Lake (Trinity Academy 3)

And that mistress of his. She better pray she never sees me again.

I feel insulted that they thought I was so stupid, and I’d never find out the truth.

My suspicions were right.

I was right about the difference in tone between the text and the video calls and the handprint on her arm. Fuck, let’s not forget her entire past and the fact that she only met her father two years ago.

I have a bad feeling things are going to get a hell of a lot worse before they get better.

Locking eyes with her, I ask again, “Was it your choice to come to America? Did you agree to the marriage?” She remains quiet for a moment, and it has me adding, “Please tell me the truth.”

“I have to respect the Chairman’s decisions.”

That’s enough to tell me she didn’t have any choice in the matter. There are so many questions I want to ask her, but I settle for asking her the most important one, “Do you want to go home?”

Emotion flashes over her face, and it feels like her entire being is screaming yes, but still, she whispers, “No.”

I take a deep breath and walk a couple of feet away from her. Rubbing my hands over my face, I try to think what I’m going to do next.

I force a smile to my face, the one I’ve used many times before to fool those around me, except Mason and Falcon, then I turn to look at her. “Do you want to stay, Lee? Do you want to get to know me?”

“Yes.” The word sounds like a reflex instead of a choice she made, and she must see the doubt on my face because she adds, “You’ve only been kind to me.”

Are they holding something against her to force her into this marriage?

The question shudders through me, making me feel perplexed and honestly a little sick.

I glance to the side and when my eyes land on the phone, a thought creeps into my mind.

“Your mother.” As I say the words, I look back to her, and it’s just in time to see the longing in her eyes before she schools her face again.

No. They wouldn’t go that far, would they?

“You wanted to call her,” I say and gesture to the phone.

Her eyes jump between me and the phone before she takes a step forward, and when she reaches for the earpiece, I notice how her hand trembles.

She dials the number and waits for the call to connect.

“Eomma?” Relief crashes over her, and it’s so intense I can actually feel it.

I walk to the couch and sit down. Even though I don’t understand the language, I can hear happiness mixing with sadness in every word she speaks.

I need to talk to Falcon and Mason about all of this. Lee must be exhausted from waiting in that damn lobby for seven hours, so I don’t think she’ll mind if I leave.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Calm down. Take a moment and calm down.

While Lee talks to her mother, I walk to the door and opening it, I let out a chuckle when I see Layla and Kingsley sitting on the floor in the middle of the hallway.

“Are you done?” Kingsley asks, quickly climbing to her feet and then she pulls a face. “Ahhh… my leg fell asleep.”

Layla moves closer to me, and the moment our eyes meet, she whispers, “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head and smile at the girls. “Could you do me a favor?”

“Anything.” Kingsley limps closer then shakes her leg as if she’s a dog and it makes the smile on my face turn into a real one.

“When I leave, can you ask Lee what she would like to eat and then have it brought to her suite?”

“We’ll get her settled, fed, and…” Kingsley pauses, clearly having run out of words.

“We’ve got everything covered,” Layla says.

“Thanks.” I give them a grateful smile. “Just give me five more minutes with her.”

Walking back into the suite, I hear Kingsley ask Layla, “What are you in the mood to eat?”

“Aren’t you having dinner with Mason?” Layla asks.

“Hoes before bros… or something like that.”

“Chicks before dicks,” Layla laughs.

Trying not to crack myself up, I stare at them, and their laughter quickly fizzles out. “Please don’t say stuff like that in front of Lee.”

Kingsley wags her eyebrows at me. “I’m going to teach her everything I know.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of,” I mumble and hearing Lee hang up behind me, I show the girls five minutes with my hand then shut the door.

Walking to where Lee’s still standing by the desk, I say, “I’m going to let you get settled. Layla and Kingsley will help you.”

She nods with a smile on her face, then she asks, “What do you do to show someone you’re grateful?”