Page 4 of Trial of Deceit (The Family’s Oath #1)

She sat patiently and waited for Cameron to open the door for her.

She exited and waited for Jediah. He stood beside her and stared into her eyes for a few seconds longer than she would’ve liked, before he motioned for her to follow him.

They didn’t speak as they entered the hotel and went up to a private suite.

Ashari’s mouth dropped as they entered the room.

She couldn’t believe her eyes as she walked further into the room.

She was used to wealth, but this… this was far out of her league.

From silk curtains to a golden table. Even a collection of the finest cigars and wines was available for their disposal.

“It’s real gold, in case you’re wondering,” Jediah said, already stripping his shirt from his muscular torso.

“Who said I’m wondering?” she asked, stepping backward while he approached her. She did her best not to let her gaze drift below his neck.

“I can tell by your face,” he said, smirking when she fell onto the bed. “You already look so pretty beneath me,” he said. “Tell me, Just Ari, have you ever looked at yourself in a ceiling mirror, moaning loud until you can’t see yourself anymore because your eyes rolled to the back of your head?”

An uneven breath passed her lips while she slowly shook her head. Goosebumps spread across her skin as he towered above her with desire pooling in his eyes. “No.”

Jediah grinned. “Tonight’s your lucky night, my Ari.”

He wasn’t the type to lust after women he met the night before, but when he was unceremoniously woken up the next morning in an empty bed? He wanted her.

No.

He needed her.

Did she really not know who he was?

Jediah was never the one who woke up to do the walk of shame. It was always the women. Everyone deserved to remember that they were beneath him.

But Ari had run out after she’d gotten a phone call, leaving him to send Cameron on an important task. He needed to get his dick wet somehow.

He’d never had this happen to him before. He and Ari didn’t have sex, yet he felt like a cheap whore.

“Cover yu hood, bredda,” Dimitri said, tossing clothes at Jediah, who sneered at him.

Dimitri was three years Jediah’s senior. They’d been friends before Jediah understood what friends were.

Not bothering to be modest, Jediah hopped out of the bed and slipped the clothes on. “Where is she?”

“Don’ know.”

“You made her leave?”

“Mi did fi mek her stay?” Dimitri asked, then hissed his teeth. “Come. Yu have the meeting with Isley.”

Jediah scowled. He hated how Dimitri knew he was the only one he allowed to speak to him in any kind of way. But, more than that, he hated Isley Pinnock more than he hated not getting what he wanted.

He didn’t want to go to such an early morning sit down.

The only thing on his mind was that woman from last night.

Her eyes behind her big, square-framed glasses, scared to look him in the eyes.

Her plump lips and how often she wet them with her pink tongue.

He could’ve barely restrained himself from touching her during the car ride, and now he was hardening from thinking about her.

Snapping back to reality, he made his way downstairs.

Four darkly tinted SUVs were parked in a single file at the hotel’s entrance.

Cameron stood at the passenger door of the third vehicle.

He opened the door for Jediah to enter while Dimitri entered from the other side.

Cameron drove off and joked around with Dimitri until they arrived at the Richardson estate, which was nestled in the hills of St. Ann.

“Good morning, Jediah,” greeted Bryony Miller as Jediah entered the foyer.

She was his nanny who’d become his substitute mother, still looking out for him at the age of twenty-nine.

She’d willingly chosen to go fully grey a few years ago, and always kept the dyed hair in a neat, low bun.

Her circle-frame reading glasses were tucked into her hair, as if it was a part of her body.

Jediah groaned. “I know that look, Miss B. I just came home. Don’t stress me.”

Bryony crossed her arms as he walked past her. “I told you to visit—”

Jediah perked up and rushed out, “He’s dead?”

“No,” she answered and his shoulders slumped.

“So, I don’t have a reason to visit him,” Jediah said, snickering at Bryony’s loud huff.

“Acacia has been asking for you,” she shouted at his back, making Jediah pause at the staircase.

As if she heard her name, Acacia entered the foyer.

She was in a simple, pink house dress. She must’ve woken up not too long ago.

Despite her skin being as pale as snow, Acacia was beautiful with her brunette hair and rosy cheeks.

