Page 68 of Shâhzâdeh

“You sure the fuck ain’t. That don’t mean this piece of shit ain’t done something weird to that bag. Xerx, make him pick that shit up and show her. He got six trained shooters around him and your girl holding, too. He ain’t about to cut up.” Midas looked like he was about to get involved in all of this and I couldn’t handle two of them getting in protective mode.

When he said six I glanced around the room noticing that there were only six of them here besides Patrick and me. I glanced at Nev and she gave me a smile that confirmed her ass was just as bad as the rest of them.

Oh my God, I’m surrounded by killers.That slippery slope had become a damn bullet train to hell after jumping that girl with Frankie.

“Only when someone comes for me first. That’s usually how we operate.”

My eyes widened when she spoke to my thoughts and I was scared I’d spoken out loud.

“I’m so sorry—”

She was laughing at me and gave me another squeeze. “You didn’t say a word. There was no need. Your face said everything your mouth didn’t.” Despite the late hour, she was still dressed as she had been for dinner. Which had me wondering how they all ended up here.

“Pick up the bag.” Xerxes commanded Patrick to pick up the bag but Patrick refused to move. Getting angry, Xerxes snatched the tape off of his lips and Patrick cried out. Another nudge in his back with the knife had Patrick shaking his head.

“If I move you’re going to kill me.”

Xerxes chuckled darkly and his cousin joined in. “I’m going to kill you eizer way. I vill definitely torture you longer for wastin’ my fuckin’ time.”

“Boss, tone it down. Your lady looks like she’s about to fall out.”

Xerxes’ eyes lifted from where he was scowling at the top of Patrick’s head to look at me. Those deep brown pools warmed and softened and the room instantly felt less stifling.

“She’s not going to fall out. My Vanya is stronger than anyzing zhat is formed against her. Isn’t zhat right, ziba?” I hated that he was so quick to calm my soul with his words.

“Yes.” Another whisper, this one stronger and slightly louder than before but still a whisper.

That earned me a smile that had been missing from his face since we’d been at the restaurant. “See, Midas. Your wife will not be zhe only one wiz zhe skills of a marksman zhen it is all done.” He slapped the side of Patrick’s head with the end of his big knife as a brutal way to get his attention. “Now, do what I said to you,pasar avazi(bastard).”

Patrick pressed one hand tentatively to the side of his head before kneeling down and carefully beginning to pull out the items that were inside. With each new discovery, the angrier I got until my fingers were damn near bloodless from how hard I was squeezing the handle of my gun.

“And just what were you going to do with all of this?”

He kept his eyes on the floor, looking at what he’d just exposed to the room. The two men by the door grunted their disdain and Nevaeh started to speak in a language I didn’t understand. Her tone and the look on her face emphasized she was just as pissed as everyone else.

My body and mind reeled seeing each item as he pulled them out from inside the bag. My anger got the best of me and I swung, hitting him in the face with the gun I’d almost forgotten I’d held.

“Well, what was all this for, huh?” My voice trembled, my laughter forced and sarcastic; heavy with the weight of my emotions as I tried to keep a brave face. “Kinda heavy for a first date don’t you think?”

The laughter wouldn’t stop. It was easier to laugh like a maniac than cry like the broken child that still lived deep down beneath the bravado. When the giggles stopped, I realized the tears had broken free anyway and I wiped at them furiously to see how everyone in the room was reacting to my display.

I’d lost control, but there was nothing I could do to replace the anger that had crept into the place my control had vacated. Xerxes looked proud of my anger. Nevaeh looked curious. The men who stood watch clearly approved by the slight dip of their heads in respect as my eyes landed on each of them. The most surprising was Midas, though. He watched me intently. As though he were finally putting together the missing pieces of a puzzle he hadn’t been able to quite figure out until now.

“A first date? No. Vhy not tell Vanya what all zhis vas for?” Xerxes had gotten closer, his skin not going red, but flushed with something.

His head was still low, eyes refusing to meet mine and his body rigid with fear. “It was only if she wanted to have a little fun.”

“A little fun? A liiitle fun? What about these looks like a little fun?” I pointed at the most offensive object that he’d taken out with my foot, forcing him to look at it. “What would be necessary for a foot long dildo the thickness of a soda can seem like fun? What is it about me that makes you think that I would want anything to do with that?”

“Oh, come on! Stop acting so innocent! You’re only putting on for them. I’ve heard all the stories about what you’re really like underneath all this good girl image you put on. Wanton slut begging for men’s attention. Even your father’s! You’re a whore just like all women.”

“Vhat does he speak of, ziba?” Xerxes eyes flashed angrily as my most embarrassing moments were put on display.

“The stories of me being abused in marriage? Is that what you mean? You’ve listened to the lies of my ex and somehow put the blame on me for trying to be a good wife despite how I was treated? When he didn’t really want me but I still had to do what he wanted how he wanted? Great. Even the nice guys are crazy. At least with you,” I pointed to Xerxes with far more anger than I should have. “You put your crazy outside and give it a drink and a cigar so it can greet people before they can enter your life so there’s no mistake what they’re walking into. But everyone else wants to wear a mask to hide behind until they think they have you trapped and unable to walk away. So they lure you in and then get angry when you don’t want to play the game you never signed up for!” I broke down, my voice breaking with the weight of having my secrets exposed. “I don’t even know why I try any more. But no matter how disgusting he is, Xerxes, he hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“Oh, he did pretty wrong, darling, You just gotta let Xerx gather his rage and tuck that shit back in so he can tell you all that he found.” Midas was still standing on the other side of his wife with a knowing grin on his face.

“Found? What do you mean found? Isn’t this enough? I don’t care, I’m ready to be done. Just get him out of here. I’m ready to go to sleep!” I’d raised my voice but I could feel my energy depleting despite how loud I was being.

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