United Service (38 page)

Kate followed him into the room, closing the door behind her. “I warned you that my family is not pleasant.” She rubbed her little baby bump as she glanced around at the sizeable audience collected around the television. “Oh, good evening everyone.”

Sterling wanted to get himself a beer from the refrigerator, but had agreed to forgo any alcohol as long as Kate had to miss it because of the baby. He regretted that solidarity oath right now.

“We weren’t expecting you home until tomorrow,” Raymond said, pausing the movie.

Sterling raked his fingers through his hair. Another day with his in–laws, especially without alcohol, and he would have gone postal. “Her family is insane,” he finally said in as calm a voice as he could muster.

“My mother is fine,” Kate corrected.

Sterling nodded and put his hand on the small of her back. He knew the car ride had been uncomfortable for her, and he was going to put her into a warm bath and massage her once they got upstairs. “Other than Kate’s charming mother, her family is insane.”

All the seats in the living room were taken, so Raymond allowed Kate to sit on the couch in his place. He then turned on the overhead lights. “What happened?”

Sterling’s jaw tightened and his hands balled into fists. “Her oldest brother accused me of taking advantage of an invalid. He got up in my face and told me to leave Kate and the family alone. After I politely asserted myself to the gutless weasel, he backed down.”

“He threatened to beat the crap out of my brother if he ever called me an invalid again,” Kate translated.

When Sterling saw the concern in his father’s eyes he said, “Don’t worry. He’s a half–breed. And a runt at that.” Turning back to Kate, he continued, “Her oldest sister …”

“My second oldest sister,” Kate corrected.

Sterling huffed and rolled his eyes. “Like that distinction matters, Kate.” He shook his head and continued. “Her
second
oldest sister hit on me!”

“She’s like that, especially if she’s downed a few bottles of vodka.” Kate hesitated until Sterling looked at her questioningly. Shrugging her shoulders, she admitted, “Ok, she’s a slut. Always has been.”

“She told me that if I enjoyed lying down with the quadriplegic sister that I should try one that didn’t resemble a dead body.”

Kate’s face winced in emotional pain. “Yeah, I don’t like that sister very much. I didn’t know she had put it quite like that though.”

“Well, she did. I was able to walk away from her, but I did punch her father for his remark.”

“He broke my father’s nose.” Kate grimaced. “And, I think, a rib or two.”

“The man had it coming.” Sterling said with no remorse. Looking at his father, he added, “Yes, Dad. Her father is a purebred. I caught him off guard.”

“What did the man do?” Ben asked.

“He called Kate a slut for being pregnant out of wedlock.” As glances traveled around the room, and a couple of gasps, Sterling added, “The man is lucky I left him alive. I don’t want him at our wedding. Our baby is a blessing and I won’t have him ruining our day.”

“You’re so sweet to defend my honor Sterling, but I warned you what he’s like,” Kate said.

“Sweetheart, you’re my wife.” He then corrected himself, “… fiance. No one talks like that about you, ever. Plus, you were my wife in my heart before I ever made love to you. I told you so when I proposed to you before our first time together.”

“I don’t necessarily want them all at our wedding either right now, but what else are we going to do?” Kate rubbed her belly and stared down at her baby bump.

“I remember having issues with my own in–laws, but they were never this bad.” Raymond then rolled his eyes, “Well, except my father–in–law wanting to kill me after your mother died.”

“Once the baby comes, I’m sure her father will soften up,” Sulie chimed in. “I’m guessing your mother is supportive?” she asked Kate.

“The car is loaded with baby blankets, toys and a bassinet. It’s her first grandchild and she’s thrilled.” Kate looked up at Sterling. “She thinks you’re the best. I’ll never forget the smile on her face after you hit my father.”

Sterling gave a half smile. “She’s still invited to the wedding. The other’s can stay home.” Taking a deep breath he looked around the living room. He took a headcount and noticed every member of the colony, plus the humans Dixon and Brandon, were in this room. It was rare to get everyone together at one time since everyone had such busy lives.

He knelt beside Kate. “Marry me.”

“I am.”

“No. Right now.”

Kate looked disbelieving at him for a moment, and then laughed. “We don’t have a license, we need to find someone to marry us … things like this just don’t happen on the spur of the moment.”

“Sure they can.” He glanced over to his good friend Daniel, “You still have your license?” When he nodded, Sterling looked towards Kate. “Daniel can marry us. He married my father and Alex. What do you say?”

“Seriously? Right now?” Kate gazed around the room, but stopped on Sulie. Sulie was already crying and wore a huge smile on her face.

“Kate, why wait? We can do the entire song and dance thing for your family later. Let’s just get married for us now. I love you.”

After a brief pause, Kate finally said, “I’m a mess. I must look like a fright.” She ran her hand through her hair.

Sterling leaned in, his hand caressed her cheek. “You’re beautiful, and absolutely glowing. Marry me. … Please.”

She stopped trying to fix her hair. “Ok. … Yes.”

The ceremony was very simple, with merely an exchange of vows and a promise to shop for rings in the morning. They expressed their love for each other and their plans to stay together, never to part.

Ben was the only one prepared to give them a wedding gift. With Kate’s shield down, he could see her very fuzzy aura, but now it was different. “Kate, the pregnancy is far enough along that I can see the baby’s aura along with yours. It’s fuzzy, but I can tell you something about the baby if you want.”

