Chapter 45
Chapter 45
T he next morning James opened his eyes a little confused as he looked around the room. It wasn’t his room, that was for sure. He looked to the far corner of the room to see Elliott, JC, and Calvin stretched out on different chairs asleep.
“Good morning. Princess ZsaZsa allowed me to sit with you for a while. I am afraid her parents were concerned what may occur if she spent the entire night in this room with you.” Jabari said with a smile.
James sat up as he looked at the man. He looked familiar, but James was sure he had not met him before. “Who are you?”
“I am Prince Jabari Abomba of Zyrier, at your service,” he nodded his head.
James looked the man over. He was tall, well built and attractive, if you go for the princely type.
“I am James Avery Brooks Jr. of America. I plan to marry Princess ZsaZsa. Is that going to be a problem for you?”
Jabari smiled at James. “You are a very blessed man. There are not many who could bring a country to their knees yet, you have done so here in Emure. You seem to be stealthy, dangerous, with a quiet power like a panther. Is that why they call you such?”
“Panthers are territorial, so am I,” James replied.
“Panthers are known to track down their prey until they are tired and cannot fight any longer. Then, the panther will attack.” Jabari observed James closely. “I, Mr. Brooks, have no desire to be the victim of your kill. I have released Princess ZsaZsa from the marriage contract.” Jabari stood and looked down at James.
James nodded. “I thank you for your kindness. I am well aware of her love for me as I am certain you are too. But it is you who has the upper hand here. Why are you conceding?”
“I have no wish to marry someone who clearly loves another,” Jabari reflected. “However, I do have a request of you for my kindness.”
“A request?” James sat up to see the man clearly. “If it is mine to grant, you shall have it. What is it you want from me?”
“Princess ZsaZsa shared some of the designs from her computer of your plans in the land of Baltimore.”
James chuckled. “It’s the city of Baltimore. What about them?”
“I would like for you to create homes for families in my country of Zyrier.”
“I’m not a builder or the designer,” James stated, “However, I can set it up for you to meet with both. I am certain they can design something for your entire country if you want them to.”
“It is a done deal,” Jabari nodded. “Be happy James Brooks Jr. I hope to have a chance to get to know you better as time passes.”
James shook the man’s hand. “I will make sure of it.” Jabari nodded then walked out of the room.
“Man, you just don’t know how to go for the kill and let the man stay dead, do you?”
“What?” James laid back as Elliott walked over to the bed.
“Nope. Now he’s going to help the man, who was trying to take his girl, build his country,” Calvin joined them beside the bed.
“It’s called developing relationships across the waters,” JC stated. “It is the way to keep your friends close, and enemies closer.”
“How are you feeling?” Elliott asked.
“Hungry,” James replied. “Where is ZsaZsa?”
“I think her parents are keeping her away from you until King Aswan has a chance to speak with you,” Elliott advised.
“Right now, he is in a rather heated conversation with his brothers,” Calvin advised.
“Is Raheem here?” James looked concerned.
“Yes, and he is not happy with the turn of events,” JC stated. “His ass is on the hot seat with everybody.”
“Where is ZsaZsa?” James asked attempting to get out of the bed.
“Wait, where are you going?” Elliott asked.
“To protect my woman from that asshole Raheem,” James spat out. “Where are my clothes.”
“I do not wish to be in your presence,” ZsaZsa said as Raheem walked into the family parlor.
“We will sit and discuss this situation as a family.” Aswan ordered.
“Ordering us to talk is not the way to go,” LaVeré stated.
“It is not an order, Son,” Ahmed spoke. “It is a request from me, for all of us to sit, have a meal, and discuss our differences as a family.”
“I do not ask much of my children,” Nasheema spoke. “This is one I must insist on. Please everyone, sit down.”
ZsaZsa did as her mother requested. “It is time,” she agreed. “There are things I must say and be done with.” She looked at Raheem. “You are my brother. But I do not love you as such. You stripped me of my safety and self-assurance with your scheme to make Aswan look weak in our father’s eyes.”
“He was weak,” Raheem stated with anger. “He is yet again demonstrating his weakness, allowing you to speak in this manner.”
“You see me as weak because I choose diplomacy over war, Raheem?” Aswan raised his voice.
