by Неизвестный
Red Satin Lips
Book Two: The Surrender Series © 2014 by Trinity Blacio
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.
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Digital ISBN: 978-1-62601-076-5
Print ISBN: 978-1-62601-077-2
Chapter One
Tamara Evans-Cooper stared out the window one of the many rooms of Lars’ family home in Big Bay, Michigan. Snow was falling and, if she wasn’t in a pissed off mood, Tamara would be enjoying the snow. But no, she was confined to the large mansion on orders from her father and husbands.
Dignitaries from around the world were coming in for the Valentine’s Eve party Lars’ father gave every year. Of course, it was a masquerade party. She smiled and glanced at the closet. Hidden in there was her costume.
Both of her husbands had promised they wouldn’t look and they’d kept their promises. Yes, Tamara was going as the Lady in Red. Corny she knew, but the dress and the mask were stunning and she had the body to make it even look better. Well, her melons did anyway.
Tamara still couldn’t believe she had been married to Lars and Gage for over six months now. Oh, there had been times when she’d personally told both of her men to take a flying leap into the river. Of course the first time she’d forgotten about her gifts and they had actually ended up swimming in the lake. Thank God it was still summer when she’d done that. She laughed and turned around, walking towards the closet.
Her men were gone for a meeting. Breakfast had been served and taken away. Well, this was breakfast to her now when it used to be suppertime. That was one thing about changing, Tamara lost the sun.
No one would bother her until later when Lars’ mother wanted her help in planning the party. She loved Lars’ mother and she got along great with his mother, which was a plus in her book.
Yes, Angeline Cooper was an amazing lady; beautiful, graceful and deadly. She snorted remembering the time one of the servants had gotten snippy with her. Tamara thought for sure the bitch was going to die the way Angeline had attacked her. And then there was her other half, Trevor Cooper, Lars’ father, who barely said boo to her.
He and his father, Alton, were always cold and distant to her. The only time they smiled at her was when her father, Michael, was around and that was out of fear. She didn’t know if she’d ever measure up to their standards, but right now Tamara was not going to worry about that.
No, she had an adventure planned for this evening and one she couldn’t wait to explore. Stepping into her closet, Tamara went to the back and moved the lever hidden on the floor. The wall panel slid open and the musty smell of old greeted her. She reached up and grabbed the flashlight she’d found and stepped into the tunnel, closing the door it behind her.
Last week, Tamara had found the entrance to the tunnel by accident while trying to hide her dress. This was the first day she could go exploring without being guarded. Her bedroom door was locked and now she had plenty of time to investigate, well till this afternoon at 2:00. She had four hours to have some fun. The only drawback was the spider webs and spiders. She shivered and got out her marker.
One thing was for sure, Tamara was not going to get lost in this mansion. With her glow- in-the-dark marker, she marked the walls as she went. She followed downward and came to an intersection. “Well we’ll start with the right first,” Tamara said to herself, as she turned to the right marking the wall.
Each time she passed a new room, Tamara would peak in between the wooden slots when she could to see where she had traveled until she heard a couple of men talking. Not wanting them to hear her, Tamara waited hoping they would leave the room so she could move on.
“The time table has been moved up. Seems the boss does not like Lars’ mate, she’s a first class bitch,” a deep voice said. Tamara could have sworn she’d heard it before, but she couldn’t place it. Carefully she turned to try and peak through the slots, but she saw nothing. This room had been remodeled.
“Is he here? The Black Widow wants Alton dead and she now asking for him to get rid of that bitch Lars is mated to.” A whiny voice answered him, making her cringe. She looked around and tried to see these people, but she really couldn’t see anything, when she heard a door open. They were getting ready to go downstairs for the meeting.
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Tamara cussed in her head as she marked the room so she could bring back Lars or Gage. If these people were in this room, then they would have a place to start in finding out who was plotting her death and his grandfather's.
“Bitch, please,” she mumbled and moved back towards her room. Lars and Gage wouldn’t be back till later, but Tamara could see if Lydia or her father were around. She moved faster down the tunnel until she reached the latch to her room. Tamara heard someone in her room.
“I thought you said she would be in here?” a muffled voice said, before she heard something crash against a wall. “Now, not only are they going to know we’re looking for her, but that she’s in danger. They’ll put guards on her now too.” The sound of skin hitting something and bones crunching had her holding her breath.
“Get up, you fool, we need to get out of here,” the voice ordered.
She sat on the ground and waited. She was almost afraid to come out of her room, but then she smiled and whispered, “I wish Lydia was here with me.”
The air around her sizzled and Lydia appeared in her nightgown. Before she could say a word, Tamara held up her finger to her mouth and pointed to her room. “Someone is in my room. And it seems they want me dead.”
The sound of the door slamming drew her attention and she stood peeking through the hole she had put in the wall. Tamara saw nothing, but that didn’t mean anything. Looking behind her, Lydia was now dressed and armed.
