Surrender Your Independence Read online

  Riverdale Avenue Books LLC

  5676 Riverdale Avenue, Suite 101

  Riverdale, New York 10471

  www.riverdaleavebooks.com

  Surrender Your Independence

  Copyright © 2013 Trinity Blacio

  Digital ISBN: 978-1-62601-042-0

  Cover Design by Insatiable Fantasy Designs

  Formatting by www.formatting4U.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the Publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  First publication, July 2013

  “I want to thank you for inviting me to your Unit’s Fourth of July bash. I can’t wait to soak up the sun.” Tamara smiled. “Oops, forgot sorry.”

  Lydia laughed and squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry about it. If I were you, I’d be enjoying the sun too, but remember the fun starts after dark.” Her friend smiled, showing the tips of her fangs.

  “I still can’t believe that after working two years in the paranormal unit you haven’t gotten bitten or something. Most of our men are vicious when hurt until they can heal themselves.” Lydia glanced at the night sky. “We’ll have a full moon tomorrow. The boys will be wild.” She wiggled her eyebrows at her.

  “Most of the time I was just there for show. You know the government doesn’t want too many people to know that they enlist your kind. Hell, most of the humans are still reeling about you guys coming forward. Do you honestly think they’d like it if they knew they were depending on you for survival? Sorry, but my race is a bunch of hypercritical assholes.”

  Taking her hand in hers, Lydia squeezed. “You never did tell me what happened last week between you and Sergeant Dickhead.”

  Tamara looked out the window as tears slid down her cheek. “I never thought he would be one of the biggest racists around. He believed, since I volunteered to help with the Other Unit…, well, thank God you came in the room,” Tamara said turning to look at her friend.

  “You should have told me he tired something. No one messes with the Other Unit, I don’t care if you’re human or not. You’re still part of us. Marco is lucky he’s not coming this weekend or I’d personally kick his ass,” she grumbled and Tamara laughed.

  “Thanks, it just shocked me that since he’s a shifter himself, he’d be so prejudiced. I thought that trait was only in humans. And to think we dated for over two months. God, I can really pick them.”

  “I’m afraid even we have pricks. Ones that were born into it and not made are often the worst. At least my family isn’t like that. We were raised to know better. We are all equal, no matter if we were born a vampire or brought over. I can’t wait for you to meet our unit. Even though we’re done serving our time, we still get together.”

  She smiled and hoped the others felt the same way her friend did, but from past experiences with Other Unit members, they could be a closed family squad and hardly let outsiders in. All she wanted to do was sink her feet into the warm sand and let the sun bake her.

  At five foot three, Tamara had very fair skin. She would burn first and tan second. But after a week in the tanning bed, she was hoping this time she wouldn’t burn. The new one-piece she’d bought would cover the scars on her stomach.

  Turning, she observed Lydia who had her eyes closed and was listening to her jazz music. Marco was just one of many idiots who had tried to take advantage of her, but as Tamara’s father once said, “My daughter not only has the red hair, but the stubborn will to go with it.”

  The only bad risky part about meeting with Other Unit members was that she might run into Cooper. She shivered and rubbed the large scar on her stomach. That was one man who scared the living shit out of her and Tamara still had the nightmares to prove it. Part cat-shifter and part vampire, Alex Cooper believed he was better than anyone and demanded she bow to him and his greatness.

  That had been one of those times she wished her stubborn streak hadn’t shown its ugly head. Telling him to stuff his head up his ass hadn’t been a smart move on her part. If it hadn’t have been for the commander of his Other team, she would have been gutted and left for dead.

  Not only had he stopped Alex, he’d saved her life by giving her his blood. As a result, Tamara had a few extra gifts, but nothing else had changed. She would live a little longer than a human and was a little stronger, but his blood didn’t transform her like she had believed it would.

  Commander Michael had laughed and patted her head. “I’m an ancient, Sweetie. I’m not turning you, I’m healing you. There is a difference.” Oh, and he would always know where she was and if she was in trouble, but that Tamara could live with.

  Of course Alex Cooper was dismissed from duty and disappeared, which was another reason she was always looking over her shoulder. The safest place for her would always be with the Other Unit. They protected theirs and Tamara had no qualms about placing herself in their care.

  Would Lydia’s Unit accept her even though she was now done with her tour of duty? Only time would tell, but in the meanwhile, Tamara looked forward to spending some time just relaxing.

  ***

  “What’s wrong? You’ve been staring out at the ocean for the last ten minutes,” Gage asked coming up behind Lars and wrapping his arms around him. His wolf was close to the surface and he worried about a threat to the one he’d chosen.

  “Pull your wolf back, there’s nothing out there, yet.” Lars turned and grabbed a handful of Gage’s hair, yanking his head back and exposing his neck. At six foot five, Lars towered over Gage’s six-foot frame.

  Where he was tall, Gage was muscular. Both men fought for dominance and each won the battles they chose. Lars scraped his fangs against Gage’s neck before sinking them in and drinking. His dark skin against Gage’s pallor always amazed him with how perfectly they fit together.

