Trusting Laurence Read online

  Trusting Laurence

  Dorothy Ewels

  A Novella in the

  Suspenseful Seduction World

  Trusting Laurence

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

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  Copyright ©2020 Suspenseful Seduction Publishing and Author Dorothy Ewels

  All Rights Reserved.

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  Front cover design: Raven Designs

  Edited by Candy Royer

  Proofread by Marilize Roos

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  No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Contents

  Introduction

  Who’s Who and the History of Trident Security and The Covenant

  Preface

  Author’s Note

  Prologue

  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

  Excerpt from Liberating Mia

  Afterword

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Dorothy Ewels

  About Dorothy Ewels

  Books by Samantha A. Cole

  About Samantha A. Cole

  Introduction

  Dear Readers,

  * * *

  Welcome to the Suspenseful Seduction World!

  The author of this book has borrowed (with my permission) one or more of my characters from the Trident Security series and/or the Doms of The Covenant series. Some are minor characters who are now getting their own story, thanks to the authors writing in my world, while others are major characters who are being mentioned to connect the story to my series. This book, and others like it, is being published through Suspenseful Seduction Publishing with a contractual agreement between myself and the author.

  While I may have provided some suggestions for including my characters in the storyline, this book is the sole work of the author who wrote it. I was not involved in the writing or editing process, however, several Beta Readers familiar with my characters helped review the final product. While the BDSM lifestyle is included in most of the books in my series, it may or may not be included in the SSW authors’ storylines.

  If you’re not familiar with my series, I’ve included a brief history of Trident Security and The Covenant, along with a Who’s Who of current (at the time this book was published) major characters in both series.

  I’m honored so many authors loved my characters and series that they wanted to include them in their stories.

  Thank you for supporting the author and me, and I hope you enjoy this extension of my Trident Security and/or Doms of The Covenant series.

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  Love,

  Samantha A. Cole

  Who’s Who and the History of Trident Security and The Covenant

  ***While not every character is in every book, these are the ones with the most mentions throughout the series. This guide will help keep readers straight about who’s who.

  * * *

  Trident Security (TS) is a private investigative and military agency, co-owned by Ian and Devon Sawyer. With governmental and civilian contracts, the company got its start when the brothers and a few of their teammates from SEAL Team Four retired to the private sector. The original six-man team is referred to as the Sexy Six-Pack, as they were dubbed by Kristen Sawyer, née Anders, or the Alpha Team. Trident had since expanded and former members of the military and law enforcement have been added to the staff. The company is located on a guarded compound, which was a former import/export company cover for a drug trafficking operation in Tampa, Florida. Three warehouses on the property were converted into large apartments, the TS offices, gym, and bunk rooms. There is also an obstacle course, a Main Street shooting gallery, a helicopter pad, and more features necessary for training and missions.

  In addition to the security business, there is a fourth warehouse that now houses an elite BDSM club, co-owned by Devon, Ian, and their cousin, Mitch Sawyer, who is the manager. A lot of time and money has gone into making The Covenant the most sought after membership in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area and beyond. Members are thoroughly vetted before being granted access to the elegant club.

  There are currently over fifty Doms who have been appointed Dungeon Masters (DMs), and they rotate two or three shifts each throughout the month. At least four DMs are on duty at all times at various posts in the pit, playrooms, and the new garden, with an additional one roaming around. Their job is to ensure the safety of all the submissives in the club. They step in if a sub uses their safeword and the Dom in the scene doesn’t hear or heed it, and make sure the equipment used in scenes isn’t harming the subs.

  The Covenant’s security team takes care of everything else that isn’t scene-related, and provides safety for all members and are essentially the bouncers. With the recent addition of the garden, and more private, themed rooms, the owners have expanded their self-imposed limit of 350 members. The fire marshal had approved them for 500 when the warehouse-turned-kink club first opened, but the cousins had intentionally kept that number down to maintain an elite status. Now with more room, they are increasing the membership to 500, still under the new maximum occupancy of 720.

  Between Trident Security and The Covenant there’s plenty of romance, suspense, and steamy encounters. Come meet the Sexy Six-Pack, their friends, family, and teammates.

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  The Sexy Six-Pack (Alpha Team)

  and Their Significant Others

  Ian “Boss-man” Sawyer: Devon and Nick’s brother; retired Navy SEAL; co-owner of Trident Security and The Covenant; husband/Dom of Angelina (Angel); father of Peyton Marie.

  Devon “Devil Dog” Sawyer: Ian and Nick’s brother; retired Navy SEAL; co-owner of Trident Security and The Covenant; husband/Dom of Kristen; father of John Devon “JD.”

  Ben “Boomer” Michaelson: retired Navy SEAL; explosives and ordnance specialist; husband/Dom of Katerina; son of Rick and Eileen.

