“For the family. And for your sister?” The Chief’s tone was quiet, yet the effect was more gruesome than his earlier roar. “And for your sister?” Kamande advanced on his son.
Eka cowered against the wall. “Papa pl-please! Imani she-she understands her duty...”
“Jesus...” Roman fully understood then. He jerked out of the guards’ holds and turned his back on the scene.
The Chief apparently understood as well. “What did you two snakes promise each other?”
“Papa-”
“What!” Kamande snagged a fistful of his son’s soiled shirt.
“Nas-Nassor’s share of the m-mines are to come under our control after the marriage is consummated or...”
“Say it!” Kamande barked.
“Or his baby is in her belly,” Eka words tumbled out like a stream of nervous verbiage.
The Chief straightened, releasing Eka’s shirt so Eka could finish sliding down the wall.
Across the room, the crimson haze had returned to Roman’s vision. He could feel the tingle in his palms wooing him to draw fists and feed his rage with more pounding into Eka Kamande’s face.
Hilar Kamande removed that possibility. “Take him up,” he was instructing the guards. “I’m sending you home tonight,” he said when Eka stood before him. “Away from me is the safest place for you now.”
“Papa-”
“Tell your mother what you wish. Nothing she says or does will shield you from me.” Kamande looked to his guards. “Don’t let him out of your sight, just get him out of mine.”
Dutifully, the guards removed their charge from the wrecked room.
“Why would he do that?” Roman asked when he and the Chief were alone again.
“The Nassor mines are priceless and highly sought after. The family is greatly respected for keeping them out of the hands of the British or anyone else whose threatened them over the centuries. They are extensive and one could reap profits in the hundreds of millions. For Nassor, a blood bond with our family would be just as lucrative.”
The doctor and his nurse arrived from the back while Roman was still processing the Chief’s words. The nurse, a tall stately woman, halted briefly and took in the room’s disheveled state. Then, she moved to the penthouse door and let herself out. Seconds later, the physician was descended upon.
“How is my girl, doctor?”
The doctor’s thin freckled face bore encouragement once he got past his surprise over finding the elegant room in such a wrecked state. He then regarded the worried father. “She is fine, just fine. She was in the grip of mild shock when I first got here, but that’s passed. I don’t see the need for prescribing any medication aside from a strong tea. I’ve already called to have sent up.”
“Was she hurt?” Roman interrupted to ask.
The doctor looked to the Chief, who nodded for him to speak freely.
“I found no sign that she suffered a sexual molestation. The attack resulted in a few bruises but they’ll heal in a matter of days,” the doctor added hastily when he picked up on a rabid sound curdling in Roman’s throat.
“I’m the on-duty physician for the next forty-eight hours,” the man said to his patient’s father. “I’ll return to check on Imani in the morning, but please do call tonight if there is a problem. She uh-is asking for... Roman?” Mild trepidation surged in the doctor’s pale blues when he looked to the younger of the two men that towered over him. Satisfied, he nodded. “Goodnight to you both,” he said.
Kamande waved graciously. “Let me show you out, doctor.”
Roman waited in the living room. He was looking down the corridor to Imani’s bedroom suite when Hilar Kamande returned.
“You may go to her, son.”
Roman stayed where he was. His eyes were hard when they met the Chief’s. “Sir, I know I-I know she can never be mine, but I...please don’t let her marry Nassor or anyone like him.”
The Chief’s dark eyes were equally hard. “Kapango Nassor is being watched by my guards. They make poor nurses, but I don’t think he deserves the doctor’s services, quite yet. He will never be in the same room with Imani again. Once I’ve spoken to his father, he’ll be lucky if he walks again. As for Imani and marriage...well, I believe my girl deserves the right to have more of a say in who she spends her life with.” With that, he nodded toward the corridor, urging Roman to go.
~~~
She didn’t see him when he got there and Roman was glad. It gave him the chance to observe her unaware. She was sitting in the middle of an immense bed. Her hair was wrapped high in a swath of mushroom colored cloth that matched her gown-a strapless creation that wrapped around her like a towel. The fabric was stretchy and seemed to cover her from chest to ankle. Her bare arms were curled about her legs. Her chin rested on her knees.
“Imani?”
Her blank expression cleared. Expectation took shape in her eyes and she pushed to her knees.
Roman approached the bed, but moved no further.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Tired,” she nodded, “the doctor is sending tea.”
“You wanted to see me?”
“I wanted to thank you.”
“For what? You were taking care of it just fine-only needed me for a few finishing touches,” he waited, feeling better when she smiled.
“It was a shame to ruin such pretty lamps,” she said.
