There was no such thing as salvation.
Ashari’s only solace was now him.
Chapter six
Jediahsatonhischair and grabbed a cigar.He lit it and spun around, facing the portrait on the wall so he didn’t have to see the three faces behind him.
“I was hired by Kayon to guide you.You can’t keep being this reckless,” Elias said.
“It’s already done,” Jediah stated.“She will stay with me.”
“An F.B.I.agent in your house is a good idea?What will happen when they start searching for her?”Elias hissed, and Jediah exhaled a puff of smoke as he stared at the laminated portrait of himself with an older woman.
“She caan’ leave without mi permission, and she has no future in the force.Relax.”
“Relax,” Elias mocked, laughing.“You’re going to run this family into the ground.”
“Are you a Richardson, Mr.Swaby?”Jediah asked as his eyes lingered on the woman’s arm wrapped over his shoulder.
She’d never been the type to drown herself in perfume, but she had done so before joining Jediah and the photographer.Jediah knew the sweet fragrance wasn’t to hide the faint scent of tobacco smoke, but to mask the blood below her neckline.
“No.”
“Exactly.If anyone should run this family down, it should be me,” Jediah whispered the last part as his eyes drifted to the woman’s.
Malia Richardson.Gone too soon.
Jediah carried the weight of her death every day.All these years.Maybe that was why he’d developed a habit of leaving women instead of keeping them around.
But he couldn’t leave Ashari.
She’d ruined his streak by leaving him first.
Jediah spun the chair around.He set the cigar in the ashtray and said to Cameron, who was playing on his phone, “Reine’s leaving class soon.Ensure she goes to her extracurriculars before going out with her friends.”
“Ah.”Cameron nodded and left the room.
Jediah looked at Elias.“She won’t have a chance to betray me.I made sure of that.She’s… interesting.The most fun I’ve had in a while.When I’m done having fun with her, I’ll kill her.Stop worrying your greying head, Eli.”
Elias took a moment to reply, “I hope this works as you say it will.”
“It will.No one knows who she is except the four of us in this room, plus the rookie.So, if anyone finds out I’m keeping an agent and starts questioning my leadership… I know who to kill first.”Jediah’s focus lingered on Elias.
Elias nodded, then looked at his watch.“I have to get Howie from the daycare.Later we’ll discuss the new imports.”
“About that… I’m planning to use some of the construction sites.It’s mostly been slim bodies for the past few months.I thought it would’ve been a regular day, but Cameron said the reassemble procedure isn’t worth the hassle unless we raise the cost, but with the new eye…” Jediah trailed off, shaking his head.
“I have a daughter.I can’t do that.”
“When did it sound like I was asking?”
Elias stood.“I will find a better option that works.”
Jediah nodded before waving Elias away.Elias opened the door, revealing Acacia.Barrel was in her hands, dressed in a little dress.Jediah’s eyes narrowed while the mini-pig squealed.
“S-sorry!”Acacia exclaimed, running away.
“Should I get her?”Dimitri’s voice came, and Jediah shook his head.