Page 70 of Shâhzâdeh

“There is no need.”

“No need? Why not?”

“As soon as we are done here, we will be moving you into zhe penthouse.” He spoke so plainly I wondered if this had been the entertainment that Midas expected to see all night.

“The pen- the penthouse? How? That’s where the owner lives.”

“Correct.”

I chuckled because he was being absolutely ridiculous. “They’re just not going to let me roll up in their place and take up residence. Unless, wait, let me guess. You’re the owner.”

“No. I’m not.”

I turned to look between Midas and Nevaeh but they both shook their heads. “If it’s not the two of you, then who?”

“You are, Vanya.” I was waiting for him to laugh, despite the pre-dead body sobbing in the middle of the room.

“Me? How did I become the owner of a luxury condo building without even knowing it?”

“You can buy anyzing for someone as long as it does not impact them financially. Your commission for zhe sale has been set aside in a separate account for when you’re comfortable wiz collecting it. It was a great investment alzough we are going to have to do somezing about zhe security in zhis place. Zhere is no reason why he should’ve been able to make his way to your floor wizout someone alertin’ you.”

“He picked me up tonight. I’m sure they thought it was fine.” One of the reasons I’d picked this place was for the security, but clearly that was something that needed to change. I couldn’t believe I now owned this building. Without needed to say a word, Xerxes had solved my problems without me even knowing they existed.

He casually walked around Patrick before hoisting him back up into the chair. “Well, once Shoaib and Quentin get zhrough verifying zhe credentials of everyone workin’ here will we need to see just how many are still employed. For zhe money bein’ charged, security should be far better.”

“You’re being so calm. How?”

“I would not bring a problem and lay it at your feet. On zhe contrary,petite. Zhis is a sacrifice, an offerin’ in your honor. So zhat you can bear witness zhat zhere are no bounds, no limits to zhe love I have for you and the lengzs I would go zhrough to keep you safe. Neizer your past or mine will be able to touch you wizout understanding zhe grave mistake zhey have made. And zhose in zhe future will have his rotting head to serve as a warning of what is to come of zhem if zhey harm one strand of zhat flaming red hair of yours.”

He didn’t say anything else, just grabbed the top of Patrick’s head and shoved the massive curved blade he’d been holding through the back of his neck. The force was so great it came through the front of his throat with ease severing Patrick’s spinal cord as though it had never been joined. Blood dripped down the tip as Patrick’s arms flailed slightly as if on reflex before he stilled. Something in me had numbed. Maybe it was the slow erosion of my morals or the constant exposure to violence that was making me numb to it. Or it was the fact that the people who’d died had hurt or were hurting the people that I loved.

“Always good to rid the world of evil.”

“It is. And zhat is anozer zhing. Your ex will have to die. You might question why it hasn’t happened yet, but I need you to trust me. I am sorry zhat you have had to witness so much. Zhis is not zhe life I wanted for you at all. But I will make it up to you.”

“You don’t have to—”

Nev turned me to her and I recognized the look on her face as one Frankie gave me when I had pissed her off. “Girl, let that man do exactly what he needs to. You are absolutely right. He doesn’t have to do anything. But he wants to. Whatever is necessary foryou. You never tell a man not to love you correctly.” She widened her eyes in a silentgirl you better never do that againand I smiled.

“What would you like for us to do, ziba?”

I looked at Nev and then back to Xerxes who waited silently for me to direct him in the way he should move. I looked down at the body on the tarp his head almost separated from his body. And I felt nothing but relief.

That fall into the flames happened much quicker than I expected.

My eyes went to Xerxes whose were still trained on me awaiting my direction.

“Make him disappear.”

CHAPTER TEN

Brokies

XERXES

“NOOH(GRANDSON).”

“Pedarbozorg(Grandfather).”

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