tering echoed the breaking

a mixture of shock and something that looked like loss. For

from the sharp edge of the bro

second too late. His first instinct had b

hand back.

office, out of the company I

eady posting from her new "CEO" office. Then came the picture

ticipating in trust falls and silly games.

my company's events. He always had an excuse. Too bus

showed her, even in a professional setting, was a

e of her and Coleman, cheek to cheek, on a beach at sunset. T

rded the message, sa

was crying, claiming her new business was failing b

knees in a dramatic display. "Coleman's company is about

because you're incompete

d in. He must have been waiting outside. He

ruth. He saw the sc

nd pushed me. "What

ng the edge of the coffee table. A

eside Casey, checking her knees for scrape

asey sobbed. "I sh

at what you've done.

e. He had a selective memory, always rewriting h

y voice trembling. "P

of course. He j

throbbing in my head a dull

et him. I rushed to his daycare, a s

arge men grabbing him, trying to fo

amed, running

too strong. One of them backhanded me across the f

dialing 911 with shaking h

answ

voice dripping with satis

rld we

The first thing I saw was Co

oaked. "Whe

e bed. "The 'kidnapping' was a misunderstanding. I authorized i

ad terrified our son and had m

clear Casey's name," he demanded

I groaned in pain. My ribs wer

notice. His only

on," I said, my voi

int," he said, his voice co

oved, and felt nothing but revulsion

licker of something unreadable in his eye

did what he asked.

oom. My son looked pale and withdrawn. H

voice muffled. "I'm sorry I

ht, noticing that Coleman didn't so much as

Leo away from her, shie

"I brought him a 'get well soon' gift," she said,

nt a chill d