Page 53 of Trial of Deceit

“You are,” Jediah said.

“You’re not,” Kayon’s machine said at the same time, causing Jediah to glare.

“Hurry and find one vein so him can stop move him hand,” Jediah hissed.

Reine stared at Jediah — long and hard — then she sighed.“We don’t inject him in that arm.”She shifted her focus to Kayon’s arm, then carefully turned it over.She prodded and poked until she found a vein.When she did, she gave Kayon his injection, cleaned up, then wordlessly left the room.

“You’ve angered her,” Kayon said.

“We both did.”Jediah shrugged.“She’ll get over it.”

“I’m sure she will.Just like I had to get over your many attempts to kill me when you were younger,” Kayon said, then made a strange noise that sounded like a chuckle.“I never would’ve known a healthy parent-child bond if it wasn’t for Reine.I should be thankful that Malia gave me a daughter before—”

“Don’t mention my mother,” Jediah hissed, his anger rising.

Kayon grinned.After a taunting moment, he asked, “Worries?”

Jediah unwillingly forced his anger away.“Wa you a talk ’bout now?”

“Our earlier conversation.”

“Marquis Valcourt…” Jediah said, then glanced at his father’s steady hand.Jediah faced Kayon.“I’ve followed through with all of your arrangements except Reine and Sahil.For this one, I can’t see why you want me to uphold it.They think this family is soft.”

“We’re not soft.”

“You’re right.We’renot.You are.Yu caan’ even hold a gun if nothing pop off pon the estate, so how yu think me manage outta road with enemies everywhere?How yu think mi feel when mi sister deh school?”

“Your sister should be married,” Kayon said.

Jediah seethed.He stepped forward and gripped Kayon tightly by the jaws.Kayon’s lips puckered, his breathing quickly growing labored.

“Mi don’ know wa kinda sickness gwan in a yu half-dead brain, but my sister will never live a day of her life under the rule of a man.She won’ have fi breed before time.She won’ have fi tek bun.And she won’ have fi tek beatings like yu do wi mother.Reine will be whatever she wants, and she will be respected,especiallyby you.”

Kayon spat at Jediah, but only a small blob came out.It ran down the side of Jediah’s hand as the alarm went off in the house.Its deafening volume made Jediah scowl.

Jediah moved his hand downward to grip Kayon’s windpipe.“Your days are numbered—”

“Jediah!”Bryony yelled from the door, rushing into the room with Cedella.

They pushed him away and Cedella quickly tended to Kayon, who was moving the joystick rapidly.The machine stuttered, struggling to say something cohesive instead of spewing words in a nonsensical babble.

Bryony shook her head at Jediah before wrapping her fingers around his wrist and hauling him out of the room.She wiped away the spit on his hand with the hem of the apron she always wore.As he was about to pull away, she held his hand tighter.She used her other hand to cup Jediah’s face while giving him the warm, motherly smile he’d gotten accustomed to seeing since he was twelve.“Yu caan’ kill him, Jed.”

Jediah scoffed.“I can.”

“Yu forget the arrangement?Hewill get Reine if Kayon dies because of you,” Bryony asked, and Jediah’s jaw clenched.“Mi know yu don’ like this, but yu caan’ do it.Think about your sister.”

Jediah’s jaw relaxed, and he nodded.

Bryony smiled and patted his cheek while releasing his hand.“Good.Now go clean up.Your meeting—”

“Where’s my wife?”he asked, and Bryony scowled.He gave her a boyish grin, the one he always used to charm his way out of getting on her bad side.“Ashari is my wife, Miss B.You will respect her.”

“Wi don’ know her.”

“I do,” Jediah assured.“You know everything I do is to make this family better.Mi wouldn’ allow her into the house if mi caan’ trust her.”

Bryony sighed while looking down at the floor.“I know that.I guess I’m just upset because the situation with Acacia might not have been ideal to you, but…” Bryony paused.“You didn’t have to kill her.”

---