Page 48 of Trial of Deceit (The Family’s Oath #1)

Chapter twenty-eight

W incing at the pain in her raw throat, she placed the phone onto the table.

She moved a hand to her belly, feeling it at different spots.

A heavy sigh passed her lips, disheartened that the baby wouldn’t move to reassure her.

Her back stung from slamming into the floor and irritating her old wounds.

A slight throb developed at the back of her head and spread throughout her entire skull.

Holding the side of her head, Ashari gulped down another sip of water. Sitting and doing nothing was driving her insane. Anxiety bred a dreadful fear deep within her gut that made her queasy.

Closing her eyes, Ashari leaned forward. She bounced her leg and breathed slowly. After two attempts to level her breathing didn’t work, she gave up.

She straightened her back and continued watching the feed.

Masked men ran in hives out of trucks, infiltrating the warehouse and going into a shooting frenzy.

Everything was happening so fast, she was unsure how Jediah’s crew knew who was an enemy.

They moved with such efficiency and precision while she watched in awe.

Still, the enemies weren’t dying fast enough. Many had dropped like flies, but there were still too many of them. Now knowing all she did, she was sure this was an inside job.

Watching Jediah duck behind a column to reload, Ashari gritted her teeth. She couldn’t sit still any longer. She’d lost too much and sacrificed plenty all in the name of a failed case; she couldn’t just allow Jediah to die at the hands of those who betrayed him.

His own family.

The family she’d married into.

Hoping for the best, Ashari swallowed more water.

It was a futile attempt to soothe her raw throat, but she didn’t stop draining the cup until it was empty.

She stood and moved to the closet. After slipping on a vest and gas mask, throwing a rifle over her shoulder and holding a pistol with silencers in each hand, Ashari slipped out of the room.

She wasn’t stupid. In her efforts to help, she stuck to the shadows and avoided hallways that echoed with gunfire.

Emergency lights lining the bottom of walls prevented her from slamming into them while guiding her through the warehouse.

Turning a corner with her guns trained before her, Ashari froze at seeing a man at the end of the hallway.

He had his back against the wall, panting with a hand pressed against his hip.

His other hand, stained with blood, held a rifle. He hadn’t noticed her yet.

Ashari tightened her grip on her guns. She knew she should turn around, but what if this was one of Jediah’s crew? She didn’t know how they identified each other. The dust and darkness of the warehouse had made it impossible to tell.

Ashari flicked the safety on and off on one of her pistols. The man snapped his head in her direction. Surprise flashed in the man’s eyes, his finger around the trigger twitching.

Ashari didn’t think.

She shot him.

Twice.

Two clean shots that ended his life quickly.

Then, she continued down the hallway.

Entering the large room, she ducked behind a table that was on its side, and gave her eyes time to adjust to the darkness.

As far as she could see, the room was practically empty.

She saw Jediah, but where was Dimitri? They would’ve never left each other’s side at a time like this.

Her eyes scanned the room again, her brows pulling together as uncomfortable questions formed in her mind.

Looking back at Jediah, she was about to move forward, when a figure before him made her pause. She shifted about, noticing someone standing a few feet before Jediah.

Based on her small build, it was a woman. She held her gas mask in her hand. The clouds of dust made it hard to see who she was. She and Jediah had a pistol aimed at each other.

They were tense. Someone was going to die. Either this woman, or her husband.

And it could never be Jediah.

Quietly, Ashari laid her pistols on the ground. She slipped the rifle off her back, aimed at the woman with the use of her scope, then fired a shot. The gas mask fell from the woman’s hand. Her hand darted to the wound, shock rendering her silent for seconds before she released a piercing scream.

Jediah looked over his shoulder. He waved his gun around in an effort to pinpoint exactly where she was. In that split second, the woman limped away.

Ashari’s lips parted to yell for Jediah to stop the woman, but her throat protested.

Groaning, she yanked off the gas mask and coughed.

She knew it was stupid to irritate her throat further, but breathing was hard with or without the mask.

Tossing the gun to the side, she bent over and rested her hands on her knees.

The ground swayed. Her nose tingled from the awful mix of dust, blood, antibiotics, and gunpowder.

“J-Jed,” she forced out while his footsteps echoed in the room, sounding further and further away. Before she could call for him again, the world faded into nothingness.

“What do you mean?” Jediah asked, his grip tightening on Ashari’s hand.

Cedella smiled warmly. “Your wife got a bad hit when she fell. The baby has a better chance of survival out here than inside her.”

“Cedella, you already a walk a thin line wid mi,” Jediah reminded. “If this is another one of your ploys to get my family to give you and your hospital more money than we already do—”

Ashari’s lips trembled as she moved her free hand to her belly. “I-it’s too early. I’m only twenty-four weeks…” she trailed off with a wince.

Jediah moved closer to the bedside. He loosened his grip and stroked his thumb across her knuckles. His brows furrowed as he wiped away the sweat dotting her forehead.

