The Negotiator's Cruelest Game

n car, their heads close together, their conversation a low murmur of shared jokes and private r

. A table for two was set on the deck, complete with champagne and a single re

o lay out the broken pieces of our life and ask him if there was

"Remember our first trip on the water?" he asked, pouring

his charade. The memory was tainted now,

" I said, my voice soft. The words hung in the air b

usation in my tone. He was too c

fraudulent license, about the endless

oat seemed to tilt, the fairy lights blurring into a

d, his concern sounding hollow. "You

e champagne glass in my hand. He had drugged

his and Brooke's laughter echoing i

, and my mouth was dry. A deep, cold anger burned through the

cheers and applause from the upper deck. I pulled myself up

A banner hung from the mast: "CONGR

on his face. This wasn't a romantic dinner for us. It was a surprise party

to seep into my bones. He was presenting her with a diamond necklace, the same one I h

een," he toasted, raising his glass. "And to the

efore I fell. I saw it all now. He hadn't just drugged me to avoid a diff

he man I thought I knew-it was all a lie. He had drugged his "wife" so she wouldn't be an

n door opened. It was Brooke. She glided into the

with mock sympathy. "I thought Harrison gav

tears, to see me broken. I gave her

I said, my

. "I just came to see how you were doing. It must be hard, see

t her, my silen

taunted. "Don't you want to fight for h

r secondhand goods," I sai

ring. "You're just a bitter, washed

standing up. I opened the door

regain her composure. "Fine. Su

lay back on the narrow bunk. I was too tired to

ss and in health." His voice, so sincere, so full of promise.

cing a path through the grime on my face. How

y shoulder. "Rise and shine, sleepy

aching. I couldn't

the paperwork for a single status certificate. It was a cold, bureaucr

he things in the house felt like they belonged to a stranger. In a drawer, I

essage from two years ago appeared on th

y did you say you neve

ot of dread tightening in my stom