Chapter Sixteen - AghedXerxesVanyaVanya
XERXES
“THAT BOY CLEAN as hell!”
Yacouba slapped me on the back with his heavy ass hand nodding as he took in my groom’s attire. He wasn’t wrong, but that slap made me feel like my damn lungs shifted slightly. I straightened the pale gold silk of my jacket and nodded my thanks at his words. He and the rest of my brothers were dressed in black dupioni silk blazers of the same style. The embroidery on each of their jackets matched the elements of their family’s sigil. It might have been my wedding, but I had no problem with each of these men being highlighted. Few outside our organization could understand what they meant but my friends appreciated the gesture. Despite his officiating, Priest was dressed in similar attire as the rest of them and would wear this instead of a robe to preside over the ceremony.
The second largest suite in the hotel was given to us to get ready. The other was where Vanya was. I was thankful they were on opposite sides of the building otherwise I’d have been tempted to see her. I wanted to do the first look, but Vanya was too worried about tradition and ensuring nothing went wrong today. I tried to ease her mind, but she was still worried so I gave in.
I smoothed down the linen and silk blend of the fabric glancing at myself in the mirror. I hadn’t bothered to do too much with grooming because I wanted to look like me. My beard and goatee were still low cut and I’d kept my hair down. I prayed she wasn’t overly done up and looking like a stranger. If her freckles were covered I was going to wipe her face with my thumb to allow them to shine.
“I got a bride who is going to steal my breaz away. I have to do what I can to capture her attention. Every man knows zhat zheir wedding day is zhe bride’s moment to bask in zhe adoration of many. I only need zhe adoration of one in order to ensure I made zhe right decision with my attire.”
“You did good, shahzadeh . Ms. Vanya is going to walk to you and feel as though she is getting married in a fairytale.”
Midas, who was standing next to Shoaib, shook his head and adjusted the cuff of his black jacket. I had the Warren and Cannon crests embroidered on both of his sleeves. One was a gator the other a Brown widow spider. “His ass is a prince so.”
There was a knock on the door and since I knew we’d all been here for hours getting ready, no one else should be trying to come in here.
I glanced at Quentin, and he headed toward the door to see who it was. Like Shoaib, Quentin wore a Persian style stand collar blazer in all black with asymmetrical gold buttons down the front. The combined Mahdavi and Cannon sigils were embroidered on each cuff in the same gold thread the groomsmen wore. I might have paid their salary but they were a part of my family as well and were always going to be treated the same.
When the door opened, I had to furrow at who was standing there.
“What is he doing here?”
Everyone immediately went on guard. Smoke and Angel had guns in hand before I could get my sentence out, eyes scanning the room for which person was the target. Shoaib’s face was frowned in disgust, because my cousin sickened him and Quentin was just waiting on me to say the word. The last thing I wanted was for there to be this large of an issue on my wedding day, but bringing this piece of shit here, and to my suite no less, was something that was intolerable.
My grandfather strolled in the room and I was thankful baba and Afshin had stepped out to check on my mother and Vanya. Had they crossed paths for the first time in over a decade, I can’t imagine how it would’ve gone.
My grandfather wore the traditional western royal style uniform of a military king. The chest was decorated with medals he had awarded himself for service to the country he hadn’t provided. One issue people had with my grandfather was his edict for people to stay traditional while he embraced western culture and values. He couldn’t see his own hypocrisy was causing his lack of popularity.
My cousin was similarly dressed as though he wanted to make a splash as well despite my knowledge of him never serving in any portion of the military.
Disgusting .
My eyes went to my grandfather who’d attempted to walk in with guards but they’d been stopped at the door. Omega, Smoke and Angel kept them near the door and I could see the tension mounting between the two sides. The suite was filled with light because of floor to ceiling windows that took advantage of the view. There were shooters on every roof within five miles ensuring nothing went wrong.
“Do you zhink zhis is appropriate?”
My admonishment was clear as my mind traveled back to the way he’d sent people after me but had the nerve to show up here like a beloved grandparent. His stride faltered but he kept pushing through so that he could save face.
“How else is he to make amends if he isn’t allowed to speak to you?”
My grandfather stood proudly with his chest puffed out and a crown on his head and sash across his chest so that he would garner as much attention as possible. I thought it was odd since men normally didn’t wear them for anything short of official celebrations or coronations, but leave it to him to want all the attention despite not approving of the festivities. When word reached him about my wedding, he’d accepted the invite without speaking to me personally. It was a slight and if he thought it would go unpunished, he truly didn’t know me.
Standing beside him like a dutiful puppet was Karman attempting to look mournful but his true feelings of being annoyed at having to apologize showed through. His eyes were darting around the room, the envy of the opulence of the suite clear on his face.
