Shâhzâdeh (The Consortium #8)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Coup

XERXES

“TODAY IS A special day everyone.”

I was standing in the basement of a meat packing facility. Specifically, one in Texas on a ranch that had set me on the course to my destiny.

The rancher that I’d helped back in March had returned the favor by allowing me to store some…merchandise in a casita on his land. It had only been for overnight and now we were gathered here to right a wrong that had been committed years ago.

“Tell us about it my Middle Eastern Mulatto brother.” Yacouba was grinning at the pageantry he knew I was going to display. I’d been on a high since I knew that the people that had hurt Vanya were locked away and unable to do her any harm so I felt more than comfortable leaving her in Charlotte without me.

I nodded my appreciation and I noticed he didn’t have his slugs in for today’s business. The space was taller than expected but the activities that went on in here I should’ve expected it. The ceiling had to be at least ten to twelve feet high if not higher and the track that ran throughout the room was going to come in handy for our mission.

“Zhank you, Owo . Zhe first zhing about today is zhat Ori has his paperwork in and his last case before he’s with us running shit full time. I can’t wait because his ass has been complainin’ about it for years.”

Word had come down that Ori was officially done with the government once he closed up his last case. In an interesting turn of events, his future wife was going to help him achieve that goal. As it was, he had a limited amount of time to be with us and was only here under the guise of chasing a lead. He wanted to be all in on the case to get done faster, but he also didn’t want to miss this. Handling business with the family always took precedence.

Priest chuckled slightly before he bumped Ori with his shoulder. “You really have, Ori.”

“Shut up, Mir.” Ori took the ribbing, despite knowing he had been acting like a brat. He kept his arms folded across his chest but he wore a look of contentment.

A slow smile spread across Jahmir’s face as he turned to look back at the people in front of us. “Not even close.”

“We never getting Mir back, y’all.” Ori’s statement was so matter of fact it caused us to laugh because it truly seemed like whatever had kept Priest away was gone. It was probably the death of the man he thought was his father that showed him that no matter how bad he was, he moved with good intentions. Jahmir no longer felt the guilt of ending up like Cardinal because the purpose behind his actions was always pure. So he let his other side come out often.

“Priest and Mir seemed to have learned to co-exist well. We are all here for me to give my father a gift zhat has been decades in the making. Baba, a late Father’s Day gift for you.”

My paternal male relatives were standing in the center of this large room, their angry faces flitting over the people who stood around me. They were trying to whisper as though there was a way out of this situation, but they should’ve known nothing and no one was going to save them. They were unharmed mostly, although I could see where one of my cousins had at least attempted to act like a man and protect himself.

My grandfather, uncle and cousins never left the United States like Afshin had. Afshin wanted to continue to work on the resort project and needed to be there for the opening of a new food outreach program that we were implementing in several of the more rural parts of the country. It was co-sponsored and funded by him and my father, their names and photos being the only two listed on the charity’s homepage. Afshin had returned to Tehran on one of my planes since the one my grandfather owned was too busy being used for carnal desires. Their absence prompted him to be more public on behalf of the family and as usual, they loved him.

The king and his entourage of yes-men lingered around in the United States being lured into expressing their baser selves as soon as they didn’t have the eyes of our countrymen on them. They spent their time running up tabs all over since the wedding over a month ago. They’d stayed in Midas’ hotels incurring extravagant bills which I paid for out of their next monthly allotment. One thing I wouldn’t do was stick my cousin for the money they spent frivolously or pay for it myself.

It wasn’t like they were going to spend it. Can’t take it with you in death.

When they attempted to board their next flight and head to Miami from Las Vegas, it was rerouted to Texas for inclement weather. When they landed, it was on the runway on the Chisholm-Love property. Our men had been there to greet them with guns and smiles.

And now, it was time for me to play.

“Vhat is zhe meaning of zhis?” My uncle Ibriham was standing tall as though he were going to take charge. I was shocked to see him wearing the Western style clothing he ridiculed me about. Even though more people in our country blended fashions, he used to speak negatively about our clothing choices. It was funny to see him being so loudly hypocritical. He ain’t even make that shit look good. Money truly couldn’t buy swag.

