Page 160 of Shâhzâdeh

“My wife, your sister, she understands zhat sometimes people are irredeemable. Zhose people have lived far longer than they should have and if they are found to have caused harm to y’all’s parents…” Xerxes shrugged as though their end was a foregone conclusion.

Ahmad was nodding his head vigorously the way I saw athletes do as they got hype before a game. “Yeah, I need to be in the mix.”

“Aren’t you worried about your career?” Because I knew nobody knew who I was but Ahmad was an easily recognizable figure.

“I understand that your husband got bread, but I ain’t a slouch. I invest, I’m wealthy by most standards but I know your husband thinks my ass is broke.”

“Not at all broke. And as my wife’s brother you never have to worry about money.”

Xerxes was grinning as Ahmad mugged the fuck out of him. “Yeah, I ain’t built like that. You got her and that’s good. I do too—”

I held up my hands because they were both playing in my bank account’s face. “Hold on, I had me before either of y’all.”

Ahmad huffed like now I was the one insulting him by bringing up my independence. “Facts, but that don’t mean you’re not gonna be the spoiled brat you were supposed to be all this time.”

Xerxes grinned and sat back and put his arm around me again. “I like him, ziba.”

“Of course you would. He’s bossy like you.” I pouted and rolled my eyes at the both of them, which caused them to laugh at me.

“Get used to it, Vanya. I’m more than ready to step into big brother mode. Thankfully, the husband you picked is one that I more than approve of. That first one? He gone have to feel me though.”

Xerxes stood with his hand outstretched and I wondered what the hell they were about to do.

“We can consider his kill zhe first brozerly bonding event we do togezer.”

Ahmad stood and dapped him up and I could only sit there and watch these two making plans to handle the people who hurt me. I couldn’t help but feel protected because my blood family and the family I chose were doing everything they could to ensure I was good. And there wasn’t a woman on earth who would interfere with that.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Progress

VANYA

“HOW’S MARRIED LIFE going?”

I looked at Frankie as she was handing baby Skye a cracker. The woman didn’t even bother to hide the smile on her face as she asked the question.

“Are you really asking me about my s-e-x life?” The last thing I was going to do was be responsible for Skye learning that new word even if her daddy thought it was cute when she said bloody.

“Noooo.” She said it in the exaggerated sing-song way of somebody who was definitely lying as she took her son off her chest and put him down in his travel pack and play. She’d come to visit stating that she wanted to get out of Carolina Falls and come to the city. I was more than happy for her to visit because it’d been a few weeks since she’d been here. I’d made a few changes and added my touch to some of the rooms and I wanted her opinion. We were hanging out in the family room off of the kitchen and once she had Skye settled down with a snack, she came over and gave me her full attention.

I cackled cause she was full of shit. “I don’t believe you so…”

“Okay, so maybe?” Frankie didn’t bother to hide her smile and I knew she was happy for me.

“Just ask what you want to know. We don’t keep secrets. You can be coy all you want but we both know what you’re asking so spit it out.”

“I mean I’m not asking for specifics, but you seem…settled. Dare I say comfortable.” She waved her hand around the room with a grin on her face. “That’s not a word I would’ve ever thought to use about you in this situation.”

“I’m getting the hang of things I guess you could say.”

She rolled her eyes like she was so tired of my shit. “The hang of things? Vanya, this isn’t a new job.”

“Well, what do you want me to say? You seem to forget that you’re the same woman when I asked if I needed to help you escape your wedding you lied to me through your teeth. But now you want transparency? Where we do that at?”

“Look at you colloquialisms!” Frankie bounced her shoulders playfully and her pride was so clear.

“I’m trying my best. He makes me feel comfortable. Even when I get stuff wrong. Like you did. Like you do. He’s exactly who he said he was going to be.”

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