7. Chapter 7
Prince Damini
Adanna was deranged as fuck, and I’m not even joking.
I’ve dealt with crazy women before. I’ve had exes who would bust the windows out of my car, flat my tires, scream until their voices gave out, and then after an hour of us arguing back and forth, she ended up against the wall and I’m pounding her shit in until she's asking for my babies.
Nah, this ain't that type of shit.
This is if I go to sleep, I may not wake up because she may feel like killing me off.
Look, when she stabbed me, I swore off her and everything that came with her.
But the way she was eying me during the meeting…
why was she looking at me like that? She made it clear she was disinterested with her words, but the words exchanged in the hallway had me so confused.
And what was up with her never smiling? I saw her lip do a little lip tremor and I thought she was about to have a seizure.
I stayed locked in deep thought, staring blankly at the wall, until the loud, chaotic voices of my brothers and sisters echoed down the hall.
I rolled my eyes and dug into my pocket for my car keys because I really didn't fuck with my siblings. They got on my damn nerves, and I’d never been the type to sit around playing happy family with anybody. Nah, all eight of them could leave me the fuck alone.
I turned around to slip out, but right as I hit the front entrance, my father's second wife was standing there with her hand raised to knock. She had that bright, fake-ass smile plastered across her face.
"Hey, Prince Dame," she said, lingering in the doorway and trying way too hard to play it cool.
"Is your father... occupied? I thought today was strictly family, but I could've sworn I saw an unfamiliar car out here this morning.
I just wouldn't want to interrupt if he’s in there handling... private matters."
She paused, leaning in. She was trying so damn hard to sound unbothered, more worried aout my dad than teh kids running all through our home.
"Why are you asking me?" I said, stepping past her onto the porch. "I thought you were his other woman."
Her smile dropped. A whole storm was about to brew in that house, especially with her showing up unannounced.
She usually stayed over in her own compound, so for her to pull up meant my father was about to deal with two women under one roof at the exact same time, and that old man was definitely not built to multitask.
Not my circus, not my fucking problem. I brushed right past her without another word, threw myself into my truck, and backed down the driveway.
Once I hit the back road, I took in the cusp of the jungle.
A clear path had been made as cars zipped past me.
I busted a hard turn and sped down the empty path, preparing to go into the city.
As I sped down the dirt road, I slammed my foot on the brakes so fast my phone flew off the dash to stop from colliding with a jet-blue field truck pulled out in front of me.
I was so angry, my vision was spinning. I barely noticed Chief Idris step out and walk over to my car. She dusted off her outfit, then she knocked on my car door.
I rolled down the window, glaring at her.
“Hi, Prince,” she said smoothly. “I hope I didn't cut you off at a bad time.”
I deadpanned her. “You almost hit me.”
“But did I, though?” She gestured to the side of the road. “Park your car and get in.”
“I can’t just leave my car out here—”
Before I could finish, she reached down, took her gun out and jammed it right in my face. My eyes bucked from how big the damn thing was.
I leaned back. “I’m getting real sick of your family threatening me. You might as well shoot me.”
Idris smirked, pointed her gun straight near my back tire, and shot it.
I jumped as the tire hissed flat.
“Now no one will touch it,” she explained coolly. “I’ll have one of the servants come out and fix it while we have a quick chat. Hop in.”
My emotions were all over the place, but I crammed myself into her passenger seat, slamming the door.
Idris pulled back onto the dirt road and took her time doing so.
"How’s your day going?" Idris asked casually, keeping her eyes fixed on the road ahead.
I cut my eyes over at her, giving her a weird eye. Since when did anybody care about how my day was going?
Idris caught my glare and let out a faint laugh, easing the truck around a smooth turn.
"I’m serious. I know this whole setup is moving fast, so I wanted to check in.
Part of my job as Chief is keeping the King updated while the Queen is out handling the high-stakes battlegrounds.
The King’s main objective is making sure she’s good, keeping the community protected, and staying informed.
So, tradition or not, I’m going to be updating you directly on things with Adanna. "
I didn't say a word, just leaned back against the headrest and listened.
"She’s not going to kill you, Dame," Idris continued, her tone surprisingly genuine. "But you can't go treating her just any kind of way, either. Whatever you do... just don't ask her to smile."
A subtle smirk touched her lips for a second.
“Too soon for a joke?”
I glared at her as she kept driving.
"All you have to do is accept her for who she is, and just be yourself. You'd be surprised how she actually treats the people she owns."
"'Owns'?" I asked, my brow furrowing.
Idris smirked. "You'll get it soon. Just don't let her punk you out, but keep showing her respect. Do that, and you'll actually have a good life."
She pulled up near the main road leading to the city and threw the truck into park. Before I could reach for the door handle, she turned to face me.
"And if you ever need someone to talk her off a ledge... I’ll be right here to help you out."
I stared at her for a long second, searching her face for the catch, the trap, or some hidden angle. But there wasn't one. She was being serious with me. I still didn't fully trust her, but I was smart enough to recognize real advice when I heard it.
"Thanks," I muttered.
She gave me a simple nod, and drove us back to my truck. Before my feet even hit the ground, she swung the field truck around and drove off into the dust.