End Game (Games Thriller Series) (17 page)

When he pulled her back to his chest, she whispered, “I love you.”

“I know.” He kissed her before twirling her off the dance floor.

“What else have you planned?” she asked.

“Dinner at Tavern on the Green and afterwards I have cars available to take your sister and your folks home and the kids back to the apartment.”

* * * *

Her father gathered them on the bow of the boat and took at least a dozen photographs, including one of Chris dipping Jessica and grinning into the camera. She flipped through the digital display stopping on that particular picture and smiled. His eyes smoldered and she glanced at him crouched between CJ and Tommy pointing to the passing mid-town high rises.

“Thank you
, Daddy.” Jessica kissed her father’s cheek and the boat pulled up to the docks at the 42
nd
Street pier.

“For what?”

“For being here and accepting Chris,” she said and she watched her husband pick up the two boys in each arm. Happiness radiated from him, touching a special place in her heart and he caught her staring in his direction, flashing a quick, secretive smile.

“I was surprised when he came by the other day.”

“He came by?”

“He asked for our blessing.”

Jessica put her fingers over her lips and her vision blurred. She blinked the tears away, but the lump in her throat persisted. She just assumed he called and invited them to the wedding.

“He was nervous,” Russ smiled. “More nervous than Dan ever was. At least he didn’t have a fire to run off to in the middle of the conversation.” Russ winked at her.

Jessica chuckled. Dan’s volunteer firefighter days had gone by the wayside soon after they married, more because they moved out of town than his desire to quit. She glanced in Chris’s direction. “Nervous?” She couldn’t envision that, not for a man who was so in control of his emotions. His eyes found hers and a dimple appeared briefly before his attention was pulled to the boys. There was a fire all right, but not the kind her father was talking about.

“We wouldn’t have missed this one. This one’s forever, isn’t it?”

Jessica nodded. “This is the man I’ve been waiting for my whole life, Dad.”

“He certainly loves you and those kids,” Russ said, watching his new son-in-law carry the boys off the boat and set them on the dock.

Chris turned and helped Emily off the boat and she took the boys up to the waiting car, slipping inside. The rest of the crew followed. Chris stopped Jessica halfway to the car and kissed her. “I still can’t believe this day is real.”

Dinner went by in a flash and before they knew it, the check was delivered and they walked outside where the cars waited.

Jessica smiled at the beautiful horse-drawn carriage. Two impeccably groomed white stallions pulled the enclosed white carriage. Mirrored windows tinted with a golden hue gave the impression of luxury, like a modern Cinderella carriage emblazoned with gold trim. “Definitely over the top.” She met his gaze, the amusement dancing in his eyes making her smile. “I assume that’s for us?” She pointed as the group ogled.

“Absolutely,” Chris smiled.

Hugs were given to Russ, Joanna, Julia and Kurt and they got into the limousine that would take them home, waving madly as they went.

Chris took out his keys, handed them to Emily, and opened the door of the town car for her and the kids. “Thank you for watching the boys again tonight.”

Emily nodded, “Anytime.”

Eric stopped at the door, locking eyes with Chris. “Make sure that bitch pays.”

“Don’t worry. That’s the next thing on my agenda,” Chris said.

“Welcome to the family
, Ty.” He hugged his stepfather and hopped into the car without looking back.

Chapter 25

Tom stepped out of the limousine and stood smiling at the flashing cameras. He didn’t bother helping
Sharon out; instead, he crossed to the designated spot and turned around facing the swarming reporters and the street beyond. A quick glance at his watch told him they’d arrive anytime and he fielded questions, ignoring Sharon muscling her way through the crowd to take the spot next to him. She had done an exceptional job covering the bruises with make-up and a conveniently tied scarf around her neck.

She threaded her arm around his and he jerked away, glaring at her. A wave of silence settled over the crowd for a moment, targeting the tension between them and then the pack went into attack mode, shooting questions about their relationship one after another. He scanned the street, letting her deal with the barracudas.

Tom laughed out loud when he saw the carriage round the corner and the crowd followed his gaze, parting like the red sea when the carriage pulled up to the red carpet. Quiet settled over the crowd and they looked expectantly at the carriage.

