Page 88 of Forgotten Promise

John was typically better at keeping his emotions under control. In his line of work, it was necessary, but he was completely incapable of doing so now.

“Wait. Do you even know them? I thought you were all avoiding each other.”

“Where are Benjamin and Kailani?” he asked through gritted teeth.

Selene stared him down, not angrily but curiously. “Kailani was cataloging treasure and weapons, but just left to get some sleep after delivering a partial list of what’s in the waihona. I have no idea where Benjamin is. He walked out a few minutes after I dissolved the trinity.”

John held her gaze, fighting to temper his tone when he said, “Un-dissolve it. Now.”

Oscar had been hostile, protective of his wife up until that point, but John heard the man’s heavy groan. “Fuck. You’re in love with them.”

“Shit,” Selene muttered. “When did that happen?”

John glanced over at Oscar and recognized…a kindred spirit? “They’re mine.”

Oscar turned to Selene and it appeared as if he might intervene on John’s behalf, but she shook her head, the same pity he’d seen too much of in his life reflected in her eyes. “I’m sorry, John, truly I am, but neither Benjamin nor Kailani protested. They didn’t speak up after I dissolved it. They didn’t say a word.”

John paused, raking his hand through his hair as he let the implications of that soak in. “Neither one of them said anything?”

Oscar placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry you fell in love with dumb assholes.”

John turned and walked out of the conference room.

The stars sparkled above him, beautiful and mocking as he crossed from the old hotel to the new building, walked across the lush grass, between giant elephant ear leaves and under gently swaying palms. He stepped through an arch, into the open-air first-floor hallway, and was overwhelmed by a fury and a bone-deep hurt that told him something he hadn’t had time to truly consider.

John had fallen in love with them. He’d opened himself up to Benjamin and Kailani, given them pieces of himself he’d never offered another living soul because he’d thought…hoped…believed they would be a family.

The request to end the trinity had been made during that nasty fight after the binding ceremony a month ago. After the past few days, he’d genuinely thought Benjamin and Kailani would be able to overcome their issues and move toward building an amazing life together.

He swallowed heavily.

“Goddammit,” he muttered to himself as too many truths rained down on his head. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. He’d joined the Trinity Masters because he wanted a chance to be a part of something real, something lasting.

A family.

And he wanted it to include Benjamin and Kailani.

But they hadn’t spoken up, hadn’t fought for it.

For him.

That was the part that cut deep, bringing back old feelings he thought he’d overcome. Now he stood there, feeling like that same little boy, carrying his meager bag of clothes to the social worker’s car as yet another home, another family, turned him away.

That was when it struck him that he’d been the only one fighting for this all along.

So what did he do now?

He had no idea where Benjamin and Kailani were, which suited him just fine. Until he got his emotions under control, talking to either of them would be a bad idea.

John stood in the hallway, the ocean at his back, staring at the doorway into the lobby, which in turn led out onto the street, trying to figure out his next move.

He needed to…fuck…what?

He wished he wasn’t so goddamn tired. He hadn’t slept much in the past few days. A breeze ruffled his hair and shirt, and it was cool and smelled of sea and night. It was too late to head to the airport. Even if it wasn’t, the idea of hopping back on a plane wasn’t one he wanted to entertain at the moment.

He was beyond exhausted, so his best bet was probably to just head to bed. He’d sleep and sort out his next move in the morning.

Heading toward the lobby, he planned to book a room for the night.

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