Fatal Series 00 - Fatal Destiny

said. “Stay put.” He went to his desk, retrieved a small blue box from the top drawer and brought it to her.
    Sam’s eyes widened when she saw the distinctive Tiffany box.
    “I asked your sisters for dibs on the something new,” Nick said.
    “Open it, Sam,” Scotty said.
    Her hands trembled with excitement as she opened the box to reveal a diamond-encrusted key on a white-gold chain. “Oh, it’s beautiful! I love it.”
    Nick took the box from her and removed the necklace. Gathering her hair and shifting it out of his way, he fastened the clasp and then kissed her neck. “Let me see.”
    Sam turned to him.
    “Perfect,” he said, his eyes warm with love and desire.
    “You know,” Scotty said gravely, “that’s the key to his heart.”
    Smiling at the boy, she reached up to touch the key. “I promise to take very good care of it.”
    “Good,” Scotty said. “Now let’s play some baseball!”
    Nick stole a quick kiss from Sam, and went to play ball with his buddy.
     
    Nick’s father, Leo, had insisted on hosting the rehearsal dinner at Trattoria Alberto, an Italian restaurant on Capitol Hill. After a rehearsal at the church that Shelby had likened to “herding cats” thanks to the antics of Sam’s two young nephews and Nick’s four-year-old twin half brothers, Sam was ready for a big glass of wine. It’d been her idea to include all the kids, and she didn’t regret it, but she sure hoped the four boys could find their way down the aisle tomorrow without making a huge scene.
    “Thank God for Scotty,” Nick said, reading her mind as he signaled the waiter for drinks.
    “No kidding,” Sam said. “He was the master cat herder.”
    Nick leaned in to kiss her forehead. “From this point on, whatever happens happens. No worries, okay?”
    Sam clinked her glass against his. “You got it.” After all, what did she care if the kids made a scene? She’d still be married to Nick by this time tomorrow, and she didn’t give a rat’s ass if the whole thing was a freaking spectacle. Her phone vibrating in her purse interrupted her musings. Sam withdrew it and viewed a text from Freddie: Thought you’d want to know Leticia Nixon came in and made a statement. We’ve got him this time .
    “ Yes ,” Sam said, relieved to know Gardner would be locked up for years to come.
    Nick took the phone from her and powered it down.
    “Hey!”
    He put the phone in her purse and reached for her hands, bringing them to his lips. “I want ten days, Samantha. Ten days when I don’t have to share you with your job. Is that too much to ask?”
    “No,” Sam said softly.
    He wrapped his arms around her.
    Sam snuggled into him, breathing him in. Right in that moment, she decided to put aside her quest to find her father’s shooter for the next ten days. She vowed to enjoy every minute of the time alone with him that she’d craved for months.
    As if he sensed her capitulation, Nick tightened his hold on her.
    A throat clearing behind them interrupted the moment.
    Sam pulled back from Nick and turned to find her sister Tracy waiting for them.
    “Ready to eat?” she asked.
    Looking down at Sam, Nick said, “We’re ready.” He put his hand on Sam’s back and followed her into dinner.

Chapter 10
    Nick’s dad Leo stood and shushed the boisterous group made up of Sam’s sisters and their families, her dad and Celia, Leo’s young wife Stacy, Nick’s adopted parents Graham and Laine O’Connor, Dr. Harry and his girlfriend Maggie, Nick’s lawyer friend Andy and his wife, and a separate table full of kids. Even Sam’s sulky niece Brooke seemed to be having fun.
    “I want to thank you all for being here tonight,” Leo said. His shy smile tugged at Sam, who knew how he and Nick had struggled over the years to maintain a cordial relationship. “I also want to thank Nicky and Sam for including the boys in the wedding party. In case you hadn’t noticed, they’re a little excited.”
    Sam glanced at Nick and saw amusement and affection in his expression as he waited to hear what his father had to say. They’d both had complicated relationships with their mothers, so she was grateful their fathers could be with them this weekend.
    “Nicky, I was never much of a father to you, but I couldn’t be more proud of the man you grew up to be. A United States senator of all things.”
    Nick’s friends led a rousting round of applause that clearly embarrassed him.
    “And in Sam,” Leo continued, “you’ve