Jediah always thought she looked like a doll, but he’d never allow those words to leave his mouth.

But Jediah would never allow those words to leave his mouth.

Not even if she was his fiancée.

Acacia’s focus drifted from Bryony to Jediah.

Some color rushed to her cheeks as she opened her mouth to greet him.

Jediah turned his back, mounting the stairs two at a time before Acacia could get the words out.

He went to the private wing that hosted his bedroom.

Seconds after he entered and closed the door, it pushed inward.

“Yu caan’ keep put this off,” said Bryony, one of the only persons bold enough to intrude into his space. “Kayon—”

“Don’t tell me about Kayon,” Jediah hissed, keeping his back to Bryony while his fists tightened at his sides.

“Mi will talk to yu ’bout Kayon if mi want to! And Acacia a yu fiancée, Jediah!”

“An arranged fiancée,” Jediah corrected, spinning around. He glared at Bryony. “Mi don’ know the gyal from nuh weh and yu wan’ mi cuddle and f—”

Bryony slapped him across his face. She breathed heavily as she pulled her hand back to her side. “You a go respect her, Jediah. Is not ask me a ask or beg. Acacia Majors will soon be a Richardson. She’s been reserved for you all these years, and you will treat her like she’s part of this family.”

Jediah’s glare deepened while his jaw continued to throb.

All he’d wanted to do was have a quick shower, but Bryony insisted on antagonizing him.

“Didn’t she just turn eighteen? Anybody who’s younger than my sister can’t be my wife.

You don’t see how that’s fu— sheg up, Miss B? Send her back to where she came from.”

“Kayon—”

Jediah exhaled a heavy breath. He was about to walk away when Bryony spoke again.

“Acacia wants a pet.”

“How does that affect me?”

“She wants a mini pig…”

Jediah laughed. “You’re joking?” he asked, and Bryony shook her head. His laughter faded and he pursed his lips for a moment before raising his brow. “Can it be trained?”

Bryony shrugged. “Mi don’ sure, but she been doing research ’bout it and seem pretty excited. She’s been trying to ask you about it, but you keep pushing her away.”

Jediah pursed his lips at Bryony’s reprimand, then stepped past her.

He exited the room and dismounted the stairs, pausing as he saw Acacia idling by the bottom of the staircase.

She held her head low after their gaze met and played with her fingers.

His jaw clenched as he walked past her, taking long strides toward the front door.

“Jediah,” Acacia called out in her low voice.

He stopped, but he didn’t turn to face her. He couldn’t stand seeing how meek Acacia was.

“Can I visit my sister?” she asked.

“You don’t need my permission.”

“But—” she started, then paused as he took a step forward before stopping.

He turned to face her. He kept his eyes on her youthful face, her kind eyes staring into his hardened ones. “But what?”

“Nothing,” she said, her words rushing out. “I wanted her to come here, but her husband said no.”

“Why?” he asked. His eyes narrowed on her as she gulped. “And you expect to go there instead? No. You can’t go.”

A loud huff came from the top of the staircase.

Jediah looked in that direction to see Bryony shaking her head, a displeased frown on her face.

Jediah’s gaze darted back to Acacia. Her head was down, her shoulders slumped from defeat.

He said nothing as he turned around and continued his walk until he was outside.

The estate had cameras and armed guards everywhere. The land spanned as far as the eyes could see. A large stretch of green lawn was before him, with a two way circular driveway that was a three minute drive from the main gate. The closest neighbor was a fifteen minute drive away.

“Yu caan’ done bathe already,” Cameron mused, his eyes widening.

“A no everybody tek forever fi bathe like you,” Dimitri said, making Elias chuckle.

“Bye, Bryony,” Elias yelled as Jediah approached the car.

Jediah didn’t look back. He was sure Bryony was waving by the door.

“Bye, dear! Kiss Howie fi mi,” Bryony said as Jediah entered the vehicle.

Cameron took the steering wheel while Elias sat in the passenger seat. Jediah and Dimitri sat in the back. Jediah stopped at one of his other houses to shower before they continued the journey. After an almost two hour drive and a security check, Jediah was seated before Isley Pinnock’s desk.

