23. Chapter 23
Queen Adanna
Queen Adanna
Family Day meant our estate was overrun with too many faces to count.
We opened up the lower level and the sprawling garden courtyards to family, friends, and the most loyal members of our community.
Music echoed softly off the marble walls, long tables were stacked with fresh food and aged wine.
People were mingling, attempting to cultivate a sense of normalcy.
I had heavy tactical guards posted discreetly at the foot of every staircase—the upper level was our private sanctuary, and no one was stepping a foot up those stairs unless they wanted to lose a limb.
Across the patio, Damini stood near the stone fountain, talking with Nana and Chairman Idris. Seeing Dame lean down respectfully to catch Idris's raspy words brought a soft warmth to my chest.
Then my eyes flicked toward the edge of the garden, where King Eze and his wife stood holding champagne flutes.
I still didn't care for the man because he was arrogant, disrespectful, and the sole reason my husband carried so much weight on his shoulders.
But for the sake of optics, I smoothed down my floor-length wrap dress and walked over to play nice.
As I rounded the high boxwood hedge, their voices carried softly over the rustle of leaves.
"—my king's wife is nothing more than a disrespectful, unstable street bitch who doesn't know her place," Eze was saying, his voice laced with casual venom.
His wife took a delicate sip, her face smooth. "I couldn't agree more. But this is what our son wants to do, so we'll allow it."
I stopped right behind them. "Continue saying what you were saying," I said flatly.
Both of them jumped, turning around fast. Eze let out a condescending laugh while his wife gave a fake, breathy chuckle. "Oh, we were just kidding, dear," Eze smiled.
"Then you lack a true sense of humor," I replied, my eyes locked onto his. "I would respect you more if you were serious."
Eze’s smile vanished. He stepped into my space, lowering his voice. "Little girl... you couldn't handle all that I could give you."
A sudden wave of revulsion rolled through my stomach.
"You disrespect me like that again, and I will tell my King," I whispered. "Or I can kill you right here. Which one do you prefer?"
Eze’s jaw tightened. "Be careful. I would hate for you to end up as tragically as your mother did."
My vision blurred red, and my hand slid automatically toward the concealed blade tucked along my thigh—
“Bitch.”
Before I could tear his throat out, a firm, gentle hand caught my wrist. "Easy, boss," a quiet voice murmured.
I breathed out hard, letting Nyah subtly pull me back two steps, putting her body between me and my father-in-law. I looked up at the woman and breathed, focusing on her hair. Nyah had gotten a sharp fade and had on this matching outfit that suited her face very well.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
"Well," I murmured, smoothing my hair as we walked down the stone path. "You look handsome. Who did you get the haircut for?”
“Me.”
“Mhmm. Have you told Jade you like her yet?"
Nyah rolled her eyes. "I just saved your life, Queen. Don't bother me with that."
“I wouldn’t have to if you would speak up and tell her.”
“I'm not ready for the rejection.”
“Who said she will reject you?”
“Brooklyn.”
I frown, annoyed. “Fuck her, you don’t know what Jade will say… Plus I caught the way she always looks for you.” Nyah lifted her head.
“Really?”
“Yes, just go to her house and talk to her.”
“What do I say?”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t piss me off.”
Before I could press her, Dame’s tall frame came into view. His arm slid around my hip. "Everything good over here?"
"Everything's fine," I said smoothly. "Let me introduce you to my people."
I brought him over to where Kandi and Brooklyn were standing.
Nyah extended her hand first. "Nice to meet you, King."
"Likewise," Dame replied, giving Nyah a solid grip. "I've heard a lot about your work."
He shook Kandi’s hand next, and she gave him a polite smirk without any words. But when he reached Brooklyn, something shifted.
Instead of extending his hand like he did with the others, Dame kept his arm wrapped tight around my waist, his body language locking down. He didn't even reach for her. Brooklyn’s eyes dragged over him, her gaze lingering a second too long on my man before she offered a faint, lingering look.
I caught the subtle beat of silence between them. My brain cataloged it instantly.
They exchanged pleasantries, but it was too weird to ignore.
Twenty minutes later, I found my moment when Dame was pulled into a conversation with two Elders. I slipped away into the secluded garden, where Brooklyn was standing by herself near the fruit trees, swirling the ice in her glass.
“Hello, Queen.”
I walked straight up to her. "You fucked my man?"
Brooklyn blinked, startled. "We didn't—"
"So you sucked his dick?" I cut in, my voice deadpan. "Did you suck his balls too?"
She rolled her eyes, getting quiet.
“It was before you met him and I was in the city.”
“So, you were one of his hoes?”
She frowned, upset with my choice of words.
"I couldn't care less what happened before me," I said, stepping right into her space until I could smell the amber notes of her perfume. "But he’s my property."
"Your property?" Brooklyn repeated, a faint edge in her voice.
"Yes. So if I find you fucking my property, I will slice you from ear to ear. I’ll fuck you up so bad, your body will be unrecognizable and Aunt Idris won’t be able to save you. Are we clear?"
“Still the same old bitch who think she better than everyone, huh?” Brooklyn was always this bitter, it was really wild how I allowed her to be my best friend.
"You just better be clear to stay away from my man," I said softly, holding her gaze.
Brooklyn held my eyes, her gaze challenging, before she slowly bowed her head in a mock sign of submission. "Of course, Queen. Whatever you say."
Before I could dissect the look in her eyes any further, a booming, jovial voice shattered the tension.
"There she is!"
Elder Osei walked down the stone path toward us, his hands tucked behind his back, a wide grin on his face. "Queen Adanna! I was hoping to catch you before the afternoon dissolved."
"Elder," I nodded, resetting my posture.
"I was just telling your grandmother," Osei chuckled, gesturing toward the main patio where Nana was leaning against a pillar, "we need to take a trip down to the new underground casino I just opened up in the states."
I glanced past him, my eyes landing on Nana. She was sipping her tea, watching Elder Osei with a knowing smirk that was entirely too familiar. I caught the subtle, unspoken flirtation bouncing between the two of them—the way Osei lingered when he spoke her name, the way Nana shifted her posture.
A sudden wave of absolute disgust washed over my brain.
"Well," I said quickly, taking a step back to escape the horrifying realization of my grandmother's love life. "I'm gonna leave you guys to it. if she gets locked up again call her daughter.”
“Locked up?”
“I'm going to go find my king. Enjoy the rest of Family Day."
"Always a pleasure, Queen," Osei bowed smoothly.
I turned on my heel and walked straight back toward the house, letting the warm afternoon sun hit my face.
I watched Damini across the lawn as he laughed with his brothers, enjoying himself.
I never questioned him about Brooklyn. Some things didn't need a discussion—they just needed a line drawn in the dirt, and mine was already laid down in steel.