Page 48 of Shâhzâdeh

“Aye, my lady is perfection in motion when she’s angry. I almost wish the clan ‘ad more enemies so we cuid vanquish ‘em toge’er.” Bhaltair’s face looked like he was daydreaming about his wife as he sang her murderous praises.

“I’m so glad you’re not going back to Scotland soon. Your ass just saidvanquishin a sentence like it’s normal. That air was getting to you man.” Cou shook his head but even I had to agree with him.

“I willane make the trip back until it is time for the bairns to come.”

“Bruh got a two for one on the first try.” Ori spoke like he was teasing but I could tell he was happy, maybe even proud of Bhal. He’d dropped the dead weight that was his last girlfriend and let Frankie put a bullet in her head. This happiness is what Bhal more than deserved.

“Your wife might want your head—

A knowing grin came over Bhal’s face. “Aye, morning, noon and night it seems.”

Yacouba balled up a piece of paper and threw it at Bhaltair who easily caught it. “That’s my damn sister-in-law, bruh.”

“Doesnae ma’er. She’s my wife.” Bhal didn’t have to say shit else because he knew he had Yacouba beaten.

“Can we get back to my problems since you all are living your dreams at zhe present?” They wanted to get together and shoot the shit but I needed real help. Should’ve taken my ass to Atlanta to see Mir. He couldn’t come up because he was preparing his sermon but I could’ve come through for confession or something.

“That’s on us. So, what are you going to do?” Ori knew I had plans, but I hadn’t provided him with the details. Yacouba asking meant he wanted me to let them know what was coming so they had time to have my back.

“You have to at least talk to her. Between her ex harassing her and the Mahdavis, she needs to understand how serious things can get. The only thing she can say is no.”

“Zhe ONLY?! You act as zhough it’s not zhe worst zhing she could say.” I was looking at all of them wondering why no one saw that I needed to move extra carefully in this situation.

Yacouba pumped his hands silently telling me to calm down. “Xerx, my nigga, I need you to tighten up. You really let this girl shake your thinking.”

I bristled at the implication that I needed to chill. “And if it was Jazzy?”

He conceded my point with the raise of his hands. “Jasmine, bruh. And fair enough. I know y’all had to set me straight my damn self, but this is us returning the favor. So, talk to her from the heart. She’s worried, and you gotta be honest with her so that she knows what’s at stake. If you don’t, she’s gonna feel blindsided.”

“I’m more zhan ready to drop a bomb on zhe palace and take zhem all out at once. It seems far less difficult zhan getting Vanya to not frown at me and runaway when I tell her my family would rather kill her zhan let her be wiz me.”

“Killing a palace full of people is easier than getting your girl? You slipping.”

“You had a far easier way of it zhan most, Owo. Your girl had a reason to change what she was going zhrough. Liam knew Frankie loved him and Bhaltair, your ass had everyone being your wingmen for you. Fate was really running the point for all of you in your favor. Mine seems to work against me at every angle.” I ran a hand through my hair because for the first time I was stressed out about this shit.

“Maybe your overly blessed ass gotta work for something once in your life.” Ori tossed a balled up piece of paper at me, forcing me to crack a smile.

I’m not worried about zhe rejection—“

Another ball of paper hit me this time from Yacouba’s side of the table. “Lie again—”

“I’m worried about what her rejection means for her. She doesn’t understand zhe issues zhat will arise. I need to get her to safety before I can handle my family. Zhey’ll know she’s off limits once she’s family. Until zhen, zhey’ll keep up with zhis revenge shit.” Vanya turning me down wouldn’t take her out of harm’s way. In fact, it might make things worse for her.

“Well, they ken ‘ow well ‘at worked out for ‘em last time. Auntie Babette was nothin’ to play with. Even if yoor Vanya is a lamb, she is ‘appily protected by lionesses. Frankie loves ‘er. The ladies loved ‘er, even Jada. I think yoor overthinkin’.” Liam was still trying to ease my mind but this was something I could feel becoming an issue very soon.

“True. It’s not like I can’t protect her. I just want her to be okay wiz zhe potential what ifs.”

“She’s survived bad already. Put it to her and see how she takes it. That’s all you can do.”

I fell back in my seat after hearing Ori’s final piece of advice. With my friends, I didn’t have to have all the answers. Like they had with me, I could be vulnerable because they’d remind me we’d work this shit out together. But my heart was so deeply involved in getting the outcome I desire that it was hard for me to remember who the fuck I was.

“True.”

“Yoo headin’ ‘ome?” Bhaltair I’m sure was gauging if they needed to prepare for potential fallout. If I fucked up, Vanya would be on the phone with Frankie calling me everything but a son of God.

“No. Maman has called me to Tennessee. When I leave here I’ll meet Midas in her office.”

Yacouba rubbed his forehead like he was worried this visit to my mama might end up being a problem for us. “Lord, not all the Cannons congregating. Something we need to help with?”

---