End Game (Games Thriller Series) (18 page)

Chapter 26

Chris scanned the empty theater and sent out his mental radar keeping his face a mask of devastation until he was certain they were alone. Her hand came to rest on his arm and he twitched releasing a small dose of power, locking every door in the theater.

The echo of the locks bounced off the walls and Sharon jumped pulling her hand away like she had been burned. Chris turned his gaze toward her, cocking his head to the side and clenching his teeth together, the fake devastation altering to the predatory glare of an angry man. “You have the audacity to put a contract out on my family?”

Sharon gulped and took a step back.

Chris smiled, pleased at the fear etched in her face.

“Who are you?”

“Your worst fucking nightmare,” he replied and sent a small push out, slamming her into the wall ten feet behind her. “Now, call off the hit.”

With trembling hands, she pulled out her phone and punched a sequence of numbers, numbers he was very familiar with, numbers for the best Chinese restaurant in Manhattan.

“Don’t bullshit me, bitch,” he said. “I can smell a lie for miles.”

Sharon
’s eyes widened and she disconnected the call. She swallowed and nodded, dialing the first in a string of hit men. “It’s me. I’m canceling the contract. Put the word out,” she said and then hung up.

“Call the rest.”

She ground her teeth together. “There aren’t any more.”

He laughed and took a step toward her. “You really want to play that game with me?” The scarf around her neck tightened with a slight tilt of his head. He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

She clawed at the fabric, gagging and gasping for air. “Okay,” she croaked and he loosened the scarf. Sixteen calls later, she hung up and he was satisfied.

He closed the distance, towering over her. “I’ll let you live because that’s what my wife wants me to do, but you are going to divorce my friend and disappear, understand? Otherwise I’ll unleash the
Angel of Death himself.”

“Ty?” Sharon whispered with a tremor in her voice.

Chris slowly smiled and nodded. “Don’t ever doubt I can do that or it will be the last thing you do.”

He stormed out, the door opening in front of him without the use of his hands.

Chapter 27

Tom smiled at Jessica. “I seem to remember you like to play games.” He put his hands on her knees again and when she went to push them away, he grabbed her wrists and slammed her down on the seat, positioning himself on top of her in one smooth move.

“Get off of me,” she snarled, fear and anger blooming.

“Ty doesn’t have exclusive rights to take what he wants.”

“What the hell happened to you?”

Tom laughed. “You. You happened to me,” he said and kissed her.

Jessica struggled and tried to roll him off, but like Ty, Tom was too strong and held her in place.

He reached down and tugged at her dress, yanking gently against his weight.

Grim determination shined in his eyes and the anger dimmed, replaced by both shock and sadness. This man had once protected her, made her feel safe and he loved her as deeply as Chris, and here he was, reduced to a primal animal hell bent on taking what he wanted with no regard for her. “Please Tom, don’t do this.” Tears blurred her vision, crumbling her composure.

Her tears were more effective than a slap in the face and Tom closed his eyes, exhaling. “He was right.”

“About what?” Tears pooled in her ears.

“That I would lose.”

The door to the carriage opened and Chris’s expression darkened to a deadly glare. His dagger-like stare drifted to hers, softening a fraction before snapping back to the man accosting her.

Tom scrambled off her and Chris stepped inside, closing the door behind him without taking his eyes from Tom. The door latched and Tom was lifted and slammed into the opposite side of the cabin by an invisible force commanded by Chris. The impact coincided with the sudden lurch forward as the carriage started the trek across town.

Jessica sat up and Chris wrapped his arms around her, his gaze remaining intently on Tom and his jaw working, his teeth grinding. Anger radiated through the small carriage and she leaned toward him. “Don’t hurt him. He didn’t do anything more than pin me.”

Chris broke eye contact with him and turned toward Jessica, searching her eyes and he inhaled, returning his focus on the unwelcomed occupant. “And to think, I called you a friend.”

Tom’s mouth dropped.

“Sharon agreed to divorce you and all the contracts have been canceled.” He swiveled his gaze to Jessica. “She won’t be screwing with our lives anymore.”

“You don’t know her like I do,” Tom said. “She may not have contracts out on you anymore, but that doesn’t mean she won’t try to kill us anyway.”

Chris laughed softly. “I told her I would unleash the Angel of Death if she tried.” He tilted his head and the smile drifted away. “Then there’s you—you touch my wife again and I will tear you to pieces.”

“Chris,” Jessica said softly, keeping him in check.

