Where Truth Lies (Love vs. Loyalty Book 2)

by Nia Arthurs

  “Thank you,” she said. “I didn’t have much of an appetite at lunch, but I’m starving now.”

  Mrs. Ellis bounced Trenton aside so that she could reclaim her place beside Breana. “You’re so thin, dear. Why aren’t you eating to time?”

  Together, the ladies walked into the house, leaving Trenton and Howard dumbfounded in the doorway.

  “Well,” Howard shuffled his feet, his gaze planted on the porch tiles, “I guess we’re going back in.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “It doesn’t mean I’ll agree to anything you try to slip over me tonight.”

  “I understand, sir.”

  Howard returned to the dining room while Trenton closed the door, fitting in a quiet fist pump while the contractor’s back was turned.

  Quickly catching up to Howard, he invited the couple to sit and then arched an eyebrow at Breana. “Could I see you for a moment?”

  “You’d dare to leave your guests alone?” Howard said gruffly.

  “Oh, stop it, Howie. Look at the way they’re gazing at each other. They probably want to get a few kisses in.” Jovanah nudged her husband’s side. “Remember when we were like that?”

  “What are you talking about?” Howard shifted the material at his collar. “I’m still like that.”

  Jovanah laughed and waved Breana and Trenton away. “Go on. We’ll wait right here until you’re ready.”

  Grabbing Breana’s palm, he led her to the kitchen without saying a word. As soon as they were safely out of earshot, Breana wiggled her hand from his and looked up at him with her intelligent, brown eyes.

  “I know I’m late, but I can explain. My phone was acting up again and I—”

  Trenton bent over and hugged her tightly to his chest. The rest of her explanation was smothered within the fabric of his long-sleeved shirt. Breana allowed the embrace for a short time before she pushed him back.

  “What was that for?”

  “For showing up.”

  “I was late.”

  “But you came.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “I told you I would. Did you think I wouldn’t because we fought?”

  He shrugged.

  “I told you that loyalty means showing up even when the fuzzy feelings aren’t there.” She checked her pulse, and he watched her with an amused smile. Breana nodded. “Yup, still no fuzzy feelings.”

  “But you’re here.”

  “I am.”

  He reached out to hug her again, overwhelmed by his feelings for his wife, but Breana put up her hand to prevent him.

  “We can’t keep them waiting. It’s bad manners.”

  “You’re right.” He swooped down and clasped her hand, enjoying the feel of her skin against his. “Let’s do this.”

  They returned to the dining room where Howard Ellis glared at Trenton and Jovanah Ellis beamed at Breana. Trenton had a feeling that this dinner could go either way, but having Breana beside him made the task far less daunting.

  ₪₪₪₪₪₪

  Forty minutes later, with plates cleared and the women off to the restroom, Trenton delivered his pitch to Ellis. He’d hammered over the details with Jamison since Monday afternoon, his assistant coaching him on the inflection of his voice and even his posture.

  “And above all,” Trenton concluded, “I believe that together, we can take Lorde Industries into a new era where it will stand, stronger than ever.”

  Howard pursed his lips. “You obviously put a lot of effort into this.”

  “To be honest, sir, you’re the best contractor that we have. The company would take a huge hit if you abandoned us.”

  “If you’re trying to make me feel guilty, you won’t get anywhere.”

  Trenton winced.

  “And I still think you’re a little too green to be running the company but—” he cleared his throat, “I guess I could stick around and help out a while more. After all, I’ve spent thirty years with your grandfather and your father. Maybe another thirty could whip you into shape.”

  “Thank you so much, Mr. Ellis.” Trenton bent over and pumped the man’s hand up and down.

  “Yeah, yeah.” Mr. Ellis pulled his hand away and frowned. “Don’t make it awkward, son.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The women returned then, and Jovanah Ellis snuggled into her husband’s side while gazing adoringly at Breana.

  “Honey, can we adopt her?”

  Breana laughed. “It might be a little too late for adoption.”

