Page 13 of Trial of Deceit (The Family’s Oath #1)

Ashari stopped rubbing her lips. She swallowed the bile that forced its way up her throat.

“Are you sick in your head?! You’re my brother!

” she exclaimed. Romar didn’t react, and Ashari laughed before holding her head.

“Oh, this isn’t real! The drugs haven’t worn off yet, and I’m going crazy ’cause of Jediah—”

“I’m not your biological brother, Ashari.”

Ashari froze. Her laughter faded while her hands fell to her side. Her brows furrowed as she noticed the regret rush to Romar’s face. No hallucination could fake such raw emotion. “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing, Ash. Sorry. Forget what I said and pretend this didn’t happen. I shouldn’t have.”

“Romar!” she ran after him as he rushed toward the wall. She pleaded for him to stay, but Romar shrugged her off, slipped through the wall, and closed it.

Ashari felt the onslaught of a headache. She pushed past the disgust she initially felt to let confusion settle in its place.

She went to her room, got her phone, and demanded a meeting with Senior.

She wasn’t sure if Jediah had eyes on her, so she used the fake wall, then slipped through the back door of that apartment.

The wall was built into the apartment weeks before she officially began her first high profile case.

She kept her head low until she was miles away from St. Ann, parked near a port in Kingston, and was sitting across from the man whom she knew as father.

“You do not summon me as if I am a low ranking official with too much time on my hands,” he said. “I am busy trying to get a hold of Jaia and overseeing other cases—”

Ashari glared at Senior. “None of them are high ranking like this one, so spare me the excuses.”

Senior’s brows shot up. “Ashari Payne—”

“Is that even my name?” she challenged, and his brows lowered while his lips tugged into a straight line.

“You’re not fair, Senior! You said I was ready, and you sent me into this case blindsided!

You said Jediah couldn’t find anything beyond the fake life you created, yet he knows everything about me.

Tell me how that works!” she barked, and he opened his mouth, but she didn’t stop speaking.

“And to make matters worse, I watched that mad man kill the only friend I made on this case, and Romar kissed me ’cause he said we’re not related!

So, unless you’re going to fix your lips to give another long monologue about who I am, I don’t want to hear it!

” She was huffing by the end, but Senior was unmoved.

Ashari shook her head as she looked away from him.

She crossed her arms and stared through the window, unsure why she’d expected anything different from him.

Senior had never been the type to yield. Even when people forced his hand.

But he surprised her.

Because he started saying words that had Ashari sitting upright. Her mouth and arms loosened as she stared at him through wide, tear-filled eyes. She clung onto every word as he approached the bitter ending.

“They were my good friends before we joined the F.B.I. I was doing them a favor even though your moth… my wife, rest her soul, and I did not plan to have any more kids after Romar,” Senior said.

Ashari gaped like a dying fish. Words were eager to escape the confines of her mind, but shock rendered her mouth closed.

Senior laid a hand atop her shoulder. “Understand why I did it, Ashari. I did not lie. You are ready, but you cannot let emotions cloud your judgment on such a high profile case.”

An hour later, Ashari entered her apartment through the front door. She was surprised to see a man waiting on her sofa.

Cameron Reeves.

Ashari moved her hand to her side.

Cameron stood while shaking his head. “Wouldn’ do that if me a you,” Cameron warned. “Mi don’ wan’ hurt yu, so easy yuself. Jed wan’ see yu.”

“W-why?” she asked, her eyes darting around the room for a means of escape. The trap door was too far, and Cameron would grab her before she could run through the front door.

Cameron shrugged. “Mi don’ question him. Yu wan’ waa sweetie fi come?” He grabbed a lollipop out of the bowl atop the table, then stretched it toward her.

Ashari stared at all the empty wrappers atop her glass table, and she forced down a gulp. Charlie had left those. They were supposed to go to the kids at the daycare, signaling the beginning of Charlie’s parting gifts.

