Falcon (Trinity Academy 1)

“Yes, it’s been a weird day.”

Once we’re comfortable in our usual position, Falcon asks, “What did you talk about with my father?”

I glance up at him. “About ambition, experiences, The Skeleton Coast, and the Berlin wall.”

Falcon tilts his head, a look of confusion crossing his features.

“We bonded,” I explain in layman’s terms.

“My father doesn’t bond. With anything,” Falcon states.

“Well, he did with me. I guess there’s a first time for everything.”

Falcon tightens his arms around me. “I’ve never seen my father hug anyone.”

“Have you ever considered it’s because no one hugged him?”

He thinks about what I said, then asks, “Honestly, I’ve never given it a thought.”

“You might not like hearing it, but you’re a lot like your father. You just need to find the chink in his armor.”

“Which is?”

“Listening to what he has to say. Showing him that you understand him, even though you differ in opinion.”

Falcon remains quiet, and I glance up again.

“Like you, Falcon. He wants to be seen.”

Emotion washes over Falcon’s face, and when I can see he’s struggling, I sit up and pull him into my arms. I press his head to my chest and pulling my fingers through his hair, I whisper, “It’s okay. You’re all just a little lost. You’ll find your way to each other.”

Falcon nods, and wrapping his arms around my waist, he grips me tightly. Watching the emotional struggle play over his face makes tears flood my eyes.

After a while, I ask, “How did things go with your brother?”

Falcon doesn’t answer me immediately, and I just continue to play with his hair.

“We talked and listened for the first time.”

A small smile plays around my lips.

“First we fought, then we talked,” he corrects himself. “Things aren’t perfect between us, but it’s a start.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” I take a breath, then say, “I met your mother yesterday.”

Falcon sits up. “I knew something must’ve happened.”

“Have you ever had dinner with your father and Julian? Just the three of you?”

“Why just the three of us?” he asks.

“After meeting your mother, I’ve been thinking a lot and when I spoke to your father it confirmed my thoughts for me.”

“About my mother?”

“Yes.” I take a breath, hoping I’m not making a mistake. “Your mother is a cold woman, Falcon. She might be responsible for a lot of the fights between you and Julian, and also with your father.” When Falcon doesn’t say anything, I quickly add, “I might be wrong. I don’t know her so well. It’s just, she reminds me so much of Serena.”

Falcon lets out a sigh. “You have a point.” He lies back again and pulls me to his chest. “I’ll see if I can arrange dinner with my father and Julian.”

“I think it will help you all.”

He presses a kiss to my hair. “Thank you.”

Silence falls between us, but after a while, Falcon whispers, “You sleeping?”

“No,” I whisper back.

“Why not?”

“You haven’t said it yet.”

He lets out a chuckle. “Sleep my rainbow.”Chapter 22Falcon“It’s okay, you can forgive Julian,” Mason says. “I’ll be the unforgiving asshole who’ll remind him he was a bastard to you.”

“I’m so glad I’m not going to work at CRC,” Lake mumbles from where he’s lying on the couch.

“You’re awake?” I ask.

“Mhhh.”

“At least we know he’s alive,” Mason grumbles. “How do you sleep so much?”

“Takes a lot of energy to eat,” Lake mutters.

Mason laughs, “That’s for fucking sure.”

“Are you really okay with working at CRC?” I ask Mason.

He nods, then glances to where Lake is. “I’m more worried about him.”

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Lake yawns and sits up.

“You sure? Marrying a complete stranger is totally okay with you?”

Lake begins to smile and taking out his phone, he looks at something. “I’m sure.”

“What are you smiling at?” I ask, getting up from the chair on the balcony. When I get to Lake, he holds his phone out to me. I take it and look at the picture of a girl. A second later surprise ripples through me. “Is this her?”

“Who?” Mason almost falls off his chair in his hurry to get up. He comes and looks over my shoulder. “Hot, damn. Is this Lee-ann?”

“Yep.” Lake lies back down with a huge smile on his face.

“The fucker has been playing us. Suffer my ass. He’s getting the best deal out of the three of us,” Mason complains.

I look down at the photo again. Her hair is a mixture of brown and red, and her eyes are dark. Her skin is so damn smooth she looks like a doll.

“She’s beautiful,” I say, as I hand the phone back to Lake. “And you get along with her?”

“The times we’ve spoken have been okay.”

“Lucky fucking bastard,” Mason growls as he walks back to his chair. “You get a hot as hell girl, Falcon gets to start the new business, and me… I’m fucking stuck with Julian and our fathers.”