  Jake “Reverend” Donovan: retired Navy SEAL; temporarily assigned to run the West Coast team; sniper; husband/Dom of Nick; brother of Mike; Whip Master at The Covenant.

  Brody “Egghead” Evans: retired Navy SEAL; computer specialist; husband/Dom of Fancy.

  Marco “Polo” DeAngelis: retired Navy SEAL; communications specialist and back up helicopter pilot; husband/Dom of Harper; father to Mara.

  Nick “Junior” Sawyer: Ian and Devon’s brother; current Navy SEAL; husband/submissive of Jake.

  Kristen “Ninja-girl” Sawyer: author of romance/suspense novels; wife/submissive of Devon; mother of “JD.”

  Angelina “Angie/Angel” Sawyer: graphic artist; wife/submissive of Ian; mother of
Petyon Marie.

  Katerina “Kat” Michaelson: dog trainer for law enforcement and private agencies; wife/submissive of Boomer.

  Millicent “Harper” DeAngelis: lawyer; wife/submissive of Marco; mother of Mara.

  Francine “Fancy” Maguire: baker; wife/submissive of Brody.

  Extended Family, Friends, and

  Associates of the Sexy Six-Pack

  Mitch Sawyer: Cousin of Ian, Devon, and Nick; co-owner/manager of The Covenant, Dom to Tyler and Tori.

  T. Carter: US spy and assassin; works for covert agency Deimos; Dom of Jordyn.

  Jordyn Alvarez: US spy and assassin; member of covert agency Deimos; submissive of Carter.

  Tyler Ellis: Stockbroker; lifestyle switch—Dom of Tori; submissive of Mitch.

  Tori Freyja: K9 trainer for veterans in need of assistance/service dogs; submissive of Mitch and Tyler.

  Parker Christiansen: owner of New Horizons Construction; husband/Dom of Shelby; adoptive father of Franco and Victor.

  Shelby Christiansen: stay-at-home mom; two-time cancer survivor; wife/submissive of Parker; adoptive mother of Franco and Victor.

  Curt Bannerman: retired Navy SEAL; owner of Halo Customs, a motorcycle repair and detail shop; husband of Dana; stepfather of Ryan, Taylor, Justin, and Amanda. Lives in Iowa.

  Dana Prichard-Bannerman: teacher; widow of retired SEAL Eric Prichard; wife of Curt; mother of Ryan, Taylor, Justin, and Amanda. Lives in Iowa.

  Jenn “Baby-girl” Mullins: college student; goddaughter of Ian; “niece” of Devon, Brody, Jake, Boomer, and Marco; father was a Navy SEAL; parents murdered.

  Mike Donovan: owner of the Irish pub, Donovan’s; brother of Jake; submissive to Charlotte.

  Charlotte “Mistress China” Roth: Parole officer; Domme and Whip Master at The Covenant; Domme of Mike.

  Travis “Tiny” Daultry: former professional football player; head of security at The Covenant and Trident compound; occasional bodyguard for TS.

  Doug “Bullseye” Henderson: retired Marine; head of the Personal Protection Division of TS.

  Rick and Eileen Michaelson: Boomer’s parents; guardians of Alyssa. Rick is a retired Navy SEAL.

  Charles “Chuck” and Marie Sawyer: Ian, Devon, and Nick’s parents. Charles is a self-made real estate billionaire. Marie is a plastic surgeon involved with Operation Smile.

  Will Anders: Assistant Curator of the Tampa Museum of Art Kristen Anders’s cousin.

  Dr. Roxanne London: pediatrician; Domme/wife (Mistress Roxy) of Kayla; Whip Master at Covenant.

  Kayla London: social worker; submissive/wife of Roxanne.

  Grayson and Remington Mann: twins; owners of Black Diamond Records; Doms/fiancés of Abigail; members of The Covenant.

  Abigail Turner: personal assistant at Black Diamond Records; submissive/fiancée of Gray and Remi.

  Chase Dixon: retired Army Ranger; owner of Blackhawk Security; associate of TS.

  Reggie Helm: lawyer for TS and The Covenant; Dom/husband of Colleen.

  Alyssa Wagner: teenager saved by Jake from an abusive father; lives with Rick and Eileen Michaelson.

  Dr. Trudy Dunbar: Psychologist.

  Carl Talbot: college professor; Dom and Whip Master at The Covenant.

  Jase Atwood: Contract agent/mercenary; Lives on the island of St. Lucia; Dom of Brie.

  Brie Hanson: Owner of Daddy-O’s in St. Lucia; submissive of Jase.

  The Omega Team and

  Their Significant Others

  Cain “Shades” Foster: retired Secret Service agent.

  Tristan “Duracell” McCabe: retired Army Special Forces.

  Logan “Cowboy” Reese: retired Marine Special Forces; former prisoner of war. Boyfriend/Dom of Dakota.

  Valentino “Romeo” Mancini: retired Army Special Forces; former FBI Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) member.