“There are times when war is needed,” Raheem huffed. “Your own people rebelled against you once you were named King. Why do you think that was, Aswan? It was because you allowed it. You allowed them to have the freedom to speak and congregate. Look what was done. Your women feel they have the right to an education, to choosing who they marry, or allowing the lower class to become our equals. Your ideas are ruining the legacy of our good name.”
“Allowing,” ZsaZsa stood.
Aswan began to speak, but ZsaZsa stopped him. “This is my battle, not yours. I will deal with you later.” She turned to Raheem. “You dare to want to control what women think or how they feel? Who in the hell died and made you king.”
“Do not speak to me in such a manner. I am a king.” Raheem shouted.
“You are a king of donkeys. That is what you are king of. You are not king of Asmere. Yes, you carry the title, but tell me my brother, who do you rule? While we are on the topic, how did you receive that title?” She walked around the table to confront Raheem face to face. “You used me in a way no brother should have. You put me in the hands of the likes of Tarik, a demon among men. You did not care what the outcome would be. As long as you could prove you were better than Aswan. The only true King in the line of my brothers is LaVeré. He is the one who came in to stop the rebellions when you both failed. He was the one who brought the alliance between the United States and Emure into fruition. He was the one who cared for me after your treachery. He was the one who held me when I cried out at night from the nightmares of being taken. He was the one who accepted that I had the right to an education, the right to live my life as I choose. You nor Aswan look at me as a human being, you both treated me as property. There will be no more…no more interference in my life.” She looked Raheem up and down with contempt. “You are not a king. You are a mere man who wishes to be such.”
Raheem raised his hand to strike ZsaZsa. James Jr. leaped from the staircase down onto Raheem’s back, and before anyone could stop him, he had his arm around Raheem’s neck in a death grip. His legs wrapped around his body, as he used all his strength to tackle him to the ground and pull Raheem’s neck from, his shoulders.
Guards ran into the room only to be blocked by Elliott and Calvin. Secret Service agents came from all corners of the estate. JD, Calvin, James, Brian, and Douglas all ran down the staircase into the room.
JC bent down to look into James’ eyes then spoke calmly.
“This is ZsaZsa’s brother. You cannot…listen to me James. You cannot kill him. He is a part of her. Do not allow her to see you do this. There will come a time when he will pay the price for his actions. This is not it.”
“James Jr.,” James yelled out as he burst through the crowd of people and ran to where the two men struggled. He made an attempt to remove his son’s arms from around Raheem’s neck but James Jr. was not letting go.
“James, my King,” ZsaZsa looked down at him. She held out her hand. “We have a life ahead of us that does not include a murder charge. You have yet to make love to me. JC is right, this is not the place or time.”
James Jr. released his arms and legs from Raheem’s body. ZsaZsa and his father helped him up. Nasheema went to check on Raheem as Ahmed and Aswan stopped the chaos happening between the guards and secret service men.
“All is well,” Aswan stated. “Stand down. All is well.” He turned to James. “So…you are the man my sister wishes to marry.”
“I am the man she is going to marry,” James Jr. corrected him. “I take it you are King Aswan.”
“I am,” Aswan smiled.
James Jr. grabbed him by the collar. The guards ran to grab James Jr…
“Oh no, hell no.” Douglas yelled jerking guards away.
Brian jumped in front of Elliott as he pushed the guards back.
James pushed James Jr. back almost knocking him to the floor as he confronted the guards.
“Cease!” King Aswan ordered.
“Stand down,” JD yelled.
“You tried to take ZsaZsa from me. I am the one who will protected her with my life. You are the one who allowed your brother to kidnap her. And what did you do, nothing…nothing. You with all your power did nothing to ensure her safety. All she has ever talked about was coming home, to help your people. She showed you the dedication you never showed her. But know this, No one….No one, not even a king will ever take her from me.” He pushed Aswan away as men grabbed his arm. “If you or anyone else dare to harm her in any way, your country, as you know it, will no longer exist!”
“I fear I deserve that and more, so I will give you that,” Aswan said to James Jr. “I can see you love my sister very much.” Then looked at ZsaZsa with a slight grin as he rubbed his chin. “He has a little bit of a bite to his punch.”
ZsaZsa exhaled. “Yes, he does.”
