Fatal Scandal: Book Eight of the Fatal Series Read Free

the top of Shelby’s guest list, much to Nick’s never-ending dismay.
    Speak of the devil. He came into the room, and his amiable expression instantly hardened when he saw that Hill had arrived. Nick put his arm around her and kissed her temple. Not for the first time, she was grateful he didn’t lift his leg and pee on her to mark his territory in front of the agent.
    “What do you think of this shit with Farnsworth and Gonzo?” Hill asked, apparently oblivious, as usual, to the fact that Nick would prefer that Hill didn’t speak to his wife—ever.
    “I’m hoping it’ll blow over when something bigger happens.”
    “Springer’s out for blood. He’s not going to be happy with anything less than Farnsworth’s head on a stick.”
    Sam’s stomach turned at the thought of anyone other than her beloved Uncle Joe as the chief of police.
    “No sense speculating on what might happen,” Nick said. “We’ve got somewhere to be. Are you ready, babe?” The Secret Service detail was hovering by the front door, waiting for the signal from Nick that they were set to go.
    “Let me just say good-night to Scotty, and then I’ll be ready.”
    “He’s in the kitchen with Shelby.”
    Reluctant to leave Nick and Hill alone in a room together, she took hold of her husband’s hand and tugged him along with her to the kitchen, where Scotty was making pizza with Shelby. At times like this, Sam felt like a total loser as a mother because it would never occur to her to make pizza from scratch when there were perfectly good take-out numbers to call. Fortunately, Scotty didn’t seem to realize he’d landed a dud for a mother. He lit up at the sight of her and Nick the way he always did.
    “Sam! Check it out! I tossed my own crust just like that chef guy on TV does it.” He’d recently turned thirteen and had grown at least two inches since he came to live with them over the summer. A member of Scotty’s Secret Service detail sat at the table reading the paper, sticking out despite his effort to be unobtrusive. They were all obtrusive, and Sam hated having them in her house. But the alternative of having Nick and Scotty unprotected was unthinkable.
    “Looking good, buddy. If I tried that, the crust would be stuck to the ceiling.”
    Nick patted her shoulder. “It’s best that you have your pizza delivered.”
    How did he always know what she was thinking? That was one of her life’s most enduring mysteries.
    “We’re heading out,” Nick said. “Are you guys all set with everything?”
    “We’re good,” Shelby said, smiling at Hill, who hovered in the doorway.
    Scotty nodded in agreement. “Yep.”
    “Give me a hug,” Sam said.
    “My hands are all dirty, and you look really nice,” Scotty said.
    “I’ll risk it.”
    He held his hands up and away from her while she gave him a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek. “Be good for Shelby.”
    “Duh, I’m always good.”
    And wasn’t that the truth? He was a good and decent boy, and they were blessed to have him in their lives. If only they could get his adoption finalized, everything would be perfect. As required by the courts, they had a private investigator looking for Scotty’s biological father, but so far their efforts hadn’t yielded any results.
    “Shelby said we can have champagne at midnight.”
    The tiny blonde Sam called Tinker Bell balked. “I said no such thing! Don’t get me in trouble.”
    Scotty laughed at her outrage.
    “I said you could stay
up
until midnight, but if you get me in trouble, it’s off to bed with you right now.”
    “I’ll behave,” Scotty said gravely, a devilish glint in his eyes.
    “Happy New Year,” Nick said.
    “Same to you,” Shelby said. “Have a good time, and don’t worry about anything here.”
    “Thanks, Shelby.” With a hand placed possessively on her lower back, Nick ushered Sam from the kitchen.
    Hill ducked out of the way to let them pass. “Happy New Year,” he said.
    “Same to you,” Sam said