Quicksilver Passion (50 page)

It shouldn’t. We might be held accountable.”

She looked at him, puzzled.
I don’t understand what you’re driving at.”

He seemed to be carrying on some inner struggle.
I’m going to help you get out of here.”

She didn’t dare to hope and she couldn’t be dishonest with him.
Al, I won’t be your mistress either.”

He laughed.
An ugly guy like me and a beauty like you? I wouldn’t expect that. It would be enough just to be close to you, to look at you.”

She had been through too much despair to hope. Maybe she even thought it was a trick.
What are you planning?”

Don’t ask,” he said softly.
The less you know, the better off you’ll be.”

Al, you’ve got a good place with Brett. You’d be throwing it all away to help me. Why?”

He paused, his hand on the doorknob.
Let’s just say I never done nothing noble in my whole life and I might not get another chance. And my life . . . well, it’s not worth much. If anything happened to me, I wouldn’t want to think I left you a prisoner in this place. You matter to me, Silver, you matter a lot.”

Things were much the same as the days passed and she said nothing to Al about it. Maybe he had only been tormenting her; maybe he had thought it over and realized how much he had to lose and how little he had to gain.

When it finally happened, Silver was not expecting it, but evidently Al had planned it down to the last detail. It was late at night, all the customers had gone, and the house was quiet and asleep—except for her and Brett. He was very drunk and using her brutally. Silver lay across the bed while he raped her, his back to the door.

She saw the door open and was too frightened to do anything but watch Al come in. Brett was deep in the throes of passion, his mouth all over her breasts as he rode her body.

Al came up behind him, anger and disgust etched on his homely face. In that split second, one of his hands went over Brett’s mouth and Al jerked him back with a snap of his powerful arms. She thought she heard Brett’s neck break as he went limp in Al’s hands.

For a moment, they could only both stare with disbelief at the still form and then Al let it fall on the bed.

Oh my God, Al, I think you’ve killed him!”

I meant to! When I saw what he was doing to you—never mind, get dressed, we’ve got a train to catch.”

She clutched her gown to her heaving breasts, staring at the limp body.
You broke his neck! I didn’t know you were going to kill him.” She began to weep.