06 Fatal Mistake

by Marie Force

“Sam! I told you not to do that!”

  “Technically you told me I couldn’t involve the principal, which I didn’t do. I want you to know I truly respect your wishes, buddy, but he could’ve really hurt you. I can’t let that happen again.”

  “Sam’s right, pal.” Nick to the rescue. “This time it was a punch to the belly. Next time he might push you down the stairs and break a bone or something.”

  “I hadn’t thought of a next time.”

  “That’s the way bullies roll,” Sam said, thinking of Stahl. “When they get away with it they think they can do it again. They keep doing it until someone makes it stop. I’ll bet if you ask around, you’ll find you aren’t the first one he’s punched, but maybe you’ll be the last.”

  Scotty seemed to be mulling that over.

  “What’re you thinking?” Nick asked him after a long moment of silence.

  “I’m kind of scared to go back there tomorrow. What if he’s mad at me and the other kids are mean to me because I got him in trouble?”

  “I thought of that and made sure to mention to his mom that I’d be unhappy if that were to happen.”

  Scotty’s lips curled into a small smile. “I like how you said you’d be ‘unhappy.’”

  “I thought that was funny too,” Nick said. “The understatement of the century.”

  “You guys can make fun of me all you want,” Sam said, “but I’m pretty sure that kid won’t be bothering you again.”

  “Thanks, Sam, for getting mad and calling his mom and all that. It’s cool that you did that for me.”

  Relieved that he wasn’t angry with her for butting in when he’d asked her not to, Sam ran her fingers through his silky dark hair. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. There’s nothing either of us wouldn’t do.”

  He smiled up at her, and once again the love she felt for him bowled her over. And to think she hadn’t even known him a year ago, and now he was her son, in her life to stay forever.

  She looked away from him before she embarrassed herself. “Where’s the chow? I’m starving.”

  Nick’s hand on her shoulder steadied and reassured her. He got it. How could he not when he experienced the same emotions every day himself?

  “They need time to cook it,” Scotty said dryly. “Can I go play video games until it gets here?”

  “As long as all your homework is done,” Sam said.

  “We did it in the car,” Scotty said, scurrying into the study.

  “We did it in the car?” she asked Nick when they were alone.

  “I helped with math.”

  She curled into his embrace and sighed when his strong arms came around her. “How long do you think it’ll be before he stops making me want to cry with gratitude six times a day?”

  “A year, maybe two. If it’s any consolation, he has the same effect on me.”

  “Best thing we ever did.”

  “Without a doubt.”

  “I wondered if it would be weird or hard or awkward once it was permanent, but it’s none of those things. It’s amazing and overwhelming and astonishing and infuriating when someone hurts him.”

  “I never had any doubt at all that you’d be the world’s greatest mom. Now I know it for sure.”

  “You’re a pretty good dad too. You ‘help’ with math.”

  “He did most of it. I just checked his work.”

  “Whatever you say, Senator. I have to tell you what happened today with my good friend Lieutenant Stahl. You won’t believe it.” Sam took great pleasure in relating the story of Stahl’s downfall to her astonished husband.

  “How could be he so stupid as to make a call like that from within HQ?”

  “Who knows? Who cares? All that matters is he is done with the department.”

  “Is he blaming the whole thing on you?”

  “What do you think?” she asked with a cheeky grin.

  “Sam... Don’t make light of it. He’s a formidable enemy, and he’s had it in for you for years. You need to be careful.”

  “He doesn’t scare me.”

  “Still...”

  “I also got asked to be a bridesmaid in Jeannie and Michael’s wedding,” she said, deliberately changing the subject before he could fret about her safety.

  “Is that right? Are you going to do it?”

  “I think I will. I talked to the chief about it and he said it’s cool, so why not?”

  “It was nice of her to ask you. When’s the wedding?”

  “In July out at Rehoboth. So what happened today that you said you’d tell me about later?”