  Released from the burden of Howard Ellis’s resignation, Trenton breathed easier and placed his arm along the back of Breana’s chair.

  “She’s just too precious,” Jovanah said to Trenton. “I’ve never met anyone so humble.”

  “I know how blessed I am.” Trenton looked over at Breana, grinning like a fool. She was quickly digging further and further into the foundation of his heart. Soon, no tool on earth would be able to extract her.

  “Stop it, guys. You’re making me blush,” Breana joked, covering her brown cheeks.

  “How long have you two been married?” Jovanah asked.

  “It’ll be two weeks on Sunday.”

  “So, it’s fairly recent,” Jovanah said.

  “Any advice?” Trenton asked, shifting so that his arm cupped Breana’s shoulder.

  “Agree with everything she says,” Howard grunted, nodding at Breana. “She’s always right, and her word is final. That’s what I’ve learned after twenty years of marriage. ”

  Jovanah slapped her husband’s arm. “You’re making me sound like a dictator.”

  “That’s a good word for it.”

  He chuckled as Jovanah rolled her eyes. “Don’t listen to him, Trenton. Well, maybe you should just a teeny bit.”

  As laughter filled the warm dining room, as Breana relaxed into his side, and as the evening faded slowly into night, Trenton felt complete. This was exactly where he wanted to be, and she was exactly who he wanted to be with.

  If only he could convince Breana of the same...

  Chapter 7

  ₪₪₪₪₪₪

  Breana was looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday. After ending her week in a state of constant worry over when and where Denzel would pop into her life again, she hadn’t been able to relax at work or at home.

  She still recalled the heart-thumping fear that accompanied her narrow escape on Wednesday. In an amateur attempt at espionage, Breana had slipped out the back door while sending Melissa through the front to run interference.

  She’d gotten the upper hand that time, but it was a temporary solution. If she knew Denzel Ramirez, he’d be back.

  Breana rolled over, ready to sink deeper into sleep, when she heard a loud crash. Flying out of bed, she slipped her feet into her slippers, opened her door, and raced into the living room.

  “What’s going on?” she yelled, her eyes casting about for the source of the noise.

  “Good morning!” Merna waved and bent over to raise a large suitcase from the floor. “Could you come over and help me with this?”

  “Mom?” Breana rubbed her eyes. “What are you doing this early?”

  “Stop asking questions and get over here.”

  Breana trotted to her mother’s side and heaved until the bulging suitcase had been set to rights. She stared at the ratty fabric of the luggage and then glanced at her mother’s face.

  “What is this?”

  “It’s yours.”

  Breana laughed. “Mom, what are you talking about?”

  “You’re taking your sweet, slow time moving in with your husband, and the only conclusion I could come to is that you’re trying to keep an eye on me.”

  “What?”

  “Now I’m going to counseling, and I haven’t touched an illegal substance in weeks. It’s time for you to go.”

  “Are you kicking me out?”

  “That sounds so negative,” she said. “But yes.”

  “Mom!”

  Mer
na winced, the wrinkles around her eyes deepening as she did so. “I haven’t gone deaf yet, Bree. There’s no need to shout.”

  “I’ll move out when I’m ready,” Breana said, leaning over and desperately scrambling to roll the suitcase back into her room.

  Merna grabbed the handles and tugged the other way. “What kind of wife doesn’t want to live with her husband?”

  Breana bit on her bottom lip as she searched for a good answer. When none came to mind, she released the handle. Her mother tumbled to the ground, squealing as she flew.

  “Mom, are you okay?” Breana asked, darting to her mother’s side and bending down to check her over. “Did I hurt you?”

  Merna was perfectly alright, but sensing that she could use Breana’s concern for her own purpose, she groaned. “It hurts.”

  “Where? Where does it hurt?”

  “Here!” Merna pointed to her side and bawled out when Breana touched her shirt. “I was… I was only trying to help. Trenton can take care of you, protect you, in ways I never could. Is it so wrong for me to want to see you safe and happy?”