“I’m scared,” Ashari whispered.

He laid both hands atop hers. “You’re the strongest person I know, queen. You can do it for us and the baby.”

She nodded, his words filling her with the bravado she needed.

Jediah looked at Cedella. “Do whatever you have to do.”

Cedella said, “This early in a pregnancy, the chances of survival for the baby are very low—”

“Like it did low seh Malia wouldn’ survive the crash?” Jediah hissed. No emotion was in his voice.

Cedella’s smile faltered. “Mr. Richardson, I work for the family—”

“ I am family!” Jediah shouted, his eyes darkening. “If our baby dies because of you—”

“Jed.” Ashari squeezed Jediah’s hand. Despite how everything hurt, she gave him a gentle smile as his focus shifted to her. Positive he wouldn’t have another outburst, she told Cedella to do whatever was necessary for her health and the baby’s.

Jediah stayed by her side as she got induced. He didn’t even leave to clean himself of the blood and gunpowder residue. Cedella had insisted he clean himself when they arrived at the hospital moments ago, but Jediah refused. Cedella had grumbled before tossing a sterile suit at him.

When it was time to push, Ashari gave it her all, squeezing Jediah’s hands while he held it like a man. Never in a million years did she think she would’ve been in this situation. She was hired to put Jediah Richardson in prison, but he’d derailed that process at every turn.

And stolen her heart while doing so.

Finally, their child came into the world. Quiet as a lamb.

Cedella and her team rushed into action. Panting, Ashari’s motherly instinct beckoned for her to rush over and keep a closer eye on what they were doing to the baby, but she remained put.

There was nothing that she could do.

Her place was right here with her husband.

She looked over at him. Jediah stared at her, mesmerized.

“Strongest woman I know,” Jediah said through a dazed smile.

As she was about to reply, a nurse approached the bed. Ashari recognized the woman as the one who was oftentimes Kayon’s night nurse. Ashari couldn’t remember the woman’s name, and she didn’t try to.

“The baby is okay,” said the nurse. “Would you like to—”

Jediah smiled, about to eagerly nod his head when Ashari shook hers. His brows furrowed and he frowned at her. “Ash?”

Ashari looked down at her hand as she freed it from Jediah’s. “Can I clean up first?” she asked.

“Of course,” the nurse replied with a gentle smile. “Would you like help?”

“We’re good,” Jediah told the woman. “Go check if Bryony’s still in the waiting room. If she is, tell her to come and keep an eye on Cedella.”

The nurse’s brows furrowed. “You can trust Cedella—”

“Right now, mi don’ trust none a unu.”

“But—”

“ Now , Dedrian,” Jediah hissed through clenched teeth while standing.

Dedrian nodded and powerwalked out of the room. After she returned with Bryony, Jediah scooped Ashari into his arms and moved toward the bathroom. He kicked the door shut behind them.

“Still in pain?” he asked.

“I just gave birth to our baby, who I’m not sure will survive. What do you think?” Ashari asked.

“Sorry…”

She sighed, nuzzling her head into his neck. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so harsh. I just…”

“You?”

“I feel…” Ashari paused, sucking in a big breath. “Dirty…”

“Let’s get you cleaned,” he said, taking another step toward the shower.

“Wait,” Ashari said, smiling as he paused. “Still can’t believe your heart’s on the right side of your chest.”

Jediah chuckled. “Wan’ lie pon the next side fi hear yu man heartbeat? Never knew yu woulda ever need mi this much.”

“I don’t need you,” she said, scoffing. “But you make me feel safe.”

Jediah peered down at her with a smile. “I’m happy to hear that.” He put her in the shower, and she tensed. He cupped her face in his hands, making her look up at him through teary eyes. “Queen... You’re safe, okay? I’m here. I won’t let you drown or hurt again. Not after all you went through.”

Though unsure, Ashari nodded. He gave her a gentle smile before removing her gown.

Jediah stripped down to his boxers before turning on the tap.

Jediah crouched over, cupping his hand to gather water in it.

When the water began running over the sides of his hand, he splashed it onto her toes. Ashari stepped backward.

Jediah looked up at her. “Ash,” he whispered, his voice gentle. Kind. The opposite of the cold man she knew. “I’m here.”

Inhaling a shaky breath, Ashari nodded. Jediah gave her that same look. It wasn’t pity. It was something more.

Understanding.

Comfort.

Love.

All that she needed right now, plus more.

He rested his dry hand on the small of her back, gently bringing her forward. He got her used to feeling the warm water on her toes and legs, before he entered the shower and turned on the faucet.

Jediah stood directly beneath the stream, his boxers clinging to his thighs as he took the brunt of the water.

He wrapped an arm around Ashari’s waist. Tentatively, he brought her further beneath the water.

At the first hit of water against her flesh, which washed blood down her inner thighs, Ashari screamed.

And Jediah held her closer.

Never letting go.

Not until she was reminded that she was safe.

Always.

As long as she was with him.