“Zhis? Well, zhis is where you come to die.” I spread my arms wide, the room erupting in chuckles from our side and angry yelling from theirs. Their guards were trying to do their jobs, but being unarmed and out-manned, they couldn’t do more than yell.

“Xerxes.”

I smiled as the host of this event came to stand beside me. His deep voice was filled with agitation, which I completely understood. Despite the joy I felt at this moment, I was also eager to get my revenge. But for him, I could be patient. I turned from my family and acknowledged him with a nod. “Yes, Sampson?”

“Which one wanted Black?”

His face was searching those of the people across from us, and I could feel the deadly energy radiating from him. After watching how he worked several months before, there would be little I could do to restrain him from killing Kamran too soon. He had his hair pushed back off his face and it was longer than it had been several months ago.

“Zhe little shit back zhere in zhe green shirt.”

Sampson gave me a nod then strolled over to where Kamran stood. His boots echoed throughout the space despite the number of people that were gathered here. This was a multi-generational reckoning, so I couldn’t be the only member of my family here to witness this.

My cousin looked as arrogant as always because he didn’t know what was in store for him. His off black hair was pomaded up into a fuckboy hair style and he was covered in jewelry. It wasn’t even done tastefully, just a way to signal to anyone that was around him that he was wealthy. And a mark. It was only by the grace of the loyal soldiers they rewarded with their cast offs that stood behind him that he hadn’t been robbed blind and murdered in his sleep. He wore skinny jeans an oversized shirt and several massive diamond chains. His eyes were glassy and red and he looked like he was coming down off of something.

Sampson held up his hands in front of Kamran’s face and smiled. “That man you sent here for my wife? I used these two to beat him to death. Felt every bone in his face crack as I pulverized the flesh beneath my fist. I’m not a violent man by any means. Hell, my brother says I’m too soft. But there’s something that happens when you mess with a man’s heart that brings out the savage. Ain’t that right, Xerxes?”

“I zhink we can all agree wiz zhat.” My friends murmured their agreement because we’d all gone off over the women we loved.

Kamran waved off the death of his minion like he was being told he had to sub out roast beef for turkey on a sandwich. “So you’ve killed him. It is no matter. Zhere are hundreds of Rezas around for what I need.”

Sampson didn’t bother cocking his fist back. Somehow he had enough torque without it to rock Kamran in his shit so hard he immediately slumped to the ground. My cousin was crumpled up in a ball like the epitome of his clothes being folded with him still in them. Sampson stood over him as though he thought Kamran might move. I believed a part of him wanted Kamran to that way he could stomp him the same way he’d done Reza. But Kamran saved himself for death for a little while longer by being unconscious. With a grunt, Sampson turned and walked back toward me with a scowl on his face.

I lost my battle with the smile that formed, looking at how deeply unsatisfied he looked to be put on pause. “You good?”

“Nah, but when he wakes up and me and Nate beat his ass to death the same way we did his boy I will be. I got a mind to go pull his body up from that hole so his body can go with theirs. Anyway, I’m chillin’ in the back while you handle this other shit.”

He pat me on the shoulder and strolled to where his brother was at the back of the room with his arms folded. Nate’s shoulder looked like it’d healed up fine from the sling I’d seen it in back in the spring. I couldn’t believe it had only been a few months since I’d met them and they were more than willing to help me with this situation.

“You would let someone assault your family? To dishonor zhe family name?” I turned slowly to where my uncle was standing next to my grandfather and the rest of his sons.

“You’ve done more zhan zhat haven’t you, Ibriham? From esleeping wiz your brozer’s intended, cheating on your wife and raising sons who are fairly worzless, zhe only taint on our family’s name is you. And of course zhem.”