Knives, Tamara needed her knives and gun. Closing her eyes, Tamara wished for them and at once her knives were strapped under her clothes and so was her personal Beretta Px4 Storm. She’d had this baby since she’d joined the service.
Yep, this baby had saved her ass a few times. Tamara kissed it and Lydia rolled her eyes, stepping in front of her.
Not even bothering to argue with her, Tamara flipped the switch and the panel slid open. Lydia moved without making a sound and she followed close behind. Upon entering her personal room, Tamara hissed at the destruction. Her ottoman was slashed as were all her pictures and even her undies had been ripped up.
She turned slowly around and saw the message in lipstick on the mirror. Only a matter of time before your skin is under my knife, the Black Widow
“Damn,” Tamara mumbled and sat down on the floor right on top of some glass, but ignored it. “Now what?”
She looked at Lydia who knelt down next to her, whoever did this gone. “Lars and Gage will be here…” Lydia jumped up, her gun aimed at the door as it flew open and banged against the wall.
Both of her men scanned the room until they saw her sitting on the floor and were beside her in a second. Lars took one of her hands, while Gage took the other after taking the gun out of her hand, and putting it in the back of his pants.
“Why didn’t you call us?” Lars demanded.
“You were in a meeting, Lydia and I could have taken care of this. I know how important the meetings were to
day.” She moved in closer to Lars and rested her head on his chest, just needing to take in his smell.
“Tamara, you have to call us when you sense you are in trouble. We’re here for you,” Gage mumbled behind her, and bit down on her shoulder.
She grabbed his hand and wrapped it around her waist. “I know and I’m trying, but after so many of years fending for my Mom and myself, it’s hard to ask for help.” Tamara looked up into Lars’ face. “They’re not only after me. I was exploring the tunnels and I heard two men talking. Your grandfather is also being targeted by someone called the Black Widow. Kind of stupid name if you ask me, but anyway, I marked where I heard them talking. Maybe we can at least identify some of those that are in on this.”
“There is no contract on my father. You must have heard wrong,” Lars’ father said behind them, as he entered her room and surveyed the damage. “What did you do to anger someone so badly?” he asked.
Patting Lars’ chest, Tamara stepped out of his arms and faced the man head on. “I did nothing. It seems your guests consider me a bitch. Well, guess what? You haven’t seen my bitch face yet, but you’re going to. And I don’t lie. Never have and never will. As soon as these meetings are done, we're out of here. You can take your precious house and shove it where the sun does not shine.” She turned and looked at Lydia.
“Come on, I need to get out of here,” she nodded to the door, but as soon as Tamara stepped around Trevor, he grabbed onto her arm.
His gaze was blazing with anger. As he tried to get control his rage, his grip grew tighter, but she refused to buckle under the pressure. “Have. You. Ever Heard. Of. Respect?”
She smiled and tried to peal his hand off of her. Lars just stood there and did nothing and neither did Gage. “Yes, I know what it is, but to get respect you have to earn it. Ever since I’ve come here, you’ve done nothing but give me grief. I’m sorry you don’t like me. I didn’t plan on being committed to your son or that you have another son that is a total nut case, but I will not bow down to you or anyone. Let GO!” Tamara looked down at his hand and wished to be released.
He hissed and yanked his hand back. She didn’t even look up as Tamara rubbed her arm and left the room, running smack into her father and Lars’ grandfather.
“What have you done?” her father asked, looking behind her. She knew Lars’ father and her men were there.
Cocking her head to the side, she glared at her father. “Let’s see, I had breakfast, and then I was going on a tour of the tunnels, being a good little girl, staying out of trouble, when I heard someone in a room plotting to kill me and your friend here. Then I returned to my room and heard a stranger in there trashing my room and threating me. Not to mention that all my pictures, and my personal things are gone, shredded, Oh, and the killer left me a nice note letting me know that he wants to do the same to my skin, but oh that’s just my imagination and it’s my fault. Other than that, I’ve been a bitch since I’ve been here. Is that enough for you?” She was yelling by the end as tears slid down her face. “Oh I forgot. Not only did my men not stand up for me, they sat there and allowed someone to put his hands on me and hurt me. So excuse me if I protected myself.”
She had never been so pissed. She knew she was going to break her promise to Lars and Gage and she wished she was in her little cabin in Ohio with Lydia. Opening her eyes, Tamara took a deep breath when she heard Lydia’s hiss.
“You know they’re going to be furious?” Lydia said, plopping down on one of her recliners.
She looked at the fireplace and it roared to life. “I don’t give a shit. I’ve done everything they’ve asked, but they didn’t keep their promise. They lied,” she said the last word, plopping down on her sofa and tried to rub the ache out of her arm.
Her friend noticed and came over, sitting next to her. “Let me see.”
With a deep breath, Tamara removed her sweater and they both gasped at the dark mark on her arm. “No wonder it still hurts. Think it’s broken?” Tamara frowned and moved her arm around. “If it was, it’s not anymore. It’s slowly healing, but boy he has a grip.”
