06 Fatal Mistake

by Marie Force

  “You know you can trust me.”

  A huge cheer erupted from the adjoining room.

  Graham’s big smile was back as he looked up at Nick. “I think it’s safe now to shake your hand and say congratulations, Senator-Elect Cappuano.”

  Nick returned the handshake and then hugged the older man. “Got a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

  “You bet it does. Keep making me proud, son.”

  “Always.”

  “Your lovely wife is looking for you, so let me get out of here and start pouring the bubbly.”

  On the way out of the room, Graham hugged and kissed Sam. “Congratulations, Mrs. C.”

  “Thanks, Graham. We’ll be right out.”

  “Take your time. It’s your big night. We’ll wait for you.”

  Sam closed the door and turned to Nick, beaming with pleasure. “You did it!”

  “So I hear.” The roar from the next room was nothing short of deafening. “Come here.” He waggled his finger at her and watched her come toward him, loving the way she moved, loving the way she looked, loving everything about her.

  She stepped into his embrace, wrapping her arms around him inside his suit coat. “Congratulations, babe. I couldn’t be more proud of you.”

  “Thank you. That means a lot coming from you.”

  “Your adoring public is waiting for you.”

  “They can wait a minute longer,” he said, clinging to her.

  “I bet they’re kissing in there,” Scotty said from outside the door, making his new parents laugh.

  “As long as we’re being accused,” Nick said, looking down at her, “how about it?”

  “Why not? I’ve never kissed a senator-elect before.”

  Smiling, he brought his lips down on hers, filled with love and confidence, knowing that as long as he had her and the son they both adored, he had everything he’d ever need.

  * * * * *

  Acknowledgements

  When I wrote Fatal Affair in 2009–2010, I never could’ve imagined how this series would take off with readers. I can’t believe we’re already at book six and going strong. Sam and Nick are such a joy to write—and so is their adorable Scotty. Hearing every day from readers who want more, more, more of them kept me going during the writing of Fatal Mistake. I’ve just signed on for two more books in the series and have much more in store for the Cappuanos, their friends and family, and I hope you’ll continue to come along on their wild ride. Watch for book seven, tentatively titled Fatal Pursuit, on March 24, 2014.

  My thanks as always to the many people who support me, especially my assistants Julie Cupp, Chris Camara and Holly Sullivan, all of whom have been my friends for many years. They take very good care of me, and I so appreciate all they do to keep me sane. Julie also helps me with the Washington, D.C., details, which is a huge help. My agent, Kevan Lyon, is a wonderful supporter, partner and friend. Everyone at Carina Press and Harlequin, including my new editor, Alissa Davis, who have worked on this series—thank you for the wonderful covers and for your enthusiasm for the Fatal Series. A huge thanks to my faithful beta readers Ronlyn Howe, Kara Conrad and Anne Woodall—I couldn’t do it without you ladies and your awesome feedback!

  Special thanks to my reader friend Stephanie Behill for her help with Spanish translation, and to financial advisor Joseph A. Medeiros, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, AIF®, who helped with information about buying and selling stock.

  Every time I write a Fatal book, in the back of my mind I know I’ve got Newport, RI, Police Detective Captain Russ Hayes backing me up, which is a huge source of comfort. Thank you again, Russ, for keeping me honest and helping to ensure the police and investigatory aspects of the story are as close to real life as I can get them—while keeping them entertaining too!

  Thanks so much to my family—Dan, Emily and Jake—who put up with me when I’m on deadline, and to my four-legged office mates, Brandy and Louie, who keep me company all day.

  Finally, my most heartfelt thanks to my wonderful readers who make this magical life of mine possible. I’m thankful every day for each and every one of you. Want to chat with other fans who’ve read Fatal Mistake? Join the Fatal Mistake Reader Group at facebook.com/groups/FatalMistake/. Also, make sure you join my mailing list at marieforce.com to be notified when new books are available. Turn the page for some frequently asked questions—and answers—about the Fatal Series.

  xoxo

  Marie

  Fatal Series Frequently Asked Questions

  How many books do you plan to write in this series?

  I hope to write the series for as long as readers are enjoying it and for as long as it’s fun for me to write. So far so good on the reader front. I’m extremely challenged by these books—not always in a good way—but I continue to be satisfied by the final outcomes. That keeps me engaged and coming back for more of Sam and Nick, who I adore writing. So no end in sight for now. I just signed on for books seven and eight in the series, so watch for book seven, tentatively titled Fatal Pursuit, on March 24, 2014.

  Will Sam and Nick from the Fatal Series ever have a baby of their own?

  I honestly don’t know. I’d love to give them what they want (as well as what readers want), but making Sam a mother to an infant would dramatically change the way she lives her life and would greatly alter the pace of the series. IF (and that’s a very BIG IF at this point), they have a baby, I expect it would happen much later in the series, closer to the end.

  Will Nick run for president, and if he does will Sam have to give up her job?