My father’s words brought a smile to my face as he nodded to Ibrihams’ sons and I watched Xavier and Deuce waiting to assist my father however he needed them. There were few men as the head of the Consortium families in their generation. The men had been married in, but weren’t afraid to be by their wife’s sides no matter what. To protect the head with their own lives if need be. My mother was twice as protected because my uncle Michael was always at the ready to step in and fulfill his role. Even while he played pro-ball. Today, he stood next to Midas to our right patiently watching the demise of people who’d come after his sister all because of who loved her.

This room appeared large before the number of people we’d brought with us, or those who simply wanted to put in work, filled it up. I was thankful that the ranch was rotating out the use of this space, which would give me time to have it renovated for the Chisholm-Loves. It was the least I could do as a thank you for their hospitality. Dr. Briggs hadn’t allowed me to gift her a pallet of gold for the offense my family gave her. Instead, we were now partnering on a few endeavors that would be funded through the money that they were no longer around to receive.

I didn’t mind the chill in the air from the refrigeration that kept these rooms cool for their normal purpose. It was a welcome reprieve from the hellacious Texas summer temperature. My people were from the Middle East and from the Deep South, but this Texas heat seemed to be something entirely different.

My hands were behind my back as I walked toward my paternal relatives. I stopped in front of my grandfather without a bit of remorse on my face.

Kamran stirred from the ground bringing my focus back to him.

“I warned you, did I not? I warned you what would be zhe price for continuing in zhe manner you were. Your trips to Dubai zhat you zhought you snuck under zhe radar. Zhe payoffs zhat abruptly stopped but the women who would still go missing. I watched, I listened, I spied zhroughout the palace to ensure I could save as many people as I could from your predilections. Found zhem and listened to zhem so we knew who we were dealing wiz. Gazering information so that if the time came I had a clear conscious. And zhen you did zhe unzinkable. You attempted to bring your dishonorable acts to my country. Zhe parents of zhose girls were too honored to have you have zhem. Sacrificial lambs to zhe slaughter of the Mahdavi appetite zhat some people feel can do no wrong. So zhe zhrill was gone because there was no challenge. zhere was nozing illicit about it. But here, you could get what you wanted along with zhe feeling you craved. Zhe sordidness of it all. And now what are you left wiz? What do you have? What should become of you? Your fazer is a worthless heir. Your grandfazer, a useless monarch. And you, a boy, pretending zhat zhe number of women he consumes will somehow prove to zhe world zhat he is a man.”

“You always zhought you bere better zhan us because of your money. Because of the Blacks zhat helped you get where you are.” Kamran spat that same stupid shit that he’d heard his father say and I heard Sampson needing to be restrained behind me.

“No. I’m better than you zhen and now not because of money. But because I have morals. A mozer who loves me. One zhat you all do everyzing you can to disparage vhen you should all be begging for a chance to wash her feet for how she allowed zhis family to prosper. It is the Cannons and zhe Warrens who hold the power, not zhe Mahdavis. You all are figureheads, playboys masquerading as men. And what do you want from me? Do you vant my sympathy? Congratulations for your inability to survive zhis long wizout actually having to grow up? You’ll not have it. You’ll have zhe same disdain I give to all men who behave how you do. So what is to be done with a king and princes with no purpose? I have pondered this for many nights. Trying to figure out a way to quench zhe zhirst for vengeance zhat burns hotter in my stomach zhan anything I’ve felt before. Zhe way you attempted to mar zhis family’s name here in Texas to zhe way you’ve behaved since. zhen I decided zhat it’s not enough to stop with you. All of you must go.”

“So zhat’s vhat you vant! You vant zhe crown!” Ibriham acted as though his outburst would garner some type of sympathy from anyone in the room.

“Wrong. Zhere is nozing about being a king zhat titillates me. Titles are for men who hold no power or value outside of zhem. Nozing about living in a gilded cage is enough to tempt me to murder my family. Nozing would make me happy about living over zhere. My business is more zhan adequate to sustain me. And zhat populace wouldn’t welcome me or my bride wiz open arms because to zhem we are foreign. So by virtue of needing stability, zhe Mahdavi name must live on.”