“ZsaZsa is right in all that she shared with us today. I have been weak and indecisive. That will end today. James Jr., you have my support when you are ready to take ZsaZsa’s hand in marriage. I know she will be loved and protected. ZsaZsa, my sister, I would like to see these plans of yours to improve the lives of our countrymen. LaVeré, my apologies for entering your home in anger. Thank you for taking control of our family when I was not seeing the wrong in what had happened.” He then turned to Raheem and sighed. “You are my brother, and I will always love you. Go home to Asmere. Do not return until you have righted the wrongs you have bestowed on our sister. Until then you are banished from Emure.”
“Aswan, you cannot mean…”
“I do Mother. We were once a happy family. This turmoil we have experienced began with his actions against ZsaZsa. He must make amends. Not to us or this country, but to ZsaZsa.”
JD cleared his throat. “I think it is time for us to take our leave.”
“ZsaZsa is leaving with me,” James Jr. declared in a manner that dared anyone to disagree with him. “She will return after her graduation. I expect for all of you to be there.” He looked at Raheem who appeared to be stunned by all that transpired. “That includes you Raheem.” He then looked at King Ahmed and Queen Nasheema. “I am very sorry we met under these conditions.” James continued. “I am James Brooks Jr. and I love your daughter very much. While King Aswan has given his blessing, I feel the need to ask you, her parents, may I have your daughter’s hand in marriage?”
ZsaZsa gasped as tears began to flow.
“Are you going to hit me if I say no?” King Ahmed asked.
Nasheema smiled then walked over to James Jr., palmed his face, then kissed him on both cheeks. “It will be our honor to accept you into our family.”
Ahmed walked over to stand next to his wife. “We will be there for her graduation. I only request that your wedding be held here.”
“He has yet to ask me,” ZsaZsa pointed out. “Everyone can agree all they want, however, until the question is asked there will be no wedding.”
James pulled ZsaZsa into his arms and proceeded to kiss her into silence.
“I think I’m too young to witness this,” Douglas chuckled. James, Brian, Calvin, and JD laughed.
“Don’t you be getting no ideas,” Brian said to Elliott.
“Are you serious.” Elliot gave his father an incredulous look.
“There are too many women out there that need a taste of this…”
“Caramel.” The boys said in unison.
“Let’s pack up and get out of here,” JD commanded.
“All right Son, give her some air,” James patted James Jr. on the back.
James Jr. ended the kiss, then looked into ZsaZsa’s dazed eyes. “Princess ZsaZsa Adannaya Ashro of Emure, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
ZsaZsa slightly bowed her head. “It would be my honor, my king,” she said still looking somewhat dazed.
A fter a spirited debate on Air Force One, it was decided that ZsaZsa would stay with James Jr. at his place until he was completely healed. The two refused to be separated.
“You know what is going to happen with those two, right?” Brian stated as they sat in the president’s private quarters on Air Force One.
“That ship has sailed,” James said as he took a drink.
“ZsaZsa has made it very clear to James that she is not for any more delays.” LaVeré said. “I will be very surprised if they make it off this plane.”
Calvin chuckled. “You are speaking as if you are both okay with the outcome. Can we make this a win in our column?”
“Hell no,” Brian said. “We still did not get the man who took the boys.”
“Give it up Brian,” Douglas stated. “We can always fly back over without their knowledge and take him out.”
Brian smiled. “I like the way you think.”
“Can you believe our sons are at the age to get married?” JD asked. “Think about it guys. At their age, we were still hanging loose.”
“No, we weren’t,” Brian corrected. “You weren’t admitting it, but your nose was wide open with Tracy, Calvin was telling the world Jackie had him hooked. I was wallowing in women trying to get over Caitlyn, and Douglas….” They all stopped and looked at him. “We don’t know what in the hell you were doing.”
They all laughed.
“Hey, what happened with Joshua over there. What was up with the little girl?” Douglas asked.
JD glanced at Calvin and James. James looked at LaVeré.
“Theodora is Joshua’s daughter,” LaVeré advised Douglas. “I think you are the only one in the room who did not know.”
“Whoa, the queen and Joshua?” Douglas raised an eyebrow.
“It happened before she was queen.” JD advised. “Phire flew home with him to make sure he did not do anything crazy.”
“It was a bad scene when we walked in to find guns pointed at Elliott and Teddi,” Brian stated. “But Teddi explained she walked away from her mother to hold her new friend’s hand.”
“Teddi may have saved us from an international disaster.” JD exhaled.
“There is more to come on that front,” LaVeré stated. “More to come.”