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 loudscreechdisrupted 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.