“So vhat puppet have you decided to put in as your decoy?” My grandfather’s gruff voice was finally heard and his choice of words annoyed me.

“Not my decoy, but a leader zhat is more suited for zhe changing times of zhe world zhan you or anyone else in zhe family. Zhey will do what is good for the people, not simply make moves I am telling zhem to make. Again, zhere is nozing about being a monarch I desire. But zhere is one man who was born for zhe role.” Their eyes all went to my father and I couldn’t help but smirk at how wrong they all were.

When the door opened and Afshin walked through I could see Ibriham’s eyes narrow as the others looked on in surprise.

“Him? You zhink zhey vill allow him to keep zhe zhrone? A kept pet’s offspring zhat our fazer had a weakness for since he couldn’t send him back to Sudan after his mozer died. You zhink zhey’re going to allow some half-breed son of a whore to be king?” His voice escalated as he pulled against his chains like Afshin was the person he had beef with.

Ibriham was throwing shots at Afshin who was unbothered because he’d heard them his whole life. Truthfully, my grandfather had been distraught when Afshin’s mother died. My father said it was the last time he’d seen any genuine emotion for the man. So my uncle may like to pretend that Afshin’s mother didn’t matter, but it was only because he wanted to convince himself that he was the most important son.

Afshin smiled slowly blinking once before he stood taller as he faced Ibriham. Ibriham was used to intimidating his younger brother with threats, but even then Afshin never entertained him. Afshin went about his business ignoring Ibriham’s words. That was viewed as weakness and a mark against his character.

“Well, maybe there’s a common thread. Maybe the blood of our Black and African mothers has diluted whatever madness has been ruining the rest of the Mahdavis. My brozer has already decided zhat he does not vant the zhrone. Your fazer and zhe rest of you are going to die and end zhis reign of waste and selfishness zhat has plagued our country for years. Change is necessary and I might not be zhe perfect man for zhe job, but I plan to be better at it because I’ve learned from all of your mistakes.”

My father put a comforting hand on Afshin’s shoulder giving him even more confidence.

“Afshin is a man viz a conscious. He doesn’t wish to harm ozers because he understands vhaz it feels like to be harmed. Whenever zhere is work to be done to ensure a project zhat benefits zhe people you so desperately want to rule one day is needed, he is zhe first to volunteer to help. His empazy is a strengz not a weakness.”

I’m not sure if Ibriham truly believed he would’ve never been able to be anything but a degenerate because he was a royal. Most of the crown princes around the world were protected like national treasures while the spares were ignored. It worked out far better for the spares most times.

“You zhink he won’t turn around and turn into us? Power makes us zhis way. Boredom. Not having a zhrill so you create one. Vhat do you zhink he is going to do vhen he is adored by many?”

Ibriham was shaking his head as though we were disillusioned about the type of person Afshin was. He had never spent more than a few minutes with the man unless it came to him needing to be around him for official state functions. You couldn’t allow the public to see dysfunction in the Mahdavi Dynasty.

“Zhat’s vhat you don’t understand. He already is. You’ve had your head so deep in some stripper’s ass zhat you can’t even tell vhat your people zhink of him.”

Afshin chuckled at my words but he knew I was right. “Xerxes is right. I would not. Zhat is zhe zhing about all of zhis, Ibriham. You had zhe tools to reject zhis lifestyle but it is one you welcomed wholeheartedly. I could’ve joined you, life would’ve been much easier if I had. But instead of becoming a predator after so long being prey, I was an advocate. To use zhe voice I had, limited as it was, to fight for zhose who needed it. Zhat is zhe type of person I will be as king.”

Even now Afshin spoke with the conviction of a leader while they looked like the people who age of consent laws were made for.

“No one vill accept you. Zhey will riot in zhe streets.” Mohammed looked at his son like he was beneath him and it showed just how much he lacked awareness of what was going on in his kingdom.

