Page 35 of Trial of Deceit

“Y-yes…” she whispered, refusing to look at him.

Jediah chuckled and wrapped his arm around her waist.Acacia stiffened before relaxing, blushing as Jediah led her into the restaurant he’d reserved for them.He pulled the chair out for her, and Acacia thanked him as he pushed it in.Sitting across from her, Jediah lit a cigar while a server filled their water glasses, then took their drink orders.

“That’s bad table manners, you know?”Acacia said.

Jediah blew fumes toward her, his mind drifting to Ashari, as she’d said the same some time ago.He hadn’t seen her in almost three weeks.She’d been rotting away in the room, even going as far as eating very little or refusing food.He didn’t care if she wanted to eat.Once the fear of death crept in, he knew she’d choose only one option.

They always did.

Jediah shrugged.“I reserved this restaurant for us, and I paid them triple what they’d make tonight.I’m free to do what I want.”

“No respect for people…”

“I have respect for you,” Jediah said, and Acacia blushed before taking a quick sip from her water.“You do that a lot.”

“Mi shy ’round yu…” Acacia replied after the server brought their drinks, then gave them privacy.

“Why?”

She met his eyes.“You’re all I’ve known.”

He faltered before resting the cigar in his mouth.Jediah knew she was raised to be his — he could tell in all aspects — but he never knew how long she’d been training.He’d never cared to find out.But after what’d happened between them a few weeks ago… he owed her this.

“When did you start training?”

“Sixteen.”

Bitterness filled his mouth.

That would’ve been the same age as—

“You had other hobbies at least?”he asked, desperate for her to agree.

“No… not really.Daddy only ever made me and Raven like what our husbands would like.”

Jediah didn’t miss the solemn tone when she said Raven’s name.“You’re worried about your sister.”

Acacia nodded slowly as she looked down, wiping the back of her hand across her eyes.“Yes.She used to be worried about me because we heard our maids whispering a lot about the wickedness of the Richardson family.But since I’ve been here, mi realize yu don’ all that bad.Your family only hurts people who hurt you, but Raven’s husband… He abuses her.Some nights when him allow her fi have we nightly chats, mi can hear seh shi did just a cry, and there’s nothing I can do to help her…” She looked up at him, fresh tears shining in her eyes.“Me can go see her?”

“I can’t do that, Acacia,” he said, and she sighed.He wasn’t fond of Sahil Majors, and Raven’s husband sounded just like him.Sahil basically sold Acacia to him; she was his to protect, regardless of their situation.

“Me can ask yu something?”she asked, and he nodded.“Why yu don’ talk Patois?”

Jediah’s brows crinkled.“I do.”

She shook her head.“Since me live here, yu never speak it to mi yet.Mi only ever hear yu talk it to Miss B, and your close circle.”

“Like your family has its rules, mine does, too.”

“Mi don’ understand,” she said, and he became irritated at the thought of explaining more things to her.Her eyes widened and she rushed out, “I’m s—”

“Don’t apologize, Acacia.We spoke about this,” he said, and she kept quiet.He sighed and took a quick pull from his cigar.“My… mother… was from Uptown, so she didn’t really like it when I spoke Patois around her.Kayon never cared about how I spoke, but when Mom died, he changed.Now, I only speak Patois when I choose to, or to annoy my father,” Jediah explained.

“Oh… Mi understand now.”

The server returned and asked if they were ready to order, and Jediah stared at Acacia.It was her first time at this restaurant.He wasn’t too hungry despite food being indigestible to him for the past three weeks.

“No.Not yet,” Acacia said, and the server nodded before exiting the room.

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