Page 54 of Trial of Deceit

Jediah raised a brow as Bryony looked up at him.“Why yu think me kill her?”

Bryony scoffed, waving a hand as she turned and began walking away.“I raised you, Jediah.Mi can tell when something a bother yu conscience.”

Jediah watched as Bryony disappeared.The door opened, and Cedella exited.

Jediah groaned while turning his head toward the ceiling.“What now?”

“You know that every time you attempt to bring your father closer to death, I raise my price,” Cedella answered.

“A me yu work for or him?”

“The family.”

“Mek Miss B write yu a cheque—”

“Don’t be silly, Jediah,” Cedella laughed.“All of your donations go toward the hospital instead of in my pocket, despite what you believe.”

Jediah scoffed.“See you tomorrow, Cedella.”

“Yes, I should get going.Traffic back to Kingston is usually hectic at this hour.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

Cedella grinned.“I know.”She turned and walked away, her steps brisk.

Jediah looked into Kayon’s room.Kayon was in his bed, his stoma bag laying atop his shirtless body.Jediah scowled as he wondered how easy it would’ve been to walk inside and cover his father’s face with a pillow.

Remembering he couldn’t, he closed the door and went to the boardroom.He had a brief meeting with Elias, Dimitri, and Cameron.When it was over, Cameron stayed behind.After Cameron received special instructions from Jediah, he left Jediah to smoke a cigar.

The medical alarm went off when he was nearing the end, and he rolled his eyes.It didn’t stop within seconds like it usually would, and he sighed then stood.He rested the cigar in the ashtray, then exited the office.

Someone bumped into him, and he grabbed them by the arm so they didn’t fall.A smirk came on his mouth when he met Ashari’s bright eyes.

“Where are you running off to?”he asked.“Missed me in the bed?”

“No,” she said.

Jediah’s heart dropped.He put on his most believable smirk to hide how her words wound him.“Lying only hurts you, my queen.”

Ashari scowled and tried pulling away.Jediah tightened his grip.He wasn’t ready to let go of her yet.Not that he’d ever be, but when it came to this beautiful woman, he knew he had to take what he could get until he got what he truly wanted.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.I can sleep perfectly fine without you.”

“That’s why yu don’ sleep until mi reach the room?”he asked, warmth bursting in his chest and traveling through his body while he watched her scramble for an answer.He chuckled, and she glared, making his smile stretch.He released her and watched as she put two paces between them.“I have something to tell you.”

“Can it wait?”she asked, and he shook his head.

He opened the door of the bedroom and motioned his head inside.Ashari’s eyes asked the questions her mouth didn’t as she stepped past him.Her fruity fragrance wafted up Jediah’s nostrils.He did a deep inhale, willing her scent to calm his nerves.

He’d need it.If Bryony could see that something was bothering him, that meant he wasn’t on his A-game.And when it came to Ashari Richardson… he’d need it.No matter the consequences.

She looked up from her coloring ten minutes after she’d finished it.She’d been using the time to reflect on her predicament.

The F.B.I.’s plan was for her to get close to Jediah, but not this close.Where she wore his ring.Bore his name.Yanked herself out of his arms whenever she woke up in the middle of the night and noticed she was being cuddled on his chest.

Ashari needed to pivot.

She jumped to her feet and walked as quickly as she could without raising suspicion.Entering the house, she looked up and down the hallway, panic easing its way beneath her skin and lodging inside her erratic heart.She needed to be quick if this was going to work.

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