  Only because she was sitting so close to him could she feel every muscle in his body tighten with tension as he told her about the Lexicore stock and the company’s connection to the fire in Thailand.

  “Oh my God, Nick. What does that mean for the campaign?”

  “Not as much as it means to our bottom line. Graham and I both dumped the stock today for a fraction of what we paid for it, so there goes about half the money John left me.”

  “Oh, um, this might not be the best time to tell you that I just gave my sister twenty grand.”

  His eyes bugged. “For what?”

  Sam told him about Brooke and the school Tracy had found that might be the answer to their prayers. “I didn’t know this had happened with your stock when I gave her the money.”

  “It’s okay, babe. That’s your money to do with whatever you want. There’s plenty of mine left that wasn’t tied up in Lexicore. Don’t worry.”

  “Regardless, I probably should’ve talked to you before I wrote her a check.”

  “It’s fine,” he said, kissing her cheek and then her lips. “You did the right thing for her. She does so much for us.”

  “That’s what I thought too. How could I not give it to her so she can get Brooke the help she needs?”

  “I hate to hear that things with Brooke have gotten that bad. I had no idea.”

  “I’ve witnessed a few incidents in the last few months that were shocking, but I chalked it up to teenage craziness. I didn’t know it was this bad either.”

  “Is that what we’re in for with the boy?” Nick asked.

  “Lord, I hope not. I can’t imagine that sweet boy turning into a two-headed monster.”

  “Me either.” He combed his fingers through her hair, which went a long way toward relaxing and soothing her. “Listen, this thing with Lexicore... Graham is going to release a statement about how we owned the stock but dumped it—at a tremendous loss—as soon as we learned about the connection to the factory.”

  “That’s probably the best strategy.”

  “He’s going to do it while I’m gone and not available for comment.”

  “Oh.”

  “The press is apt to be all over you, which is my one worry with this plan.”

  “Nothing new there. They’re always all over me.”

  “We don’t really know what to expect with this, so I feel like I’m leaving you to deal with a potential nightmare on your own. I agreed to the plan but as the day went on, I started to worry about how it might affect you guys.”

  “Don’t worry about us.” She cupped his face and caressed the whiskers on his jaw. “If there’s one thing I can handle, it’s the press. I’m very good at giving them nothing they can use against me—or you. It’s a good plan. Let Graham deal with it while you’re gone, and hopefully by the time you’re back it’ll be old news.”

  “That’s the goal.”

  “Are you worried about it screwing up the election?”

  “A little bit. Wouldn’t that be something after leading by such a big margin right up until the end?”

  “You won’t lose. Your constituents love you almost as much as I do.” Sam loosened his tie and released the top two buttons on his shirt, caressing his throat before letting her fingers wander down to free the third button.

  His hand on top of hers stopped her progress.

  “Killjoy,” she muttered.

 
“Two hours to get the boy fed, showered and into bed, and then I’m all yours.”

  “Two whole hours? That’s ages from now.”

  “You’ll survive.”

  Before she could object, the doorbell rang, and Scotty came running to pay the pizza deliveryman. The guys dove into the large pepperoni—Scotty’s favorite—while Sam nibbled on her salad and eyed the pizza with envy.

  “One small piece won’t make you fat, babe,” Nick said, tuned into her thoughts as always.

  “Yes, it will.”

  He used the pizza slicer to cut a big piece in half and lifted it onto her plate. “I like you with some meat on your bones, so eat up.”

  Scotty got up to refill his milk glass. It had taken a couple of weeks for him to feel comfortable helping himself to anything in their home, including the contents of the fridge, so it pleased her to see him pouring his own milk.

  Sam took a delicious bite of the coveted pizza and wiggled a finger at Nick to bring him close enough to whisper in his ear. “You don’t have to charm me with pizza. I’m a sure thing where you’re concerned.”

