Falcon (Trinity Academy Book 1) Read online

  Copyright © 2018 by M.A. Heard.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical reviews and various other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  The resemblance to actual persons, things, living or dead, locales or events is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Designer: Sybil Wilson, PopKitty Design

  Cover Model: Andrew Biernat

  Photographer Credit: Wander Book Club Photography

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Songlist

  Synopsis

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  CHAPTER 25

  Chapter 26

  Trinity Academy

  Enemies To Lovers

  Connect with me

  About the author

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  Leeann.

  A twenty-hour power outage and hundreds of kilometers didn’t stop us from getting together, so we could create the Trinity Series.

  Thank you for listening to endless hours of voice clips and for talking me off the edge with every release.

  Songlist

  Composer & Pianist

  Yiruma (Lee Ru-ma)

  River Flows In You

  Autumn In My Heart, Reason

  Kiss The Rain

  Synopsis

  Wealth and power make them untouchable.

  The monarchs of Trinity Academy.

  Falcon Reyes.

  With a sharp, intelligent look, he reeks of arrogance wrapped in an icy layer of indifference.

  A life of luxury has left him with the notion that everything is attainable.

  Power. Wealth. Status.

  He’s a god and I a mere mortal.

  He’s Jupiter, and I am Mercury.

  There’s so much power in this man.

  He has the kind of influence most people can’t even begin to imagine.

  And me… I’m an eighteen-year-old girl who managed to make him lose control.

  I’m the girl who showed him there’s a kaleidoscope of colors outside the high walls of his black and white world.

  Prologue

  Falcon

  Sitting at Club 55 while overlooking Pamplona beach on our vacation in Spain, aggravation fills me as I watch Grayson and his posse of friends head in our direction.

  Grayson fucking Stateman. With his sharp features and furtive eyes, one look at him is enough to ruin my day. West and Serena being here with him only add to my annoyance.

  “I’m getting tired of this bullshit,” I murmur, but it’s loud enough for Mason and Lake to hear. The three of us have been best friends since birth, where Grayson has been our nemesis. Our families are at constant war with the Statemans in the business world.

  Lazily turning their heads, Mason and Lake glance in the direction I’m scowling.

  “Fuck, how does Serena always know where we’re at?” Mason asks, a pissed off look darkening his features.

  “She probably heard it from our mothers,” Lake says, and resting his head back, he closes his eyes. “Mason, don’t get into a fight with West.”

  I swear Lake can sleep anywhere. He’s the chilled one in our group, whereas Mason is the fighter.

  Mason clenches his jaw, growling, “If he starts a fight, I’ll be sure to finish it.” It won’t take much for Mason and West to tear into each other, and it’s the last thing I’m in the mood for during our summer vacation.

  Where Grayson and I are locked in a constant battle for the top spot of our social circle, Mason and West hate each other with a consuming vengeance. It’s been that way since the car accident Mason’s sister died in.

  “Gentlemen,” Serena smiles, her green eyes sharp and vindictive. Her styled ginger hair hangs in perfect waves over her shoulders. Dressed in the latest fashion from Versace, she looks elegant as always. Having known her for years, I see through the mask of sophistication which hides a viper you don’t want to get into bed with.

  “I’d call you a lady, but we both know I’d be lying,” Mason sneers, the energy coming off him patronizing and explosive.

  “Mason… charming as always.” Filled with annoyance, Serena’s gaze sweeps over the table to where I’m sitting. An alluring smile forms around her lips as her eyes meet mine. “Falcon, what a lovely surprise bumping into you here of all places.”

  Lake lets out a soft chuckle, then lazily mutters, “Surprise my ass. Atherton’s socialites spread news faster than a wildfire.”

  Her eyes snap to Lake but picking her battles wisely, she lets his comment go and focuses her attention back on me. Everyone knows attacking Lake in any way is off-limits. It’s a line no one is willing to cross, knowing it will bring out the worst in Mason and I. Lake is the kindest soul with a heart of gold which makes Mason and I overly protective of him.

  “Mother says they’re in talks with your family about a merger,” Serena says, her voice filled with premature triumph.

  I grind my teeth and shooting Serena a steely glare, I reply, “Merger? You call an arranged marriage between us a merger?”

  “Of course. Combining our assets will make us a power couple in California.”

  Like hell. Over my dead body.

  Serena Weinstock comes from old wealth and a long line of senators. Her father just got inaugurated into office this term. Mother would love a family tie between us because it would give the family name more power in the legal world against the Statemans. Unfortunately for Mother, I will never marry Serena.

  She’s so fucking poisonous my dick would shrivel up and fall off after just one night with her.

  I let out a chuckle as I slowly rise from my chair. Biting my bottom lip, I tilt my head, making sure there’s a look of boredom on my face. “When I invest, I expect a return.” I glance toward the stretch of beach so it will bring the point across that even acknowledging her is a waste of my time, “Unfortunately, you’re a depreciating asset.”

