End Game (Games Thriller Series) Read Online Free

waiting for me to get my lazy butt out of the shower. The poor guy’s teeth were chattering but I didn’t have the heart to point that out when he dropped to his knee.”
    “Oh Mom, how perfect! You said he had a ring?”
    “I’ll swing by on our way to the studio and show it to you,” Jessica replied, studying the bright diamond in the sunlight. “I need to give your father a call to tell him and see if I can pull Eric from school next Friday.”
    “Dad doesn’t like Chris.”
    “I know, but that’s his problem, not mine.”
    “Good luck,” Emily said. “I’ll see you later.”
    Jessica hung up, dreading the next call. Daniel, her first ex-husband, never accepted Chris and probably never would. He reminded Daniel of the man who kidnapped her and changed the course of their lives. If he ever found out the truth, that Chris was that man, all hell would break loose. Accessory to murder was a pretty serious charge and Ty Aris had committed several in his lifetime.
    She took a deep breath and punched in the numbers. “Hi Danny,” she said when he picked up his phone.
    “Hi Jess. Is everything all right?”
    “Yes, everything’s fine. I’m calling to see if I can pick up Eric Thursday night next week. I know he would miss school Friday, but it’s for a really good reason.”
    “What reason is that?”
    “I’m getting married.” She listened to the silence on the other end of the line, biting her lower lip and turning away from the escalating snowball fight outside.
    “Are you sure you want to do that?”
    “Yes I am.” More sure than the day I married you . “Danny, he’s a very special man and he makes me happy. I know you’re worried because he grew up with the Aris family – but he isn’t one of them,” she said in response to his thoughts.
    A sigh came over the line. “Ok ay. I’ll let Eric skip school next Friday. But Chris has to come in with you this time when you pick the kids up.”
    “I’ll make sure he does, but don’t give him any shit. Ok ay?”
    “I’ll try not to,” he said and she knew he’d slip some derogatory comment in; he always did whenever they ran into each other in York. “You coming to Eric’s game this weekend?”
    “Yes, we are. Eric said it’s in Worcester?”
    “At the Worcester Centrum. Tipoff is at three.”
    “We’ll be there. See you then.” She hung up the phone and walked back into the family room. Chris and the kids rolled in with a flurry of snow flying off their pelted coats, leaving mini-puddles on the tiled entry.
    “We are on for next Friday.” She smiled.
    Chris crossed the room and nuzzled his cold face in her neck. He chuckled and held her tighter when she tried to get away from his frigid nose and hands.
    “Your hands are freezing,” she complained with a laugh.
    “I think it’s time we get Mommy.” He laughed and picked her up, dropped her on the couch as fair game for the boys. They pounced, tickling her with their chilly fingers and Chris joined in the fun.
    “Stop,” she gasped through the laughter, their tiny hands burrowing in her armpits, wiggling and tickling relentlessly while Chris held her arms in the air. When Chris let go, she wrapped her arms around each of the boys, pulling them to her sides, stopping their playful attack.
    “Come on, we need to get into dry clothes,” Chris said and started for the stairs. CJ and Tommy ran past their father and out of sight. He glanced at Jessica and smiled. “I still can’t believe how lucky I am.” He climbed the stairs, disappearing from view.
    The boys came bounding down a few minutes later in dry clothing. Jessica set them up with their favorite video and wandered upstairs. She closed their bedroom door behind her and walked to the bathroom, leaning against the doorjamb, watching him step out of the shower. He wrapped a towel around his waist and sent a sly smile in her direction.
    “I wouldn’t bother with clothes,” she said.
    “Is that so?” He approached her,