Page 30 of Trial of Deceit

As they arrived at the back of the warehouse, curiosity morphed into shock as Ashari saw Dimitri standing beside a kneeling man.Dimitri’s arm was propped on the handle of a shovel.Two six-feet holes were dug side-by-side into the ground.One was behind the kneeling man.

“Jed, don’t do this!”Ashari screamed, about to propel herself forward, when she came to a sudden halt.

Jediah’s grip tightened around Ashari’s waist, holding her flush against him as she flailed.His chest brushed against her back with every breath he took.

Her hand smacked into his face, making his fingers dig deeper into her side.“Let him go!”

Jediah pressed his mouth against the shell of her ear.The earthy aroma of his breath fanned her skin as he kissed her ear, making a shiver run through her before he whispered, “You think you could come into my country and build a case against me.This is what happens to everyone who dares to cross me, Ashari.You said you haven’t given them anything, right?”

“He doesn’t have anything to do with this!I’m working here alone!”she screamed, sobbing as Romar closed his eyes.

He looked so much like Charlie.

Gagged.Hands tied.

The difference was he didn’t have tear-stained cheeks.

“Lying won’t help you, Ashari.You’re not as strong as you think you are, and I’m going to break you until you realize why my family has been in this position for all these years,” he warned.His next actions were so quick, she was slow to process it.

Ashari’s delayed scream echoed into the night as the force of the gunshot sent Romar flying backward.He landed in the hole with a loudthud.Jediah smirked against Ashari’s ear as he lowered his gun.

“The next hole is yours, unless…” Jediah paused, probably waiting for her to give a reaction other than incoherent wails while she sagged against him.He held her tighter.“You prove your loyalty to me.We can pick up where we left off.I meant what I said — I like you, Ashari.”

“I hate you,” Ashari gritted out, lacing each word with disdain.Her breaths were quick and heavy as she looked over her shoulder to glare at him through narrowed eyes full of malice.

“Wrong answer.”Jediah pushed her forward.

Ashari stumbled toward the grave.She almost vomited as she stared at her brother.

Romar stirred, his face twisted into a wince.

He wasn’t dead?

“Romar!”Ashari yelled, about to jump in.

“You’re my accomplice to several murders.No law enforcement will let you walk free,” Jediah reminded.

Ashari froze.

The force wouldn’t make her walk.She was yet to tell anyone about Jaia, and she had lied to Romar about actually watching as Dimitri killed Charlie.There was no easy way out of this… but Jediah offered an attractive alternative.

Dimitri tossed the shovel at her foot.

“Prove your loyalty, or the next hole’s yours,” Jediah said.

Ashari didn’t budge.She continued to pant.She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“It’s your move, Ashari,” Jediah said in a low, impatient hiss.

Romar frantically shook his head, muffled pleas pouring into the gag.His shirt was soaked with blood from where Jediah had shot him in the abdomen.Ashari dragged the back of her hand across her eyes, smearing her tears, before she stooped.Her shaking hand wrapped around the shovel’s cold handle.

Ashari sank the shovel into the nearby pile of dirt.Her lips trembled as dirt gathered on the shovel.She walked back to the grave, and tossed it atop Romar’s face.

She couldn’t bear being reminded that Jediah Richardson was molding her from a protégée to a corrupt, depraved being like himself.

She was ruined.

Finished.

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