She forced away the tears before looking at him. “I’ll come. Let me go to my room first…” She stepped toward the room, and Cameron wagged his finger.

“Can’t let you do that, Ashari…” He stretched his arm outward, opening and closing his palm, while Ashari raised her brow.

Cameron knew who she was?

Confusion seeped into her as she walked over and gave him the gun. Cameron opened the door, and Ashari followed him outside. She kept her gaze on the floor as she stepped into the hall, not wanting to see Charlie’s decorated apartment door.

They went into the car and Cameron drove away. He easily maneuvered through the traffic, taking back roads Ashari hadn’t seen on her research maps. She was in awe of his skill.

The car slowed before the gate of a junkyard.

“Gwan in,” Cameron said as he parked. He turned to look at her, offering the candy with a grin. “Yu sure yu don’ want it? Your bitter attitude could use a little sweetness.”

Ashari scowled and exited the car with Cameron in tow. She wrapped her arms around her body while entering the junkyard. Bright stadium lights were scattered around the area, giving the impression that it was afternoon.

Jediah was a few feet away, his back turned to her.

He moved his hand from his mouth and dusted cigar ash to the side while staring at the crane before him.

Cameron walked past Jediah and entered the crane.

He used the mechanism to grab an older model of a luxury car.

Red liquid seeped from the closed trunk as the car dropped into the compressor.

A loud screech disrupted the almost silent night.

Ashari winced as she stopped beside Jediah.

“This is what happens to people who betray me,” Jediah said.

Watching the crane grab another car, Ashari reminded herself to remain strong.

“You think I would’ve been stupid enough to be here if I betrayed you?

They would’ve extracted me already, especially after what almost happened…

” She looked at him until realization dawned on him. “I’m stranded, Jediah.”

“Anything else?” he asked, and she shook her head. “Why did you confess?”

“You killed my friend,” she forced out, and he gave no reaction apart from moving the cigar to his mouth. Forcing down the urge to cry, Ashari continued, “And now you’re making me witness one of your numerous crimes. You knowing who I am doesn’t matter because I don’t have anything to show for it.”

“No, Ashari. You’re smart. You have a reason.”

“I do,” she said, and he looked at her for the first time. The shadows falling over his face as the crane moved to grab another car, made him look more cruel. She glared. “Figure me out. Isn’t that what you’ve been trying to do since you found out who I am and didn’t kill me?”

“No. It’s because you’re selfish, and I love that.”

Her brows furrowed while she shook her head. “I’m not selfish. I do what’s right, and you don’t. You never had, and you belong in prison.”

“Who yu be fi tell me wrong from right, Ashari? Mi can easily seh afta we leave the club, we drink, and yu coerce mi fi seh everything yu gather. It a go be your word against mine,” he said, and she refrained from calling his bluff.

“Look around you. I’m Jamaica’s richest car importer.

No F.B.I. agent can bring me down when you don’t have jurisdiction in Jamaica, but you have a fiery spirit that intrigues me, just like these other rich people. ”

“What are you talking about?”

He motioned to the cars. “They like new luxury cars with perks, and I like old ones for disposal.” Jediah smirked as he glanced at her. “What will you do with this information?”

Ashari glared, then looked away while bitterness filled her. “Nothing.”

“Come here. I want to show you something,” Jediah said and walked away before she could protest.

Sighing, Ashari followed him to the SUV parked beside Cameron’s car.

Jediah opened the passenger door and offered her a hand, but Ashari refused his help and entered.

He slammed the door shut behind her. He drove them to a warehouse on the outskirts of the junkyard.

It wasn’t one she’d seen in all her research, and that angered her.

Jediah Richardson always seemed to be several steps ahead of her. She felt useless. Why did they put her on this case? She wasn’t ready. If no one could bring down the Richardson family before she was born, why was Senior convinced that she could?

