Fate Hates, page 1
Fate Hates
Copyright © 2017 by Tina Saxon
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, things, living or dead, locales or events is entirely coincidental.
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ISBN Digital: 978-0-9987762-0-0
ISBN Print: 978-0-9987762-1-7
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Edited by: Max Dobson @ The Polished Pen
Proofreading by: Elaine York @ Allusion Graphics
Rosa @ iScream Proofreading Services
Cover design by: Golden Czermak @ Furious Fotog
Cover model: Frances Brunet
Cover Photographer: Paul Henry Serres
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Also by Tina Saxon
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Prologue
“Mom! What are you cooking? It smells delicious?” I let my nose lead me to the kitchen where a sweet, chocolate smell wafts in the air.
“I’m trying out a new brownie recipe. I think you’re going to love it”
“Um … yeah! I love anything chocolate.” I get up on the barstool.
“Well, since you’re supposed to be home sick from school today, I thought I’d bake you something special to help you feel better.” She comes over and kisses the top of my head, giving me a quick hug.
“Hey, I really didn’t feel good this morning!”
“Okay, dear. So it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that Mike is hanging out with Maddie now and not you?” she asks.
“What! How do you know that? And no, that’s not it.” Rolling my eyes, I sigh.
“Hello, I’m on the PTA. I know a lot of moms. And the one thing moms do is talk about all the gossip going on with their kids. I guess we gossip about gossip.” She giggles. “I was up at the school yesterday afternoon and was talking to Amber’s mom and got all the details. I’m sorry, baby. It’s your first heartbreak. That’s why I didn’t question the whole sick thing.” She looks at me with adoring eyes.
I love her more than anything. She’s my world. My father passed away in a car accident when I was one. They weren’t married yet when I was born. They were planning their wedding when the accident happened, which is why my last name is different than my moms. I have always wondered what he was like. They met while my mom was on vacation in Mexico. She said it was love at first sight. It was like a fairytale, only with a tragic ending. But I was the light that kept her going.
She’s gone on the occasional date, but that’s it. I’m her world, too. She’s my best friend. I look just like her, except for our eyes and the slight difference in hair color. My hair is a dark blonde, while hers is just a little darker, more like a light brown. Her eyes are brown and mine are a turquoise blue, similar to the Mexico waters she and my father swam in, or so I’ve been told. Other than that, I’m her ‘mini me.’
“So, do you want to talk about it?” she asks.
She takes out the brownies that look as good as they smell. I might enjoy my broken-heart status if she is going to feed me chocolate. I was more irritated than hurt about the Mike thing. I was mad at my supposedly best friend, Maddie, for talking to Mike. My mom places a brownie in front of me and I take one bite and forget all about Mike and Maddie. I guess this is what you do to get over dumb boyfriends and friends … chocolate. Yum.
My mom begins to clean up the plates and the mess she made baking the brownies when we hear a noise at the front door. The mailman’s probably dropping something off. My mom is addicted to Amazon. We both move to the living room to check it out. She instructs me to stay back, so I step behind the door.
“Hi, can I help you?” my mom asks as she opens the front door. There’s a small window where I’m standing, but I can’t see the man. I don’t hear him say anything.
BANG!
I cover my ears, the ringing so intense, and I watch my mom fall backward. She’s lying lifeless on the floor beside the door, a bullet right between her eyes.
NO!
NO!
NO!
Trying my hardest not to scream, I cover my mouth to stifle any sounds. I have to keep quiet. I don’t want to die, but I need to help my mom. I’m silent, pleading with God. Please let her be alive. I watch the man walk away through the window. He turns around and looks back. I see his face before he gets into the car. It’s a black sedan with tinted windows. I look at the license plate from the window.
I have to remember it.
I have to remember it.
I have to remember it.
Once he drives off, I drop to the floor, crawling to my mom.
I scream over and over for her to get up. But she doesn’t move. Sirens sound in the distance.
“Mom, please stay with me! Help is on the way! Please don’t leave me!”
“Addison, wake up.”
My body shakes as my mind is jarred between the nightmare and Sydney trying to shake me awake. Wiping the wet tears off my face, I slowly come out of the dream. Although it still haunts me. The nightmare, my once reality, hasn’t happened in years. But I know why it’s happening now.
Tomorrow, I could be face to face with the man who killed my mom.
