I pretended to drift off to sleep when Alex finished. I waited for him to lift himself from my sweat-drenched body and untie me. I listened to his feet pad across the floor, then the door close.

I was up in a flash. I knew he had locked Howard in the basement. Alex kept a room down there that easily served as a holding cell. He had it fashioned for just such a purpose. Alex was in the habit of engineering those kinds of projects.

Having lived with Alex once before, I knew where everything was, including the keys to every lock in the house. I quickly found the one I needed, and then went downstairs.

Alex was on the phone in his study. It figured that his mind returned to business after he finished having sex. One important thing to focus on at a time. I disregarded his conversation. He spoke in that pragmatic monotone that bore me to tears. I snuck past him. Luck remained on my side. Alex, seated in his favorite swivel chair, had his back to the door. I tiptoed through the hall, and then headed toward the entrance to the basement.

Howard was sitting up on the sofa when I found him. He looked as though he was trying to gather his strength as well as his wits. His visible disorientation cleared seconds after I entered the room.

I flew into his arms, barely containing my relief at seeing him. The intensity with which he held me assured me he had regained some of his strength. Our lips connected. I was careful of his condition, knowing he'd been hurt. Howard didn't seem to mind my rush of affection. Not once did he complain of any existing injury.

"What happened to Alex?" he asked after returning my kiss.

"Shhhhhhhh. I've got to get you out of here."

He nodded.

As we made out way to the stairs, I glanced as the door to Howard's private room. Normally, I was forbidden to go there. Alex would have freaked had he known I'd made frequent visits in the past. "Wait a minute," I whispered. "There's something I've got to do first, while I can."

Howard sent me a curious look as we went inside. Alex's computer, laser printer, fax machine, and other office-related equipment was neatly arranged. Everything was state of the art, the best quality available. I sat in front of the computer and turned it on. While it was booting, Howard tapped me on the shoulder.

"We don't have time for this, Sherl."

"Sure we do." I typed various commands and brought up a menu of choices. I ran my finger down the list.

"I still don't understand," Howard said, impatiently. "What are you doing?"

"Getting into Alex's bank account. He dials in by modem." A few keystrokes later, I had his account balance on the screen. Wow! I hadn't seen it for quite some time. From my last recollection, his balance had substantially grown. I was amazed at the series of zeros. He must have switched some accounts around and put everything into the main one. Unwittingly, he simplified things for me.

"He's got some serious bucks stashed away," Howard whistled, reading the number.

My fingers began to work feverishly at the keyboard. I activated a pull-down menu that offered several options.

Howard couldn't help chuckling from behind. "Don't tell me you're…"

"Yes, I'm making a withdrawal. Let's see. You wanted ten million, right? Let's go fifteen. I've been entitled to a bonus for quite some time."

"Actually, I would have settled for five," Howard confessed softly. "I figured if I marked up the price, Alex might have backed off."

I smiled. I knew he wasn't in it for the money. I remembered that moment when I felt like some bartered object.

Howard gasped as he saw the numerals on the screen in conjunction with the boxed messages. "Whew. That's slick. Where's it going?"

"I'm transferring it to a private account Alex doesn't know exists. I've planned my exit for some time. I guess I knew the day would arrive when I'd have to get on with my life. I didn't want him to know I had a penny to my name. He would never have believed I could be self-sufficient. We can wire your amount to your personal account later." I depressed the enter key that made the transfer final. "Done. Now let's get out of here before we're discovered."

We were out of the basement and near the front door when I elected to show Howard another of Alex's possessions I stole. Among his keys, I found the one to his BMW convertible. I held it up in triumph.

"We're going to travel in style," I proclaimed. "Remember to be quiet. I think he's still in his study."

"Think again."

I turned to see Alex pointing a gun in our direction. The look he sent me soured my stomach.

Howard clenched his jaw; his stare was of laser-hot intensity.

"Move away from him, Sherl," Alex instructed. "I'm going to put an end to his miserable life."

"Go ahead, pal," Howard dared him.

"No," I remained in position, separating them. "I won't let you shoot him."

"I said," Alex growled, "get your ass out of the way."

I was rooted to my spot. "You'll have to kill me first."

Alex sighed. "You're a fool, Sherl. How could you choose him over me? How could you possibly want that worthless fuck?"

"He's more man than you'll ever be."

Alex grimaced. "Fine. Draw your last breath, kids. This is the final stop." He extended his arm and cocked the trigger.

I didn't think Alex had it in him. He didn't have the balls to kill us.

A horn blared outside the house. It was just the distraction we needed. Howard picked up a crystal ashtray and hurled it at Alex. An ugly thud and crash followed. Alex dropped the gun. I flung myself over it.

"What the fuck." Alex spat.

Howard didn't spare a moment. He flung himself at Alex, taking him down. The two rolled across the floor in a vicious scuffle. Fists started flying; groans echoed as they met their intended spot.

I aimed the gun at the two of them. Their frantic battle had me guessing. "Quit while you can, Alex," I yelled. "It's over."

Alex froze in position. "Do you really have it in you to shoot me?"

I stared at the man who had given me pleasure multiple times." "I'd do it if it means saving Howard."

A dark smile creased his face. "You won't." He balled his fists, ready to slam it home.

I fired. It was totally reactionary. He was right, under normal conditions, I would have shunned the thought. This, however, was a matter of life and death.

The bullet whistled past Alex's ear. His eyes widened in shock, verifying whether I deliberately took aim. "Jesus," he gasped.

"Stand up, Alex," I ordered. "Slowly."

He followed instructions. He got to his feet with a dazed expression. For the first time, Alex realized the transformation in my personality. The metamorphosis I'd undergone was staggering to him.

"Tie him up," I told Howard. "Then we're out of here."

Howard bound him securely to a chair. "Where are those two goons you had?"

"Don't worry about them," Alex gruffly volunteered. "I sent them off to dinner."

"Is this another trick, pal? Are they going to surprise us outside?"

"You'll have to find out yourselves."

The gag Howard wrapped around his face stifled his smile.

Outside, the coast seemed clear. There was no sign of backup reinforcements. I started to hand the keys to Howard.

"Feel like driving?" I asked, sensitive to his physical condition.

Howard gave me thumbs up. "Sure, baby. I might bend, but I don't break."

"That's reassuring."

I dropped myself into the seat beside him. It felt so good snuggling up to him in the open, out of confinement.

"Do you think he'll figure out what we did to his money?" Howard asked, revving the engine.

"Probably not. He never knew about those computer classes I took to keep from being bored. He very likely thinks I'M still some dumb ass."

"Not that," Howard said, giving me a hot, sexy kiss. "Not a chance."