“He is…was…damn it.” Scowling, Curt turned and strode toward the shed, but Marco followed on his heels. He knew the survivor guilt the guy was dealing with because he had his own ghost of Prichard. The deceased SEAL had taken Marco’s place on a fact-finding mission many years ago and it’d resulted in him being added to the assassin’s hit list.
“I know he was. But you know better than I do that he’d want you to have a good life without him. Same goes for Dana. I’ve seen the way she looks at you sometimes. And the kids and you get along great—so what’s the problem? It’s been almost a year and a half since he was killed. Get off your fucking ass, before someone steps in and snatches her up.”
Curt whirled around so fast, Marco almost got hit in his cold cock with an ax. “Who’s going to snatch her up? Someone else been eyeing her?”
He smirked. “Thought you weren’t interested.”
“Don’t fuck with me, Polo. Who the fuck else is interested in her?”
Finding amusement in the other man’s fast change in attitude, Marco shrugged. “I don’t know for sure, but Egghead mentioned the Sheriff seemed to be sniffing around a lot when he was up here two weeks ago.” Brody ‘Egghead’ Evans was his best friend and teammate at Trident Security, and was the biggest computer geek in the world—or close to it.
“Fuck that shit.”
The big man’s gaze went to the rear entrance of the house and Marco slapped him on the shoulder before taking the axes from him. “So, you gonna man-up and tell her how you feel?”
Curt nodded, his eyes never leaving the backdoor. “Damn fucking straight.”
“About fucking time.” He watched his friend make a beeline for the house. Even though a wife and kids wasn’t in Marco’s future, he had no problem with his buddies having them. But settling down was something he was never going to do. He’d rather cut off his left nut than walk down the aisle and have a bunch of rug-rats. No way…no fucking how.
* * *
Taking a sip of his beer, Marco relaxed in a sitting area near the bar of the BDSM club, The Covenant, which was located on the same property as Trident Security. One couldn’t ask for more than having his work and play areas within forty yards of each other, especially when he enjoyed both. He listened to his bosses, Ian and Devon Sawyer, discuss the meeting Ian had taken part in on Friday at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. about their new government contract. Their other teammate, Jake Donovan, had met Boss-man there and then had flown back to San Diego to his temporary home. Jake was currently in charge of establishing Trident Security’s west coast facility there and was living with his boyfriend/submissive, Nick Sawyer, who happened to be the bosses’ younger brother. Nick had just under two years left in his own Navy SEAL career, stationed in California, so the set-up had worked out perfectly for everyone.
At the feet of the Dominant Sawyers, their submissive women sat on pillows, chatting quietly in their club lingerie. Kristen was Devon’s wife, while Angie Beckett and Ian were in the process of planning their spring wedding. Between Ian, Devon, Jake, and their other teammate, Ben ‘Boomer Michaelson, the men of Trident were dropping like flies as they had all met the loves of their lives over the past sixteen months. The only two men left on Trident’s Alpha Team who were single were Brody and Marco, and the others were betting on who was going down next. Marco felt sorry for anyone who’d bet on him, because it was a losing wager.
He’d gotten home a few hours ago from Iowa and instead of just crashing on the couch like he wanted to, he’d ended up here for Devon’s birthday. It wasn’t exactly a party with presents and all, just another excuse for them all to get together for a few drinks and maybe some play down in the pit. While the main second floor of the club housed the bar, offices, and a fetish store, the pit, as it was dubbed by the members, was the huge recreational room downstairs. It was filled with a wide assortment of BDSM equipment in both public areas and private rooms.
Even though it was still early in the evening—a little after eight-thirty—the club was bustling with activity. On Sunday nights, the place usually emptied out by eleven, so people could get some sleep before starting their work week the next day. From their pillows, Kristen and Angie began giggling uncontrollably at something near the bar and the three men turned their attention in the same direction.
“Ho-ly shit!” Devon shook his head in stunned amusement, while Marco almost fell out of his chair as laughter spilled forth and tears filled his gunmetal blue eyes. Speaking of a losing wager.
Ian’s head dropped back as he groaned loudly. “Is he fucking kidding me?” He glanced at Marco. “Let me guess, the Giants beat the Cowboys in today’s football game.”
“Yup.” That was the only word he could get out as he held his six-pack abs and gasped for air.
They all stared as Brody strode toward them, good-naturedly chuckling at members’ comments along the way. Dressed in his usual snug, faded jeans, T-shirt, and cowboy boots, the only thing that was out of place was the fact he had his button fly undone. And instead of his junk hanging out, it was covered by an elephant trunk and ears—the thong the loser had to wear in the bet Marco and he had made. Every few steps, the well-built geek would stop and wiggle his hips at some of the female submissives, causing the impressively filled trunk to flap around. By the time he reached his teammates the entire bar area had erupted into fits of hysterical laughter.
