Harley looked at her reflection in the mirror, and couldn't stop smiling. She never could these days – she was too happy all the time. Especially at times like these, when any moment she was expecting Mr. J to come home, head straight to the bedroom, take her in his arms, and show her how much he had missed her.
She looked at her reflection again, hoping he'd be pleased. Mr. J had bought her a sexy red and black lace number and had told her to be wearing it when he got home that night. She smiled at the way it fit, revealing and flattering her curves, and then bounced happily into the bedroom, jumping onto the bed and spreading herself over the pillows. She wanted to look irresistable when he walked in, and so she struck an inviting pose, smiling seductively. Mr. J had told her a thousand times how much he adored her smile, and that made her never want to stop smiling. But she couldn't even if she wanted to. She had never been so happy.
She heard the front door shut and her heart pounded in excitement. "Your Harley is waiting to be revved up in the bedroom, puddin'!" she called.
"Sorry to disappoint you, sweetheart, but we ain't puddin'," said Sal Valestra, entering the room followed by Buzz Bronski.
Panic seized Harley as she immediately sat up, clutching the blankets to her. Sal whistled. "Now ain't that a sight for sore eyes, Buzz?" he asked, grinning at her. "Scantily clad dame just ripe and waiting for a nice, hard pounding."
"What are you doing here?" Harley demanded, trying not to let her terror show.
"Now, now, that ain't no way to talk to your former captors, sweetheart," said Sal, smiling. "And since you're so hospitable to Jack, the least you can do is be hospitable to us."
"Don't you dare touch me," hissed Harley.
"Aw, c'mon, baby, we're Jack's colleagues," chuckled Sal. "Why shouldn't we get to enjoy what he gets to enjoy? Share and share alike, that's our motto. Ain't that right, Buzz?"
In response, Buzz seized her arms, shoving her down on the bed, while Sal forced her legs apart and began undoing his belt. Harley fought and struggled wildly, but they were both strong men. "I did try to warn you, didn't I, toots?" murmured Buzz in her ear. "You let yourself get involved with him, and you end up getting hurt. I don't think you're gonna like this pain, sweetheart. And I'm afraid you ain't gonna live to regret your mistake."
In a final act of desperation, Harley managed to wrench one hand free, and seized the gun Mr. J kept underneath his pillow. "Neither will you!" she hissed, putting it to his face, shutting her eyes, and pulling the trigger.
She heard a scream, and forced her eyes open to see blood everywhere. She felt Sal release his grip on her legs and sat up, aiming the gun at him and pulling the trigger again without a moment's hesitation. This time she watched as the bullet embedded itself in his skull, sending more blood splattering over the sheets and over her.
She dropped the gun with a sob as his body dropped to the ground, her own body shaking in terror. She buried her face in her trembling hands, but could still smell and feel the blood on them. There was no escape from the horror.
Then she heard the front door bang open. "Harley!" shouted a familiar voice. "Harley!"
Jack rushed into the bedroom and froze to see the bodies of Sal Valestra and Buzz Bronski lying on the floor, and both the bed and Harley covered in blood. She looked up at him, shivering in fear, tears shining in her wide, blue eyes.
He seized her in his arms and began kissing her desperately, clutching her tightly to him. "Oh, Jesus!" he gasped, as she sobbed, burying her face in his chest. "Oh, Jesus Christ, I'm so glad you're safe!"
"I killed them, Mr. J!" she sobbed. "I killed them! I ain't ever killed anyone before…"
"Shh, shh, kiddo," he whispered, stroking her hair. "Shh, it's ok. They had it coming. They were bad men. They were gonna hurt you. They deserved to die."
"I killed them, Mr. J!" she repeated.
He looked down into her wide, terrified eyes, and kissed her tenderly. "It's all right, baby," he murmured. "Everything's all right now."
He held her gently for a long time, not saying a word, until she stopped crying. Then he drew away from her, gazing at her and smiling softly. "You did good, kid," he whispered. "I'm so proud of you, Harley."
Harley managed a small smile, wiping her eyes. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. Quite the joke on old Sal, and the perfect death for him. Shot in the face by someone he considered worthless, someone who used to be in his power. Got a real nice irony to it, doncha think?"
Harley nodded slowly. "Yeah. I guess it is kinda funny," she whispered.
He began gently running his hands over the blood that coated her flesh. "You look so…beautiful like this," he whispered. "So beautiful, Harley."
"Nah, I feel disgusting," she murmured. "I'm gonna go get a shower, Mr. J."
She tried to stand up, but he held her firmly, and suddenly began licking the blood off her hand and arm, working his way up her body. Harley was thrilled despite herself at the feel of his tongue, wet and warm, caressing her skin. "Oh…Mr. J!" she gasped. "Oh…Mr. J!"
"Tell me all about it, baby," he whispered, licking her face and pressing her down on the bed. "Tell me all about how you killed them. Give me details. Let me imagine it as I dominate the gal who killed Sal Valestra."
She lay in his gentle but firm embrace afterward as he smoked his usual cigarette. "You're the only man who can do those things to the gal who killed Sal Valestra, y'know," murmured Harley.
He chuckled, and then kissed her tenderly. "Dr. Harleen Quinzel, the gal who killed Sal Valestra. Has kinda a nice ring to it, huh?"
"Mmm hmm," she whispered, kissing him. "Do I have your permission to get a shower now?" she asked, smiling.
"Yeah, if you gotta," he sighed. "But you should think about wearing nothing but blood more often, toots. It's a real turn on."
"You're such a bad boy," she whispered, kissing his nose as she stood up.
He slapped her bottom playfully. "And you're a very bad girl," he said, grinning. "Daddy should spank you real hard for what you've done."
"Wait until I get cleaned up, Mr. Greedy," she retorted, smiling at him. She kissed him again and disappeared into the bathroom, and Jack smoked for a few more minutes. He pulled on his robe and then stood up, gazing at the bodies of Sal and Buzz and puffing on his cigarette thoughtfully.
Then he went over to Harley's phone and dialled a number. "Hi, Chuckie, it's Jack. If I give you an address, can you get over here as soon as possible? A little situation has arisen and I need someone to help me get rid of some bodies. No, nobody important – just get over here. See you soon."
He hung up the phone as Harley emerged from the shower, wearing a towel. "Who'd you call?" she asked.
"Chuckie," he replied. "I need someone with muscle to help me clear out the bodies, before they start to rot. It ain't a nice smell, rotting corpses. You certainly don't want it in your apartment."
"Ain't Chuckie gonna be shocked when he finds out who it is?" asked Harley.
"Probably," he retorted. "Can't hide it forever though. And ain't it best to share good news as soon as possible?"
"Good news?" repeated Harley.
"Yeah. The Valestra gang has got a new leader," said Jack, smiling at her. "Course it ain't called the Valestra gang anymore."
"Well, you can't call it the Napier gang," said Harley.
He pinched her cheek affectionately. "How about the J gang, toots?" he murmured.
"I like the sound of that," whispered Harley, kissing him tenderly. She smiled. "Think we got time for a quick spanking before Chuckie gets here, Mr. J? Your little Harley girl does need to be punished for spilling the gangsters' brains all over the floor and making such a mess for you to clean up."
"Pooh, you read my mind!" he chuckled, pushing her back down on the bed.