Mason (Trinity Academy Book 2)

by Michelle Heard

  I’m aware of people coming and going, but it seems like forever passes before I can finally open my eyes.

  When my eyes focus on Dad’s face, he smiles gently at me.

  “Hey, Tiger,” he whispers while getting up from the chair. His hold on my hand tightens and leaning over me, he presses a kiss to my forehead. “How are you feeling?”

  “B-b…” My throat hurts, and my voice sounds raspy. I begin to cough, and Dad quickly moves back. He pats my shoulder until the bout of coughing dies down, and then only am I able to whisper, “Better.”

  A nauseous feeling pushes up my throat, and I swallow a couple of times before I ask, “How long was I out?”

  “Almost four days.” My dad looks like he’s aged a hundred years.

  “I’m sorry.”

  He shakes his head and forces a smile to his face. “Nothing to be sorry for, Tiger.” His eyes brush over my face, then he asks, “What happened? How did you fall in the pool?”

  Before I can answer, the door opens, and Mason walks in, with Layla right behind him.

  Mason freezes when he sees I’m awake, while Layla darts forward. When she gently hugs me, Dad moves a little back to give her space.

  “I was so worried,” she says, her voice thick with tears. Slightly pulling away, she asks, “Do you feel okay?”

  I nod and try to keep the weak smile on my face when Layla’s face crumbles. She brings her hand up to cover her mouth.

  “Come here,” I whisper. When she hugs me again, I try to pat her side, but I’m so weak, I’m not sure she feels it. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

  She shakes her head and keeps hugging me for a while before she pulls back. Moving away from the bed, she gestures to Mason. “Come.”

  He shakes his head, staying close to the door.

  “I have to go to the office quickly,” Dad says. “It won’t take long. I’ll stop by the house to get a couple of things for you. Is there anything specific you want?”

  I shake my head. “No, just you…” I have to pause to catch my breath before I can continue, “to come back quickly.”

  Leaning over me, he presses another kiss to my forehead. “I’ll be as quick as a flash. I love you, Tiger.”

  “Love you, Dad.”

  Dad stops by the door and looking at Layla, then Mason, he says, “Thank you for watching over my girl.”

  Layla smiles at Dad, where Mason just nods.

  I watch Dad leave, then turn my head back to Layla, when she says, “I’m going to call Falcon and Lake. They’ll be happy to hear you’re awake.”

  I nod, and when she leaves, I look at Mason, who is still standing in the same spot by the door.

  Our eyes lock, and a couple of seconds pass before he moves toward me. He stops near my feet and places a hand on my shin. It looks like he’s hesitating, which I’m totally not used to seeing.

  Then he squares his shoulders and rushing forward, he grabs hold of my shoulders and lifts me to his chest, his arms wrapping around me.

  “Oomph!” I’m surprised by his behavior and how tightly he’s holding me.

  Then he turns his face into my neck as he sits down on the side of the bed so he can hold me better. I lift my right hand to his back and brush it lightly over his sweater.

  Quite a while later, he whispers, “You scared the fucking shit out of me.”

  I let out a breathless burst of laughter. “That’s hard to believe.”

  His arms tighten around me and then he presses a kiss to my neck. My eyebrows pop up, and my hand freezes on his back.

  Was he really that scared?

  Because of me?

  He lays me back down, but then surprises me, even more, when he frames my face with his hands. His eyes search over me as if he doesn’t quite believe that I’m okay.

  “Mason, I’m fine.” I let a weak smile form around my dry lips. “Stop fretting.” I take a couple of breaths, then continue, “I’m not used to you fussing over anything.”

  The corner of his mouth lifts, and it might be because I’m still out of it, but I can swear there’s warmth in his gaze.

  “Can you do me a favor and tell me to go to hell?”

  With an eyebrow lifting, I ask, “Dude, why?” I shake my head, which is still cupped in his hands. “Oh, wait…” I hate that I can’t say a couple of words without becoming breathless, “maybe this is some weird-ass dream.” My chuckle sounds more like a wheeze before I finally finish, “There’s no way you’d be so nice to me in real life.”

