Falcon (Trinity Academy 1)

Layla snorts and quickly tries to hide it by burying her face against my chest. I press my lips together, and my eyes begin to tear up.

Mason’s laughter explodes through the room. “Falcon’s crying.”

“Seriously, you all need to grow up,” Serena sneers.

“It looks like they’re having fun,” someone else says, and glancing over my shoulder, I see Serena standing amongst a group of girls.

“No, it doesn’t,” Serena snaps.

“Right,” the girl quickly agrees, looking chagrined.

Serena focuses her glare on me. “Falcon, we need to talk.”

Will this woman ever give up? “Make an appointment with my assistant.”

“Seriously?” she snaps. Walking toward us, she crosses her arms. With a look of disdain on her face, she glares at Layla. “I actually have something to say to your assistant.”

Layla turns around to face Serena, which has me clenching my teeth.

“Do you really think sleeping your way to the top will work?” Serena’s eyes turn icy. “Once a whore, always a whore.”

“One… two… three… four…” Layla whispers, then nods and says, “I tried counting to ten. It didn’t work.”

When she slaps Serena, my mouth drops open. Gasps sound up like a damn chorus to the right of me where Serena’s group is.

Layla takes a step closer to one hell of stunned Serena who brings a trembling hand to her cheek.

“I’m not the violent type but don’t you dare talk to me like that.”

“You slapped me?” Serena asks, then her face transforms from looking incredulous to murderous. “You made a big mistake tonight.”

“That’s enough,” I growl, stepping between them.

Serena’s eyes flick up to mine, and the hatred in them actually worries me. Her breathing speeds up as she whines, “You degraded me and offended my parents in front of the entire nation.”

Shaking my head, I ask, “How did I do that?”

“Our families were in the middle of talks about a marriage, and we had to learn from the press you’re dating that…” Serena points a finger at Layla, “that woman.”

Bringing a hand to my face, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “For the last time, I never made any promise of commitment to you.”

“Our families were discussing the terms!” she shouts at me, her cheeks flushing red.

“I. Never. Made. Any. Promise. Of. Commitment. To. You,” I enunciate each fucking word.

Clenching her jaw, she glares at me until I feel a shiver crawl down my spine.

This woman is unstable.

I don’t break eye contact with her, not willing to be the first to back down.

‘I’m going to ruin you,’ her eyes spit at me.

‘Give me your best shot, but be prepared for the consequences,’ I silently warn her.After Serena crashed our party, we all decided to call it a night. When I get back to the suite, and I pick up my phone, it starts to ring.

Mother.

I’ve been avoiding her calls the past two days, and I know she’ll just keep phoning until I answer.

I take a deep breath and accept the call. “Mother.”

“Come home right this instant!”

“Why?”

“Why?” she gasps and lets out a burst of disbelieving laughter. “Why?” she yells. “How could you do that to us? The photos are everywhere. PR can’t take them all down.”

I remain quiet and wave at Lake and Mason before walking to my room.

“You have disgraced us all!”

I shut the door behind me.

“And… and..” she sputters through her anger, “With the PA’s daughter? Honestly, Falcon. Is this your way of rebelling?”

I sit down on the bed and lie back.

“You will put an end to that ridiculous affair and make a public announcement which Stephanie will have ready tomorrow.”

I dart back up. “You had Stephanie write an apology?”

“It’s her job, and she knows her place, unlike that daughter of hers.”

I hang up on my mother and search for Stephanie’s number. When I dial it, I get an engaged tone. I yank my bedroom door open which has Lake lifting his head from where he’s lying on the couch.

“What’s wrong?”

“My fucking mother,” I growl. Leaving the suite, I take the stairs down again. When I get to Layla’s room, I bang on the door.

She opens it and puts her finger in front of her mouth then points at her ear.

“I know, Mom.”

Fuck.

I hold my hand out to her so she’ll give me the phone, but instead, she shakes her head.

“Let me deal with this,” I snap and grab the phone from her. I press it to my ear and begin to apologize, “Stephanie, I’m so sorry. Please don’t write the apology. I won’t be making any announcements. And again, I apologize for my mother’s behavior.”

“Falcon,” her voice is calm and smooth as always, “As I was telling Layla, you’re both adults. If you want to date my daughter, all I ask is that you treat her well. I have already communicated to Mr. Reyes that I won’t be writing an apology on your behalf.”