Page 5 of Shâhzâdeh

“You said he was covering you.” I might have been laughing but I was still thoroughly confused. I wish Liam would hurry back from laying Skye down for her nap and help me understand what his wife meant.

Frankie huffed a laugh in that way Black women did that showed they were about to get re-mad about something they had already gotten over. “Yeah well, he still had me fucked up. Don’t ever forget that part.”

I ran my hand through my hair in frustration and sighed. “Zhis is stressful. I was not as blessed as Tre to meet my forever as a child. And because of zhat, someone fumbled wiz her heart and made her afraid. I don’t like zhat. It makes me—”

“Murdery?”

I nodded that word feeling far more accurate than the one I was going to use. “I was going to say incensed but murdery feels more accurate.”

“Happy to help. You’ve got to be a little less intense but more bold.”

I waved my hand in the air aimlessly. “What does zhat mean, Francesca? Boldness and intensity are de same thing.”

“Nope. You can put on a full court press on defense or play the zone. You’re doing the press, now you need to do the zone.”

“Explain in actions, Frankie.”

“Make the moves to secure her, even without you being around. That’s the first step for love for anyone.”

“You make it seem so easy.”

“It usually is when it’s meant to be. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t going to have to put in work. You act like you aren’t the king of covert. Do what you do best and watch the pieces fall in place.” I bowed my head in gratitude because her words made sense but I was almost afraid to hope.

“Zhank you, Francesca.”

“Were you still going to Merrick Hall?”

“Yes, I need to speak wiz Deuce about zhe next delivery.”

There were plenty of arms dealers that the Merricks could deal with, but our weapons were second to none. Deuce might have handed the company over to the next generation, but he still liked to get his hands dirty. He and Auntie Safi had been looking for an improved gun for the members of the clan that assisted the Davis family with collections. I wanted to hear their thoughts and see about getting their potential designs recorded as we discussed delivery for the rifles they’d ordered.

“Good. Maybe you’ll have a surprise when you get back.”

I paused and studied the way she grinned at me like she had a secret. There were only two weapons that Frankie could use against me: her children and her best friend. Since I had been happily playing with the former, I felt my heart skip at the thought of seeing her. “Do not give me false hope.”

“Talked to her this morning and she will definitely be here for dinner.”

“It is clear zhe gift I got you for your wedding will no longer suffice. You are assisting me in gaining my forever, I will have to zhink of somezing far more suitable zhan jewelry.”

“Protect her, love her, and treat her the way she deserves. That’s more than thanks enough.”

“Sweet, Frankie, all of those things would be a given. I would build a space station and then nuke this entire galaxy to ensure she was safe.”

She stopped stirring and looked at me like I had her fucked up. “Just make sure you build that shit big enough for all of us.”

“Wizout question. Let me attend to zhis business so zhat I can make my way back quickly. You have given my joy a reason to arise from its slumber and dance joyfully in zhe sun.”

She shook her head as though I were doing too much. Which was funny since her husband was worse than I was. “Lord, just say you’re happy and get on with it.”

I smirked her playful teasing only enhancing the joy I felt. “Why? My way sounds far better.”

“Save that for my friend and make sure you’re not late.”

I stood up and stretched, eager to get my business handled. “I would razer have every hair on my head plucked from my scalp by burning tweezers zhan to leave zhe woman of my dreams waiting for me.”

“The Bliranian Romeo. So poetic with his words. I can’t wait until she gives you a run for your money.”

VANYA

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