Free A Heart Full of Diamonds by A.M. Jenner Page B

out
front by the way. It didn’t seem as though they were looking for a casual party
to crash, but they weren’t doing anything I could call the police about either.
But, if you don’t eat, your life will come to an end no matter what else
happens. Besides, you’ll think more clearly and run faster with some calories
inside you. When did you last eat?”
    “Uh, I guess it was a small bag of chips and a soda at my evening
break at work.”
    “I thought so,” he laughed as he disappeared into the
bedroom, emerging moments later with a clean pair of sweats. “Sorry I can’t get
you underwear, but I don’t happen to stock any in your size.”
    Marilee giggled. “Thanks for the offer, but my things are
just outside your back door. I didn’t dare leave it in my place. I wasn’t sure
exactly what I was going to do and didn’t want to admit I was going away until
after we’d talked.
    “Tony’s goons hadn’t actually walked behind the house during
the daylight that I know about, so I felt pretty safe they wouldn’t come around
the back after dark. And you’re absolutely right; clean clothes and a shower
will feel heavenly, and dinner sounds utterly divine!” She stepped to the back
door and retrieved her bag before vanishing into his bathroom.
    Richard looked at the closed door a long moment before he
started dinner, calling Derrek in to set the table for three, a smile on his
face.
     

Chapter Twenty-three
    The apartment was finally silent. Richard and Marilee
settled onto the couch in the living room, having eventually sent Derrek to
bed. Dinner had been eaten, after which they’d played three games of Sorry .
Derrek had easily won all three games. Marilee looked as if she was
pre-occupied with the thugs trying to kill her. Richard’s thoughts refused to
focus on anything but Marilee.
    Smelling of the spicy-scented soap he and Derrek used, she
was positively captivating. He needed to help her out of the crisis, get rid of
the brute husband, and then…then what? Then maybe he’d have a chance to win
her? Maybe; it was enough. It had to be enough; at least for now.
    During the account of her situation, she hadn’t once
mentioned loving or being loved by the lout. The urge to strangle the man
married to this precious woman was strong. Richard shook his head to clear his
thinking.
    Marilee perched nervously on one end of the couch, toying
with the ends of her hair, which had grown just below shoulder length since he’d
met her; she was so beautiful to him.
    He thought again about her being a blonde; tried to imagine
her there on his couch with the shimmery white hair. He had to take a deep
breath to slow his heart rate and steady himself. He had to get his mind back
to the business at hand.
    Richard spoke first, “Any ideas?”
    “No.” Marilee shook her head. “At least not viable ones.” She
sighed.
    “Well, let’s list all possibilities, and then eliminate any
useless ones, okay?”
    “All right.” She ticked each idea off on her fingers. “First,
I could walk out there and let Mr. Ski Mask take me to the mountains and kill
me. Second, I could call Tony and ask him to call off his goons, go home and
let him kill me himself, although being cooked in a house fire doesn’t appeal
much, I’m afraid.” A small, sickly smile accompanied her attempt at humor
before it petered out and a frown replaced it.
    “Third, I could run again, and hope he doesn’t find me this
time. I’d need help getting away and reaching the airport.” The frown deepened.
    “Those aren’t even options, in my book.” Richard stated
flatly. “You can’t run forever, and you’re too nice to end up dead.”
    “Well, I can’t think of anything else. Can you?” Marilee
looked at him, hope filling her eyes, making them almost luminous in her face.
    “You could go to the police.” He watched her carefully.
    “And spend the rest of my life in jail for something I didn’t
do? Tony said...”
    “Tony lied a lot. I