  Reaching down, Gage circled Lars’ cock with his hand, pumping. “Fuck me, now,” Gage snarled as Lars sealed the holes in his neck and pushed him up against the large bay window. Early in their relationship, Lars realized Gage loved to have an audience while they made love to each other.

  To him it mattered not who watched them, just that he was buried deep in Gage’s ass. Snatching up the lube, he squeezed a small amount on his cock, knowing Gage preferred a dry rough ride, but Lars refused to hurt him.

  The almost full moon shone bright in the windows that stood propped open. The sound of the waves hitting the shore was music to Lars’ ears as he pushed his cock into Gage’s ass. “Never…get tired of this ass, mine!” Reaching around their bodies, Lars circled Gage’s cock and started to stroke him. “Don’t come, not yet.”

  “Hurry, damn it Lars!” he growled and shoved his ass back hard against him.

  Three more strokes was all it took for Gage to release his seed onto the window as Lars released his at the same time in Gage’s ass.

  Backing up, and then pulling out of him, Lars walked into the kitchen grabbing the paper towels and Windex. He handed them to Gage. “Tell me, who is this human who Lydia insisted on bringing with her?”

  Running the warm water, Lars picked up another towel, wet it and proceeded to clean himself. He turned and dumped the dirty towel into the small bag of dirty clothes, as he waited for Gage to speak.

  “Lydia says this human just finished her last tour of duty, but was attacked by Marcos a week before she was discharged. Seems he’d been seeing her only as a pretense and expe
cted more than she was willing to give.” Gage threw his clothes into the bag and held out his hand. “Let’s go for a swim.”

  Holding hands, they left their room and headed for the ocean. “Anyway, Lydia walked in on it. Not only that, it seems this human has a mark on her. Alex Cooper is looking for her and has offered up quite a sum of money for her. She wants us to bring her into the fold.”

  The water was cool to the skin, but calm for the ocean. Gage laughed at him, shaking his head. “You were always modest.” he indicated the swimming trunks Lars had clothed them both in.

  “It is one thing to be naked in our room, but another to be out in public. I do not wish to get a ticket for indecent exposure. We are not in our normal vacation spot. You wanted closer to the humans,” Lars reminded him, diving into the water.

  “You know Alex is close, right?” He came up out of the water, watching the waves roll off Gage’s muscular frame.

  “I smelled him as soon as we checked in. I have two of our unit tracking him down. I’ve also sent a message to Lydia to be on the alert. Until they arrive and we decide what to do with this human, she is under our protection.” Gage waited for Lars to deny it, but he wouldn’t.

  “Do you think I’m that cruel?” Lars snapped and started to walk back towards the beach, but Gage wrapped his arm around him.

  “No, and I’m sorry if it came across that way. I just wanted to enjoy the fireworks this weekend. We’re nestled in between Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. It’s a perfect place to see both displays and enough nightlife to have some fun. But now…” he sighed. “We have to be on alert and it pisses me off. Believe me, I’ll be having a word with Lydia when she arrives.”

  “Then there is no reason to do so now. They are already here registering.” Lars made his way out of the water, followed by Gage.

  “Now would be a good time for some clothes,” his lover teased, but he was serious at the same minute.

  With a wave of his hand, Lars clothed Gage in his regular garb, black jeans and a black tank, while he was in black dress pants and a white silk dress shirt.

  Gage’s long blond hair was now tied back and braided, while his bald black head shined in the moonlight. The closer they got to the lobby, the harder his cock grew and his body tingled. He stopped at the same time Gage did. They both looked at each other.

  “Can it be? We share the same consort?” Gage asked, his breath heavy and his cock straining against his pants.

  “It’s not unheard of. We are mates. Why would it be unheard of that a woman was both ours to share? Let’s deal with this human fast, so we can find her and not make her wait.” Lars and Gage both moved towards the lobby, but upon entering it, they both stopped and stared at the woman with Lydia.

  “A human, but I sense a trace of old blood in her. It seems Lydia not only brings us our consort, but a host of problems with it,” Lars snarled and moved closer to the two women. He knew Lydia had heard him as she turned and stepped in front of her friend in a protective measure.

  ***

  Tamara snorted and stepped around her friend. “You might as well stop. You know you can’t take them both and the others around here who are watching. Plus, I thought they were your friends?” She watched as the two men almost glided toward them at a slow pace, studying her as if she was under a microscope. One was blond with fair skin, while the other was black as the night with a bald head. She loved a bald head. It was so sexy, but what really drew her were his eyes. They almost seemed to glow.

  Leaning toward Lydia, she mumbled, well-aware they would hear, “Maybe you could teach them some manners, though? Staring is rude.” There was no reason for them to know she found both of them hotter than sin.

  Lydia looked over her shoulder at her, and a small smile started to form as she faced the men in question. “You’re soo bad. Gage Evans, Lars Cooper, may I introduce you to my friend Sergeant Tamera Crozier. She is under my protection.”

  Tamara stiffened upon hearing the last name Cooper. “Are you related to Alex Cooper?” She automatically stepped back, even though Tamara knew he could kill her faster then she could move.

  Both men bowed, but Lars reached out and took her hand, kissing each finger individually. “He is my half-brother.”