I cocked my head annoyed how even now my grandfather couldn’t see what was right in front of him. “You seem to forget who is the face of zhe monarchy to zhose who you believe vill riot. Zhe one who is going out and doing good vorks vhile you all live zhe life you do. Vhenever I am in town, I am zhere watching and I can see zhe love zhey have for him. Hear zhe whispers of how you all need to get it togezer. I’ve warned you for years zhat zhe tides were turning and you didn’t listen. Well, grandfazer, a change has come.”

“ It’s been a looong, long time coming. But a change has come. ” Nate started to sing soulfully that momentarily broke the tension in the room. For us at least.

“You vould allow zhem to kill your father? Zhe man who ensured you had life?” Mohammed was attempting to use connection to the son he abandoned and tried to have killed all because he didn’t do exactly what the crown commanded.

My father didn’t want to let his anger get the best of him but I knew he felt completely insulted by the attempt at emotional manipulation. “Zhe life I live is zhe one I built wiz my two hands. It wasn’t until I came to America and met my soul zhat I understood vhat love vas. And my soul introduced me to zhe men who stand beside me. Who have stood beside me. Laughed wiz me. Been my sounding board vhen I needed it so zhat I could be strong for my family. Micheal, Xavier and Deuce are my brozers. Zheir children are my nieces and nephews. Zhere is no bond stronger zhan zhe one we built between us. One zhat was forged of love, respect and understanding. It’s not one built on obligation.”

“Ve are blood!” Hearing no was something the king wasn’t used to and seemed to take personal offense to not being able to manipulate my father.

“And look how you treat your blood! You tried to have me killed multiple times. You vent after Babette until you realized vhat she was far more formidable zhan anyzing you had ever faced. A woman, my woman, humbled you and zhen offered you a gift to keep your pride. But still you weren’t satisfied. You vanted her to come begging. For her to fail so zhat you could dominate her. But our family vould’ve never allowed zhat to happen. I would’ve never allowed zhat to happen. Plenty have come after us and zhey are zhe decomposing memories. And zhen you made zhe mistake of going after my son.” Baba was furious and no issue with letting his hurt and anger show.

Kamran stood up groggily after shuffling around on the floor for a moment. He braced himself against the ground and lifted himself up slowly. “Talk! Zhis is nonsense, my grandfather is a king. I am a prince! Zhis vill not be tolerated!”

“Is it time to rock his ass to sleep again? I was having fun listening to everybody talk then this weak muthafucka opened his mouth.”

“Chill, we get to have more fun. We gotta let people do what they need to. Folk need to get this shit off they chest before these people die.” Sampson and Nate were having a conversation like it was just another day and I appreciated their lack of fucks to give.

Seeing that he was not affecting his son, the king turned his hatred back to me. “I couldn’t get zhe man to kill you but I could make sure zhat zhere were no more you to come later.”

My grandfather’s words recaptured my attention because he spoke them with far too much joy. Like he was finally showing his hand after all these years. “And what does zhat mean?”

“You zhink your mother, healzy as she was, didn’t vant more children? Of course she did. But zhat emergency vhile she was under zhe knife was no mistake. It vas a doctor zhat vas more zhan paid off in order to ensure zhat no more half breed pieces of shit like you could come zhrough and ruin zhe Mahdavi name. All you had to do Bijan was marry a good muslimah . One who vould bring honor to zhe family. But instead you married zhat zhing. An American . Zhe very people who have destroyed generations of prosperity in our country.” My grandfather’s face was tight and angry but that anger was futile.

“But it never stopped you from accepting zhose American bribes did it? Vhen you needed to look the other way vhen some portion of zhe country was attacked. Vhen our neighbors were harmed. It didn’t stop you from allowing zhose same Americans zhat you swear you hate to harm others so long as you were fine. You veren’t worried about zhe Muslimahs zhat were harmed zhere, were you? As long as you could sit in your palace and enjoy your peace. But my wife? Zhe reason Allah put me on zhis earz is more zhan a simple woman to me. She is my soul. Zhe moment I saw her zhe rules and governances of your lifestyle and zhis world faded away. She was Allah’s vision of perfection to me for me! Zhere is nozing you can say about her Blackness, about her Americanness zhat would ever dissuade me from loving her. If she is labeled haram zhen I am a heretic willing to bear zhe eternities of Jahannam so great is my love for her!”

