By
NY Times Bestselling Author
Marie Force

With a killer on the loose,
it’s the worst time to be on lockdown…

It’s another day at the office for Washington Metro Police Lieutenant Sam Holland when a body surfaces off the shores of the Anacostia River. Before Sam can sink her teeth into the new case, Secret Service agents seize her from the crime scene. A threat has been made against her family, and nobody will tell her anything—including the whereabouts of her husband, Vice President Nick Cappuano. This isn’t the first time the couple’s lives have been at risk, but when a bombshell from Sam’s past returns to haunt her, she can’t help but wonder if there’s a connection. With a ruthless killer out for vengeance, and Nick struggling to maintain his reputation after secrets from his own past are revealed, Sam tries to tie the threat to a murder that can’t possibly be a coincidence. And she has to get it done before her husband’s career is irrevocably damaged…

Lt. Sam Holland and her partner Detective Freddie Cruz are waiting for a body to be brought out of the river. They are called even before it’s known if it’s a homicide, and Sam isn’t happy about standing in the heat waiting while the ME assesses. She’s also complaining about the bridesmaid dress fitting she has later for Jeannie’s wedding. Since Nick left for Iran a trip that was supposed to be five days and has now extended to almost two weeks, she’s been cranky and irritable. With Cruz in tow, she speaks to the man who called in the body. He runs along the river every day at noon as it’s close to where he works at the Navy Yard. He’s speculating that the body is that of a missing college student here for summer studies who disappeared after her first night on campus.

As they start back toward where the body is, they see Beckett speaking with obvious federal agents. Other than identifying themselves and their need to speak with Mrs. Cappuano they are insisting on entering the taped scene. When they see her they take her away under force and protests not only from her but her colleagues.

At the secure location that was giving her vibes of when she was led into Marissa Springer’s basement, she’s escorted to a large room, before she can enter, Scotty calls out to her and runs into her arms. They are locked into that room and the next person to arrive is her sister Tracy, with her hair in foil packets and a black cape around her shoulders, followed by a stunned Angela with her children Jack and Ella, plus Alex who is the son of Sam’s Detective, Tommy ‘Gonzo’ Gonzales. All wanting to know what’s going on. Next to arrive is a panicking Brooke Tracy’s oldest daughter. Then a steady flow of family fills the space. Skip in his wheelchair with his wife Celia, Mike, Tracy’s husband and her other children Abby and Ethan, Nick’s father Leo, his wife Stacy and their twin boys, and finally retired Senator Graham O’Connor and his wife Laine.

Skip tells Sam it must be something big because of the way they were all brought here. Sam wants answers and the agent in charge isn’t forthcoming. Agent Daniel Cooley eventually explains there is a credible threat against Nick and their families, and it’s being investigated by them and the FBI. He also promises to contact Gonzo to let him know where Alex is, even though they won’t release him from the protective custody.

In the meantime, Freddie is freaking out a bit over the way she was taken and didn’t really relax at all until Gonzo said he’d been contacted because Alex was with them, and they wouldn’t release him until the threat was neutralized. Gonzo and Freddie begin to work on identifying the body found in the river, treating it as a homicide until otherwise directed.

Tensions rise as the confinement starts to grate on everyone. Especially Sam, she wants to be part of the investigation into who’s threatening them. She at least gets her chance to talk to the FBI after a dream reminds her of something her ex-husband used to say all the time.

This is a favorite scene.

After dinner with the cranky group confined for a second day underground, Sam went into her room and crawled into bed, the one place she could go to escape from the whining, the bickering, the boredom.

Even though these were the people she loved the most in the world, she was damned tired of being stuck with them. They’d had no news from the Secret Service beyond the fact that they and the FBI were working with “all due diligence” to get to the bottom of the threat. Through Nick she’d also heard that her chief had called the White House to determine her whereabouts and had been assured she was safe.

Scotty was napping down the hall while Nick spent some time with his dad’s family and the O’Connors. With nothing else to do, Sam closed her eyes and dozed off, hoping that when she awakened, something would have changed in this ridiculous situation.

She dreamed about cases she’d worked, perps she’d arrested and her father’s shooting. Words and people and danger surrounded her as she ran from one place to another, trying to find a safe place to hide. Her ex-husband, Peter, was there, mocking her as she tried to get away, running down one dark corridor after another in a maze without end. Where was Nick? He would find her and keep her safe, but he was far away, somewhere she couldn’t get to.

Peter’s laughter echoed off the walls, reminding her that he was watching and enjoying her discomfort.

Nick’s mother, of all people, was with him.

“You never should’ve turned me away,” Nicoletta said before she shoved Sam back into the darkness and straight into the arms of Leonard Stahl.

Sam screamed, but there was no one to save her.

“You always were so cocky and mouthy,” Peter said spitefully. “I always said you needed some humility.”

With a thick arm around her neck, Stahl dragged her down another dark corridor. “This time I’m going to finish the job.” He pulled her into a room where one of Sam’s enemies, Sergeant Ramsey, stood with blood running down his face from where she’d punched him and the bodies of Mitchell Sanborn and little Quentin Johnson had been left to rot. The smell was horrific.

Sam screamed for Nick, and then he was there. She could hear his voice and tried to get to him.