1
Addison
Two months earlier
I’M FINISHED. DONE! I draw a deep breath in, blow out slowly, and look around. Campus life. Students are scattered everywhere; some run to make it to their class on time while others relax in the grass, studying for their next exam. And then there are those who need to get a room as I spot two bodies making out under my tree. The tree I’ve spent hours studying under. I laugh, shaking my head. I’m going to miss this. This part of my life is over. I mindlessly walk across campus, with a sense of relief from finishing my exams.
Oomph! I’m knocked over by a five-foot-two pixie.
“Addie!” Sydney screams. “We did it!” We both tumble to the ground. For being so little, I wonder where the hell she hides all that power. I am not a small person—well, next to her I’m not. Sydney is tiny. She has always reminded me of Tinkerbell. With her short blond hair styled in a pixie cut and huge, sparkling ice blue eyes, I swear she’s going to start flying one day, sprinkling fairy dust everywhere.
The grass warms underneath us as we stare up at the blank blue canvas begging to be painted. It’s May in Texas so the heat from the sun is already blistering, but everything is so green from the April showers.
“I can’t believe we’re done with college,” I say, grabbing her hand.
Sydney’s my best friend. We’ve been inseparable since we were ten. I had just lost my mom and moved in with my aunt; Sydney lived next door. I love her like a sister. We both have strong personalities, but we couldn’t be any more different. She studied music and teaching while I studied criminology and forensics. She believes in fairytales while I feel life is too cruel for such things. She’s the yin to my yang.
When she peeks over at me, she sticks her bottom lip out. “I don’t want to grow up. Growing up means you leave me behind.” I squeeze her hand tighter. The time is coming, but I try not to think about it. Last summer I did an internship with the NYPD’s Forensics Department, and I fell in love with New York City, its overwhelming but exciting atmosphere, the constant state of movement, horns from cabs racing to their destination, the never-ending nightlife… I loved every bit of it. They offered me a job once I graduated. A dream job and one I couldn’t pass up.
I roll over on my side. “Syd, we’ll still see each other,” I say. “And we’ll talk every day. Anyway, you have Dean now.” Syd and Dean met last year at some art festival. He’s probably glad I’m leaving; she’s made it clear to any guy she’s ever dated that I’m part of the packag e. Our friendship has always come first.
Until now.
My chest hurts imagining not seeing her every day.
“I’d give him up to keep you.” She smiles as her eyes fill with tears.
“Don’t. Don’t you dare cry and make me feel worse than I already do.” My eyes well with tears, too. We both sit up and embrace each other.
“I’m sorry, Addie,” she says, wiping away her tears. “I’m excited for you. I’m just going to miss you like crazy.”
My phone vibrates in my back pocket. Pulling the phone out, I see it’s a text from my aunt wondering how my finals went. I glance at the time.
“Oh, shit!” I jump to my feet. “Syd, I’m late. I love you and this summer we’ll have lots of time before I leave, but right now I have to run.” I blow her a kiss before I turn and speed walk toward my car. Running is out of the question. Going into work with a sweat soaked shirt is not attractive.
“Wait!” she screams, running after me. “There’s an end-of-year party tonight at Dean’s. Please say you’ll come.” With her short legs, she’s jogging to keep up with me.
“I need to get to work. You’re slowing me down.” I laugh, looking at her.
“Addison, stop! I’m not letting you go until you tell me that you’ll go with me tonight.” She grabs me, stopping me.
“Okay.” I sigh. “I’ll meet you at the apartment after my dinner with Howard at eight.” She lets out an excited scream and jumps into my arms, wrapping her legs around me. I drop my purse to grab onto her, steadying us so we don’t end up on the ground again.
“Good afternoon, Addison.” Howard greets me with a warm smile. Howard is a courthouse security guard. In the three years I’ve been working part-time at Austin’s District Court, Howard has become part of my family. I adore him. He’s an attractive older man with a fun personality and a heart of gold. When he was in his forties, his wife died. He never remarried or had kids. I never understood why women weren’t beating down his door, but he regularly tells me that his heart is buried with his wife. I don’t believe that; he has one of the biggest hearts I’ve seen.
“Hi, Howie.” I offer a quick smile and pass through the metal detector. When I get to the other side, I call out, “See you at dinner?” We’re celebrating the end of my finals.
“You bet! Meet you here at six.” I wave my hand in confirmation as I stride to the elevators. “Oh, FYI, Jack was searching for you a while ago,” he hollers before I enter the elevator. I look his way and roll my eyes, hearing his hefty laugh as the doors close.
