Page 96 of Trial of Deceit

A hand settled on his shoulder.Jediah stiffened.It was Dimitri’s.

Dimitri’s fingers dug deep into Jediah’s shoulder.He held Jediah’s stare, then nodded his head.Jediah released a long breath, breaking the stare to look back at the soiled headstone.He wiped his dirty hands against his pants.

“We have work to do,” Dimitri said.“Bryony said Cedella called about the bloodwork.The medicine was making Kayon drowsy, but that’s not all.We know what killed him.”

“What?”Jediah asked, shooting a glance at Kayon’s grave.His brows furrowed before he shook his head.

Kayon was definitely dead.

Jediah hadn’t left the graveside until the final drop of concrete had sealed his father underground.

“A small needle puncture between the fingers he used to navigate the joystick.Kayon never complained about pain on that hand, and Cedella and Dedrian had never administered medicine there.”

“Then?”

“Think, Jed,” Dimitri said.“Poison is the Majors’ MO.”

Jediah’s heart stopped beating.

As he recovered, his jaw clenched and his hands balled into a fist atop his thighs.He shrugged Dimitri’s hand off his shoulder before pushing himself to his feet.He marched through the garden back to the main house.

“Wa you a go do?”Dimitri asked, taking long strides until he was at Jediah’s side.

“Just get the car started,” Jediah said, detouring to the kitchen after he heard someone moving about in there.

Ashari grabbed a bowl from the cupboard, humming a tune to herself.She placed it on the counter before reaching for a bag of store-bought strawberries.Since returning, she’d taken on a project to grow strawberries in Bryony’s vegetable garden, but it was a failure.She dropped them into the bowl, then topped them with coconut flakes.She popped one into her mouth then spun around.Her eyes widened at Jediah, then she sucked her thumb while moving it from her mouth.“You good?”

“I’m great, queen,” he replied sarcastically, not knowing a better way to tell her that he just wanted to see her.His eyes trailed down her body; she was already gaining weight in all the right places.“Just focus on yourself and our baby.”

She took a moment to answer.“When you were gone, I went to Dedrian for a check up.My energy is low.She says it’s not good for you to keep me worried that I’ll die at any second.”

“It doesn’t come off until I can trust you again,” he replied while moving to the sink.He washed his hands while Ashari watched.

“You think I’m stupid to do anything against my baby’s father?”

“No.But you’re stupid enough to do it if it’s in your best interest,” he retorted, causing her mouth to drop.Jediah scoffed and walked away, saying over his shoulder, “See you tonight.”He left the kitchen and went to the bedroom to change out of his soiled clothes.

After re-dressing, he went outside to the throttling car.Jediah raised a brow at Elias, who sat in the front.The older man was decked out in another one of his tailor-made suits, paired with a multi-colored tie designed with different sized swirls.Dimitri, who was in his full-black combat suit and his barrel twist locs caught in a tie, watched in the rear-view mirror as Jediah settled in the back.

“Why are you here?”Jediah asked Elias.“You should be at the only construction site we have left.”

“I was already on my way here when Dimitri told me to hurry.I’m here to advise you before you make a rash decision,” Elias explained.

Jediah scoffed while slipping on a bullet proof vest.“You have until we’re at the end of the driveway.”

“He must’ve found out that you killed his daughter or he feels uneasy about not knowing all the details about the wedding.What other reason did he have to come back after the ball and request to see Kayon?All these years, he’s never visited multiple times in such a short time frame except when he was arranging Acacia’s marriage.”

Jediah chuckled, dark and deep, while shaking his head.“You a give me more reason fi kill Sahil,” Jediah said, disgust heavy in his tone.He checked the clip of his pistol while Dimitri drove off followed by the two security cars.

“Because you’re not thinking rationally!”Elias hissed loudly.He inhaled a sharp breath as Jediah’s eyes darted to his.He pinched the space between his eyebrows, gathering himself before he spoke calmly.“I told you Sahil would try to get revenge, and you cannot blame him.He didn’t kill you because his deal was with Kayon.Sahil’s leaving room to still peacefully co-exist with the family in the future.”

Jediah mulled over Elias’ words as Dimitri slowed before the gate, waiting for it to open.Outside the gates, two lines of cars and heavy duty vans throttled.Inside the vehicles were some of Dimitri’s best shooters, strapped and ready to rain hell down on the Majors and anybody who stood between them.

“Fine…” Jediah said finally, loosening his grip on the pistol while Elias released a relieved sigh.Jediah’s grip tightened on the gun.“But someone has to die.”

Fatigue seeped into Elias’ aged eyes.“Don’t think about Raven.”

“No.Not her.I’m fascinated by what she’s doing to Kirani.I’m going to watch that play out without intervening.I need to kill someone else.”

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