Page 157 of Shâhzâdeh

I had a tight smile on my face even though I was trying to be gracious. “That’s putting it lightly.” I’d replaced my business clothing with a pair of yellow linen pants and a matching cropped shirt.

“I’m not trying to cause static, but this has been something that has been on me for years. I realize that this has completely come out of left field for you.”

“What you mean?”

Xerxes nodded toward the sofa, and they moved to where I’d been standing.

Ahmad got comfortable on the armchair and we settled back on the sofa. “My parents’ people were real trifling about wanting to take me in. They did it for the check, but they were also trying to wait me out to get the money my parents left for my sister and I. It was them who had my sister declared dead so they could access the money that was left for her.”

“And zhe state let zhem do zhat?” I could absolutely see the wheels turning in Xerxes head and I knew someone was going to be investigated from every angle.

He was nodding and I could see how he was getting upset himself over the situation. “Yeah. Because no-one came forward with you—her. Since y-she was never found, they assumed that she was gone. They argued over how to spend the money and then blew through it quick as fuck.”

Xerxes held up a hand and I wondered what he was about to ask this man. “Please do not swear in front of my wife.”

I rolled my eyes because this was getting out of hand. “Xerxes—”

Mr. Thornton was shaking his head and I closed my mouth quickly. “Nah. I’m not trying to be disrespectful to anyone so that’s my fault. But yeah, they went through the money and they were angry they couldn’t do the same with my trust fund.”

“What did your parents do to have so much money put up?” Xerxes was back studying Mr. Thornton’s face and I was wondering why he was asking the question.

Ahmad smirked and I knew whatever he was going to say was something he was proud of. “My father was a kingpin.”

“Tony Zhornton was your people.” I looked at Xerxes trying to figure out who and how this man just knew everyone. He’d done research on Ahmad, so maybe that was why he knew his name. But he was speaking about him real familiarly.

Ahmad looked as surprised as I felt but clearly that was his father’s name. “Yeah. You know of him?”

Xerxes grin was respectful and now I was even more intrigued. “Many people know about him. Surprised the FEDs weren’t trying to keep your money.” He raised his brows questioningly and now I needed to add knower of legendary kingpins to my husband’s repertoire.

“Oh, they tried. But our mama was money smart and quick to invest money and have something to show for it. Everything that was ours had a paper trail two miles long. They couldn’t touch it.” Ahmad’s pride for his parents was all over his face.

Xerxes’ hand squeezed my shoulder and I was trying to understand why he was being so familiar. “I see where you get your brilliance from Vanya.”

I felt uncomfortable with his compliment because we didn’t know if the Thorntons were my parents. “We don’t know—”

“We know. The results are already back. Ahmad is your brother. Youractualbrother.”

Ahmad looked between the two of us and I shifted, thinking about how weird all of this would look to him. He’d been adamant from just looking at me that I was his sister and suddenly he was proven right. I didn’t have time to prepare on how I was going to explain this to him. My emotions were arrested briefly

“Why does he say real brother like that?” Ahmad’s face was frowned like he was going to go off. There had to be a reason I was so attracted to Xerxes. My father was a kingpin and my brother looked like he was a hothead. The reason I was becoming so at ease with the antisocial nature that my husband presented was because it was in my DNA. Never stood a chance, Vanya.

“My adoptive parents had me marry my adoptive brother.” I waited for the judgmental comments but the only thing Ahmad did was narrow his eyes and flare his nostrils. It was like I could see his crazy start to ramp up.

“Zhey were weirdos who forced her into Mormonism and a weird social experiment. But zhat is for her to discuss.” Xerxes gave my shoulder another squeeze and I felt slightly more comfortable.

“So, not to be too obvious about what I do or don’t know. But if Quentin is here then I know you’re the type of man that has motion. Why are they still breathing?” Ahmad crossed his arms and looked angrily at my husband. I heard that chuckle coming from my left that meant nothing good. My eyes went to his face and I was surprised to see a smile there instead of the mug I’d expected.

“Zhat’s how you’re coming?” His tone sounded like he was…impressed by Ahmad’s anger.

“Behind my sister? Hell yeah.”

“You just met me.” I swore I was more emotional since I let Xerxes into my heart. Here I was hearing this man, a perfect stranger, care about me and little girl Vanya that started healing at the sight of a doll was once again finding a reason to smile.

He stopped smirking, and his lips turned into a full-blown smile. “I just met youagain. I can remember how you looked coming home from the hospital. Asking our mother why you were so noisy. That was the thing people underestimated about me because of my age. My memory is crazy long and people thought I was just making shit up. But I knew I wasn’t. I heard voices the night of the fire. Ones that weren’t our parents. But people tried to rule it an accident when I knew it wasn’t.”

Xerxes shifted forward, taking his arm from around me and I knew that didn’t bode well for anyone. “That sounds ominous. But why didn’t anyone listen to you all these years?”

The smirk returned he glanced at Xerxes before he spoke. “I, much like your husband, am a part of things that could be deemed less than legal.”

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