She gritted her teeth as she remembered all Senior had told her earlier. Rage bubbled inside her as Jediah opened the door and offered her a hand.

“I don’t need your help. Move,” Ashari said through clenched teeth.

“Let me be a gentleman,” Jediah said, frustration in his tone.

Ashari scowled and forcefully shoved him out of her way. She hopped out of the SUV, ignored grumbles as he closed the door, then allowed him to lead the way.

As they walked past the warehouse, Ashari peeked through the open door. Inside was dark, but she saw outlines of many vehicles — some cars were partly dismantled, others were hoisted onto lifts.

As they arrived at the back of the warehouse, curiosity morphed into shock as Ashari saw Dimitri standing beside a kneeling man. Dimitri’s arm was propped on the handle of a shovel. Two six-feet holes were dug side-by-side into the ground. One was behind the kneeling man.

“Jed, don’t do this!” Ashari screamed, about to propel herself forward, when she came to a sudden halt.

Jediah’s grip tightened around Ashari’s waist, holding her flush against him as she flailed. His chest brushed against her back with every breath he took.

Her hand smacked into his face, making his fingers dig deeper into her side. “Let him go!”

Jediah pressed his mouth against the shell of her ear.

The earthy aroma of his breath fanned her skin as he kissed her ear, making a shiver run through her before he whispered, “You think you could come into my country and build a case against me. This is what happens to everyone who dares to cross me, Ashari. You said you haven’t given them anything, right? ”

“He doesn’t have anything to do with this! I’m working here alone!” she screamed, sobbing as Romar closed his eyes.

He looked so much like Charlie.

Gagged. Hands tied.

The difference was he didn’t have tear-stained cheeks.

“Lying won’t help you, Ashari. You’re not as strong as you think you are, and I’m going to break you until you realize why my family has been in this position for all these years,” he warned. His next actions were so quick, she was slow to process it.

Ashari’s delayed scream echoed into the night as the force of the gunshot sent Romar flying backward. He landed in the hole with a loud thud . Jediah smirked against Ashari’s ear as he lowered his gun.

“The next hole is yours, unless…” Jediah paused, probably waiting for her to give a reaction other than incoherent wails while she sagged against him. He held her tighter. “You prove your loyalty to me. We can pick up where we left off. I meant what I said — I like you, Ashari.”

“I hate you,” Ashari gritted out, lacing each word with disdain. Her breaths were quick and heavy as she looked over her shoulder to glare at him through narrowed eyes full of malice.

“Wrong answer.” Jediah pushed her forward.

Ashari stumbled toward the grave. She almost vomited as she stared at her brother.

Romar stirred, his face twisted into a wince.

He wasn’t dead?

“Romar!” Ashari yelled, about to jump in.

“You’re my accomplice to several murders. No law enforcement will let you walk free,” Jediah reminded.

Ashari froze.

The force wouldn’t make her walk. She was yet to tell anyone about Jaia, and she had lied to Romar about actually watching as Dimitri killed Charlie. There was no easy way out of this… but Jediah offered an attractive alternative.

Dimitri tossed the shovel at her foot.

“Prove your loyalty, or the next hole’s yours,” Jediah said.

Ashari didn’t budge. She continued to pant. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“It’s your move, Ashari,” Jediah said in a low, impatient hiss.

Romar frantically shook his head, muffled pleas pouring into the gag. His shirt was soaked with blood from where Jediah had shot him in the abdomen. Ashari dragged the back of her hand across her eyes, smearing her tears, before she stooped. Her shaking hand wrapped around the shovel’s cold handle.

Ashari sank the shovel into the nearby pile of dirt. Her lips trembled as dirt gathered on the shovel. She walked back to the grave, and tossed it atop Romar’s face.

She couldn’t bear being reminded that Jediah Richardson was molding her from a protégée to a corrupt, depraved being like himself.

She was ruined.

Finished.

There was no such thing as salvation.

Ashari’s only solace was now him.