  “Have I been that big of an asshole?” he asks, a smile stretching over his face.

  “I just drowned,” I complain.

  “Almost,” he corrects me.

  “I almost drowned,” I say wryly. “Give me a break.”

  Nausea tightens my stomach and pushes up my throat again. I swallow a couple of times before the feeling subsides a little.

  “I’m not back to full capacity yet.” I try to grin. “Honestly, I don’t know how to react to you not growling at me.”

  “Okay,” he agrees. There’s a weird look on Mason’s face as if it hurts him to see me struggling to talk.

  Maybe he’s just tired.

  He pulls away but remains sitting next to me on the bed. Picking up my hand, he wraps his fingers around mine, then rests our hands on his thigh. “I’ll ease up on the nice. Can we talk about what happened? Do you remember?”

  My memories are foggy, but I remember one thing clearly, and it makes anger and hurt wash over me. “Serena.”

  My breathing begins to rush over my lips as I recall how she yanked me toward her before pushing me into the pool. The beeping from the machine monitoring my heart speeds up, and when a coughing fit overwhelms me, Mason pulls me slightly forward so he can pat my back.

  “It’s okay,” he says. “We don’t have to talk about it now.”

  The coughing subsides, and I take a couple of deep breaths.

  Then I remember the smirk on her face and the gleam in her eyes, and it makes an awful feeling shudder through me.

  “She pushed me.” The words are nothing more than a whisper filled with disbelief. My eyes meet Mason’s, and he brings his hand back to my face, brushing his fingers lightly over my cheek. Doubting my memories, I ask, “Did she really try to kill me?”

  A look filled with hurt and anger tightens his features. “It was caught on camera. Security gave me the footage yesterday.”

  Oh, my God. I never thought she’d go that far.

  Some of the details leading up to my near-drowning shudder through me, and it makes me feel unbelievably vulnerable. My bubble of safety pops, making me feel exposed and threatened.

  Mason must see the distress on my face because he leans over me and braces his arms on either side of my head. He locks eyes with me, and says, “I’ve got you, Hunt. I’ll take care of Serena. I promise I’m going to make her pay.”

  A sob pushes up my throat, and it makes it harder to breathe.

  Mason moves his left hand to my head, and he begins to brush repeatedly over my hair. “I’m here, babe.”

  My chest aches as I keep my eyes locked on his until tears blur my sight.

  I can’t say anything and quickly blink the tears away so I can see Mason’s face.

  She tried to kill me.

  As if he can read my thoughts, he answers, “I’m going to make her pay.”

  I’m scared.

  “I’m not leaving. I’ve got you.”

  Promise.

  “You’re stuck with me, Hunt.”

  My erratic breaths calm down, and it takes a lot of strength for me to lift my arm. Placing my hand on the back of Mason’s, I move his palm to my cheek. Turning my head slightly, I breathe in his scent.

  I’ve never been one to hold grudges or to condone violence, but she tried to take my life.

  “I want her to pay.” My voice trembles from the disturbing emotions overwhelming me. “I want her to pay…” I swallow hard on the nauseous lump in my throat, then finis
h, “for what’s she’s done to me.”

  Mason leans closer, and his words are in total contrast to the caring warmth in his eyes. “I’m going to destroy her.”

  I nod and begin to feel drowsy from all the unwanted excitement.

  Mason might be an asshole, but he’s a powerful asshole, and right now I need him more than anyone else.

  I need him to keep me safe while I can’t protect myself.

  But mostly, I need him to take revenge for me because bitch-slapping that woman just won’t cut it.

  When I feel him move back, my eyes snap open, and my breathing begins to speed up again. “Don’t leave.”

  He leans back over me and pressing his forehead to mine, he whispers, “I won’t. Sleep, babe.” He presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “I won’t let anyone hurt you again. You’re safe.”

  I drift off while feeling Mason’s breath fan over my face as he keeps reassuring me I’m safe.

