by J. E. Taylor
* * * *
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.
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 into 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 Jes
sica. “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.