  His smile was positively sinful and left no doubt that if Scotty wasn’t there, they probably would’ve made good use of the kitchen floor. It had happened before—more than once.

  Suddenly, a couple of hours seemed like a really long time.

  After dinner, Scotty suggested a game of video baseball, which Nick happily agreed to. Sam followed them into the study and took advantage of the opportunity to check her email. While she was sitting at Nick’s immaculately appointed desk, she eyed the perfectly aligned frames that contained photos from their wedding, Scotty’s most recent school picture and one of Sam and her dad that Nick had once told her he loved.

  With a glance over her shoulder to ensure he was fully occupied with the game, she set out to turn each of the frames upside down. When one of them wouldn’t stand upright in the new position, she rested it on its side. Then she got up and moved to the sofa to plow through the restraining orders relating to the Feds.

  Almost every one of the marquee players had at least three of them attached to their name. All of the subjects were women, with the exception of Willie’s brother-in-law. Out of curiosity, Sam read some of the complaints against the women and was appalled by lengths some of them went to while attempting to snag the attention of a big-time ballplayer. One of them had draped herself naked across the hood of Cecil Mulroney’s car three times before he took action.

  Another had befriended the mother of Ramon Perez hoping to gain access to him.

  She read through the complaint Willie had filed regarding his brother-in-law Marco, who had threatened him physically after Willie refused to loan him the money he needed to pay off debts with dangerous people in the Dominican Republic. As she read, her vision swam and the words on the page became scrambled the way they did when she was tired and her dyslexia kicked in. A sure sign it was time to quit working.

  Nick let out a shout and then a ringing laugh as one of Scotty’s players hit a grand slam.

  “That is totally unfair!” Nick said. “You cheated!”

  Scotty gave him an arch look. “How do you figure?”

  “You’re better at this than I am. You know stuff I don’t know.”

  “Don’t be a bad sport.”

  “Bad sport? Did you call me a bad sport?” The “argument” descended into a heated wrestling match that had both of them laughing hysterically as Nick let Scotty beat the tar out of him. He was never anything but gentle, exerting just enough muscle to make the match a challenge for the boy, who had his dad in a headlock and was giving him a noogie.

  “Give up yet?” Scotty asked, red-faced and sweating from exertion.

  “Never.” Nick ran his fingers over Scotty’s ribs, knowing the ticklish spot would ruin his opponent’s concentration.

  “No fair!” Scotty said, screaming with laughter.

  Watching them, Sam’s heart ached with love and contentment that was tinged with anxiety as she remembered the trip Nick would leave on in the morning, the trip that would take him far away from them and into danger she couldn’t begin to fathom. A lump formed in her throat, and she got up to leave the room before she embarrassed herself by breaking down in front of them.

  She loved him so much that it hurt to think about being away from him for even the short time he’d be gone. But to picture him in any sort of danger made her crazy, which really wasn’t fair when she considered what she put him through on a daily basis with her job.

  In the kitchen, she fixed herself a glass of ice water and downed half of it before putting the glass on the counter. She stared into the darkness out the window over the sink, lost in thoughts she’d rather not be having. When Nick’s hands landed on her shoulders and squeezed, she startled.

  “Hey.” He nudged her hair aside to gain access to her neck. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Samantha...”

  No one else had ever called her by her full name. She’d been Sam her whole life until he made her his Samantha.

  “Where’s Scotty?” she asked, her voice sounding shaky and fragile to her own ears. She wondered how it sounded to her oh-so-observant husband.

  “In the shower.” With his hands on her hips, he compelled her to turn and face him.

  At the look of concern on his face, her eyes filled with tears that infuriated her.

  “What’s wrong, Sam?”

  “I’m scared about you going away and not coming back.” She hated how vulnerable the statement made her, but it was the truth.

  “Oh, baby, come on.” He gathered her in close to him, so close she could feel his heartbeat as she breathed in his familiar scent. “I’ll be fine. I’ll be back before you have time to miss me.”

