Page 68 of Trial of Deceit

Ashari inhaled deeply, hoping the influx of fresh oxygen would be enough to smother the surging sadness that threatened to suffocate her.Then, she pushed the door inward.

Jediah didn’t look toward her, but Ashari wasn’t surprised.He seemed in another dimension until she pulled out the chair opposite his, then lowered herself onto it.Jediah blinked rapidly, shaking his head as he sat upright in his chair.His eyes remained on hers as he lowered the piece to a random place on the board.“Ash,” he said, clearing his throat again.“A long time yu in here?”

She shook her head with a small smile.“Distracted?”

His face became a blank slate.“What do you want?”he asked instead of answering.Jediah looked at the board, his brows coming together after noticing how he’d thoughtlessly placed his piece.

“I came to ask a favor.”

He chuckled.“And what would my little agent want?”

“My brother…” she muttered, causing him to stiffen.She lifted her chin as he looked into her eyes.His eyes swirled with questions while hers remained passive.“Romar deserves a proper burial, Jed.Please.Me never ask you for nothing yet.Imagine how you woulda feel if Reine—”

“Nothing can happen to Reine.”

Ashari couldn’t help rolling her eyes.“Just imagine.”

“No.”

She sighed.“Why you so stubborn?”she asked, and he shrugged.As his hand moved over the board, reaching for a piece on her side, Ashari grabbed it.Their eyes met, and her gaze softened.“Please…”

Jediah stared at their hands for a moment, then his eyes moved back to hers.“Okay.”

Ashari smiled.“Really?”

He chuckled.“Stop gwan like yu don’ come use yu puss eye dem fi mek mi weak to yu.”

She grinned.“Thank you!I really appreciate it.”

Nodding, Jediah freed his hand.He crossed one arm over the other while relaxing into the chair.“Weh yu a go bury him?”

“Back home,” she answered, and his brow raised.“I mean in America.”

“No.”

She frowned.“But you said—”

“I’ve never been outside of the country before,” Jediah confessed.

Ashari thought about how she was somewhat the same.She knew no other countries except America and Jamaica.Though she was born in the latter, it hadn’t been a home for many years.

Jediah dragged her from her thoughts as he stood.“I won’t let you out of my sight like that.”

“Fine.Can I at least get some privacy to cremate him and release his ashes?”

Jediah nodded.“Of course.You’re not a prisoner, and I’m not heartless.”

“There you go again…” she teased, and he grinned.

“Let’s go for a walk around the estate.Mi need fi clear mi head.”He extended a hand toward her.Her brow raised as she looked from it to his face, causing Jediah to mimic her.“You’ve sucked — or rather bitten — my dick, but you’re scared to hold my hand?”he asked, and she dryly laughed, making him grin.“You’ll pay for that.”

“What are you gonna do?Bite my clit?”

“Tempting,” Jediah replied, his eyes raking her body.

Ashari shivered from the attention.She placed a hand in his, trying not to let it show that she liked how his large hand enveloped hers.She convinced herself that she enjoyed his touch only because he was being a gentleman.

Unsurprisingly, his hands were cold; she pondered just how long he’d been cooped up in his office.Was it before or after she’d returned from the headquarters?Because she’d been locked away in the room for far too long, redoing her braids at her new vanity, replaying recordings from her earrings while the conversation with Lyssa refused to leave her mind.

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