There was a panoramic view of Charlotte from the windows and since Midas’ hotel was taller than most in this part of town you could see all of Uptown. The suite itself was extravagant, with a full kitchen, dining room and three bedrooms. Vanya had attempted to stay in this room or a smaller suite, but I knew with the preparations they would need the bigger space.
I waved them both off causing them both to tell me how insulted they were at my lack of manners in Farsi. My grandfather’s guards went on high alert although they were still near the door and unable to move past the wall of men in front of them.
I turned my back to them, the ultimate form of disrespect and rechecked my clothing in the mirror. “I determine who I want to be around me on a day as joyous as this. He wasn’t invited.” I straightened the yellow diamond buttons on my jacket, keeping the large pin given to me by my father in its place near the base of my neck. Looking at the two of them wasn’t something I wanted to do, but I turned around so that I could look at him when he responded.
“He was. By me as my guest.” My grandfather placed his hand over his chest as though it was a sign of civility and not one of dominance.
I brushed my hair off my face to keep calm as I smiled at his highhandedness.
“Has any of your money paid for anyzing here? I did not zhink so because zhat would again be like my money paying for it since you have none. You might wear a crown but you are nozing but a figurehead. Wizout the money zhat you are so graciously allowed by us, you can barely keep control of your country. Keep trying to push boundaries and assert authority over me you do not have and watch it all crumble to your feet. Zhis is my country and even wiz zhe amount of influence I have in Iran it pales compared to the way I can make shit shake here. You keep spending as lavishly as you are trying to maintain appearances zhat everyzing is fine, and you will be selling zhat crown to keep zhe lights on in your palaces.”
I’d be the first to buy that shit just to be the one to hand it to his successor.
“You act as zhough zhe people would welcome you. You and zhis divorcee American zhat you have decided to marry. It is eshameful zhat zhis is who you choose as your vife. You are so much like your fazer.” My cousin was talking a lot of shit for a man who would soon be missing his lips.
I bowed to his insult a move I’m sure irritated him beyond reason.
“Which is one of my greatest points of pride. I am like him, I strive to be like him. To love like him. To be as honorable as he is, but make no mistake. I am my mozer’s son as well. Zhe ability I have to smile in your face while I watch you choke and die is deep within me. Zhe idea of making my enemies my footstool is appealing, but making my enemies zhe dust beneath my heel or zhe food for a good friend's hogs is far more to my liking. Get him and yourself out of here before you realize zhe type of man that you crossed.” I kept my voice even because despite the vehemence and threats I spewed I refused to let him get a rise out of me.
“Is this how you espeak to me?” His brows dipped and a vein pulsed in his forehead.
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully as my nose flared and I could scent his fear. “When you have sent assassins after me and engaged the woman I love in a man’s game? How I speak to you should be the least of your worries.” I turned and spoke to the men who had their backs to me and raised my voice loud enough for them to hear me. “Let his guards zhrough so Shah Mahdavi can be escorted out.”
“Please be aware that there are eyes all over this hotel’s complex and anything you might think of doing is already being observed. And since our two countries aren’t exactly friendly with one another, there is no diplomatic immunity that would protect you from any actions you might take.” Midas stood unwaveringly by my side with his hands behind his back. Kamran, once again not knowing when to shut up, went to speak but was silenced when our grandfather spoke up.
“I look forward to seeing your bride make her way down zhe aisle.”
“Make sure you take a good look. Not only is she zhe most stunning creature Allah ever created, but it is zhe last time you will ever behold her beauty. Drink it in while you can.” I winked because whatever threat he was trying to convey didn’t worry me.
His guards were at his back, the anger on his face as he tried to come up with something he could say to move me. There were no words that would strike fear in my heart from him. Even when he had snipers raining down bullets around me, my only emotion was raw anger.
The king turned with my cousin walking behind trying to keep up appearances. Like the entire suite hadn’t heard him get completely dismissed.
“Everything good?” Ori walked up and I knew what he was asking without him having to spell it out. If he needed to put in a word to hold them for questioning, he would send out information to whoever he needed in his office to put a hold on their passports and their planes. The fuel costs alone for them to travel here privately had to have taken a good chunk of the money they’d been relegated for the month. I was sure they would start quietly selling off portions of land or levying new taxes on the people to make up the deficit that their mouth’s cost them. Funny thing was, apologizing or figuring out a way to earn money would never cross their minds. But he was a problem to solve at a later date. My focus for today was joy and seeing the annoyed look on his face I had to wonder what was irritating him.
“Hell no, but it will be. Did you bring her?” I hoped Vanya and Asha would bond as the last two women to enter our group. Hell, Jemma Marie was technically an old new addition so there were plenty of people they could bond with. Frankie being there to make things easier was a help to all of us.
