips. “No. We’re married now, remember? Your problems are mine. Just let me go in and see what this is all about. We may not have to pay anything; I have many ways of persuasion and many ways to neutralize threats.”

She nods. “OK, but I want to go with you.”

I shake my head. “No. You will not step back in that home. I will deal with your father on my own.”

“No, you will not,” Kofi replies. “I will stay with you. Adom can take Abena home. I have already sent a message for another royal car to arrive.”

Adom nods and holds his hand out for Abena. “Come, Ostrich.” He smirks and Abena sniffs while rolling her eyes at the old childhood nickname. We walk toward him and Abena flicks him off. I am glad he made her do something other than sob. Adom is the right one to take her home right now. “I will take you home. Maybe we can pick Maya up on the way.”

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