MARISSA VANDERSON
FEAR CHILLED MARISSA. Too late, she realized her predicament. These boys intended to harm her. No use thinking about how she should have kept walking until she found Dane. She would have to speak to him about remaining at her side. What was the point of having a bodyguard if he wasn't here to guard her body?
Marissa tucked the crumpled list into her bra then took the guard's stance she'd learned from her karate master. "Aye ah!" she yelled.
Bullet sneered. "We seen The Karate Kid, babe. You can't fake us out with that crap."
Snipe lunged for her; she spun and struck him in the chest with an around kick. He stumbled backwards, fell to his knees, and collapsed.
"Holy shit!" Bullet looked at her with wide eyes then bared his ugly teeth. "You won't do that to me." He grabbed her arm. She snap-kicked her leg. Her shin contacted his groin then she threw a power punch to his stomach with her free hand. He fell backwards, aided by Marissa's thrust kick to his stomach, rapped his head solidly against the concrete, and joined Snipe in unconsciousness.
"Marissa!"
She turned to see Dane, dragging the skate-less purse snatcher in a headlock, walking toward her.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"They started it. I was only defending myself."
"They...you..." Dane clamped his jaw shut. "I told you to stay put."
"You did?"
"Yes, damn it. I did."
"I'm terribly sorry, Dane."
He stared at her. "You are?"
"Of course, I am. I didn't hear you tell me to stay put."
"You're apologizing to me and admitting you should have listened to me."
Dane acted like he'd never received an apology before. She touched his arm. "Do you forgive me?"
"C'mon, man, forgive her before you cut off the rest of my oxygen," said the thief.
"Shut up." Dane's gaze pierced Marissa. "How did—" He sighed. "We need to have a long talk, princess. You're going to explain to me why you need protection if you're a black belt in karate."
"I'm a brown belt."
The thief squirmed and Dane tightened his hold. "I should let her beat the crap out of you, too."
The boy's gaze drifted over the punks' prone bodies. "It wouldn't be good for my rep if I got beat up by a girl."
"One should never employ the use of martial arts for anything but defense. Dane, I think your prisoner is turning blue around the lips."
Dane abruptly let go of the kid's neck and grabbed him by the arm. "Give the lady her property."
"Name's Tuesday Jones, ma'am," he said. He winked at her as he gave Marissa the orange monstrosity. "That's the ugliest purse I've ever stolen."
"I caught him before he could take anything, but you better look through it and make sure."
Marissa made sure the purse's contents were intact. "Is Tuesday your real name?"
"I'm the sixth of seven kids and Mama was tired of naming us. I was born on a Tuesday and that's what she called me." He grinned. "Better than answering to Number Six."
Marissa closed the bag. "Everything's here." She stepped closer to Tuesday. "Do you steal because you're poor? Do you need money?"
"Look at his clothes, Marissa. He wears top of the line stuff. Those blades he was wearing cost a fortune."
"Do you steal because you can't afford nice things?" asked Marissa. Pity at his misfortune crept into her heart.
"I steal because I can." Tuesday's shiny smile dimmed. "Don't feel sorry for me, lady."
"Why not?"
He frowned. "What do you mean 'Why not?'"
"Why shouldn't I feel bad about your situation? You're one of seven children. I imagine you dropped out of high school and you live in a gang-infested area. Are your parents divorced? You don't sell drugs, do you?"
Tuesday's brows rose. "Are you for real?"
Tears crowded Marissa's eyes. She had more money than she could spend in ten lifetimes. The least she could do was share it with someone needy. Someone so needy, he'd turned to a life of crime. She dug in her purse and pulled out a fistful of hundred-dollar bills.
"Here, Tuesday. Go back to school. Don't do drugs, okay?"
"Marissa!" The censure in Dane's voice made her look at him.
"He needs it more than I do."
Tuesday's eyes bulged. "You had that much dough in your purse?" He stared at the cash in Marissa's hand. "You better put it away before someone steals it."
"You stole it," said Dane. "C'mon, Marissa. We need to call the police."
"No! Let him take the money. He can start anew."
"This isn't a television sitcom. It's real life. Giving him money won't solve his problems."
"Oh yeah? What do you know? I could start anew."
"I see boys like you every day, Tuesday. You think you got the world in your pocket, but all you got is trouble. And you..." He turned toward Marissa, frowning. "You're unbelievably naïve. You can't walk around giving away money and spouting off moral platitudes."
"I can, too." She crossed her arms.
Dane opened his mouth then closed it. "We better get going before dumb and dumber wake up."
"Where are we going?" asked Marissa.
"The police station. Tuesday's going to turn himself in for petty larceny, then you and I are going to a hotel."
Marissa's protest on Tuesday's behalf stilled in her throat. She looked at Dane. "A hotel? Really?"
"Don't sound so hopeful. We're getting separate rooms, princess."
"Honestly, Dane, you are so stubborn." She looked at Tuesday. "I don't want to press charges."
"I do."
"Your property wasn't stolen."
"Do you want him to steal someone else's purse?"
"No." Marissa looked at Tuesday. His casual stance and bored expression belied the vulnerable look in his eyes. He was just a boy. All he needed was a chance to prove his worthiness—to himself and to the world. "I want to hire him."
"What?" said Dane and Tuesday at the same time.
"I need an assistant."
"To do what?" asked Dane.
"Stuff." She paused. "He can keep track of the list. Run errands. Take notes of my adventures. Maybe I'll write a book."
"This is a bad idea," said Dane.
Dane's cynical outlook needed an adjustment. Marissa looked at Tuesday. "Do you want the job? It's for a week and I'll pay you a thousand dollars."
"A grand? To follow you around and scribble notes?" Tuesday frowned. "Why would you give me a job? I stole from you."
"Everyone deserves a second chance." She smiled. "You can change your life one choice at a time. Do we have a deal?"
"Deal," confirmed Tuesday. He shook off Dane's grip, extended his arm, and shook Marissa's hand.