The anger I normally tried to prevent my father from feeling was fully on display. Hearing this information had tears in his eyes realizing he hadn’t been able to keep my mother completely from harm. But the way he went to bat for her so fiercely then and was reaffirming her perfection even now in her absence was moving.

“Disgusting. You make zhis display for a voman? zhat is not vhat a man looks like!” Ibriham was still posturing on things that didn’t matter. No matter what words he said, he was still going to die tonight.

“And you zhink your harem of vomen zhat did not ask to be zhere brings you closer to honoring Allah ? Zhat the vay you treat zhem and your people? No. You hide behind your piety vhen it is something you don’t like. I’m sure if we took a poll of zhe people zhey’d prefer zhe shazadeh ye- faqir (pauper prince) to any of you.”

My uncles had been charged with keeping my father in his spot, but they’d allowed him to inch closer and closer to his father without thinking of stopping him. I was sure that Uncle Michael was ready to shed blood over what had been done to his sister.

“Can we kill them so these bitches can’t ever try this shit with Vanya? Because my trigger finger is itching to end them and I just met her again.”

I turned to look at Ahmad smiling at the scowl that was on his face. He hadn’t said shit about hopping on the jet, just asked me where and when the time to handle them came. He was showing his loyalty and love to his sister everyday and jumping in on this for me proved his loyalty didn’t stop with her.

“Zhis has been a long time coming. Let him confess all his sins now before he gets sent to hell, habibi .”

I don’t know what about us and our people kept the murdery professional athletes in our orbit, but I could always appreciate a man who would put in work.

I turned back to my grandfather smiling at the betrayal on his face. “Your time is up. And we will trust Afshin to do what is necessary for zhe people instead of being concerned wiz zhe zhrone. Zhere are no people who will mourn you. And for zhe dishonor you did to my mozer your fate is going to be far worse zhan I planned.”

“Zhere is nozing you can do to me to make me beg for my life.” My grandfather rolled his shoulders back trying to stand with his kingly baring like he was going to die with dignity.

I chuckled as the people behind me laughed. After seeing the lengths I had gone through with the people who’d hurt my wife, the damage was going to be catastrophic. “You say zhat now, but you understand just how inventive I can be.”

“If he wasn’t already here to meet his fate I would tell you to vithdraw every dime zhat has been put into zheir coffers. But no matter, zhere is a pretty bauble zhat vill make up for you doing somezing so foul. Who am I kidding? zhere is nozing zhat can be done to make up for zhat. I’m more zhan zhankful zhat my son and his wife will do more from zhe outside looking in zhan you ever did as king. zheir names, along wiz zhe son you tried to zhrow away will be zhe ones zhat people talk of when zhey sing zhe praises of zhe Mahdavi family. You will be in hell roasting, realizing zhat all your planning and ultimatums still got you exactly vhat you didn’t zant: two little half breeds being better at your position zhan you vould ever be. And you, Ibriham, you could’ve been so much more but greed got in zhe way. I hope you enjoyed your sixty years because it has now ended.”

“How many of us vill you slaughter? How many down zhe line of succession vill you take out? Vill you kill your aunts as vell? My daughters? My vife?” Ibriham was looking nervous for the first time, which I found hilarious. My father’s words had shaken him despite him trying to be tough. He was trying to use the women in his family once again to save him and it wouldn’t work.

“Zhe women are blameless. I’m sure your wife will be fine to live somewhere on zhe widow’s pension she lowered for the rest of zhe women wizout husbands. I wouldn’t harm my aunt, but she is just as bad as you are. She blamed all zhe women zhat you slept wiz because she refused to hold you accountable. Shame.”

That woman was just as prejudiced as her husband, probably because she had been forced to marry my uncle and he never respected her. She felt as though she had been robbed of joy and instead of being a good princess, she was more than happy to mirror his behavior of snobbiness as though it was something they could bond over.