The carriage pulled to a stop in front of the Plaza Hotel and Tom hooked his thumb toward the window. “How’d you know?”

“Lucky guess,” Chris replied. He swung the door open but Tom didn’t budge.

“I want to see my son.”

Jessica sucked the air in, her heart stopping a moment at the dreaded words. She wasn’t ready to let him waltz in
to their lives, especially not on their wedding night. “No,” she said.

“
Okay,” Chris said at the same instant and traded a glance with Jessica.

She couldn’t believe it and her gaze snapped to his. Heat scoured her cheeks even against the frigid breeze through the open door.

“He has the right to see him.” Without waiting for her response, he leaned out and told the driver to head to the apartment and then closed the cabin door.

“This is
not
how I wanted to spend my wedding night,” Jessica crossed her arms and looked out the far window away from the two men.

“I’ll make it up to you
, I promise.” Chris kissed the back of the hand closest to him. She yanked her hand from his and huffed, returning her attention to the scenery.

“Sorry,” Tom muttered.

“Try to sound like you mean it next time,” she snapped.

“I never thought I’d see this day.” He waved his hand at the two of them and leaned forward. “Not in a million fucking years,” Tom growled, his eyes blazing with aggravation.

Chris threw a right hook, connecting with his jaw, sending him back against the far side of the carriage. He flexed his hand and glanced at Jessica. “Sorry, babe, couldn’t help it.”

He smiled his awkward crooked smile, the one he reserved for when he had done something she didn’t approve of and it always melted her resolve. This time was no different and she sighed. “Just don’t do it again.”

Tom leaned against the back wall rubbing his jaw. “He’s got you so snowed.”

Jessica snapped her head in his direction, pointing her index finger at him. “You deserved it.”

He scoffed at her and the chariot stopped in front of their apartment building.

“I’m not bringing you up there with that kind of attitude.” She crossed her arms. “It isn’t fair to the boys.”

Tom sighed and nodded just as the driver swung the door open for them.

“Are you going to behave?” She bounced her gaze between the two men.

“Yes,” they both grumbled under their breath.

Chris hopped out and took her hand, helping her down and a smile played on his lips as he scanned her.

* * * *

Tom saw the way she looked at Chris and his last hope of ever getting her back died as his feet hit the pavement. He glanced up at the apartment building and then at
Central Park and the Plaza in the distance. Five years hadn’t erased the sting of her betrayal, and the close proximity of his apartment to where they stayed the last time they were together dug under his skin, like a viper clinging to its kill.

Chris held Jessica close and they rode the elevator in silence, casting glances at each other and then in his direction.

“You know I always hated it when you and Eric communicated without talking but this is ten times worse.”

Jessica blushed and looked at the floor. “Sorry.”

The whoosh of the elevator doors interrupted his train of thought and he followed Jessica and Chris the few steps between the elevator and the only door on the floor. He took a deep breath when Chris swung the door open, holding the door for Jessica and waving him inside.

The warmth of the apartment shocked him
. Deep walnut accents and soft leather furniture, a wall of books and a fantastic view of the city beyond, not at all what he envisioned when he thought of Ty Aris and he cast a glance over his shoulder. Chris shrugged in response to his train of thoughts.

“Hi
, Mom,” Emily said and stood, turning toward the door and froze, meeting his gaze.

Five years had changed her and damn if she wasn’t the spitting image of Jessica. “Hi Emily, it’s been a while.”

Eric walked in from the kitchen, glancing casually at the group. “The kids are asleep,” he announced and flopped on the couch.

Tom looked at his former stepson in shock
—talk about grown up. Eric, now almost eighteen, stood just shy of six feet tall, the epitome of the all-American high school athlete. Tall, good-looking, buff and had the nonchalant devil-may-care attitude to match.

Jessica slipped away, leaving Tom standing awkwardly in the entry to the living room, shifting from foot to foot. He hadn’t been this nervous since the first time he auditioned for his first motion picture.
What the hell am I going to say?

“Don’t worry, my boys will talk you to death,” Chris said and hung up his coat in the closet and crossed to the bar in the corner. “Can I get you something?”

Tom licked his lips. A drink right now sounded like the perfect stabilizer, but the sound of kids stampeding down the hall caught his attention. Two boys ran into the living room with grins and his heart leaped in his throat. A mirror image of his eyes stared wide-eyed up at him, he looked from his namesake to CJ and even at four, the resemblance to his father was uncanny.

