Read Fatal Series 00 - Fatal Destiny for Free Online Page B

more conciliatory. “On your wedding.”
    “Thank you. Speaking of that, I’m late. Thanks again for the information.”
    He nodded, and she felt his eyes—and those of everyone in the division—on her as she made her way through the maze of cubicles.
    Well, that was pleasant . If there was one thing about her new life with Nick that Sam couldn’t bear it was all the press scrutiny of their relationship. It was relentless and had brought her far more attention than she wanted or needed as a cop. She put up with it because she knew it furthered Nick’s campaign and career, but it didn’t do much for hers.
    On the way to Tinker Bell’s fashionable Georgetown storefront, Sam made an effort to shake off the unsettling day and slip into bride mode. Even though she’d had the big white wedding once before and would’ve been perfectly satisfied to fly off to Vegas and elope, this would be Nick’s first marriage. In the six weeks since she’d lost a bet with him and let him set their wedding date, she’d often had to remind herself that she was doing all this for him.
    Sam hustled into the store at ten after the hour. Waiting for her were her sisters Tracy and Angela, who was round with her second pregnancy, as well as Tracy’s daughters, fifteen-year-old Brooke and seven-year-old Abby, who were serving as Sam’s junior bridesmaids. As usual lately, Brooke looked put out by the whole thing while Abby glowed with excitement. She came running when she saw Sam.
    “Sam! You’re here!”
    “Hey, doll face.” Sam scooped up the little girl and twirled her around, her heart clutching when she remembered the conversation with Faith. While she’d like to think she knew exactly what she would’ve done in the same situation, Abby’s chubby arms around her neck and the scent of strawberry shampoo clinging to her blond curls gave Sam pause. Was there anything she wouldn’t do to protect this child? To protect any of the four children she loved with all her heart?
    No, there wasn’t. As Abby clung to her, Sam understood why Faith had done what she did.
    “Oh, there you are, honey.” Sam’s stepmother Celia stepped out from a back room wearing the lavender mother-of-the-bride gown they’d chosen weeks earlier.
    “Looks fantastic, Celia.” Sam put Abby down to take a measuring look at the woman who’d married her father on Valentine’s Day. Celia had auburn hair, green eyes and a heart-shaped face that was flushed with excitement at the moment.
    “I love it too.”
    Shelby Faircloth came into the room, dressed in yet another of her endless supply of pink power suits and sky-high heels. Even with the heels, the petite blonde barely reached Sam’s shoulder. “Oh yay,” she said, clapping when she saw Sam. “Everyone’s here. Let’s get started.”
    “Oh yay,” Brooke said with a sneer for Shelby.
    Since she was bringing up the rear, Sam witnessed the smack upside the head Tracy gave her oldest daughter. “Snap out of it,” Tracy said in a low tone. “Despite what you think, it’s not all about you this week.”
    “Fuck off,” Brooke said.
    Sam mouth fell open. When had her adorable niece turned into such a brat?
    Tracy hung back. “Sorry about that.”
    “What the hell, Trace?”
    “She’s a pain in my ass.”
    “You let her talk to you like that?”
    “ Let her? ” Tracy snorted. “How do you suggest I stop her?”
    “Take her phone. Take everything.”
    “Done it. A hundred times. She doesn’t give a shit.”
    Angela came back for them. “Are you guys coming?”
    “Yeah,” Tracy said.
    Sam nodded to Angela who went back to rejoin the others. To Tracy, she said, “If there’s anything I can do…”
    “Don’t worry about us. This is your week.”
    “But still—”
    “Let’s get this bride into her dress,” Tracy said, dragging Sam along with her. “I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t wait to see her.”
     
    Sam drove home thinking about the ugly scene with Brooke, which