Page 46 of Trial of Deceit (The Family’s Oath #1)

“I’m crawling my way to the top. I managed to overthrow a powerful man.

My hu— Kirani has resources, but he’s yet to meet with you because you don’t concern yourself with our gang wars unless it disrupts the money flow,” Raven said, waiting a few seconds for a reaction that didn’t come.

Raven continued, “I don’t want an enemy out of you, Jediah.

You’re stronger. Powerful. The perfect ally I need on my side.

But, if Kirani ever comes to you and you choose his side over mine, then you’re just in my way. ”

Jediah resisted the urge to chuckle. Smoothing out his expression, he turned around. “Is that a threat, Mrs. Saint?”

Raven’s jaw ticked at the use of the name before she shook her head.

“No. I’m not stupid, but I have to be realistic.

I escaped two controlling men, and I want the same for my sister.

My father might have killed yours and said it was for Acacia, but we both know that’s a lie.

He doesn’t care about her, but I do. She’s all I have, and one day when I’m in a position to bring something valuable to the table, I will negotiate for Acacia’s freedom. ”

“Acacia is gone,” Jediah said. “You need to give it up.”

“But my sister isn’t dead. She can’t be,” Raven said, her voice cracking.

The bodyguard reached toward Raven’s shoulder. She took a step away before he could touch her. He gulped hard as he lowered his hand.

Jediah took a quick puff of the cigar. “Where’s Sahil?”

Raven gulped. “I don’t know.”

“Somehow, I don’t believe that.”

“He left the country after he killed your father. He can be anywhere.”

“If you can find him and bring him to me, maybe I’ll consider your proposal.”

Raven pursed her lips. Then, she nodded. “Deal.”

“It’s not a deal until Sahil is in front of me,” Jediah said. “Will that be all?”

Raven nodded. She turned and walked away with the bodyguard closely following behind her. They stopped at the car they arrived in, and he opened the door for her. After he got behind the wheel, the car drove off.

Dimitri moved to Jediah’s side. “We have to keep an eye on her. We’ve seen all that she’s achieved in such a short time. She’s not going to take it lightly when she passes this stage of denial.”

“If Raven wants a war, I’ll give her a war. Why are you worried? Your professional worker can keep an eye on her if she makes a move against us,” Jediah said and turned around. He was about to walk toward the back of the warehouse when an indistinguishable yell came from behind him.

Everyone went on high alert, reaching for their guns.

As Jediah was about to turn around, a blast came from somewhere.

The force threw him off his feet and sent his body flying.

Above, the lights flickered before going dark.

Jediah’s body slammed into an iron column as smoke and groans filled the air.

He thudded to the ground as a loud ringing developed in his ear.

“Mi still caan’ believe him do this,” Bryony complained while unloading the washing machine.

Ashari, who sat on a cushioned chair Bryony had pulled into the laundry room and kept by the open window, sighed. She continued rubbing the irritated skin of her ankle. “I can,” Ashari muttered.

“Him don’ tek it off at night when you a sleep? Or when unu…”

Ashari froze as Bryony trailed off. Her heart raced as she remembered the last time Jediah was intimate with her. He hadn’t even mentioned it since then. She didn’t want to be the first one to bring it up. She still couldn’t fully wrap her head around what had happened.

“Dear?” Bryony said.

Ashari blinked rapidly to clear the mental fog. She made a tight-lipped smile as she looked toward Bryony, who stared at her with concern-filled eyes. “I’m fine, Bryony. I promise.”

“Okay,” Bryony sighed. “He wasn’t always like this, you know?”

“How? Crazy?”

“He’s not crazy. He’s just complicated. Jediah has never quite been the same since his mom left,” Bryony explained.

“What was he like?”

Bryony smiled at nothing in particular as she reminisced. “Jediah was a sweet boy… when him neva did a catch lizard or bruk the window dem a try kill bird with slingshot. Him and Dimitri coulda work me blood pressure.”

Ashari, now cradling her belly, chuckled as Bryony laughed.

As the laughter died down, Bryony’s eyes locked onto Ashari’s hand. “Has the baby moved yet?”

Shaking her head, Ashari sighed. She felt her belly at different spots. “Cedella says I shouldn’t worry ’cause not every baby is active during early pregnancy, but I’m still kinda worried ’cause I should’ve felt something by now.”

“Hmm,” Bryony hummed.

“I wonder if our baby will be like him… The good parts, I mean.”

Bryony’s gaze lingered on Ashari’s hand before it dragged up to Ashari’s eyes. Her brows furrowed. “Jediah is misunderstood because of how he does things, but he is a good man. He’s your husband, you should know.”

“You’re going to say that right now?” Ashari asked, then wiggled her anklet-clad foot in the air.

“I’m sorry, Ash. But at least try to understand why—”

“I don’t want to.” Ashari got to her feet. “I’m going to check if any laundry is in our room. I’ll be back,” she said, and Bryony nodded.

Ashari exited the laundry room. As she moved toward hers and Jediah’s wing, she passed by a half-bath. Low noises drifted from below the door, making Ashari’s brows furrow.

Reine was with Iyana, so it couldn’t be her. Dedrian wouldn’t be coming in until tonight. The in-house staff had their own wing with bathrooms, so they often refrained from using the ones on this side of the house, regardless of Bryony and Jediah assuring them that it was okay to do so.

Curiosity got the best of Ashari. She pressed her ear to the door and listened.

As the murmurs beyond the closed door died off, Ashari’s eyes widened. She leaned off the door and took quick, silent steps away. When she was far enough away, she ran toward the nearest backdoor.

Bryony, who was heading inside with a basket of air-dried laundry under her arm, raised a brow. “Weh you a go?”

“I need to go to Jed,” Ashari rushed out through quick breaths.

“Him deh a the outskirts. Yu caan’ go out deh. You’ll die.”

Tears sprang to Ashari’s eyes. She blinked them away. “I know, but I have to warn Jed.” She powered onward, ignoring Bryony’s demand for her to stay put and allow her to bring Jediah to the main house.

But there was no time for that.

As Ashari stopped a few centimeters away from the gazebo, she bent over and rested her hands on her knees.

She was so out of shape. Since abandoning the F.B.I.

, she hadn’t exercised as much as she used to do.

Jediah had an at-home gym, but she never used it.

She spent most of her days walking about the gazebo because it was better than being a prisoner in the house.

Panting, she lifted her head and yelled Jediah’s name, but got no response.

She looked down at the bracelet, knowing she should have a twenty second countdown. It would take at least eight to run to the outskirts, then a few more to catch her breath before demanding that Jediah input the code on the bracelet.

That should be enough time, right?

Right.

There was no more time to waste. Jediah needed this news now .

“Sorry I couldn’t be what you wanted, Senior,” Ashari breathed while cupping her belly. She pushed away the surging memories of the train-wreck case that had led her here, then straightened herself and took off.

The wind whisked in her ears as she propelled herself as fast as her feet could carry her. The warning beep of the anklet faded into the background, becoming a distant noise as the entrance of the warehouse came into view.

“Jed!” Ashari screamed, spotting people at the back entrance of the warehouse, seconds before a loud boom filled the air.