Page 82 of Shâhzâdeh

“But ‘e’s the reason yoo were in danger to begin with.”

I didn’t believe anything that they were saying was true. I glanced around the room noting that not one face held a smidge of humor before turning back to Xerxes. His once relaxed face was now tense and I knew it wasn’t because of the needled going through his skin.

“Xerxes?”

“It is noting to vorry about,ziba. I vill keep you safe always.”

His words were sincere and the clench of his jaw wasn’t from the needle that was sewing up his arm. No, it was clearly because Liam had spoken on something Xerxes didn’t want me to know.

“Not to talk out of turn,shâhzâdeh, but she vas keeping you safe as vell.”

Xerxes’ face turned thunderous as Shoaib spoke and he turned to me angrily. “About zhat, do not ever put your body in harm’s vay for me.”

My hands went to my hips because I didn’t know who he thought he was talking to. “Well, what am I supposed to do? Let you get hit again? That seems like a terrible idea!”

“No more terrible zhan zhe zhought of you getting harmed trying to protect me. It is my job. My privilege and honor to see to your safety. Do not deprive me of zhat.” He smacked himself on his chest with his good hand and by God I was a heathen because I was aroused by it.

“If the two of y’all are done trying to out romance each other—”

“Jahmir, I do not zhink you are one to talk about romance.” Xerxes’ eyes were still on me as he teased his friend but I could tell he wasn’t angry at me. He was angry and some other emotion about my actions.

Hell, so was I, really.

“Yeah well, we need to talk about marriage.” Xerxes and I both turned to Jahmir who was standing there like he’d just asked us what we were having for dinner.

“What about it?” I looked between the two of them as they had a silent stare off, waiting for them to answer. When neither did I looked at the rest of the men in the room and all of them avoided my eyes.

I turned back to the only person who would give me answers and he was now shaking his head. “Xerx—”

“No. I’m not doing zhat.” His eyes were darkened, his jaw stubbornly set and I could already tell they were about to argue about something.

“That’s the best solution.” Yacouba spoke up from where he was casually leaning against the wall.

Xerxes was shaking his head on the bed as Dr. Davis tied off the thread he’d used to sew his wound closed. “Zhen ve vill find anozer one.”

Liam rubbed the side of his head like he was already tired of the conversation. “Xerxes, yoo ken ‘ow—”

“I ken a lot. I also know zhat I am not forcing anyone into anyzing zhey do not vant.”

Okay but, what?

“I will assume ‘at is a blow at me. I will take it because ‘at forcin’ now ‘as my woman as my wife. And a son terrorizin’ ‘is big sister on a daily.” Liam’s jaw was clenched and there were subtleties I was missing. The last thing I wanted was for them to be arguing if there was a way I could help avoid it.

“Can someone fill me in, please?”

“My fazer’s family are trying to keep us apart.” He made the confession as he worked his jaw in annoyance.

“We aren’t together.” It tasted like a lie, but we weren’t. Right?

That man stabbed a dude in the throat in your apartment. Y’all are something.

I zoned back in just as Yacouba walked forward and stood next to Liam and Jahmir. He was looking at Xerxes like he was silently telling him to say something and Xerxes sighed before turning to me to… confess? “They understand that I have an attachment to you that is emotional.”

“How would they know?”

“Zhat is someting zhat needs to be discovered. But ve have spent a lot of time togezer,ziba. Rumors were already going around because of your ex. And now—”

“So they sent someone with a bomb and guns to my business? To hurt you?” Okay, now I was mad. This man didn’t really bother anyone as far as I could see, but to kill an innocent person just because he was seen out with a woman was ridiculous. And who the hell was spying on him?

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