“Samantha, wake up. Babe, wake up.” His lips were soft on her face as she breathed in his familiar scent.

She opened her eyes and blinked him into focus. Then she sat up and hurled herself into his arms.

“Baby, what’s wrong? I could hear you screaming from the other room.”

“I was dreaming.” She shuddered. “They were all there. Everyone who hates me. They were after me. Ramsey and Stahl… He had me by the throat, and Peter said I need some humility.”

Nick froze. “He said that? In your dream?”

“He used to say that to me all the time.”

“Samantha… The threat. That’s what it said. That we needed some humility.”

She pulled back from him and ran her hands over her face, still trying to shake off the disturbing dream. “I never thought of it. I’ve blocked him out. You don’t think…”

“I don’t know, but it’s certainly worth passing along to the Secret Service and the FBI.”

“Only if I’m there when you pass it along. I’m tired of sitting on the sidelines while others investigate a threat against us. Let me do what I do best, Nick. I need to be involved in this.”

“I’ll talk to Brant. You’re sure you’re okay?”

“I’ll be a hell of a lot better when we can get the fuck out of here.”

“Me, too, babe.” He kissed her and got up to leave the room.

Sam watched him go, noting the unusual slump to his shoulders. The ordeal was taking an added toll on him because he felt it was his fault they were in this predicament. She wondered when the last time he truly slept had been. Stress made his issues with insomnia a thousand times worse, and his stress level had to be through the roof.

As soon as they got out of here, Sam was going to talk to their doctor friend Harry Flynn about getting Nick on something to help him sleep. There had to be something he could take to ensure he got a good night’s sleep without leaving him groggy and out of sorts the next day.

Nick returned a few minutes later. “The Secret Service is notifying the FBI that we want to talk to the agents in charge of the investigation. They’ll be here shortly.”

“And they’re going to let me be in there?”

“I told them you’re the one with information.”

Sam smiled and held out a hand to him. He came over, took her hand and let her tug him into bed with her. “Nicely played, my love,” Sam said.

“It certainly can’t hurt to have you involved in figuring out what the hell this is about.”

“I completely agree.”

He snorted with laughter. “I figured you might.”

Sam caressed his face, taking note of the deep, dark circles under his eyes. “When was the last time you slept?”

“I don’t remember.”

“You can’t go on this way. We need to talk to Harry about getting you on something.”

“He told me to try melatonin.”

“You didn’t tell me that.”

“I didn’t want you to worry.”

“Too late. Did it help?”

“Not that I could tell.”

Sam sighed in frustration.

He pulled her in closer to him. “Don’t worry, babe. I’ve always had insomnia and managed to soldier through.”

“It’s worse now.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Definitely.”

His soft chuckle made her smile. “Always have to have the last word, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. It’s one of many things you love about me.” She wrapped her arms around him and urged him to rest his head on her chest. “Close your eyes and try to sleep for a while. In this moment, everything is okay. I’ll be right here.”

“Promise?”

“Always.”

Sam ran her fingers through his hair in what she hoped was a soothing caress. She loved that his hair was thick and soft at the same time. She also loved the weight of his body resting against hers. Breathing in the familiar scent that she’d missed so much while he was gone, she was almost able to relax.

A few minutes later, Brant came to the door Nick had left open. Sam held up a hand to stop him from speaking. Instead, he held up three fingers on one hand and made a zero out of the other hand. Then he pointed to his watch.

Sam nodded in acknowledgment that they had thirty minutes before the FBI would be there to talk to them.

Brant walked away.

She continued to caress Nick’s hair, hoping he’d rest for the half hour they had before they once again had to face reality.

By the time Brant reappeared at the door forty minutes later, Nick was sound asleep. Sam moved carefully to extricate herself and to settle his head on a pillow, hoping he’d stay asleep. She snuck out of the room and closed the door behind her. “He’s not to be disturbed for any reason.”

“Yes, ma’am. The FBI is here to speak to you both.”

“It’ll have to be me. He needs to sleep.”

“Right this way.”

Sam followed Brant through the common area where Tracy, Mike, Spencer, Angela, Leo and Stacy were watching an action movie. Sam’s appearance caught their attention, and she waved to them as she followed Brant down a corridor that led to the area where the agents were holed up.
Force, Marie. Fatal Threat (Fatal Series Book 11). Kindle Locations (892-937). HTJB, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

With the discovery of Sam’s ex-husband Peter Gibson the victim of a horrendous homicide, Sam wants to be in on the investigation. She also wants everyone to be able to back to their lives.

There is much that happens in this book, from family to friends, interviews and exposés, there is never a dull moment. Including something incredibly dumb that has Shelby quitting her job and breaking up with Avery. Not to mention the shock of who was responsible for the initial threat to Nick and Sam’s families.

There’s also a lovely short story at the end of this one.

I again admit to being totally addicted to this series as I continue with the next book.

5 Contented Purrs for Marie!

Marie Force

Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 100 contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance novels. Her series include Fatal, First Family, Gansett Island, Butler Vermont, Quantum, Treading Water, Miami Nights and Wild Widows. She has also written 11 single titles, with more coming.

Her books have sold more than 13 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Spiegel bestseller in Germany.

Her goals in life are simple—to spend as much time as possible with her young adult children, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.