“I’m sorry about this Tamara. I never guessed he’d hurt you. I’m still trying to figure out why all the hostility. I mean everything was fine when we were in Florida, but when I showed up last week, I could feel the anger and it was all centered around you.” She laid her head back and looked at the ceiling. “It just doesn’t make any sense. Trevor Cooper has always been a fair man, his father can be a righteous prick sometimes, but he is still a good man.”
They both sat there listening to the fire crackle for a few minutes. “I have no problem with Angeline. As a matter fact, she is amazing. She and my mom get along great. You know, even my father has been acting like a jerk. Hell, for that matter, all the men are being jerks.”
“I’m surprised Lars and Gage aren’t here yet.” Lydia frowned.
“They think I’m still in the castle. Why should I tell them where I’m at, anyway? We’ll go back there in a couple of hours. I just want to rest without having to worry about anyone coming at me. I won’t stand his mom up. I promised to help her with the Valentine’s Eve party and I won’t let her down. We do need to find out who these guys are and since it looks like I’m not going to have any help, I’m counting on you.” She glanced over at Lydia, who nodded.
“You know I’ll help. Later on you can show me where you heard them in the tunnels, but you’re right. It does feel feels good to rest here without all the pompous going on at the house. I hate when all the ancients are around, everyone starts acting like dick heads. Oh…I’m-more- powerful-than-you kind of crap.” She laughed. “Last year, Lars' uncle was such a jerk that one of the women got tired of it and dumped a whole punch bowl on top of his head. Needless to say, the men shut up and stopped all their posturing for the rest of their stay there.”
She sighed, knowing Lars and Gage were on their way. “We have company.” Tamara nodded to her men as they appeared in the room.
****
They knew where Tamara had gone the minute she disappeared and Lars had allowed it. He was so furious at his father and her’s, that he didn’t want her around for the next few minutes. Next to him, Gage simmered with anger, his beast close to the front.
He turned to his father first. “I have respected you all my life, but today you have stepped over that boundary.” Lars took a deep breath and a quick glance at his mother, but he would not back down this time. “After the party, we are leaving. If you ever lay a finger on our woman and hurt her again…you will never see us again.””
He shifted his attention to Michael. “Do you know how badly your words hurt her? The fact that that you missed so much of her life would make us think that you would help her with the transition, but you haven’t. We will not be staying here in this house. If you need us, you know how to contact me, but I won’t have her life in danger, because all of you are more concerned about this stupid power play. I never could stomach it and I won’t anymore.” Lars stepped into his father’s personal space.
“If Tamara or my grandfather are hurt because you refuse to see this threat as real…”
“Lars…” His mother stepped forward, placing her hand on his arm. “Where is Tamara?
“She’s safe, no one needs to know where she is, but I know Tamara will be here for you when it’s time. She loves you. I wanted to thank you for going out of your way.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek as did Gage.
“I don’t say much, but Lars is right,” Gage said. “You have done much to help her and she loves you very much. We should go, she was really upset. Plus, I think we need to see where she was earlier.”
“Wait,” Michael, her father, stepped forward. “I would like to go with you. I need to apologize and I want to help with this threat. I didn’t see the room.” He shook his head. “I just assumed it was someone playing their power trip games like they do every year. You remember when they’d placed all those snakes in my room?”
G
age snarled next to him. “This has to stop. What if some innocent had stumbled into your room last year? You’re protected, but there are many servants around us who aren’t. I’m glad we won’t be in this house. I’ve hated staying here during this week,” Gage snapped. “It’s a bunch of old shits acting like children.” Gage turned to Lars. “I’m going to gather our things and send them to the house. I’m also calling in the team. If there is a kill order out on Tamara I want it taken care of now so we don’t’ have to worry about it when we move.”
“Go, let me know when you’re finished. I want to see what I can gather that isn’t ruined in there,” Lars stepped back into the room and took a deep breath, but he couldn’t smell anything.
“Whoever was here has the gift of hiding their scent or any other scents. It’s like everything has been wiped clean.” Her father walked over to the mirror. “Even in the handwriting, you can’t tell if it is female or male who is threating. The Black Widow could be a female, but then there was the one male in…Libya.” He turned to see Alton come into the room.
“No, it was in Iran that we finally caught him. He murdered over three hundred of our kind before we found him.: His grandfather came into the room and looked around. “Your father is taking care of the meetings from now on. I’ve also informed the others the games will stop. I’m sorry Lars, your father knows they made a mistake. I’ve also suggested maybe next year we need to move this party to a hotel or something. To have this threat in one’s own home is too much and your mother has dealt with it long enough.”
Lars gathered a suitcase and started putting her clothes in it. “So you believe that there is a threat to Tamara and that this wasn’t a joke?”
“No, our men might be crazy and stupid, but they would never touch another’s personal property and threaten a woman. I was there for your wife's test, Lars. She would not lie about this. I’d like to go with you when you speak with her?”