Page 188 of Shâhzâdeh

Not that I could blame it all.

I angled my body toward her as Quentin turned onto the street, getting us closer to our destination. I was stuck admiring the gold red highlights that wove themselves through her hair and the freckles that dominated her skin. “Ziba, do you understand what is going to happen?”

She gave me a curt nod her face confident in her answer. “I do.”

“So why would you zhink my mother would need support?” Because that was the wildest thing I could think of her saying in response to my question.

“Because if I’d found out someone had done this to me. Robbed me of the ability to have more children, I would absolutely need someone to hold my hand through it.” She was staring at me and put her hand protectively over her stomach and I understood immediately.

My heart quickened as love for my wife washed over me. It was always present, but when I thought I had reached the maximum capacity of the emotion, Vanya demonstrated that she hadn’t even begun to make me fall in love with her as deeply as she would.

“You are everyzing my soul craved, my heart desired, and my body and mind could want Vanya Cannon.”

“I love you too, baby but right now we need to get down to business.” She was playing with the bracelet stack that I couldn’t help but add to. She was wearing a custom petite diamond bracelet that was set in white gold and totaled five carats. She refused to wear something that was too flashy daily and despite her having security I understood. The bracelet my mother gifted her on our wedding day was there as well as a small turquoise butterfly pendant bracelet she’d seen and felt like it complimented her stack. She’d also added an evil eye bracelet that was a part of the new turquoise parure that Nev was completing. Vanya didn’t know there was another tiara being crafted, but what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

It was crazy seeing her telling me to put my game face on. Revenge and witnessing a few murders would have your wife feeling differently about a lot of things.

“You are right. Let us see whatmamanand bâbâ are up to.”

The residential neighborhood was one that was supposed to be secure. Our SUVs and the ones carrying my parents and their guards were already here, my parents having purchased a house a few houses down for this specific date with destiny. We parked in their garage and then I went around to open the door for Vanya. She was dressed in a black silk wrap dress with her hair in a singular braid down her back. She wore designer ballet flats and carried nothing else with her. Despite our phones being specific creations forDoAmHart Inc., we still wouldn’t carry them tonight. We had enough protection, enough weaponry and the people we needed the most were waiting on us. Her outfit was an attempt at being inconspicuous, but there was no need. We wouldn’t be seen on the street and our presence here was easily explained by being part owners in this home. We’d taken a brief road trip after I allowed Vanya to sleep as long as possible. We weren’t too far away from home, the beauty of having a helicopter, and I could get her tucked into bed before midnight.

Not that we would be seen from anyone who wasn’t a part of our group. These homes had the unique feature of bordering a natural preserve that had a walking path close to it. Each house had access to the walking path from their back gate. We’d already taken advantage of a naturally scheduled maintenance outage that we would control when it came back online. We walked through the garden walkway of the backyard of the home and onto the walking path. We were silent, our men lined up every few feet to ensure no one came out of their gates but were inconspicuous enough to not draw attention. It was late enough that no one would be coming out to run tonight.

We made quick work of getting into the house where business was being conducted and I could hear the gentle hum of my mother coming from what I could only think was the dining room. This house was typical of one in the neighborhood with nice finishes and polished hardwood floors. Shame no one else could enjoy it again after we were done.

“She seems to be in a good mood.” I was surprised at how happy my mother’s tone sounded.

“Weren’t you when you went around righting a bunch of wrongs?” I squeezed her hand as she sassed me. I was happy that she cared about my mother, but I had to ensure she wasn’t stressed out in her condition.

“Yes, I was. So I can only imagine she’s in a terrific mood. I would still like to witness it for myself.”

We followed the sound of my mother’s voice and saw her gleefully putting the water goblets on the table. When she heard us come in, a smile came over her face.

“My loves. You came to see me.”

“We did. You knew your son wasn’t going to miss this.” Vanya walked around the table carefully before she hugged and kissed my mother on both her cheeks.

Maman squeezed Vanya’s cheeks before she turned to me. “Such a good boy I have. A blessing to me in every way.” I walked toward her and could see her tears filling her eyes.

“Maman.”

“Bozorgtarin shadi man.” She squeezed me tightly and I allowed her to release the emotions she needed to.

To hear her call me her greatest blessing brought a smile to my face. “I see you are more zhan ready for tonight’s events.” She noted our all black attire with a smile on her face.

“Always.”

“Good. But I need to finish. We are almost ready to start.” She pat my chest, her smile bright and went back to what she was doing.

My mother continued to hum as she set the table with the finest china in the house and waited for the guest of honor to arrive.

I walked back over to where my father stood speaking quietly with my wife.

“I hope you see she’s okay now.” Vanya stuck her tongue out at my gentleI told you sowith a smirk on her face.

“I still wanted to be here. So there is nothing that would have kept me from witnessing her taking back her power and righting this wrong.”

“I don’t zhink you understand how much zhis means to Babette. You both being here.”

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