Fatal Series 00 - Fatal Destiny

perspective for him. Life was too short to spend it wishing for something he could have if he was willing to make some concessions. The thought of seeing Elin, of holding her and making love with her had him jogging for the nearest Metro station. If he got lucky, he’d catch her leaving the gym where she worked to take her lunch hour. She always went at two.
    On the train, he thought about what he might say to her and imagined how she might react. He had to play it cool. That much he knew for sure. If he professed his love, she’d run for the hills. No, he needed to start all over again with her and hope for a better outcome this time.
    He jogged up 16th Street just as she emerged from the gym wearing his favorite black yoga pants that showed off her amazing ass and a light blue down vest that offset her shockingly blue eyes. The wind caught her white-blonde hair, and she stopped to capture it into a ponytail. That’s when she saw him coming toward her.
    “What’re you doing here?” she asked, clearly taken aback by his presence.
    He put an arm around her waist and drew her in close to him.
    Her eyes widened, and her lips parted.
    “This is what I’m doing here.” He dipped his head and captured her mouth in a searing kiss that had him to firing on all cylinders. When her arms encircled his neck and her fingers combed into his hair, his legs went weak with relief. Having her back in his arms was the answer to his every prayer.
    Like a famished man who’d just found food, he feasted on her, his tongue dipping into her sweet softness. “Missed you,” he whispered when he had no choice but to come up for air. He trailed kisses from her jaw to her neck and nipped at the base of her throat.
    “I’ve missed you too.”
    He’d never seen her looking more vulnerable than she did at that moment, and that gave him hope. Framing her face with his hands, he kissed her again, softly this time. “Come to Sam’s wedding with me. We’ll figure out the rest. I promise.”
    Her hands found his chest under his coat, and he’d never wanted her more. Freddie had to remind himself they were standing on a public street and attracting more than a few curious stares.
    “Are you sure this is what you want?” He knew she meant a relationship his pious mother disapproved of.
    Leaning his forehead on hers, he said, “I’m not sure of anything except I can’t stop thinking about you.”
    Her hand slid from his chest to his belly, causing Freddie to suck in a sharp deep breath. She smiled up at him. “What time is the wedding?”
    “Four.”
    Elin went up on tiptoes to kiss him. “Pick me up at three-thirty.” She patted his cheek and left him standing on the street with his head spinning and his heart racing. She’d said yes. He wanted to dance a jig. She’d said yes!

Chapter 9
    By the time Friday rolled around, Sam was out of her mind with boredom. She’d followed doctor’s orders and gotten plenty of rest over the last few days and other than a nagging throb from the healing cut, she felt much better. This concussion had been milder than the previous one, and she was itching to get back to work.
    Nick came bounding down the stairs looking awfully chipper for a guy who’d been out with his buddies until two in the morning for a bachelor party that supposedly didn’t include strippers.
    “Where are you going?” he asked.
    Sam put on her coat. “I have to go in for a few hours to tie up some loose ends before the trip.”
    “Get someone to do it for you.”
    “There is no one else.”
    “You’re not going in there. I already told you that.”
    “You can’t tell me what to do.”
    He reached for his phone, scrolled through his contacts and found the one he wanted.
    “Who are you calling?”
    Rather than reply, he gave her the stone-faced expression she’d seen far too much of over the last few days.
    “This is Nick Cappuano. Sam tells me she has to go into work today because there’s stuff she needs to get done before her vacation.” He paused to listen. “That’s what I thought. Very good, thank you. We’ll see you at the wedding.” Closing the phone, he gave her a smug smile. “No need to go in today.”
    “What the hell? Who was that?”
    “Captain Malone. He said to tell you they’ve got everything under control and to enjoy the day off.”
    “You have him programmed into your phone?”
    “I have to leave soon to get Scotty, and there’s something I want to do on the way. You can come