The Negotiator's Cruelest Game

only family, my staunchest protector. When I met Harrison, Dustin was suspiciou

, that Harrison was a good man. The argument had created a rift between us.

, his voice full of false sympathy. "He can'

botaged. Plans were mysteriously canceled. Messages went unanswered. I thought Dustin was angry with me. I never ima

e dozens from Dustin, increasingly frantic. "Ava, please call me. What di

t from my number: "I have a new family now.

Harrison hadn't just lied to me. He had impersonated me. He had de

r felt, surged through me. I grabbed my keys and stormed out of

at the hospital. Visi

hand resting on her slightly rounded stomach. Harrison was b

n announced to a group of visiting co

into a dull roar. All I could see was Harrison's smiling

on said, his voice thick with emotion. "He's goin

nfirmation. He had gotten her pregnant while we were still "marri

rson yet." Tears pricked my eyes, but I forced them ba

t, practiced smile. "That's wonderful, Ava. A child is exactly what we

ggering, it was almost funny. I wa

a confrontation. He would just lie. He was a m

sappear. I found a new number and sent a tentative message to my brother, explai

e's side, playing the part of the doting fathe

ooke showed up at my door. She was holdi

said, a smug smile on her face. "He sai

for my mother in Afghanistan. It was one of the few things I had left o

ked, my voice trembling wit

with malice. "He even gave me your mother's necklace. The one fr

he final, unbe

closing around the worn wood. My mother's memory. My father's

use!" I screamed,

r expression hardened. She swung her purse, hitting me

terror. She clutched her stomach and let out a pierc

loud. He saw Brooke on the floor, clutching her stomach, and me standing ov

ared at me, his eyes full of

compared to the pain of his insta

ds were shaking, but my finge

n assault," I said, m

fury. "How dare you?" he hissed. "You'r