“Karman is zhe one who started zhis. When you get to Jahannam , make sure that you take your ire out on him.”

“He’s right here! Vhy are you acting like he’s dead already?” Ibriham had clearly not been paying attention to what was happening around him.

“Because he was zhe one who started all of zhis shit. At least zhe recent shit. And zhose two men back zhere are going to ensure zhat he dies efficiently because one is fueled with zhe same love for his woman as my fazer and the ozer—” I turned to look at Nate curiously. He grinned broadly reminding me of the male version of Jada. He was still wearing his cowboy hat with a long braid down his back, jeans and an A-shirt. “Zhe ozer is a loose cannon who I zhink frankly just likes zis shit.”

“You’re not wrong, shahzadeh .”

“ Shahzadeh ? Zhey call you a prince? Zhey do not even call you by the right title. You are a King’s grandson . I am zhe vali’ahd (crown prince)! My esons are zhe shahzadehs of our land. My daughters zhe shadokhts who vill be married to furzer our influence.” Ibriham’s chest puffed back out and I was ready to cave that shit in.

“You ever vonder vhy your daughters are so much older but no alliance has been made?” Afshin rubbed his chin having the type of confidence that money couldn’t buy and they’d tried to ridicule out of him. His raw umber colored skin a testament to his heritage seemed richer as he stepped into his future role as head of the family.

Ibriham looked embarrassed but we all knew he wasn’t going to tell the truth. “Zhere are issues—”

“Because no one wants an alliance zhat makes zhem beholden to you. Maybe, after your death, zhe shadokhts can break free from zhe curse of your failures. I will see zhat my nieces, zhe ones who desire it, are married to men who will respect and love zhem.”

Ibriham sucked his teeth and looked like he would’ve spit on Afshin if he was closer. Ibriham’s disgust was too great for a man showing emotion. Empathy was a weakness he refused to entertain as a virtue. “Respect and love. You’re even vorse zhan Bijan wiz zhis nonsense.”

“Not all Mahdavis see zhe beings zhat created us wiz such contempt. How you can abhor women when you came from one is beyond my understanding.” I was glaring at Ibriham but his idiot son just couldn’t shut up to save his waning life.

“Is zhis about Reza’s sister? He procured her for me like he does everyone else. Reza was eager to secure his position especially after you left him to still work in zhe stables. He vanted a taste of zhe life we lived and his esister’s purity is vhat he used to bargain wiz it. If you vant to be mad at someone, find him and be angry viz him.” Kamran spoke like people were disposable and I vas ready for him to meet his end.

“It isn’t possible because I am not a necromancer.”

“Vhat?”

I was wondering how hard Sampson hit his ass because this muthafucka’s memory was shot. “Zhe man is dead, remember? How am I supposed to be mad at him? He’s gotten his penance for his crimes—”

“Barely.”

Sampson interjected for the back sounding like a man who wanted to travel to hell and fight the man he put there again. No wonder we liked him so much.

“So, vhy are you bozering with me? It vas him who offered her up. Vhy vould I not indulge? Ve all did.” He motioned to his brothers who were glaring at him in disbelief. I assumed they thought they might leave here with their lives. Their inability to read the situation made me chuckle.

He did no work and he would never take responsibility for any of his actions.

“You really did not pay attention at all did you? When zhe horses were moved, you zhought zhat was on his authority? You did not even bozer to pick up zhe phone and call me to see why it happened. ”

“Kamran you didn’t monitor zhe horses?” Babak, Ibriham’s oldest but least favorite son, now seemed to understand how little his brother did.

“Vhen you all said zhey vere being moved. I assumed zhey were being sold.” Kamran shrugged as though it was their fault that he hadn’t done anything more than assume.

“And you didn’t look into it?” Farhad, their middle brother, reached out for Reza but with his bound hands couldn’t do much. It was humorous watching them turn on one another like this.

“NO! I’m to sell zhe horses not to keep track of zhem. Zhat is Reza’s job.”

They started to argue amongst themselves before their father interrupted them.