“CJ, Tommy, this is Tom Whitman
,” Jessica said.

“He has the same last name as you
, Mommy,” Tommy observed.

CJ just looked at Tom, his eyes showing the recognition of who he was and he glanced at his father for confirmation.

Chris nodded slightly.

“Your mother was married to Tom a long time ago,” Chris replied, turning his focus to his other son. “But now she has a different last name.”

“Oh,” Tommy said and looked back at Tom.

Tom crouched down so he could look Tommy in the eye. “Hello there,” he said and put his hand out.

“Hi.” Tommy shook his hand. “Nice to meetcha,” he said.

Tom returned his smile. “The pleasure is all mine
, little man.”

CJ tilted his head and then his eyes widened. “You’re on TV!”

Tom started to laugh. “Yes. I was for quite a few years.” The repeats of
Metropolis
still played on certain cable channels.

“I saw you on a show the other day,” CJ replied.

“They still play episodes of the show on syndication.” He smiled and looked up at Jessica. “Syndication is...”

“I know what syndication is,” CJ interrupted Tom.

“You do?” Tom asked, sure that the little boy had no idea.

“The rights to the show were sold so it could be played and you receive a royalty from it,” CJ replied, shocking everyone in the room except his father. “Duh,” he added.

“Where did you learn such big words?” Tom smiled at him.

CJ shrugged and pointed at his father. “It’s what Daddy thought when you said the word.”

Tom nodded and looked back at Chris.

Tommy ran over to his father. “Daddy, he’s on TV,” he said pulling on Chris’s pant leg.

Chris reached down and scooped him up. “Yes he is.”

CJ cocked his head again. “You were in the movie that Mom and Dad went to tonight.” He turned and glanced over at Eric. “That’s why Emily and Eric were watching us.”

Eric smiled. “It’s been a while since you had someone in your head, hasn’t it,” Eric addressed Tom and stood, crossing to CJ and putting his hand on his brother’s head.

“Yes, it has,” Tom said and shifted his weight. He never got used to it and after being away from it for five years, it really freaked him out.

“Well this little guy can do it better than anyone I know.” He messed up CJ’s hair. “Come on, it’s time for you to get some sleep.” Eric stooped down and swept CJ up into his arms. “Coming, Em?”

Emily nodded and disappeared down the hall with Eric and CJ.

“I get to stay up?” Tommy asked swinging his gaze from the hallway to Chris.

“For a little while,” Chris said and looked over at Tom. “My friend here wanted to talk to you for a bit.”

“Didn’t he want to talk with CJ too?”

“CJ doesn’t talk the way you do.”

Tommy considered this and then nodded.

Jessica watched Chris handle the delicate situation with ease and smiled at her husband.

“Besides, Tom here is a very special person and we thought you’d want to tell your friends that you got to meet Superman.”

Tommy’s eyes went wide and he looked over at Tom. “Superman?”

Tom did his best not to laugh. “Your Dad’s exaggerating. I played Superman on television.”

“Can you fly?” Tommy asked as Chris set him back down.

“No.”

“Can you run really fast?” Tommy asked and they sa
t on the couch.

Jessica sat in the chair and Chris sat on the arm of the chair with his arm around her shoulder. They watched the exchange.

Tom laughed. “I can run fast, but not like Superman, that was done with special effects, same with flying.”

“Oh,” Tommy said. He looked at his parents. “I’m tired; can I go to bed now?”

Jessica nodded. “Of course you can, baby.” She stood up to take him to his room. “Say goodbye to Mr. Whitman.”

Tommy turned and gave Tom a hug. “Bye
, Mr. Whitman.” He ran over to Chris and gave him a big hug as well. “Night, Daddy,” he said and then took Jessica’s hand and she led him to the bedroom.

Tom stood and crossed
to and opened the doors to the balcony, welcoming the brittle wind ruffling his hair. He walked to the edge and looked down over the fashionable banister. The experience of seeing his son left him hollow and empty. He wanted that void filled; he wanted his son. He stared over the cityscape, ignoring the sound of the door unlatching and opening behind him.

He looked down at the light touch on his arm and then into her eyes before sweeping his gaze over the city. “Great view.”

“Are you okay?”

Tom took a moment to analyze that question. “I’m not sure,” he answered. “I have a son and I don’t want Ty to raise him.”

Jessica audibly drew her breath in. “You have no choice.”

Tom laughed in response. “Yes, I do have a choice.” He turned toward her.