“Mr. Richardson,” Isley greeted, standing and extending a hand over the desk.

“Let’s skip the formalities, shall we?” Jediah said. He was never one for long conversations if it wouldn’t end with him getting a few millions in his bank account.

Isley glared. “You know, you’re nothing like Kayon.”

“Am I supposed to feel offended?”

Isley huffed, retracting his hand before sitting.

Jediah glared. “I only agreed to this sit down out of respect for Kayon’s business with you. Next time, you will drag yourself out of this office and meet me at mine. Like all my suppliers do.”

“Okay,” Isley said through a tight smile. “I appreciate you meeting me, Jed. The Valcourts are moving in on my turf. I lost two hundred this week, and need an extension.”

“Don’ play with mi money, Isley,” Jediah interrupted. “You told me that everyone else is trash. You’re the one who’s been running the South and a fraction of the East Coast for years, and I shouldn’t cut you.”

“I know, but the news spread fast. Everyone knows the situation with Kayon since the secret got out, and they think it’s now a free game.”

“Free game?” Jediah asked, making a mockery of the word.

As Isley nodded, Jediah tapped his finger on the soft velvet armrest of the chair.

He gave Elias a glance, to which the man replied with a subtle shake of his head.

Jediah looked back at the old man across the desk.

“The Valcourts are your problem. Fix it before I do. You owe me seven hundred. I need that money delivered by Friday, or I’ll make you watch your daughter suck my dick before I let my men have fun with her. ”

Isley’s jaw clenched.

“Your move,” Jediah said, smirking. He knew Isley ached to say a slick retort, but Isley had to refrain. Not only because Dimitri would force Isley to swallow his own tongue, but because Jediah had already left the room.

Once Jediah was seated in the car and Cameron drove off, Elias said, “Jed, did you have to bring his daughter into this?”

“Yes,” Jediah answered.

“She’s in sixth form.”

Jediah glared. “Wa you a try seh, Eli? Mi don’ sleep wid pickney, but him don’ know that.”

Elias shrugged.

Jediah scowled while looking out the window. “Did you know about the Valcourts moving in?”

“No.”

Jediah’s eyes narrowed. “Mi pay yu bills so yu know if somebody take a shit and me don’ know.”

Elias nodded. “Sorry, Jed. I’ll handle it.”

“Cut him some slack,” Cameron said. “Know the man tired ’cause him a try get him son from Iyana every night.”

Jediah itched to say Elias’ only baby was his business, but he refrained. He shifted his focus to Dimitri. “If Isley don’ have mi money by Friday, kill him mother and leave her head on him doorstep.”

Elias’ eyes widened. “Jed—”

“Mi ask fi advice?” Jediah snapped, and Elias shook his head. “Then don’ give me advice.”

Elias scoffed. “It’s a good thing I don’t get paid to take advice from the person I’m supposed to give it. Leave the mother. Take the son.”

Jediah tapped his finger on the headrest of the passenger seat. “Why not the mother? That old bitch is as good as dead anyway.”

“True,” Elias agreed. “But we can send a message with the son. Leonardo is the new generation, and with a rise in violence in Kingston lately, we only want the Pinnocks to be able to point it back to us,” Elias said with a cheeky grin.

“Use Leonardo to keep Isley in line. His position is crucial. The East Coast cannot be a free game.”

Jediah hummed. “You got that, Dimitri?” he asked, and Dimitri nodded. “Good. But don’ kill him. Take four of his fingers. Leave the middle one. Tell Leonardo I’ll shove it up Isley’s ass if mi don’ get mi money.”

Dimitri nodded, and Elias smirked.

Looking out the window as Cameron maneuvered through the slow traffic on the quiet road, Jediah’s mind drifted to the woman from last night.

Just as he opened his mouth to order Cameron to find out everything about the woman who dared to leave him, a vehicle overtook them, making the car swerve.

Jediah’s teeth gritted as tires screeched against the road.

The sudden force sent Jediah’s body crashing into Dimitri’s side.

Before Cameron could get the spiraling vehicle under control, two vehicles sandwiched it and rolled down their windows.

The nuzzle of a gun slipped through a window seconds before a shower of bullets pelted Jediah’s car.