* * * *

Sharon’s phone rang and she looked down at the number as Chris smiled from behind the mirror. She opened it up. “Now isn’t a good time.”

“I’m not on the payroll anymore,” John said into her ear.

“Why not?” Sharon asked, not really paying attention.

“You don’t want to fuck with the guy she’s with. He can make people disappear
,” John said, repeating the words he was told to. “He said to tell you that you just unleashed Ty Aris and he’s coming after you.”

Sharon shivered and flipped the phone closed, attempting to smile at the crowd, but the heat drained out of her face, leaving her cold and frightened.

* * * *

Chris watched the color drain from
Sharon’s face and smiled. “Perfect timing.” He glanced back at Jessica. “You ready for this?”

Jessica glanced down at the wedding band on her hand and back at him. “Yes, your wife is ready.”

Chris stepped out of the carriage and the hush that had settled over the crowd turned into a gasp. The reporters knew who he was, but he kept them at bay until he reached inside and she stepped out.

They swarmed.

* * * *

Tom glanced at
Sharon with a grin. “I invited them,” he said, knocking the wind out of her. Cutting through the sea of reporters, he greeted them over the murmur of the reporters.

“You look beautiful,” Tom said taking her hands and looking at her.

“Careful, that’s my wife you’re talking to.” Chris smiled and put out his hand.

Tom shook it and gave Chris a quick hug. “She threatened the family too,” he whispered in Chris’s ear. “It’s good to see you,” he said aloud and stepped back catching the deadly flash in Chris’s eyes.

“It is good to see you too.” Chris provided the pleasantries for the purpose of the crowd and put his arm around Jessica, leading her into the building with Tom, leaving Sharon struggling to get through the human wall that formed in their wake.

“Hell of an entrance.” Tom laughed when they were out of earshot. He glanced at Jessica. “I thought you hated the attention.”

“I do,” Jessica said and looked up at Chris. “But the look on her face was worth it.” She smiled and glanced over her shoulder as the doors opened and Sharon stumbled in.

Tom ignored his wife and escorted Jessica and Chris inside the theater, seating them in the VIP box with him, closing the door behind him. There were only three seats in the box, just as he planned and Sharon sat in the back with the producers and director, seething and glaring over at them.

He glanced at Jessica’s left hand, and then over at Chris. “Congratulations,” he said without enthusiasm and took her hand to look at the ring. He put it down as the feeling of her skin against his stirred more than old feelings.

“She’s not going to call off the dogs. She’s expanding the contract,” Tom said and turned his head in Sharon’s direction.

“I don’t think so.” Chris leaned back and smiled as he stretched his legs.

Tom turned back to both their smiles.

“That call she got when we pulled up was from the first assassin she sicked on us,” Chris said. “And he told her that she just unleashed Ty Aris.”

Tom raised his eyebrows.

“And he was coming after her.”

* * * *

The theater dimmed to black and Chris took Jessica’s hand in his focusing on the front of the theater. Heat crept over his skin and he shifted in the seat, blinking wildly. The dream from the other night barreled back creating a low-level panic attack until his eyes adjusted.

The bright projector light hit the screen, blinding him and he squinted as the opening credits rolled across the screen.

Jessica’s hand tightened on his as the events of her captivity flashed on screen. He kept his face stoic not letting the emotions brewing in the pit of his stomach to reflect in his eyes. Guilt, remorse, and sorrow swept through him at the more than accurate portrayal of the monster he once had been. Tom did an exceptional job portraying Ty, both the sick perversely twisted side and the tortured conscious as well as reflecting the love he felt for Jessica.

He forced his body to relax and secured the floodgates against the rising tide.

He could win an Oscar for this
, she thought and he inhaled. She was right; Tom should win an Oscar for nailing the performance.

“I love you,” she whispered in his ear.

Chris closed his eyes and squeezed her hand, opening them to the strawberries and cream seduction scene on screen. He felt her eyes on him and glanced at her sideways without turning his head.
I hope I made that a better memory last night,
he thought and she nodded.

You did
.

This is fucking surreal,
he thought, locking down the turmoil inside. Twirling the ring on his left hand with his thumb, he kept stealing glances at the platinum band, validating again and again that she was indeed his wife.

