The girl who was worth all of it

The ceiling fan spun slowly with just enough air to make the room too hot.  He wasn't interested in going outside, the only things out there were trouble and more trouble.  The chair creaked in disgust as he leaned back to take some of the pressure off of his back.  A sigh escaped his lips and he took the last hit of what used to be a fulfilling cigarette, the addiction that used to settle his nerves of which now tasted like gunpowder and regret.  The last of the smoke disappated around the room, not that you'd notice due to the lack of care he took for the shape of it.  The moon shot horizontal layers through the window shades that hung down the windows around him creating a makeshift jail cell look to the whole environment.  If she wasn't worth everything in the world he wouldn't be anywhere close to here right now.  But she was something he had never seen before.  Tough hardened jaw like him had seen it all including hell and back, or at least what he considered a good enough representation of it.  The job was dangerous and took a few days of consideration before he decided to take it on.  Sweetening the deal was a promise of her, one look at her and anyone would do what it took just to be near her.  He picked up a small photograph of the woman laying on his desk, the edges worn from being taken in and out of his coat pocket a few hundred times.  She was beautiful.  The kind of beautiful that got men killed in the line of duty or made them swear they had seen an angel cross their paths during a particular rough night.  Brown hair framed a face that he knew kissing would taste better than God could create.  She had gorgeous sexy brown eyes to match and even just through the picture he felt a twinge of love in his heart and a heat not caused by the room.  He had managed to see her in the flesh but once when he was scouting the job and for the first and perhaps only time in his life he froze, unable to finish any thought.  She was a short vixen who made his knees weak and his heart work overtime to make up on lost time not being in love.  Love.  Something this job never allowed.  Sure, he had thought about it, hell, he even pined for it at one point.  But she was different.  Looking at her made him think of his future, his future with her and how great of a husband he would be and a father.  A father, wow, look at you all getting mature and stepping away from the service.  But he would for her.  Upon closer inspection he swore he could see a hint of pain and sadness in her face, a girl who was hurt and yearned for someone to hold throughout the night.  This one he couldn't let go.  His heart beat nervously as he knew the next step wasn't going to be easy.  As if by premonition, knocks appeared at the door. 
"We know you're in there Edward.  Let's make this nice and easy and just let us in and we'll talk nice."
Yeah sure, talk nice.  Their definition of talk nice always involved you not talking because you were nice and dead.  He weighed his options and carefully set his weapon under the desk for easy access.
"You know I don't want any trouble."
They were unphased.
"Neither do we pal, and I'm sure you wouldn't want any harm to come to her now either would you?"
Damn them, was it that obvious that he loved her?
"We ain't got all night Ed, we're comin' in"
The sentence wasn't even finished when the door was kicked in and three men in pin striped outfits walked into the room, two had guns aimed at his head.
"Now look what you made us do."
"Get out of my office, I'm out of the game, you got nothin to do with me."
"Oh Eddie, please, how can I believe you when you got a picture of little Megs there on your desk?"
Damn it, a careless mistake.  He was usually very good about little details and covering himself.  He was so inamored with the photo that it slipped his mind.
"So how do you want to do this Eddie?  Fast or Really Fast?"

Across town, on the sixth floor of an apartment building, a short pretty girl fumbles through her purse for her keys.  She had to leave work early and watch her back the entire way home as there was a letter mailed to her office that said simply "They know."
She discovered her keys and unlocked her door, she peered in cautiously and scanned the room for anything no matter how small that may tip off an intruder.  The large print of Audrey Hepburn adorned the wall with an inviting look as to say come on it, it's just us.  Her dog snoozed away in the corner.  Thank you guard dog, I don't know how safe I would be without you.  If he wasn't up then the place should be moderately safe, although she wasn't sure if the dog would get up if someone was in the room anyways.  She turned some lights on and placed her purse on the counter.  She grabbed some tea out of her refrigerator and took up a place by her windows.  She stared out at the city and knew he was out there.  Was he safe?  She didn't really know him but had seen him once, he didn't see her or at least she thought he didn't.  He was handsome and didn't look like the other brutes that seemed to always offer themselves up for her.  There was talk through the grape vine that he was looking for her to rescue her from something really terrible.  A knight in shining trench coat.  She changed into a white tanktop and shorts and stopped cold in the hallway.  There was something on the ground, pieces, that led to her bedroom and the door was shut.  Was this what he warned her of?  If someone was there they had to have heard her and known she was home.  Were they watching her now?  Maybe the room was a trap and they weren't in there at all.  Suddenly she was super self aware and skin began to tense with every beat of her heart.  She reached over and flipped the light of the hallway on.  Leaning closer she discovered what it was leading to the room.  Rose petals?
Could still be a trap.  The worst thoughts ran through her head ranging from drag down fights to unwanted sexual forcing.  Before she walked to the room she grabbed a knife from the kitchen and edged closer to the bedroom door.  Slowly creaking it open she was surprised to only find the rest of the petals and her entire bed filled with roses.  There was a white note centered in the middle of the pile.  Never letting go of the knife she opened the note and read.
Ever since I saw you I haven't been able to take my mind off of you.
There are dangerous men out to get you for business dealings with a crime lord that I have yet to identify.
It would break my heart something terrible if I knew that you weren't around in this world any longer.
You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen and I will do whatever it takes to ensure your safety and your heart.
I hope these roses keep you happy tonight as a replacement for my touch.
Know that you are in my thoughts constantly and the moment I am able to be near you will be the moment Heaven proves itself real.
I will see you soon, please be careful, I will be there for you.
While we may not have met that much in this crazy world, I'm glad the forces that be brought us together.
My love is all for you, Meg.
Be Safe.
Edward.
She couldn't see herself but she knew her cheeks had blushed to a deep scarlet.  The nerves in her body were replaced with warm tingles of joy and flattery.  This was the man she had seen before and hoped would see again.  But what danger?  What was he doing and who was after her and why?  So many questions.  She ran to the window again feeling a sensation that if she looked out he would know and find her quicker.  She bit her lip and prayed he would find her soon and hear heart beat out loudly to call to him to make it complete.  As she stared out the window, all she could wonder was where he was and what danger he might be facing.

Back across town, a bead of sweat rolled down the side of his head.  The trio of gunmen showed no sign of any mercy and circled his desk.
"Seems you actually have a heart after all huh Eddie?"
They were toying with him now, his mind was going over a million ways to get out of the situation.  Each one proving worth it just to see here again.  He had to be smart with this one.
"We gotta finish this now Eddie, then we'll make sure you're lovergirl gets the message of love from you.  Over and over and over."
His blood boiled as his hands gripped the chair almost splintering the wood.  If they laid one finger on her beautiful silky skin.
The two on his sides raised their guns towards him while the third bent over his desk and rested on his elbows inches from his face.
"well, edwardo, what's it gonna be?"

TO BE CONTINUED   :o