“Yeah. Her father was coming anyway, so…” Ori shrugged and looked uncomfortable as hell whenever we talked about his bride to be. That scowl wasn’t on his face anymore, which emphasized Liam’s prediction that he did actually like her. Which was progress from where he’d been weeks before.
“Do you like zhe girl?”
He shifted again before rolling his shoulders back as though he were steeling himself against his truth. “She’s beautiful, she’s smarter than I am and she seems nice. I’m not sure what else I’m supposed to be looking for.”
The way he sounded only affirmed that he really did like this girl. “Ori—”
Ori shook his head and I knew he wasn’t going to let me push him further. “I’m good, Xerx. She’s chillin’ with everybody’s wives and Jemma. I’m…working through this shit. That’s the best I got. We’re brothers, right? All shades of the Black diaspora rainbow with some extra brown mixed in and a sprinkle of colonizer for a few of us. This is what brothers do to ensure the other can be happy. I’m good with how life is going. Hopefully she and I will find a middle ground.”
“I can’t ever repay you for volunteering for zhis.” I embraced his ass despite him having me by almost four inches.
When we parted, he had a look in his eye I hadn’t seen before. Like he was resigned and the Ori I was used to had never gone down without a fight.
“It was always going to be me, bruh. No repayment is necessary. Live well, be happy and treat her like a queen. That’s repayment. I plan to do the same and hope that happiness follows.”
“ Khoda hamishe kasani ra ke ghalb-i pak o por az mohabbat darand, barekat midehad. To, doost-e man, hamoon ro dari va hatta bishtar . (God will always bless those with a pure and loving heart. You, my friend have that and more).”
He braced his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it before he replied. “ ?O ka ?ohana pēlā, he pōmaika?i lawa nō ia . (A family like this is blessing enough).”
I could only tilt my head to him because I was sure he didn’t want me to say anything further about it. Emotional Ori might have been worse than angry Ori. He smiled and walked away but I sent up a prayer that he was going to be as happy in his decision as I would be with mine.
“You ready?” Midas had stepped away to ensure the Mahdavis were gone but had a smug grin on his face.
“I am, but why do you look like that?” I smoothed down my jacket again wishing that five would hurry and come. My mother said for our level of formality we couldn’t start the ceremony any earlier. She told me etiquette dictated it to start at six, but I told her she was pushing it.
He gestured to my face and I swiped at it blindly to wipe away whatever was there. “If you could see how pressed you look you’d understand what’s so damn funny.”
“Am I supposed to look calm vhen this is zhe most important decision I’ve her been blessed to make? I’m ready to run down the aisle to zhe altar and wait for her to meet me zhere.”
“I think it’s nice that Uncle Bijan agreed to walk her down so that she wouldn’t be alone.”
That squeeze in my chest returned as I remember the way Vanya looked so nervous when we were going over the participants and she didn’t have anyone besides Frankie to select. My father proved why he was a man I would always admire and model myself after when he offered to walk my love down the aisle.
“Zhe way she cried when he said he would always look out for her… it broke me, Midas. For her to not know unconditional love from someone, even from birz. I hate zhat I am taking her as my wife and I have not ended zhe lives of those who have brought her harm. It makes me feel like I am less zhan worthy of being her husband.”
He pat my shoulder and I knew he understood exactly how I felt. “All things in due time. Right now is the season for you to be happy, not the season for you to slap muthafuckas around. When the time comes, you got an entire army of people who will move with you and stand behind the both of you to make sure she gets her justice. Nev is already teaching Mansa to call her Tata Vannie. We got y’all and everything else. Your grandfather tried to flex his power not realizing he doesn’t even run shit in his own country. Let the man eat good and drink like he’s not supposed to. You know his fate is to be shit out of the end of the one creature his religion says he’s supposed to despise most. He lives his life like an animal, he can die like one.”
I nodded trying to shake off the negative and focus on this wedding going smoothly. “You got what I asked you for?”
He smirked and I knew I needed to chill because he had never let me down before. “Of course. But now my wife gonna be looking at me crazy since she’s the one who designed it.”
“Well, I’m sorry but I don’t trust zhis to anyone else. Get your wife one so zhat you out of zhe doghouse.”
“And have her bitching at me because I let somebody else design her jewelry? You must not love me the way you say you do.” My cousin stared like I was trying to set him up and I could only pat his shoulder.
“Rock and hard place having a wife who can wield metal and stone zhe way yours does. Step your game up, Mi.”
“Step my game up with the woman who owns a mine and can source whatever she wants. My surprising her is pointless. I have to get her other shit to spoil her. But I know you can’t help but drape your girl in jewelry so I can’t wait for her to see what you got her.”