  Chapter 17

  Mason

  “I thought Layla would come,” Kingsley mentions once I have her settled in the car. “Not that I’m ungrateful for you coming.”

  “I asked Layla to do something for me,” I answer as I start the engine. Pulling away from the hospital, absolute relief washes over me. I just want to get Kingsley away from this place.

  When she doesn’t question what I asked Layla to do, I quickly glance at her before looking at the road again. She’s just gazing out the window, which prompts me to ask, “Are you okay?”

  “Huh?” She turns her head to me with a questioning look.

  “Are you okay?” I repeat the question.

  “Oh, yeah, I’m fine.”

  She goes back to gazing out the window, which has me worried. Kingsley normally talks my ear off.

  I get us back to the Academy as quickly as I can without breaking any traffic laws and stop in front of the dorm. Getting out, I jog around the front of the vehicle and open Kingsley’s door.

  She’s busy pulling her bag onto her lap and stops to give me another questioning look. “What?” She glances to the driver’s side then asks, “Did you forget something?”

  I crouch down and place my hand on her knee, a worried frown settling on my brow. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Dude, I said I’m fine.” When she glares at me, it brings a smile to my face.

  “Why aren’t you getting out of the car then?” I ask.

  “When you opened the door, I thought you forgot something, and you wanted me to grab it for you.”

  Finally realizing what has her confused, I smile even wider. “Hunt, I opened the door, so you could get out.”

  “Huh?” She looks at me as if I’ve grown two heads, and it makes me laugh, because her not knowing how to respond to me being kind to her, is funny.

  I reach for her bag and standing up, I throw it over my shoulder while I hold a hand out to her.

  She glares at me again, and placing her hand in mine, she mumbles, “Just so you know, this is weird.”

  When she’s out of the car, I don’t let go of her hand, and say, “Shut the door, please. My hands are full.”

  She begins to pull her hand away, which has me lacing our fingers and tightening my grip.

  “Hunt, the door,” I repeat.

  It’s easier fucking with her by being friendly than when I fought with her.

  She finally slams the door closed, and I begin to walk, slowing my strides to match her shorter steps. When we walk toward the Hope Diamond’s entrance, Kingsley rears back.

  “I just want to get into bed. I’ll greet everyone later.”

  “Okay,” I say, but I still keep heading toward the entrance.

  She tries to pull her hand free, and when she doesn’t succeed, she whacks me against the arm. “Mason!”

  “Hu-unt.”

  She darts in front of me and placing a hand against my chest, she forces me to stop. She lifts an eyebrow and gestures with a nod of her head to our linked hands as she brings them up between us.

  “What’s going on here?”

  The corner of my mouth lifts into a grin. “Oh, I moved you to the Hope Diamond.”

  A look of surprise washes over her features. “Say what now?”

  “Your suite is no longer in the Pink Star. Your stuff has been moved to the Hope Diamond. That’s what Layla was helping me with.”

  “Whyyyy?” she asks, giving me a puzzled look.

  I let go of her hand and bringing mine up, I wrap my fingers around the back of her neck. Leaning a little down, I say, “Because I made you a promise to keep you safe, Hunt. I want you in the same building as me.”

  With her eyes locked on mine, her lips part and she sucks in a deep breath. “You meant it?”

  I pull her closer as I begin to walk again and rest my arm around her shoulders. “I never say anything I don’t mean.”

  We’re about to pass Layla’s old suite, when Kingsley says, “Let me just say hi to Layla.”

  “She’s been moved as well.”

  “What? To where?” Kingsley asks as she glances up at me with wide eyes.

  “The three of you are now on the floor below my suite,” I answer her as I press the button for the elevator.

  “Three of us?”

  “You,” I say as I pull her into the elevator. “Layla and Lake’s assistant, Preston.”

  “Oh,” she shrugs, which has me moving my hand back to her neck. “Well, I suppose that makes sense, having all three assistants near you.”

  The doors open on her floor, and we step out. “It’s so no one else can fuck with the three of you.”

  “Oh.”

  We stop in front of her suite, and I open the door. When Kingsley walks in, everyone shouts, “Welcome back!”