Stopping a few feet from Marco, his best friend pointed a finger at him, unable to hide his grin. The man had no shame. “Just fucking wait, asshole. I can’t wait until the next time you lose a bet.”
Although he wasn’t too worried, Marco knew the guy was already planning his revenge and he might not put it off until the next wager. “Um, if I remember correctly, you were the one who swore the Cowboys would win and the junk trunk was your idea.” He wiped away a tear which threatened to escape and turned his head toward Kristen and Angie. “I don’t know, ladies. I think I would’ve filled it out better than Egghead. What do you think?”
Before either of the women had a chance to respond, one of the submissive waitresses, Cassandra, hurried over, wearing an expression of alarm. She did a double take at Brody’s crotch, but then directed her words to Marco. “Sir, Master Ben is in the lobby on a phone call and he told me to come get you. He said it’s an emergency.”
The mirth died quickly as the he leapt to his feet followed by Ian and Devon. Brody tucked the elephant in his pants and was a step behind Marco’s heels as he ran toward the lobby. Cell phones were not allowed out on the club floor, and all calls and texts had to be taken outside—a rule which was strictly enforced. His initial thought was something had happened to Boomer’s girlfriend, Kat Maier, but she was standing by her Dom’s side, worry on her pretty face as the group hurried up to them.
“Hang on a sec.” Boomer pulled the cell phone away from his face and held it out for Marco. “You remember Jake’s ex on Clearwater P.D.? Drew Murdock? He’s at a crime scene and your business card was there. When he couldn’t get a hold of you, he called Trident’s main number and I’m on-call, so it got bounced to me.”
While he’d never met the cop Jake had dated for a few weeks over a year ago, he knew the name. Marco took the phone and brought it to his ear. “DeAngelis.”
The officer had obviously heard Boomer tell him who was on the phone. “Hey. Sorry to call like this, but I’m at house over here in Clearwater with a home invasion and I’ve got an unconscious assault victim. We haven’t been able to find her cell phone or a list of emergency contacts. She just moved into the neighborhood and the house is trashed, but I found your business card on her refrigerator. Does the name Millicent Williams ring a bell?”
While his teammates and their women waited for details, Marco shook his head at the unfamiliar name. “Millicent? I have no idea who that is.” But something niggled his brain.
Over the phone, he could hear the squawks of police radios and the voices of other officers working the scene. “Hang on a sec. There
’s a diploma on the wall here in the home office. Her full name is Millicent Harper Williams.”
The blood drained from Marco’s face and his gut clenched as he finally made the connection to his deceased sister’s best friend—the woman who invaded his dreams since their one night together thirteen months ago. “Harper? Harper Williams was assaulted?” Around him, the men and Kristen’s eyes flashed wide as they recognized the name as well, but Marco held up his hand to stop anyone from asking questions he didn’t have any answers to yet. “Fuck. Is she all right?”
“She got beat up pretty bad. The paramedics are on their way with her to Largo Medical Center. She’s still unconscious. And DeAngelis…the main reason I’m calling is…her baby is missing.”
A roar equivalent to jet engine surged through his head and a wave of shock and confusion struck him hard. “Baby? What fucking baby?”
To be continued…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Samantha Cole is a retired policewoman and former paramedic who has started a third career as an author. She has lived her entire life in the suburbs of New York City and has plans to become a ‘snow-bird’ between New York and Florida. Her two dogs, Jinx and Bella, keep her company and remind their ‘mom’ to take a break from writing every once in a while to go for a walk, of course with them in tow.
An avid reader since childhood, Samantha was often found with a book in hand and sometimes one in each. After being gifted with a stack of romance novels from her grandmother, her love affair with the genre began in her teens.
Samantha is continuing to work on the Trident Security series and also has a few other stand-alone books planned.
OTHER BOOKS BY SAMANTHA COLE
Leather & Lace: Trident Security - Book 1
His Angel: Trident Security - Book 2
Waiting For Him: Trident Security - Book 3
Not Negotiable: A Trident Security Novella Book 3.5
Coming Soon: Watching From the Shadows (Marco’s Story)
CONNECT WITH ME
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SamanthaColeAuthor
Website: https://samanthacoleauthor.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamanthaCole222
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5580362.Samantha_Cole
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue
Coming in 2016 – Watching from the Shadows
About the Author
Other Books By Samantha A. Cole
Connect With Me
Topping the Alpha: Trident Security Series Page 23