  She tried to yank her hand back, but his grip was unbreakable. “Release me. It was a mistake to come here. I’ll leave and you’ll never see me again.”

  “What the hell is going on? Lars, you’re scaring her. Stop it!” Lydia placed her hand on theirs, and Lars snarled.

  He straightened and Gage moved in closer, also growling. “Do you really believe we would allow my brother to harm our consort?” His words carried a whiplash to them aimed at her friend.

  “Enough!” Tamara yanked her hand free. She knew he had released. “You will not threaten my friend. If you have a problem with me, fine. Let’s deal with it.” Once more her temper had gotten the better of her and she stepped into Lars personal space. “I’ll fight you every step of the way if you even think of giving me to Alex. You’ll have to kill me here and now, before I allow him to touch me again.”

  The blond shook his head and smiled at her. “Please, forgive us for being so rude. We have no intentions of turning you over to my mate’s brother. Just the opposite. You will be protected here. No one will touch you.” He glanced around the lobby. “Let it be known that should any harm come to Tamara, they will answer to not only myself, but Lars also. Spread the word.”

  Three men and one woman stood and bowed to them before leaving the hotel lobby. “What did you just do?” Tamara looked from Gage to Lars. “Why do I have a feeling I’m missing something?”

  “And why didn’t you tell me you knew Alex Cooper?” Lydia turned to her

  Waving her hand at her, Tamara walked to the chair and plopped down in it. “It happened before I even knew you. When I was under Commander Michael’s team. He’s the one who saved me. I’d hoped it would be dropped, but I guess it hasn’t?” She looked to Lars who sighed and shook his head.

  “My brother never forgets, and you are foremost on his mind lately. From what I’ve heard, they booted him from the Unit and that wouldn’t have been bad if it wasn’t for the fact that it brought shame on our family name. Our father was furious when he found out about it and has shunned him as has the rest of the family.”

  “Great! That is just fucking great! And I suppose he blames me for that too?” She reached out and grabbed the hotel key card from Lydia. “I’m going to take a hot shower and get some sleep. I know you three have to talk about me, so if you will excuse me….” Tamara picked up her duffle bag and headed towards the door.

  “You really shouldn’t be walking around by yourself,” Lars said on one side of her while Gage took up the other side.

  She glanced behind her to see Lydia smile and wave at her. “You do know I can defend myself a little, right? I mean I’m not at a total disadvantage. I did manage to land a few good swipes to your brother before he gutted me.”

  Two sets of hands stopped her. “What do you mean by he gutted you?” Gage snarled and pressed up close to her.

  “Easy doggie, it’s just like I said. He shoved his hand into my gut and ripped everything out. If it hadn’t have been for Commander Michael, well let’s just say I’d be dead now.” She peeked around Lars, searching for her door.

  “Let us see,” Lars asked and she shook her head.

  “Not going to happen Tonto. Now please release me. I’m dirty and want a nice shower.” Tamara once more headed past two more bungalows before they stopped her again.

  “What is it now?” She snapped and placed both of her hands on her hips, turning to glare at them.

  At once Lydia stepped around them and yanked Tamara back, hissing in her ear. “What is wrong with you? These men have offered you their protection. Show a little more respect.”

  Taking a deep breath, she looked at her friend. “I appreciate what they have done, but showing them my scars is way beyond normal, and y
ou know it. Did anyone ever think that maybe I don’t even want to remember? I can still hear his taunts in my head at night, Lydia. And the three of you want me to dredge this back up when I’m trying to forget it? Fine!” She dropped the duffel bag and ripped off her top, showing them what they wanted to see.

  “Happy?” she turned so they could see the thick scars that ran up her stomach, to just under her breast. Reaching down, Tamara latched onto her bag and pushed Lars out of the way, swiping her card through the slot of her door.

  Opening the door, she turned to face the three of them. “I don’t want to talk about it again. It’s over and done with.” She slammed the door. Lydia had a key if she needed to get in. Leaning against the door, she took a deep breath and tried to stop her body from shaking.

  “Hot bath, bubbles and a nice bottle of wine,” she put her bag on the bed and searched till Tamara found the bottle of wine, bath salts, and her nightshirt. “I knew you would come in handy.”

  Not waiting, she worked the cork out of the Khvanchkara red, semi-sweet. The man at the wine shop had told her it was best served at room temperature or just below, just what she wanted.

  There was no wait. As soon as the cork was out, she took a small sip right out of the bottle, heading towards the bathroom. “Perfect.”

  Half a bottle of wine gone, twenty minutes soaking in the tub and Tamara was ready for a nice walk on the beach before bed. Maybe she could even get Lydia to walk with her. Something was up with Gage and Lars, she wasn’t stupid. Something other than the threat was in the air and Tamara didn’t like surprises.

  Slipping on a sundress and flip flops, Tamara brushed out her long hair and braided it. “Well, let’s see what’s going on.” She grabbed the bottle and opened the door.

  “Oh good, I was getting worried about you,” Lydia smiled and eyed the wine.

  “Hey, it’s my vacation, plus only half of it’s gone. Want some?” She held up the bottle and Lydia shrugged.