End Game (Games Thriller Series) Read Online Free Page B

at them with guilty expressions.
    Chris looked at the mess and then back at the kids.
    “He started it.” Tommy pointed at CJ.
    “Liar, you started it.” CJ glared at Tommy.
    “It doesn’t matter who started it,” Chris said looking squarely at CJ. “What matters is that you clean it up. And Christopher James, you shouldn’t lie. That makes me angry.” His eyes bore into his son.
    “Ha ha,” Tommy whispered.
    “Thomas Patrick,” Chris said, his eyes switching targets. “That was not right either.”
    Both Tommy and CJ hung their heads and started to pick up the pillow cushions and put them back on the couch.
    Jessica stood on the stairs watching him handle the boys. Chris’s look of disapproval always put them in line. It was as powerful as his smile and he glanced over at her and winked, causing her to turn her head so the children wouldn’t see the smile that appeared on her face. She hurried into the kitchen and made them sandwiches and chocolate milk, putting it on the table while Chris supervised the cleanup effort.
    When CJ and Tommy sat down at the table, Chris disappeared and returned a moment later with two small ring boxes. He opened them both and set them on the counter.
    Matching platinum wedding bands adorned with diamonds stared out at her and she smiled. “I love them.”
    “Yours is engraved.”
    Jessica picked up the ring and read the inscription.
    All my love always & forever, Ty.
    A tidal wave of emotions slammed into her at seeing his real name and her eyes welled up with tears. “Ty,” she whispered, blinking the mist away and pressing her lips together, swallowing the lump in her throat. She hadn’t called him by that name since the day they sent Frank’s ghost back to hell.
    “I was tempted to put something with the phrase ‘a million years’ on it, but I thought that would be in poor taste,” he said, cracking a smile.
    She nodded and put the ring back in the box. “They’re beautiful.” She sniffled and wiped her eyes.
    “I couldn’t bring myself to put Chris in the engraving. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “I don’t mind at all. It’s who I fell in love with.” She kissed him. “And I miss calling you by that name,” she said too softly for the boys to hear.
    Chris wrapped his arms around her. “I miss hearing it.”

Chapter 5
     
    “I’m going out for a while, is there anything you need me to pick up?” Chris said, grabbing his coat off the rack.
    “I don’t think so.” She checked the refrigerator. “We’re all set.”
    Chris grabbed his cell phone. “You two be good for your mother,” he said to the kids.
    “We will,” they said in unison and he headed out the door.
    Chris drove to the local mall and sat in the parking lot dialing his lawyer’s direct line. “Hi Sam, it’s been a while,” he said into the cell phone.
    “It’s been too long, Chris, how are you?” Sam Trueman replied.
    “I’m doing very well but I need a huge favor.”
    “What can I do for you?”
    “I need you to set up a wedding ceremony at city hall next Friday.”
    “Who’s getting married?”
    “I am. She said yes.” He leaned his head back against the seat.
    “You’re finally going to make an honest woman of her. I’m glad to hear that. Do you want me to draw up a pre-nup?”
    “Not necessary , Sam,” he said.
    “Look, I know she’s the mother of your children but...”
    “Sam, she doesn’t have a clue what I’m worth, she’s never asked. Besides, she’s been listed as my sole beneficiary from the time I sold Aris Industries and I don’t think marriage is going to change that.” He took a deep breath. “It’s not like she sought me out. I went after her.”
    “I never understood why you went after her.”
    Chris took a deep breath. He spun the same story over and over through the years, so it came easily this time. “She loved him and I needed to find out why, especially after everything he did to her. When we met, the connection was immediate