"THIRTY SECONDS!"

     

     Hmm, we arrived at the jump zone pretty quickly.

​

     Nice job Ray. 

 

     I was hooked to the overhead cable securely, however, the air pressure hitting my body continued its relentless pursuit of destabilizing me.

​

     My wingsuit didn't help matters, but it was necessary for this evening. 

​

     "FIFTEEN SECONDS!" 

​

     "Ray, if you betray me, I will kill you and your entire family."

​

     Ray smiled at me and held up the shrink-wrapped package of cash I paid him

with.

​

     "You're my best customer, consider this a retainer. If you ever need me again. I'm all yours."

​

     I nodded my head and gave Ray my best smile. I didn't smile anymore. The wind was cold and cruel as the pressure seared my face. I jumped when the time reached :00.

​

     I dove hard at a forty-five degree angle to reach my planned altitude. This was the part I always dreaded, arching my body past the pressure getting the wingsuit to open up and give me lift.

 

     Struggling against the G-force, the electric bolts of pain raced through my spine, as the wind pressure weighed my arms down. I was able to push them forward and spread them out, allowing me to glide forward. 

​

     When I landed, I checked my watch, I was ahead of schedule. With my anchor secured, my rope tied in a knot, I began my decent down the side of the building. 

Once I reached Robert's apartment, I pulled out my diamond cutter. I quickly cut a nice opening in the window big enough for me to enter without slicing a piece of my flesh in the process.

​

     I entered the apartment and took stock of my
surroundings. All lights were off, no alarms beeping and I had the apartment all to myself.

 

     Walking around his contemporary decorated apartment, reminded me, that Robert was a minimalist.

​

     The night we spent in Seattle, was the first time he broke my heart. The vise that clamped my heart returned as my chest tightened in its grip. Robert was going to pay. When I entered his bedroom, my heart ached as I remembered that wonderful night in Monaco, where he brought me to his bed, lined with rose petals. 

​

     But every rose has its thorns.

​

     Turning away from the bed to avoid the stinging tears that threatened to flow, one escaped and I wiped it away, without a trace.

​

     My feet touched lightly on the hardwood floor as I made my way to his dresser. I opened his sock drawer. I peeked inside and he had remnants of jewelry stored in clear boxes. My Jewelry!

​

     Robert had one earring each, of five sets. He had taken a couple of bracelets and one charm. The charm was a heart with a dollar sign in the middle. 

​

     My heart thundered as my mind was the storm. Did Robert steal from me, or were these pieces taken as trophies of his conquests? 

​

     As my chest tightened, and my pulse raced, the jaws of love clamped down hard around my heart. Did he truly care about me? Were these items a reminder of our time together? 

​

     My mind signaled the warning klaxons but my heart had other plans. 

​

     The apartment door squeaked open, so I sauntered over to the corner of his room, waiting for him to show his face.

​

     Roberts footsteps echoed as I pulled out my gun. He walked in, turned the light on and noticed his dresser drawer open. He glanced at me with a surprised look on
his face. 

​

     "Raven?"

 

     "Hello Robert."

 

     With Robert standing in front of me, the pain in my chest was nearly audible as my heart pounded heavily.

​

     "Raven, are you working a job? Are you stealing from me?" he said softly. "You don't have to, I'll give you anything you want, just ask me."

​

     He stepped closer to me, I pointed the weapon. The click of the hammer was audible, as I pulled it down. 

​

     "You hurt me Robert, I believed in you, and you tore my heart to shreds."

​

     I now had the gun pointed at his chest. He walked up carefully with his hands raised.

​

     "I never meant to hurt you, Raven. I left to protect you from my mess."

 

     He was right in front of me as he grabbed my weapon and gently moved it out of the way. 

​

     I wanted to shoot, but my heart wouldn't let me. Tears cascaded down my face as he leaned in to kiss me. Our lips brushing ever so slightly, I enjoyed the mintiness on his breath. He released my hand and I allowed his to flow down to my hips and to the small of my back.

​

     Rubbing lightly, he elicited a moan from me. My desire for him quickly altering my course of hatred. Gone was my urge to kill him, replaced with my urge to bed him. 

​

     Why? Why am I doing this again? 

​

     Why did I let him torture me?

​

     Stupid, you know how this ends.

 

     His kisses wrote checks my body wanted to cash.

​

     He grabbed the hair at the back of my head, pulled my head back and gazed at me with lustful intent. He assaulted my neck, as I closed my eyes and enjoyed his expert touch. 

​

     The zipper at my neckline was starting to come down as my back was exposed.

We had disrobed in seconds as Robert laid me down on his bed. Kissing his way along my floral tattoo under my left breast, down towards my navel. 

​

     I closed my eyes and let the fireworks begin.

​

 * * * * * 

 

     I woke up, sun shining in my face and a note left on the bed with a purple rose. 

​

     Robert was always the Joker, and I was his thief. However, this morning, I was the one left wearing the clown face.

​

I read the note:

​

Meet me in Monaco… you know the place!

​

Love Robert.

​

“Oh, be still my beating heart.”

​