The Negotiator's Cruelest Game

a boat at sunset, the sky painted in shades of orange an

g on one knee. He held out a velvet

b is to be impartial, to never let emotion cloud my judgment. But with you,

t diamond that caught the last rays of the sun. He held m

ll protect you

then, too? Saying what he needed to say to cl

eam. The fever was worse. My body ached, and

the wall. Harrison stood in the doorway, silh

god, Ava, I'

ists. His hands were shaking. "I got held up. Brooke ha

ing, a stream of apologies and excuses that meant nothing. He

't leave me," he kept repe

c was becoming the backdrop of my life. I was trapped in a

ed to one side. Even in sleep, he looked like a hero, hi

He saw me looking at him and immediate

you're

en movement sent a jolt of pain t

full of concern. He tried to st

way. The sound echoe

filled with a pain that almost looked real. "Go

k. "Please, Ava. Do whatever you need to

, my voice flat. I was too tired

ared speech. "She had a panic attack. A PTSD episode

e way his eyes wouldn't quite meet

es his tie had left on my wrists. They were a dar

oice barely a whisper. "Why di

is voice turning venomous. "She's trying to drive

r now. Blaming an

ing away from him. "I nee

s voice stubborn. "I'm going to st

s smothering me with attention, a desperate, cloying attempt to make up for his cr

ce a low, urgent murmur on the phone. "I'll call

sent a cold wave of pain through me. It wa

. Brooke Shelton, looking frail and beautiful, stepped out o

ooke isn't feeling well," he explained, avoiding my eyes. "It's a p

eeting expression of guilt on his face. But when Brooke opened her door, his face transfo

reathtaking. This was my life. Watching the man I

ered yacht. "Just the two of us," he pro

, but I went along with i

ed at our door. She was wearing a stunni

ully. "My car won't start. Are you two going

oice smooth as silk. "We were just he

silent, invisible thir

" Brooke asked, her eyes flicki

ningless smile. "Th

I was just a placeholder. An obstacle. A prop in the