  “Mom—”

  “Take the suitcase and go live with your husband.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because… because Lorraine’s house isn’t furnished yet.”

  “Ow!” Merna doubled over and twisted her face as if she’d dived deeper into the throes of pain. “My daughter threw me against the floor to stay away from her husband. Is he hitting you? Is he mistreating you? Should we go to the police?”

  “It’s not like that,” Breana said. “Mom, calm down. Trenton is very good to me.”

  The pain cleared from Merna’s expression and she grinned. “So you’re going?”

  “I guess so.”

  “Perfect!” She climbed to her feet and jumped around. “Look at that! The pain is gone. It’s a miracle.”

  Not amused in the slightest, Breana stood and glared at her mother. “Were you even really hurt?”

  “My heart was,” Merna said, putting the suitcase to stand up. “Go get ready. We’ll pay Trenton a little visit.”

  As Breana showered and combed her hair, she felt a flurry of fear and excitement stirring in her stomach.

  Being in such close proximity to Trenton Lorde would surely drive them closer—both emotionally and physically. It would also unveil the scars that had been forged in her childhood, all the wounds she’d hidden through the years.

  Breana constantly reminded Trenton that she wasn’t like the other girls he’d known, but he would see just how much when they lived together. Would he be able to handle it? Would he find her too weird, too damaged?

  His opinion meant a lot to her, and exposing all the dirty secrets she hid while living apart from him was more frightening than she cared to admit.

  “Breana?” Her mother knocked on her door. “Are you ready?”

  “I’m ready, Mom,” she said. Lifting her chin, Breana tossed her curly hair behind her shoulders and opened the door.

  Merna stood on the other side, a proud smile on her face. She grasped her daughter’s cheeks and brought her closer. “This is such an important day.”

  “Why? Because you’ll be able to do whatever you want without me looking over your shoulder?”

  “No,” Merna shook her head, “because you’ll finally be able to depend on someone for a change.”

  “Mom, that’s so cheesy.”

  Merna wiped the tears slowly falling from her eyes. “When I found out I was pregnant with you, I thought it was the worst thing that could happen to me. I knew I couldn’t risk taking drugs while I carried you, and I thought I would die from the shakes, but I managed to pull through because of you. You saved my life, Breana.”

  “Mom,” Breana croaked, tears pricking behind her eyelids.

  “Now, I want to save yours.”

  “I’m not in danger.”

  “Look around you!” Merna widened her arms to indicate the wooden shanty. “You’re a brilliant, beautiful young lady trapped in this prison of poverty and disappointment. I’m not going to jail you here any longer.”

  “Mom…”

  “There is an entire world out there that Trenton can show you.”

  “Is that why you love him so much? Because he’s rich?”

  “Rich?” Merna laughed. “I’m not going to lie. Having a son-in-law that’s ambitious and wealthy doesn’t hurt, but that’s not why I approve of him.”

  “Then what?”

  Merna tapped her chest. “He’s a man who knows how to value things, knows how to cherish priceless gems. I’ve seen the way he cares for you, looks out for you, tries so hard to please you, and I know he can treasure the priceless gem that you are.”

  The women hugged and cried, each taking a tiny step toward healing. When they had calmed a little, reality crept back into the room. Breana’s joy lessened a smidge as she saw past the emotions of the moment to the truth of her mother’s skewed worldview.

  Just as she had in the past, Merna was putting all of her trust in another man. It was what she defaulted to whenever times got tough, and Breana saw the pattern repeating itself.

  Trenton was human, just as liable to making mistakes as anyone else. Breana understood, however, that this was Merna Moore’s best attempt at taking care of her, and she decided to accept the gesture for what it was.

  “Look at us,” Merna sniffed and wiped beneath her eyes, “Trenton will think we just came from a funeral.”

  “Did you tell him we were coming?”

  “It’s a surprise,” Merna said, her good mood returning. “Oh, I bought you something.”

