CHAPTER TEN

Joker, for the first time in his life, was speechless. His mind tried to form words but nothing clicked. She couldn't possibly of said what he heard let alone actually meant it.

"What?" He finally choked out.

"I want you, here with me. Now!" She sniffled tears drying on her face.

"Why?" He asked cautiously rubbing his chin as the semblance of a thought process returned to his mind.

"I need your chaos." She whispered softly.

Joker cleared his throat feeling exceptionally vulnerable as heat coiled inside his body. She was saying all the right words and Joker knew he couldn't say no to her. "I'll be there in ten." He murmured before hanging up.

Eve sighed slowly shaking as she stood. She slipped on a pair of gray sweat pants and a black wife beater, nothing over or underneath them. Her hair remained in damp curls as she heard her doorbell ring. Checking the mirror in the foyer to make sure her make up was gone from the night before, she tried to smile and went to answer the door. True to his word ten minutes after they'd spoken Joker was standing on her doorstep.

Eve opened the door and Joker brushed a hand through his hair distractedly as he stepped inside. "Nice house or should I say palace?" Joker asked as he looked around.

"My parent's design." Eve shrugged as she led him into the kitchen.

"Mommy and Daddy aren't home?" Joker asked watching with interest as Eve sat on top of the kitchen's island countertop.

"They're dead." She stated.

"Oh." Joker nodded in understanding. "Well, no use crying over spilt milk." He shrugged walking to stand in front of her.

"You kill people." Eve said though her voice caused it to sound like a question.

"Yes, Sweet Cakes, it's kind of what I do." Joker nodded.

Eve looked him in the eye and slowly asked; "would you kill someone for me?"

Joker did the only logical thing that came to his mind; he laughed in her face. He fell backwards laughing and Eve frowned.

"You want me to, oh you are so fuuuuunny!" Joker cackled as he struggled to stand back up.

"I'm being serious." Eve stated her eyes narrowed in annoyance.

Joker stopped laughing and straightened his jacket. He stood directly in front of her, Eve's knees hitting his ribs as he placed his hands on either side of her hips. His face was a mask of curiosity. "You want me to kill someone?" He clarified.

"Yes." She nodded.

Joker trailed a hand over her bruised cheek and she didn't flinch. "Why would you want me to kill someone?" He asked quietly brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I want revenge." She replied noticing how his gloved fingers followed the curve of her ear.

"Ah, not all sugar are you Eve? Bet you've got a little bite in you, huh?" Joker asked leering forward.

"Adam Falcone and his father, I want them dead." She said, refusing to be distracted.

The lurid smile left Joker's face as realizations hit him like cold water. "So you're THAT Eve! The one Adam nearly killed himself over." He murmured in slight awe and intense curiosity.

"Yes." Eve nodded.

"Well, that certainly makes things interesting." Joker chuckled.

"What are you talking about?" Eve asked warily.

"I can kill them," he said idly flipping a switchblade open and closed again.

"So what's the problem?" Eve asked slowly.

"Because my price is far higher than what you are willing to pay." Joker whispered darkly his eyes locked with hers.

"It's not about the money, is it? It never is with you." Eve murmured slightly annoyed at the fact that whatever he wanted wouldn't be painless.

"How badly do you want them dead?" Joker questioned quietly his face drifting closer.

"IF you can't do it, I'll do it myself." Eve stated her voice shaking with emotion.

Joker's eyebrows disappeared into his tangled green hair as a look of total shock crossed his face. "Oh really?" He chuckled. His gloved fingers slowly walked up her knee. "You would be willing to do anything then?" Joker continued as his hands came to rest on her waistband.

Eve felt her pulse hammering as she gazed into his eyes. "What do you want from me?" She asked the words nearly inaudible.

"Twenty four hours. Unquestioningly, irrevocably, and completely you will be mine for the whole time." He said slowly never blinking as he stated his demands.

Eve couldn't breathe. One day! Was she willing to put her life in the hands of a lunatic for that long? The feel of leather on her hipbones nearly made her jump out of her skin. Joker chuckled at her reaction, very sensitive skin. Eve placed her hands over his to still his ministrations and looked him straight in the eye.

"I want the entire Falcone family and mob destroyed, everyone." She stated seriously.

"Now you're just making it to easy, Doll Face." Joker chuckled a broad smile on his face.

Eve smiled back at him. "I'm not finished yet." She chastised causing the smile to fall from his face. "Every day that they are all still alive, you lose one hour."

Joker frowned. "Not giving me a lot of time for this are you?" He grumbled.

"Additionally, you lose two tasks in our original game." Eve continued.

"Hold on here, Baby Cakes! You are taking all the fun out of my life!" Joker complained.

Eve hooked one leg around his side and pulled him forward so that their noses were touching. "Are you sure I'm not adding more to it?" Eve asked innocently batting her sinfully long eyelashes.

Joker's lips twitched up in a smile. "You're good, you are very good. But, you aren't as good as I am." He whispered huskily as his grip on her hips tightened.

Eve bit her lip nervously, the situation was beginning to get out of hand. Joker leaned forward his hot breath raking over her skin. Eve felt her bottom lip being loosened from her teeth by another pair. Joker ran his tongue over her lip feeling the imprints left by her teeth. He carefully moved in closer dragging her over the counter. Eve sighed shakily as the Joker kissed his way over her jaw and down her neck. She hooked her other leg around his body and locked him there. She ran her hands over his jacket and heard Joker's deep rumbling chuckle.

"You know exaaaactly how to fight fire with fire, don't you? I wonder, who taught you, Eve?" Joker smirked once more his nose touching hers.

Eve felt a shock flood her system as he said her name. She chuckled her lips brushing against his for mere seconds. "I've never been taught anything." Eve murmured throatily as she nuzzled his cheek. "I'm just a quick learner." She said before catching his earlobe between her teeth.

Joker involuntarily gasped, he hadn't quite expected her to take such initiative and go on the offensive. She slowly drew back playfully knocking her forehead against his so he would reopen his eyes.

"You aren't getting anything until they die." She stated seriously.

Joker's hands tightened painfully on her hips but Eve ignored it. He cocked his head to the side before releasing her. Eve knew there would be bruises but it could be worse.

"I can wait." He said simply as Eve loosened her legs around him.

"Good, because you have to." Eve challenged.

Joker stepped away from her and tapped his chin in thought. "I can wait, Sugar. But can you?" He asked before disappearing out of the room.

Eve heard the front door shut and she sighed. Finally some of her problems were starting to melt away.

Three minutes after Joker left, two black Hummers pulled up to the gate outside of Phoenix Manor. The cars lights were shut off and the engines died. Six men conglomerated out of both cars around the hedges lining the gate.

"Remember," one of the ski masked men grumbled, "Adam wants Eve alive."