  Preston’s blowing on a party whistle, while shaking his ass, and waving his arms in the air. Kingsley only manages to take a couple of steps inside when he ditches the whistle and plowing into her, he hugs her.

  “I’m so glad you didn’t die,” he almost cries.

  “Oh-kaaay?” Kingsley stands frozen with a get-the-dude-off-me look all over her face.

  I walk by them and set her bag down by the couch, then say, “Preston found you. He saved your life.”

  “What?” Shock ripples over her face and she pulls back to look at Preston. “You saved me?”

  “I just kept your head above water,” he answers, looking embarrassed. He takes a step back and looks down at the floor while shoving his hands in his pockets.

  “Just?” Kingsley whispers. A grateful smile makes her look so fucking beautiful, and then a tear slips over her cheek. She takes a step closer to Preston and wrapping her arms around his waist, she hugs him. “Thank you, Preston. Thank you so much.”

  He lets out a nervous chuckle before he hugs her again. “I’m just really glad you’re better.”

  “Okay, that’s enough. Daddy needs to see his little girl,” Lake says, instantly breaking the heavy feeling in the room.

  Preston lets go of Kingsley and comes to stand at my side.

  Lake practically engulfs Kingsley. “I’m glad you’re back.” He presses a kiss to the side of her head, and letting go of her, he asks, “So what do you think of your new place?”

  Kingsley glances around, then smiling, she replies, “I love it. Thanks for moving my stuff, guys.”

  Leaning my head closer to Preston, I whisper, “How did the test run go?”

  Bringing his hand up, he holds it in front of his mouth and whispers back. “I managed to hack into their system. It took them over ten minutes to block me.”

  “Good, we only need four minutes.” I pat his shoulder and walking to Kingsley, I say, “Glad you’re home, Hunt.” I glance at Falcon and Lake. “I have something to take care of. I’ll catch you later.”

  Putting my hand on Kingsley’s back, I press a kiss to the side of her head, which has her freezing. “Don’t overdo it, and get some rest. I’ll check on you later.”

  I don’t give
her time to respond and walk out of the suite. Taking the elevator down, I pull out my phone and dial Serena’s number as I head out of the building.

  The rage, which keeps building with every day I have to hold back, boils inside of me like lava in a volcano.

  “Yes, Mason?” she answers.

  “Where are you?”

  “At the restaurant on campus. I’m having lunch. Why?”

  I end the call and stalk toward the restaurant. I haven’t said a word to her since Kingsley’s near-drowning. Right now, Serena thinks she got away with hurting someone I care about… again.

  But that’s about to change. Today she starts paying, and it will all lead up to the grand finale I’ve arranged just for her.

  Entering the restaurant, I head over to the table she’s sharing with some other girls. I stop next to her and glancing over everyone, I bite out, “Leave.”

  The girls scatter, and quickly rush away. I pull one of the chairs closer to Serena and sitting down, I rest my left arm next to her half-eaten salad.

  A smile forms around my mouth, and I stare at her. She lets out an irritated sigh while dropping her napkin on the table. “To what do I owe this honor.”

  I keep smiling, my eyes not leaving hers… until she looks away.

  Leaning forward, I move into her personal space. Restrained anger makes my voice drop low as I growl, “I warned you.”

  “What did I do this time?” she sneers while giving me an annoyed look.

  I sit back again and tilt my head. “You made Falcon’s life a living hell by stalking him. You gave Layla a spiked pie, and it almost killed her.”

  The irritated look on her face deepens, and when her mouth begins to curve up, it takes all of my strength to not hit her. I dart forward and grabbing hold of the back of her neck, I yank her face close to mine. My voice is nothing more than a deadly growl. “You should’ve stopped there, and I would’ve taken it easy on you. But almost killing Kingsley… you fucked up big time by going after my woman.” I let go of her so quickly she falls back against her chair, her breaths rushing over her parted lips and her eyes wide with fear.

  That’s right, bitch. Be afraid, because I’m going to make an example of you, so no one will dare to cross me again.