Fatal Deception by Marie Force Read Free Book Online

sleep. Putting him first was the single biggest change she’d made to what used to be a one-track life.
    With his arm around her shoulders, they stepped out of the chill of HQ into oppressive heat and humidity. The second they were outside, a pack of reporters descended.
    Sam fended them off by telling them there’d be a briefing at zero seven hundred but nothing before then.
    Nick escorted her through the mob to his car and held the passenger door for her.
    “Vultures,” she muttered as the reporters chased the car out of the parking lot.
    “It’ll be a big story in light of Derek’s job,” Nick said.
    “Yeah,” Sam said. The intense media interest would only make a complicated case more so.
    All the way home, Sam replayed the last few hours, thinking over what she’d learned about Victoria, Derek, their routine, their lives. Nothing at all stood out as a thread that could be pulled to unravel the answers they needed to find a killer—and a kidnapper.
    The thought of what that sweet baby might be forced to endure made Sam shudder with fear and revulsion. She knew all too well how inhumane people could be.
    “What’s wrong, babe?” Nick asked, reaching for her hand as he drove them through deserted streets in the capital city.
    She held on to his hand, comforted by his steady presence. “I’m thinking about Maeve. When stuff like this happens, it makes me almost thankful I’ve never been able to have kids of my own. I don’t know how Derek was able to function the way he did tonight. I’d be out of my freaking mind.”
    “I’m sure he is. He’s very good about remaining calm and composed. I’ve never seen him rattled, let alone totally unglued like he was today.”
    “The poor guy. It’s such an awful thing.”
    “You really have no leads at all as to where Maeve might be?”
    “Not yet, and with every hour that passes, it becomes less likely that we’ll find her alive.”
    “God.”
    When they got home, Nick turned off the alarm and headed for the kitchen. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
    “I could eat something.”
    Working together, they made turkey sandwiches. He poured himself a cola and an ice water for her.
    “It’s not fair that you get to drink that when I’m stuck with water,” she said as she polished off the sandwich.
    “I’m not the one who nearly blew a hole in my stomach mainlining diet cola for years.”
    “It’s probably healed by now, so I could have an occasional one, right?”
    “Once an addict, always an addict.”
    “Sometimes you’re absolutely no fun,” she said as she put their plates in the dishwasher.
    His arms encircled her from behind as his lips found the spot on her neck that turned her to putty every time. “Other times, I’m a lot of fun. You’ve said so yourself.”
    Smiling, Sam turned and put her arms around him. Resting her head on his chest, she held on tight as he did the same. She breathed in his scent, the scent of home, thankful as always for everything he’d brought to her life. Knowing he was there to hang on to made even the most nightmarish days bearable.
    They held each other for a long time before Nick kissed the top of her head, took her hand and led her upstairs.
    “I need a shower,” Sam said.
    “So do I.”
    She eyed him suspiciously. “Is that right?”
    “Yep,” he said with a smile that was the picture of innocence. When he pulled off his shirt, the ripple of washboard abs had Sam licking her lips.
    “What’re you looking at?”
    “One of my favorite things.”
    He rolled his eyes, embarrassed as always when she made comments about his supreme hotness.
    “How about showing me some of my favorite things?” He tugged at her shirt, helped her out of it and then removed her bra with expertise and finesse that boggled her mind. “There they are.”
    “Nick...”
    “Hmm?”
    She followed him into the bathroom and shed the rest of her clothes while he adjusted the water. “Is it wrong that I feel so