Page 97 of Trial of Deceit

Dimitri’s brows raised.He met Jediah’s eyes in the rearview mirror.“Who?I will kill them for you.”

“You can’t do it by yourself,” Jediah said.“Later wi talk ’bout it.Go tell the crew that they’re not needed right now.”

Nodding, Dimitri put the car in park.He exited and walked toward the gate.

“Jediah…” Elias pleaded.“More eyes will be on us if you kill anyone who is against the family.I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it.I’m saying don’t do it right now.”

“I know, but I don’t care.I want two families dead.Even if it means war.”

Elias’ eyes widened.“W-what?”

“I want everyone dead,” Jediah confirmed with a firm nod of his head.“Starting with Treasure Thorne, then Malia Valcourt.”

Chapter twenty-six

AsDimitrislowedbeforeElias’ house, Howie ran outside.“Daddy!”

Elias smiled as he exited the car.He pulled his daughter into a big hug.“Say good evening.”He pulled away and straightened his suit, fixing his multi-colored tie designed with different sized swirls.He stood beside Howie, her hand gripped in his.

Howie looked into the car at Jediah.“Good evening, Mr.Jed!”

“Hey, Howie,” Jediah said with a smile.“Has your tooth grown back as yet?”

“Not really,” Howie declared.She opened her mouth wide, trailing her finger along the small point sprouting from her top gums.“But the tooth fairy forgot to visit me.”

Jediah grinned, in a somewhat better mood since seeing Reka less than two hours ago.“I guess he did.Come here.”

Grinning, Howie walked forward.Stopping by the window, she tipped, about to push her hand through the window, when she froze.Her brows furrowed at Dimitri.

“Hey, Howie,” Dimitri greeted.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

Howie smiled, her face brightening.

Jediah cleared his throat and dipped a hand into his pocket.He grabbed his wallet and took out a five thousand dollar bill.He placed it in Howie’s open palm.

“Thank you!”Howie said with a large grin.

Grumbling that Jediah was going to spoil her, Elias pulled his daughter to his side.“Let’s go look for Mommy in the office.I told you about running off when on a site—”

Jediah brought the window up.He looked at Dimitri with a brow raised.“Are you good?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”Dimitri asked as he drove in the direction of the club.

“You spoke to Howie.”

Dimitri shrugged, a small smile appearing on his lips.“Yeah.I guess I did.”

Jediah knocked on the bedroom door.“Reine?”

Shuffling came from inside the room, then feet padded across the floor.Seconds later, the door opened.Reine stared up at him through bloodshot eyes.Jediah sighed, then widened his arms.Reine’s lips trembled as she stepped into Jediah’s hold.She sobbed against his chest while loosely wrapping her arms around his body.

“I know,” he said, kissing the top of Reine’s head before smoothing his hand down it.Jediah could bet that Bryony was the one who combed Reine’s hair.This was how the woman usually combed it whenever Reine was a little girl — a low puff ball, with two cornrows at the front that connected to it.

“I c-can’t believe s-she’s—” Reine stuttered.

“Me, neither,” Jediah said, then pulled away.He cupped Reine’s cheeks, his heart shattering into a million pieces as he stared into her teary eyes.Jediah used his thumbs to wipe the tears from beneath her eyes.“Did you eat today?”