Falcon (Trinity Academy 1)

Lake just chuckles as he covers his eyes with his arm.

Sitting down, I say, “Talking about fathers, I’m having dinner with mine tonight.”

“You’re shitting me.”

“With Julian as well,” I add.

Mason leans forward and looks at the sky. “Seriously thought it would start snowing now.”

I kick the one leg of his chair.

“What made this miracle happen?” he asks.

“Layla.”

“Yeah?” Mason actually looks impressed, which is no easy feat to achieve. “She’s a miracle worker. Maybe I should ask her to do some of her magic on Kingsley?”

“Why?” I ask, stretching my legs out in front of me.

“She’s acting weird. She used to give me shit until I made her my assistant. Now she’s… just weird.”

“You don’t think it’s because you almost drowned her?” Lake asks.

“It was the fucking shallow end!”

“Just saying,” Lake mumbles.We’re having dinner in Julian’s suite so we’ll have privacy. Standing outside the room, I take a couple of deep breaths before I knock.

Julian opens the door and looks relieved when he sees it’s me. “Thank God. I was worried Father would arrive first and I’d be stuck with him.”

I walk in, and we’re just about to shut the door when we hear grumbling coming up the hallway, “Why do they always pick the top floors. All the damn exercise it takes to get to the room doesn’t make any sense.”

Father stops in front of the open door and looks from Julian to me. “Good, you’re already here. Let’s eat.” He walks in and goes right for the table. Sitting down at the head, he glances around the room. “Don’t you have any newspapers?”

I shut the door while Julian grabs the newspaper from the sofa. “Here you go, Sir.”

Father takes it, and while opening it, he says, “Sit, the food’s getting cold.”

We take our seats, and Julian looks at me, then tips his head in Father’s direction. I shake mine and raising an eyebrow, I glance at Father just as he lowers the newspaper. We both school our faces at the speed of light, and you hear utensils clattering as we grab hold of them.

“How was the meeting with the…” Father frowns, then looks up at the ceiling, “who did you meet with again?”

“The Meesters. They’re opening a new plant in Dallas,” Julian reminds him. “It went well. We should be signing next week.”

“Good. Good.” Father turns his eyes to me. “Did you get your car keys back?”

“I did.”

“Did she make you grovel?”

Before I can stop myself, a smile spreads over my face. “She did.”

“Good. Good.”

“Car keys?” Julian asks.

“Your brother was driving like a drunkard. Layla took his car keys. Quite like the girl’s spirit.”

“You’ve met her?” Julian asks Father.

“I did. We had a lovely talk.” Father cuts a piece of his steak. After swallowing it, he asks, “Julian, aren’t you interested in a woman?” Father glances up at the ceiling again, then forces the words out, “Or man.”

When I see the flabbergasted look on Julian’s face, I quickly duck my head and press my lips together to keep from making a sound.

Father picks up the newspaper and wacks me against the shoulder. “What? There’s nothing wrong with it as long as your brother is happy.”

“Oh God. Father, I’m straight,” Julian exclaims.

I quickly cover my mouth, but it doesn’t help as I burst out laughing.

“You are? Good, when can I expect my first grandchild?”

My laughter dries right up when Father looks from Julian to me.

I start shaking my head, which has Julian saying, “You’re the one with the girlfriend.”

“She’s eighteen,” I protest. “Besides, Layla would probably slap you upside the head for throwing her under the bus.”

“I can see her doing that,” Father agrees. “So, it’s up to you, Julian. You are the eldest, after all.”

Clearing his throat, Julian says, “I’ve been thinking about the business deal with the Weinstocks.”

Father sets down his knife and fork, and his eyes snap to Julian. “Why?”

“They have leverage in the legal world.”

“And?”

“What do you mean?” Julian asks, frowning.

“They better have more than a couple of contacts in the legal world if they want to marry their daughter off to one of my sons.”

“You didn’t agree to this?” I ask.

“Of course not! Have I ever said such a thing?” Father huffs. He gives Julian a hard look. “You will not marry that girl. Over my dead body. She’s as loony as that mother of hers.”

“I told you,” I exclaim. “Didn’t I tell you she’s unstable?”

“Then why have you and Mother been putting pressure on Falcon?” Julian asks.

“Just your mother.”

Julian leans forward. “If you didn’t agree, why didn’t you stop her?”

A slow smile begins to form around Father’s lips, which has my mouth dropping open. “I was hoping all her nagging would help bring you and Falcon closer together.” He shrugs. “And it did, so problem solved.”

“Problem solved?” Julian growls. Shoving his chair back, he gets up. “And all the threats about the chairmanship?”