“I know. It’s a boy.” Kate said as Sterling helped her off the couch.

Ben smiled, “I’m not talking about gender.”

Sterling looked over at Ben with concern. “What is it?”

“Twins.”

THE END

Dear Readers,

I hope you enjoyed reading my novel, United Service (Book Two of the Colony Series). Please leave a review on Amazon, BN, and/or Goodreads.

Please visit my website (http://www.reginamorris.com) for more information about the other novels in the Colony Series. Feel free to contact me through my website, through my social media sites (see my website for the list) or by email at [email protected].

I live in Austin, Texas with my husband and two children. I graduated high school in Germany and I attended the University of Texas at Austin where I received a degree in Computer Science with a minor in math. After enjoying a career in software engineering, I discovered that writing is in my blood, and had to put pen to paper!

The opinions I express in my novels are my own. My stories are my own intellectual property. Copyright (c) 2013, Regina Morris

Sincerely,

Regina Morris

Vampires exist among us. They can be our neighbor, best friend, our child’s teacher …

They alter their aged appearance based upon the amount of blood they consume. They move to a new area, drink a lot of blood, and appear young. Slowly they limit their intake of blood and age, right in front of our unsuspecting eyes. After decades, they fake their death, move, and do it over and over again.

Most live quiet lives in an effort to blend in.

Some however want power and control.

The Colony is an elite group of vampires sworn to protect the President of the United States from these rogue vampires.

Eternal Service (Book #1)

Available Spring 2013

When Raymond, part of a covert special ops team of vampires who protects the President of the United States, teams up with a federal operative of the human female persuasion—who has no idea that vampires even exist—will his mission or his heart be compromised first?

Career military woman, Alex Brennan, is being offered the promotion of a lifetime – and with it a romance that she has desperately been seeking. Does she dare accept the position as Director of the Colony, an elite group of deadly creatures of the night and risk a dangerous romance with a man who isn’t even human?

Enduring Service (Book #3)

Available in 2014

Sulie has been in love with the same human man for nearly thirty years. The object of her unrequited love is her boss, Dixon — the only human Sulie has come to truly know in her nearly 200 years of existence. As Dixon’s retirement looms near, and his memory of Sulie and the last thirty years of his life is about to be erased, will she confront her fear of intimacy and take a leap of faith before it’s too late?

Dixon has decided that it’s time to retire and enjoy what time he has left. When Sulie is kidnapped during a medical emergency, Dixon realizes that retirement means giving up everything, and everyone, he’s known for the last three decades. Will he risk his life, and his heart, to save her?

Reliant Service (Book #4)

Available in 2014

After retiring his first, and only, alias with the Colony, Daniel Brighton discovers the mandatory sabbatical to be less than exciting. He chooses to do a favor and act as a security guard for a fading pop–singer, Lori Austin, whose career is winding down. He travels across Europe with her and discovers her past to be one of deception and intrigue with a past leading directly back to the Colony itself.

Lori Austin is struggling to keep her career alive, and is willing to do what is necessary to save it. From bad press and scandalous stories, she travels across Europe on a relief tour to revitalize her career. Discovering a hidden family secret, she realizes that the one man who can save her is the handsome security guard she fought so hard not to hire.

Special thanks to my husband and our children for their love and support; to my sister for believing in me and encouraging me to follow my dreams; to my critique partners, Sue & Alma, for being with me every step of the way; to my editors Erin & Sue; and my proof readers Kathryn & Rorie. I also want to thank my street team of supporters, the For the Love of Fiction Team. This book would not be possible without the support I have had from all of you.

Raymond recoiled from the sight of the woman’s blood on his hands as he struggled to keep the exhausted blood–soaked forger pinned to the cold hard ground. “You son of a bitch,” he scowled. The crisp dried leaves crunched beneath his prey. “That woman had a life, and a family who cared for her. You killed her like she was nothing.”

The subdued forger shrugged, unwilling to make eye contact. “The woman was collateral damage, nothing more.”

The cool night breeze blew the scent of the woman’s blood into Raymond’s face, and Raymond grimaced. He shook his head in disgust. Suddenly needing to end the interrogation, he turned to his team. The darkness of the evening was even more intensified by the secluded spot where he held the forger down, but he could still easily make out the faces of his men.

One of the shadows separated from the dark. Agent Ben knelt down next to Raymond, his dark skin and stocky, muscular build contrasting sharply with Raymond’s tall, marble–like perfection. Ben callously crushed the forger’s hands as he digitally scanned his fingerprints.

“Aargh! Son of a bitch! Look, I’ll make a deal with you if you let me go.”

“You don’t know who hired you, so you have nothing to bargain with,” Raymond said dismissively as he watched Ben finish his task and pocket the scanner. Raymond then glanced over at his son, Sterling, who was checking the vampire’s belongings.

“I’ve got everything I need,” Sterling mumbled as he tossed the backpack to the ground.

Raymond pulled a dagger from his boot and wondered if the forger would show any remorse or fear now that he was about to die, but none came. Sterling moved to hold the captive’s feet down in preparation for the end.

“I can pay you. I can get you gems, gold, blood … whatever you want.”

Raymond didn’t bother to acknowledge the forger’s bribes. Instead, he showed him the cold steel blade as his answer.

“C’mon, everybody’s got a price. What do you say?”

“You breached the perimeter of the White House in an effort to kill the President,” Raymond said.