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“I can’t sleep with him, Heather,” she said “Not even if it will save my life or yours”

“I understand,” Heather whispered

Ellie didn’t think she did but then again, Heather’s story was very different from her own Heather hadn’t lived with repetitive abuse She hadn’t been struck like an animal, beaten down like a rabid whore That’s how Denny Marshall, her former husband, had treated her

She couldn’t sto another madman’s obsession She’d rather die first And she’d rather die than have Allister or any of her boyfriends suffer through the knowledge that she’d landed in the clutches of abuse once more

“Why don’t you let me watch for a bit? Just take a nap, Ellie”

“I can’t sleep,” she said, studying ain”

“Cars or foot traffic?”

A few dark for do Ellie gasped No It couldn’t have been “Wait Come here” She tried to keep her voice low and devoid of enthusiasm

“What is it?” Heather asked, rushing the

Another couple of bodies crouched near the bushes Ellie strained to see who ht have been out there It wasn’t a SWAT tea was there to save theathered there earlier, and while they seely supported Seth, Ellie didn’t believe they liked him They probably didn’t even want him there

Apparently, he was tolerated because he could pay for tolerance

“Ellie, look!” Heather pointed at the street light closest to the house

Markie sprinted across the road on his tiptoes, dropped and rolled under a car, and then continued to the yard Ellie released all her burdens and grief in one abrupt sigh

“They ca Heather’s hand

“Did you ever have any doubts?” Heather grinned “My brother would never forgive himself if he lost you”