  I don’t know and I don’t know! :-) I guess we’ll have to see what life has in store for them. Look at it this way... We’re at book six, and we still haven’t lived a full year with them. The next election is four years away. That’s a LOT of books between now and then.

  Will we ever find out who shot Skip?

  That’s another question I get ALL THE TIME. Along with, “Do you know who shot Skip?” No, I don’t know. I figure I’ll find out when Sam does. I like that I don’t know. I like that the possibilities are so endless. I like that it’s frustrating to Sam that she’s failed to find closure to that question. That’s life, right? I do have some interesting stories coming up for Skip in future books that I’m looking forward to writing.

  We’d love to read the story about the night Sam and Nick met the first time. Will you ever write that?

  I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. Stay tuned for more information about that and make sure you join the Fatal Series Reader Group at facebook.com/groups/FatalSeries/ to be the first to hear Fatal Series news.

  Do you have other questions that weren’t answered here? Send them to Marie at marie@marieforce.com.

  Thanks for reading!

  Mixing romance with politics can be fatal!

  Go back to the beginning and discover all the books in the Fatal series!

  Fatal Affair

  `

  Washington, D.C., Metro Police Detective Sergeant Sam Holland needs a big win to salvage her career—and her confidence—after a disastrous investigation. The perfect opportunity arises when Senator John O’Connor is found brutally murdered in his bed, and Sam is assigned to the case. Matters get complicated when Sam has to team up with Nick Cappuano, O’Connor’s friend and chief of staff...and the man Sam had a memorable one-night stand with years earlier. Their sexual chemistry still sizzles, and Sam has to fight to stay focused on the case. Sleeping with a material witness is another mistake she can’t afford—especially when the bodies keep piling up...

  Fatal Justice

  Standing over the body of a Supreme Court nominee, Lieutenant Sam Holland is hip-deep in another high-profile murder case. The fact that she was one of the last people to see Julian Sinclair alive just complicates things even more. On the plus side, her relationship with Senator Nick Cappuano is heating up—but it’s also attracting a lot of unwanted media attention and blinding flash bulbs.

  The pressure is on for Sam to find Sincla
ir’s killer, but a new lead in her father’s unsolved shooting puts her in unexpected danger. When long-buried secrets threaten to derail her relationship with Nick, Sam realizes that while justice can be blind, mixing romance with politics has the potential to be fatal...

  Fatal Consequences

  Lieutenant Sam Holland has no sooner accepted Senator Nick Cappuano’s proposal than she’s back on the job. A woman has been found brutally murdered and evidence points to Henry Lightfeather, a senator and close friend of Nick’s. While Sam investigates, Nick stands by his friend—complicating his own bid for reelection, and causing tension between the couple.

  As Sam’s investigation reveals a scandal that rocks the capital, Nick and Sam discover that the biggest threat to their future might be someone from her past...

  Fatal Destiny

  With the week of their wedding finally upon them, Washington, D.C., Police Lieutenant Sam Holland and her fiancé, Senator Nick Cappuano, are at odds. In the aftermath of a tragic loss, they struggle to reconnect as the big day draws near, but their work keeps pulling them apart. When a new clue into a cold case surfaces, Nick asks Sam not to take any foolish chances before the wedding and to leave it alone for the time being. With trouble at every turn, will Sam survive long enough to walk down the aisle?

  Fatal Flaw

  Already on edge, Sam and her team start investigating a series of baffling murders. The victims are well-liked with no known enemies, and the murders are carried out in a clean and efficient manner. Unable to find a clear motive for the deaths, she feels like she’s chasing her tail.

  With no obvious connection between the victims, Sam soon suspects that she may be the ultimate prize in the killer’s clever game. When the danger starts to hit a little too close to home, she has two goals: find the elusive murderer and manage to live long enough to enjoy her happily-ever-after.

  Fatal Deception

  The wife of the White House deputy chief of staff has been beaten to death, and their one-year-old daughter is missing. D.C. Police Lieutenant Sam Holland is in charge of the murder investigation, but she’s forced to collaborate with Special Victims Unit detectives as well as thorn-in-her-side FBI Special Agent Avery Hill. Then, a cold case of her father’s resurrects old hurts—a distraction Sam cannot afford. As Sam’s investigation heats up, so does Nick’s political career—and the heat carries over to their bedroom. Will Sam put the pieces together in time to catch a killer and find the baby, or will ambition, greed and lies prove fatal?

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  About the Author

  Marie Force is the New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal bestselling, award-winning author of more than 25 contemporary romances, including the Fatal series, the McCarthys of Gansett Island series, the Treading Water series, the Green Mountain series—coming in 2014—and numerous stand-alone books.

  While her husband was in the navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and she is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two teenagers and two feisty dogs, Brandy and Louie. Visit Marie’s website at marieforce.com. Subscribe to updates from Marie about new books and other news at marieforce.com/subscribe. Follow her on Twitter @marieforce and on Facebook at facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor. Join one of her many reader groups! View the list at marieforce.com/connect. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.

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  ISBN: 978-14268-9564-7

  Copyright © 2013 by Marie Sullivan Force

  All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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