The only time Jessica turned away from the screen and buried her face in his chest was when the screen filled with the events leading to Mike’s death. He had to hand it to Hollywood; they certainly knew how to stage a death realistically.

Chris leaned down and kissed the back of her head, and the sorrow spinning in his body took the control it was so desperately fighting for. Burning tears filled his eyes and throat and dripped into her hair and he cast a glance at Tom, meeting his gaze and wondering how she could love someone like Ty. He pressed his lips to her hair and leaned back, drawing a shaky breath and swiping his face with his hand, erasing the wet tears. He took control over his features again.

The movie ultimately made Ty a hero, a madman redeemed, and Chris was thankful. The lights gradually came on as the ending credits rolled and he looked around the theater. There were a lot of tears and nervous laughter and then the clapping began. Tom stood and waved toward the VIP box containing the actress
who played Jessica along with the other actors. They bowed and so did he with the Hollywood smile plastered on his face.

“You coming to the party?” Tom asked as the crowd began to shuffle out.

Chris shook his head and looked up at Tom. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

Chris pointed his chin at the screen. “For making me a hero.”

Tom looked at the screen and then back at Jessica. She was looking up at him with the same measure of gratitude. “At first I didn’t want to,” he said, keeping eye contact with his ex-wife and shrugged. “But then, I figured you
are
at some level.”

Chris laughed.

“Along with being a son of a bitch, of course,” Tom added, flicking his gaze at Chris before returning it to Jessica. “And it would be easier on you. If I had done things the way I originally wanted to, no one would understand why you loved him.”

* * * *

Jessica wiped the tears away and looked down at the remaining people filtering out of the theater. Sharon glared up at her. She got on her tiptoes, kissed Tom on the cheek, and squeezed Chris’s hand.

He followed her glance. “Kiss her,” he said to Tom and both of them looked at him in surprise. “Let him
, Jessie. Trust me.”

Tom didn’t need to be asked twice although Jessica had reservations. Chris let go of her hand and her arm floated around Tom’s neck, his kiss as sweet as she remembered. Mortified, she couldn’t stop and the slow realization sparked anger in her bones.

Chris was controlling her.

Chris yanked her away from Tom. “What the hell are you doing to my wife?” Chris’s voice thundered over the remaining stragglers, including Sharon.

Play it, Tom
, he sent the thought into Tom’s head loud and clear and he winced at the decimals ricocheting in her head.

“I’m still in love with her,” Tom challenged.

“She is married to me now,” Chris said and dragged her out of the room.

“What the hell are you doing?” Jessica whispered.

“Rubbing it in,” he said as he looked back at her. “Now yank away from me and run back to him.”

Jessica hesitated until she heard him silently command her to do it, and against every fiber in her body, she yanked away from him and ran back to Tom, leaving Chris looking after her with his mouth hanging open, and the devastation on his face, plain to anyone looking at him, even Sharon.

His expression almost made her legs give out.

Tom caught her. “I told you he was the best fucking actor I had ever seen.” He wrapped his arms protectively around her.

“Jessie,” Chris whispered.

Against her will, her head shook and she turned into Tom’s chest, hiding her face in the soft silk of his shirt.

* * * *

Chris backed away from them, his eyes filling with tears and he turned, bumping into
Sharon. He looked around the lobby and then back at her. “I can’t believe her,” Chris said, his voice laced with betrayal. He looked over his shoulder.

“Forget about them, come on.” Sharon grabbed his hand and pulled him back into the empty theater.

* * * *

Jessica heard Chris in her head.
Like taking candy from a baby. Wait for me in the carriage
.

Jessica pulled away from Tom but he yanked her back, kissing her again. This time she pushed away. “No Tom. I love him.”

“You kissed me back,” he said and she laughed.

“Chris commanded me to kiss you,” she said and left him standing in shock in the lobby, trudging out to the carriage, ignoring the questions thrown her way by the lingering paparazzi. She slammed the door on the clamor.

A few moments later, the door opened and Tom climbed in. “I don’t believe you.”

Jessica lifted her hand and pointed at the ring. “I married him today.”

“So,” Tom said and reached out grazing her knee with his fingers.

She knocked his hand away. “He’s the father of my children.”

“So am I,” Tom replied, leaving her speechless.