  “No, you won’t.” She rested her head on his shoulder, absorbing the sweet comfort that only he could provide. “I hate myself for this. I know I put you through far worse every day.”

  “I don’t like to see you worried or upset, but knowing you love me enough to worry is very sweet.”

  “I love you too much.”

  “Not possible.”

  “It’s not in my nature to be gushy, so maybe I don’t say it often enough or show you—”

  He stopped her with a soft, devastatingly sensual kiss. “Baby, you show me every day, in every look and every touch. I never wonder how much you love me. I always know.”

  Reassured by his words, she clung to him, needing him more than she’d ever needed anyone.

  “I promise I’ll be fine, and I’ll be back before you know it.”

  She tightened her hold on him. “For the record, I’m disgusted by myself. It’s so not like me to be a needy female.”

  His soft chuckle drew a hesitant smile from her. “You’re my needy female, and I love you so much. I had no idea it was possible to love anyone as much as I love you.”

  They stood there, wrapped up in each other, for a long time, until the water turned off upstairs, and he released her with a kiss that promised sensual delights the moment they were able to be alone. “Let’s get the boy in bed so we can spend some time together.”

  “What time do you have to get up?”

  “I have to be at Andrew’s by three.”

  “Is your detail going on the trip with you?”

  He nodded. “Where I go, they go.”

  After they shut off the lights and locked the doors, they walked upstairs together.

  Scotty was in bed when they got to his room, and they went in to say goodnight.

  Nick sat on the edge of the bed. “So I won’t see you tomorrow or Saturday, bud, but I’ll be back early on Sunday.”

  “Is Mrs. Littlefield still coming up on Saturday to see me?”

  “Yep,” Nick said. “I talked to her today, and you’re on for lunch and a movie.”

  “Cool. I can’t wait to see her. Have a good time on your trip with the president, and make sure you memorize all the sick stuff abo
ut Air Force One so you can tell me about it after.”

  “I’ll do that.” Nick leaned forward to receive a tight hug from Scotty. “Keep an eye on Sam for me while I’m gone.”

  “I’ll do my best, but she won’t make it easy.”

  “I can hear you,” Sam said dryly, which made them laugh.

  “Dude, you’re feeling my pain.” Nick kissed Scotty’s forehead and gave him another hug. “Have fun with Mrs. L. Tell her I said hi.”

  “I will.”

  Nick released him, and Sam moved in to pull the comforter up and over him, leaning in to kiss him.

  “Come get me if you wake up during the night.”

  “I will. Thanks, Sam.”

  “Night, buddy.”

  “Hey, Nick?”

  At the doorway, he turned back. “Yeah?”

  “You’ll be okay on the trip, right?”

  The hint of anxiety in Scotty’s voice touched Sam in the same place her anxiety dwelled.

  “You bet. Nothing to worry about.”

  “Okay. Night.”

  “Love you, buddy. Sleep tight.”

  Knowing Scotty wasn’t comfortable with the door closed tight, Nick left it propped open far enough to let in the faint glow of the night-light they’d bought when they discovered he was afraid of the dark. After Nick had found the door open and the light on in the closet one morning, he’d put two and two together and bought the night-light for the hallway.

  They were all doing their best to navigate their new lives together, letting their love and affection for each other lead the way past any obstacles that might arise.

  “What did we do before he lived with us?” Nick asked when they were in their room with the door shut and locked—for now.

  “I have no idea, but it wasn’t anywhere near as much fun as it is having him here.”

  “As I recall,” he said, slipping his arms around her, “we had plenty of fun when it was just us.”

  That sexy smile of his always made her knees weak. “Yes, but this is better. We have us, but we have him too.”

  “I love our little family. It’s the best thing to ever happen to me.”

  Sam combed her fingers through the silky strands of his hair. She never got tired of looking at him in all his glorious male perfection. “I’m so glad. I wanted that so badly for you.”