  Offended, she lifts her chin an inch. Her mouth pulls down at the corners, and it reminds me of my mother – haughty and pretentious.

  Definitely not an attractive feature.

  Before she can strike back at me, I begin to walk away. As I pass him, my eyes flick to Grayson’s and seeing the smirk on his face, I know this encounter with them will only be the first of many to come if we continue our vacation here.

  “West, so kind of you to settle our tab,” Mason says, and glancing over my shoulder I see him shoving the folder with our bill against West’s chest.

  Wanting to save face with the rich and famous patrons seated around us, West painstakingly nods although his eyes promise Mason retribution once they’re alone.

  With Mason and Lake following right behind me, we leave the rustic ambiance of the exclusive club.

  “Are we leaving St. Tropez?” Lake asks once we’re a good distance away fro
m the club.

  “Might as well.” I glance at Mason. “Should we go home?”

  “Hell no, I’m not spending my vacation anywhere near family.” A frown still rests on his forehead. “Let’s go to Hawaii. We haven’t hit the waves in a long time.”

  I nod in agreement as we make our way back to the hotel. Taking my phone from my pocket, I call Stephanie, my father’s personal assistant, and instruct her to make arrangements for our trip.

  Earlier today, we returned to Atherton after spending the rest of our vacation in Hawaii. I take a deep breath before I walk into the dining room, knowing my family will already be seated for lunch.

  Loosening the button on my tailor-made Sanita sport jacket from Isaia, I pull out a high-back chair and take a seat next to Julian, my older brother. Father’s face is hidden behind the latest edition of the Financial Times. My eyes flick to Mother, who seems to be inspecting the dinner menu.

  Thank God I’m leaving for the academy and won’t have to endure another meal with my family for a while.

  “Afternoon,” I murmur in a low tone even though my greeting isn’t needed. It’s only a polite habit that’s been ingrained into me since early childhood.

  Since I got home, I kept myself busy with arrangements for the coming year, successfully avoiding my family members.

  “What time are you leaving?” Mom asks, placing the menu down on the table and raising a well-manicured eyebrow at me.

  Zero-interest in my life as always. It doesn’t bother me. The less interest my mother shows, the better for me.

  Clare Reyes, my mother for all intents and purposes, although she’s never been motherly a day in her life, only cares about her image in the world of socialites.

  “After lunch.”

  “Are you picking an assistant, seeing as it’s your final year?” Julian asks. He sets his knife and fork down and lifting his chin higher, his dark eyes try to stare me down.

  Julian sees me as a threat to his inheritance since Father dropped the gauntlet between us when he said whoever gets the best grades and works the hardest will take over as chairman once he retires.

  I would’ve been happy to let Julian take the seat, but it’s turned into a feud between us. My family is cold and calculative. There has never been love and affection between us. Don’t get me wrong, we will stand together and fight as one if we come under attack, but once the threat has been dealt with, we go back to turning on each other.

  “Yes.” I keep my answer short, not wanting to spend more time than necessary at this table.

  Where my mother is self-absorbed in her hunger to stay at the top as a socialite, Julian has only one goal in life – to keep me firmly beneath him so he can rule over our billion-dollar empire, CRC Holdings. He’s never been good at sharing, and I know he’d rather die than share the company with me.

  Father holds forty percent of the shares, and the remaining sixty is evenly divided between the Chargill and Cutler families. Lake is the sole heir to Mr. Cutler’s thirty percent. After the tragic death of Mason’s older sister, he became the sole heir Mr. Chargill’s wealth. I know this is a constant worry for Julian, seeing as both Mason and Lake are loyal to me. Even if Julian inherits thirty percent, leaving me with ten, I’ll still have more power than him because I share an unbreakable bond with Mason and Lake.

  Growing up, surrounded by power and wealth, has taught me one thing, paper is thicker than blood – specifically the paper with Woodrow Wilson’s face printed on it which is held in our family’s security box at the bank. It was given to my grandfather as a gift and although it’s worth was a hundred thousand dollars back in the nineteen hundred’s, it’s worth more than a million now. Whoever takes the Chairman seat will also inherit it.

  “Please,” Mom says, taking a heavy breath which breaks through my thoughts, “do give Serena special attention this year. Her father is a senator now, and she’d make a good asset to the family name.”

  Serena Weinstock. The perpetual thorn in my side.

  When you’re at the top of the food chain, relationships are mergers. Love is not a word we often use unless it’s referring to an object.

  “Also, make sure to greet Layla Shepard. She’s Stephanie’s daughter. Your father felt the need to be charitable by allowing her to study at Trinity.” Mom’s words are saturated in disdain as her eyes shoot daggers at Father who’s still hiding behind the newspaper. The corners of her mouth pull down, making her look older than her forty-nine years.