  Darius “Batman” Knight: retired Navy SEAL.

  Kip “Skipper” Morrison: retired Army; former LAPD SWAT sniper.

  Lindsey “Costello” Abbott: retired Marine; sniper.

  Dakota Swift: Tampa PD undercover police officer; submissive girlfriend to Logan.

  Tahira: Princess of Timasur; wife of Darius.

  Trident Support Staff

  Colleen McKinley-Helm: office manager of TS; wife/submissive of Reggie.

  Tempest “Babs” Van Buren: retired Air Force helicopter pilot; TS mechanic.

  Russell Adams: retired Navy; assistant TS mechanic.

  Nathan Cook: former computer specialist with the National Security Agency (NSA).

  Members of Law Enforcement

  Larry Keon: Assistant Director of the FBI.

  Frank Stonewall: Special Agent in Charge of the Tampa FBI.

  Calvin Watts: Leader of the FBI HRT in Tampa.

  Colt Parrish: Major Case Specialist, Behavioral Analysis Unit.

  The K9s of Trident

  Beau: An orphaned Lab/Pit mix, rescued by Ian. Now a trained K9 who has more than earned his spot on the Alpha Team.

  Spanky: A rescued Bullmastiff with a heart of gold, owned by Parker and Shelby.

  Jagger: A rescued Rottweiler trained as an assistance/service animal for Russell.

  FUBAR: A Belgian Malinois who failed aggressive guard dog training. Adopted by Babs.

  BDSM: Bravo, Delta, Sierra, and Mike, two Belgian Malinoises and two German shepherds, the guard dogs at the Trident compound: Ian named them using the military communication’s alphabet.

  “Your task is not to seek for love,

  but merely to seek and find all the barrier

  within yourself that you have built against it.”

  ~ Rumi

  Author’s Note

  While the story contained in the book is completely fictional, the concepts of BDSM are real. I have done my best to keep things as accurate as possible, but as this is a work of fiction, I may have used artistic license. Should you choose to participate in the lifestyle, please research it carefully and take every precaution to protect yourself. Although fiction is based on real life, real life is not based on fiction. Always remember – safe, sane and consensual.

  Prologue

  Tahlia O’Connor stood on the courthouse steps, staring at the figure walking through the doors into the building. Fear was an oily taste in her mouth, bitter and unpleasant. One she’d become intimately acquainted with over the twenty years of her marriage to a monster. The same man she watched entering the courthouse.

  I can’t do this. There’s nowhere for me to hide. He’ll come for me; he’ll find me. He always does.

  On the point of bolting, she felt the gentle touch of a hand on her arm. She flinched and clapped a hand over her mouth as a small scream escaped. Eyes glazing with terror, she shrank back, deep into her heavy winter coat. Throwing a protective arm up to shield her face, she couldn’t stop the words from coming, unbidden, “No, please. I’m sorry. Please don’t—”

  “Tahlia. Honey, it’s okay. It’s only me. You’re safe. He can’t hurt you anymore. Tahlia? Look at me, honey.”

  The soft voice, so unexpected, filtered through the fog of terror into her consciousness. Blinking tears from her eyes, she turned her head in the direction the voice had come from. Her attorney stood beside her, a look of sadness on her face.

  “You with me, honey?”

  Tahlia nodded but didn’t say a word. Couldn’t say a word. She felt paralyzed as she stood there, taking deep breaths. Her body trembled, her stomach roiling.

  “Take your time. We don’t have to be in court for another fifteen minutes. You tell me when you’re ready, okay?”

  Again, she simply nodded. She didn’t think she would ever be ready to face the man who had, over the years, systematically broken her in the name of taking care of her. The world had believed that theirs had been the perfect, fairytale life, but the reality had been far removed from a storybook romance.

  Everything in her rebelled at the idea of being in the same room as him again. Hyperventilating, her heart raced just thinking abou
t it. But it had to be done if she was ever to be free of him. If she was ever to have a chance at piecing her broken spirit back together, she needed to face her fear and see this through to the end.

  With a last, deep breath, Tahlia wiped a shaking hand over her mouth.

  “You’re sure they’ll be able to protect me? Marcus has a far reach. There’s nowhere I can hide that he can’t find me.”

  “You’ll be safe. They know what they’re doing. He won’t find you. I promise.”

  Her mind screamed at her to go, but if she did, she’d be running for the rest of her life. Despite how badly she was shaking, Tahlia straightened her spine. Her eyes not quite meeting the attorney’s, she nodded. “I’m about as ready as I’m ever going to be. Let’s just get this done.”

  Her attorney placed a comforting arm around Tahlia’s shoulders and guided her up the steps.

  Larry Keon lifted the glass of Guinness to his lips, taking a deep swallow. The lunchtime rush was over, and it was too early for the evening crowd, so the little bar he favored was still quiet. Just the way he liked it.