  “What is it?”

  Merna unzipped the front of the suitcase and brought out a package. “Here you go. Open it.”

  Curiously, Breana unwrapped the brown paper and picked up the silky thing hidden inside with the tips of her fingers.

  “Mom,” she cried as she recognized the shape of the clothing, “is this underwear?”

  “It’s lingerie,” Merna said in a terrible French accent.

  “Where did you get this?” Breana squealed and tossed the panties back into the package. Merna didn’t have a job, and she most certainly didn’t have the discipline to save money for a gift.

  “Before you act all high and mighty, know that it’s from one of the best thrift stores downtown.”

  “Mom, you bought second hand underwear?”

  “But it’s so cute!” Merna snatched the lingerie from Breana’s hands and stretched it out. “Don’t you think Trenton will love it?”

  “I most certainly do not!”

  “I’m sure your husband will outfit you in the finest he can get his hands on, but I figured I should at least give you this much since we didn’t have time to throw a bridal shower.”

  “I’m… touched,” Breana said, stuffing the package back into the suitcase to be discarded later. “But I promise you this won’t be necessary.”

  “Not necessary?” Merna wrinkled her nose. “What do you mean?”

  “We’re not at that stage yet. We’re still trapped in the… tension part.”

  “Sexual tension?” Merna mused and then she laughed. “Newlyweds don’t have sexual tension, Breana. They have sex. A lot of it.”

  “Mom!”

  “Fine! I get it. You don’t want to discuss the details. I didn’t ask for them.” Merna tilted her head. “But since we’re on the topic, is Trenton any good or—?”

  “Come on, Mom,” Breana dragged her mother out of the house. “We’ll be late for the bus.”

  Merna’s cackles echoed through the humid Caribbean air as she followed Breana down the sidewalk.

  Chapter 8

  ₪₪₪₪₪₪

  Trenton’s desk was cluttered with files ranging from environmental releases to detailed building schedules. He could swim in the amount of red tape the company had to jump through just to drive piles into a plot of land.

  There wasn’t enough t
ime in the day, much less in the week, to juggle all the projects Lorde Industries was overseeing, and Trenton figured he was looking at another Saturday at home, slaving away before his computer and his phone.

  Around ten o’clock, the sound of the ringing doorbell disturbed his deep concentration. Stretching his arms skyward until his bones ticked in response, he stood and walked downstairs.

  “Trenton?” He heard Merna’s voice and opened the door, stepping back in surprise when he saw Breana standing beside her mother.

  His eyes hungrily drew her in. She wore a pink shirt and black shorts that perfectly cupped her behind and showed off her shapely legs. He thanked God for those shorts, but forced his gaze up to her beautiful face.

  Trenton had managed to keep himself from bothering Breana after their successful dinner with Howard Ellis. She wanted more time and space, and he figured that he should give her that at least. It hadn’t been her choice to marry him for real.

  Now, seeing her before him after two days apart, he realized that he couldn’t afford to be such a gentleman. Something had to give and if Breana wasn’t up to moving in with him, he’d go to their tiny house and park himself there.

  “Hello?” Merna waved her hand in front of his face and he startled.

  “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  He heard Merna mutter something about ‘sexual tension’ beneath her breath before she focused on him and spoke clearly. “I’ve come to present my daughter.”

  Trenton glanced over at Breana. “I don’t get it.”

  His wife rolled the object that had been waiting behind her and pointed at it. With her gaze on the wall just beyond his head, she shrugged. “I’m here to stay.”

  “Really?” he asked with far more excitement than he’d initially intended.

  “I was kicked out,” Breana said, moving her hand to close his hanging jaw. “Don’t look so triumphant.”

  To cover his misstep, Trenton cleared his throat and leaned coolly against the doorframe. “I mean… that’s good.”

  Merna giggled. “Well, my job here is done.”

  “Wait,” Breana spun, “aren’t you coming in, Mom?”