  It’s no secret Mom doesn’t approve of Stephanie Westwick. Father’s personal assistant sees more of him than we do. Even though she’s Father’s PA, it falls under her list of responsibilities to make sure any personal problems the three founding families might have, get smoothed over and the press never gets wind of it.

  Knowing I’ll get a reaction, I push my chair back and leave the plate of food untouched as I say, “Maybe I should make Layla my assistant. Keep it in the family.”

  It takes a lot of effort not to smile when Mother gasps, dropping her cutlery on the mahogany table.

  “Don’t you dare!” she yells after me as I leave the room. “Falcon!”

  Walking through the ostentatious house, filled with enough riches to finance a small country, a grin spreads over my face. I adjust my suit jacket then pull my keys from my pocket as I walk out of the mansion to where my gunmetal-grey Lamborghini is parked. The Lamborghini Veneno was a gift for my twenty-first birthday and one of the few things I love in this world.

  Just as I’m about to open the door, Julian grabs hold of my arm. I school my face into the usual bored expression before I glance at him.

  “Personally, I don’t care who you pick as your assistant, or what you do this year, as long as you don’t put in any effort.” The words are aloof, matching the hostile look in his eyes.

  “As long as I’m not a threat to you, right?” I turn to face him, and you can almost feel the temperature drop as our cold gazes lock.

  “Right. The seat is mine, and I won’t have you get in my way of taking my rightful place.”

  Slightly tilting my head to the right, the corner of my mouth lifts in a sneer. “May the best man win,” I whisper, my words laced with the promise that I’m not backing down anytime soon.

  “I’ll always be one step ahead of you,” Julian hisses, and a muscle starts to jump in his jaw, showing just how much I’m getting to him.

  I take a step closer, and being the same height as him, our eyes are at the same level. “And I’ll be right behind you, so you better watch your back,” leaning in until our breaths mingle, I bite the last word out, “Brother.”

  Chapter 1

  Layla

  Grabbing a seat in the middle of the auditorium, my gaze scans the group of first-year journalism students.

  Nervous excitement fills the air, the kind you only feel on your first day of the rest of your life. Who you were in high school doesn’t matter because college is a fresh start – new friends, new environment, new standards for what’s acceptable and what’s not.

  The fact that I got a free ride to Trinity Academy because my mother is the personal assistant to Warren Reyes, CEO of CRC Holdings, is something I’ll take to my grave. Mr. Reyes’ father was one of the founding members of Trinity, a college meant for the rich and famous, which obviously doesn’t include me.

  Even though my mom gets paid a pretty decent income, and I’ve never wanted for anything in my life, it’s not close to the wealth the other students come from – old money that’s been built up over generations.

  If they found out I’m not from the top one percent wealthy in the country, I’d be singled out which is precisely what I want to avoid. I’m here to get my degree in journalism because it will go a long way in getting freelance jobs. It’s my dream to join my dad and to travel the world with him.

  A girl with long brown curls, classic features and striking blue eyes takes the seat next to me. An eager grin spreads over her full mouth when she looks
at me. “Kingsley Hunt. I have a 3.8 GPA and an out of control chocolate addiction.”

  Holding her slender hand out to me, she raises an expectant eyebrow.

  “Layla Shepard. I hate wearing a bra and always change into my PJs as soon as I’m home,” I say as I place my hand in hers.

  “I like you.” I’m surprised at the sincerity in her gaze as she bluntly admits this. “Let’s be friends.”

  “Uhm… okay.” Seeing as I don’t know anyone else here, I figure I can use a friend and Kingsley seems to be friendly.

  A wave of murmurs washes over the auditorium, and I look to the front to see what all the commotion is about. Three guys walk onto the stage, each of their steps oozing with wealth and power. They take a seat next to the podium with an air of grandeur one can only obtain from having infinite riches, making the chairs look like thrones.

  Kingsley leans closer to me and whispers, “Their grandfathers are the founding members of the academy.” Pointing to the guy nearest to the podium, she continues, “That’s Lake Cutler.”

  Lake slouches in the chair, and leaning his head back, he closes his eyes, as if our orientation day is taking away from his sleep. Light brown hair stands in every direction, with some sweeping over his forehead. With his features relaxed, he gives me the impression nothing in the world can bother him. Only confidence will allow you that kind of freedom to not care what others think of you.

  “Lake’s father is the vice-president of CRC Holdings.” She stops and looking at me asks, “You’ve heard of the company, right?’

  Nodding, I answer, “Yeah.”

  “Oh, then I must be boring you with useless information,” Kingsley laughs.

  “Actually, I don’t know much about them,” I admit.

  Mom never talks about her work with me. To be honest, that’s putting it lightly. I hardly get to see Mom because she’s either at the office or away on a business trip with Mr. Reyes.