Jack. My lovely boss. A middle-aged man who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. In reality he’s pompous, short, round, balding, and suffers from little man syndrome. Never married. No surprise there. He makes crude comments at the most inopportune time. How he remains the Court Administrator baffles me. I’ve been his assistant for three years. He’s not that bad now that I’m used to his personality. I ignore him most of the time.
He’s already yelling for me as soon as I enter my office. “Addison, nice of you to join me today.” His voice drips with sarcasm. I take a deep breath before stepping into his office.
“Jack, I had finals today,” I say, leaning in his office doorway, crossing my arms.
“I’m just kidding.” Typical Jack response. He’s always kidding. “Congrats on finishing. I can’t wait for you to be full time.”
I shake my head. I’ve already given my official notice and only have one more month.
“Jack…” I sigh “… you already kno—”
“You don’t have to remind me,” he resigns. “You can’t fault me for trying. I mean, how can you leave me for New York?” I hope he doesn’t want me to answer that.
Ignoring his question, I ask, “Is there something you need me to do? I heard you were looking for me earlier.”
When he points to the stack of court dockets on his desk, it’s obvious what he needs. The only time dockets are in his office is when there’s been a mistake. “I need these delivered to the correct courtrooms. Apparently, the only thing going for one of the interns is her looks. She delivered these to the wrong courtrooms,” he says, not even looking up from his computer. I used to have a comeback when he made asshole comments, but I’ve found it’s easier just to ignore them. Yet, sometimes I agree with him, like this time. I grab the dockets and hurry out of his office.
Exiting the doors of the last courtroom, I hear someone yell behind me. “Add Cat!”
There is only one person that calls me that. I turn around with a grin as Frankie struts toward me. At least this time he doesn’t have handcuffs on. Frankie’s been arrested for many things, so he’s at the courthouse a lot. He seems to know how to get anything illegal from drugs and guns to prostitutes. Although, I wonder who he has in his back pocket since he never goes to jail for long… if at all.
“Frankie, what the hell did you do this time? I told you that you can’t go streaking down the road.” I cross my arms and twist my lips to stop myself from laughing.
“Haha, my little Add Cat. You know I’d only get naked for you.” He wags his eyebrows and winks.
“Whatever!” My voice comes out higher than I expect. My cheeks redden and burn. Clearing my throat, I say, “Really, what are you doing here? You agreed to stay on the up and up.”
“I’m here meeting my probation officer. Chill out, girl, I ain’t done nothing wrong. I’m trying to prove I’m worthy to my Add Cat.” He gives me his lady-killer smile.
As the awkwardness continues, my eyes widen. “Would you stop!”
“Woman, you know how to break a man’s heart.” He puts a hand on his chest, his smile dropping. He can’t be serious… can he? We’ve been friends a few years, and he’s never hit on me, which I’m okay with because bad guys aren’t my thing.
Now if he were a good guy, he’d be my type. He’s over six feet tall with lots of muscle. Throw in naturally tanned skin with the lightest green eyes I’ve ever seen, he’s definitely good looking. But very much a bad boy.
“Gotcha!” Frankie throws his hands out, laughing. “Girl, I love ya, but I’m pretty sure you can kick my ass being a third-degree black belt. No woman needs to protect me. It’ll take away from my street cred!”
I roll my eyes, chuckling as I walk away. “Good to see you, Frankie.”
2
Addison
IT’S ALMOST SIX o’clock when I’m freshening up in the restroom before I leave for dinner. With a grumbling stomach, I leave the bathroom and hear yelling. What the hell? Usually the place is quiet after five; people scramble out of here like ants marching. Of course the commotion is coming from the hall that I need to go through to get back to my office.
Not wanting to interfere, I lean up against the wall, waiting, hoping they figure their shit out soon so I don’t have to interrupt. If this goes on for much longer, I could go downstairs and come up on the other side and hopefully miss them. My spine stiffens when someone yells, “Put the gun down.”
Wait, I know that voice.
Then another yell. “You don’t know what the hell you’re doing!”
Frankie? I take off my shoes so my heels don’t echo, but glance down the empty hallway first, hoping there is something or someone who can help. Unfortunately, the corridor is empty. The other man starts yelling back at Frankie. I catch something about Frankie ratting him out. The two men go back and forth. The other guy’s voice is getting more and more agitated. Frankie’s voice turns uneasy.
