•Harley's POV•

"... I'm just gonna hurt ya. Really... really bad."

Pain.
Laughter.
Pain.
Darkness.

My eyelids opened slowly to find myself laying on a soft bed, my body covered by the fabric of the pink familiar sheets. They smelled strongly like the vanilla perfume I loved, but it now strangely provoked me a strong urge to throw up, my head exploding as I got used to the faint glow coming from my night light.

I shut my eyes tightly trying to remember what happened, every memory a distant blur at the back of my head. There were flashes of light, loud noises and screaming. I had done something terrible and something horrible had been done to me in return.

With the help of my weak elbows I pushed myself up just to throw myself back into the pillows, it was to painful.

"Don't move, doll. You're just going to make yourself sick." a deep voice startled me. Of course I sat up again and disobeyed it, which I regretted as everything around me seemed to move and twist, a deafening buzz ringing on my ears making me groan, my trembling hands moving up, pressed on my stinging temples.

Before I had time to react, two strong big hands grabbed my shoulders, pushing me back against the mattress. And I saw his face, his pale, handsome, perfect face and everything was forgotten.

"How long ha–" I started but his finger traced my lips, asking for silence.

"Two days." said J as he moved away from me, grabbed his purple coat and wrapped it around his shoulders. God, this man. No matter how nauseated and sick I felt, my thoughts were only for and on him.

"Are you leaving?" I asked, watching him in disbelief as he walked towards the door. I could see a smirk forming on his crimson lips and his blue orbs connected with mine. They were so cold I shivered.

"You woke up, you're fine, I'm gone, honey." he said, coldly and indifferent. "I should have killed you or at least left your brain blank and useless after what you did to my head. But here you are, safe and sound. I can't do more for you, sweetness. We are even."

"I want to be with you." Talking a deep breath I got up slowly, forcing my feet to step closer to the green haired man standing by the doorframe. When I reached for his hand, my heart sank when J took a step back, avoiding any kind of contact with me.

I forgot my dignity and my pride when I threw myself to him, arms wrapped around his waist like a lost wandering child, my face buried on his face, tears falling freely.

But J didn't move, his body just tensed as he growled, a warning I ignored as my grip grew tighter. Anyone watching us would have felt pity for my actions, laughed at my pathetic attempts to get the clown to stay.

"Just look at you," he said, his voice deep and eerily cold, "what were you expecting? That we would live happily ever after? That I would carry you in my arms and take you away to our fairy tale kingdom like a knight in shiny armour?"

The clown shoved me away from him and turned around, his hand moving down to my neck.

"You are nothing to me, Harleen."

As he started walking back to the door, my feet tried to follow but remained glued to the ground. The events from the previous days flashed before my eyes and I watched him leave, horrified.

I had done something terrible and I deserved the searing pain I felt when Joker left my apartment. A scream got stuck in my throat as I felt my head hit the carpeted floor.

•Joker's POV•

This was the sixth dancer sitting on my lap in the last four days. She was gorgeous, exhuberating, a redhead voluptuous beauty.

But she didn't smell like her. She didn't laugh like her.

I tried drowning my thoughts in whisky, distract myself with the most delicious girls that threw themselves at me, dying to get into my pants for a generous tip. And they ended up... dying, literally.

"Is something wrong, Mr. J?" I heard the annoying woman say as her body pressed closer to mine, daring to wrap her arms around my shoulders. Her perfume burned my nostrils and it was so hard not to push her away. I was too drunk and lazy to move.

"How old are you, anyway? Ran away from mummy and daddy, tired of your good old life, locked away in your room?" I slurred, bringing the almost empty glass to my lips, drinking the last drops of Jack Daniel's that remained.

"I'm old enough to do this." And as the little whore's fingers travelled down to unbutton my expensive shirt, the door to my private opened with a slam. It took my eyes a few seconds to focus on the furious blonde standing by the entrance.

"Harleen, my dear." I grinned, noticing her trembling fists as my former doctor glared at the woman that still sat on my lap. My laughter filled the room when I realized how jealous my lovely Harleen was but deep inside my heart skipped a beat just by her presence.

"Go get something to drink for my lady, will ya?" I managed to mumble as I pushed the annoying woman off my lap, watching her leave the room awkwardly. My eyes searched for Harleen, who was still standing, motionless, staring at me with dagger eyes. "Come on, baby. Take a seat, I don't bite."

"You left me." she hissed, her captivating blue orbs piercing through my head. How could this girl damage me so much? "I am dying inside, I can't sleep, can't eat while you are here screwing prostitutes and getting fucking wasted."

"Is that even a surprise for you? Last time I checked, I was a criminal, honey. Do you actually think I give a damn?" With all my remaining strength, I got up on my feet and stumbled towards her. When my face got inches from hers, my breathing got stuck on my throat and I could hear my heart beating furiously; my own body betrayed me.

"I do believe you give a good fucking damn, clown." She whispered, her lips brushing against mine. And there it was, the poisonous brand sweet smell I craved. It was too much for me to notice her arms around my neck, my arms moving involuntarily to her slim waist and before I got time to react, my body pushed her against the wall and I kissed her furiously.

But Harleen wasn't allowed to win, to break me so easily. Even though her fair skin tortured me, her beautiful face haunted me, I had to remain one step ahead from her.

"You want to be mine?" I said through her soft lips and she nodded, "you want to show this damn club who owns you?"

Harleen's expression changed as I motioned towards the dance floor, a golden pole standing in the middle, waiting for her.

"This is your second test, doll." I whispered to her ear, "Show me how you don't care what people think, how you get rid of your ties. Show me who you really are, Harley."

The blonde smiled dreamily at me, as if under a spell and I watched her walk among the drunken mass. My insides were on fire and with every move from her hips, swaying from side to side, her eyes never leaving mine.

I could have grabbed her arm and take her to my penthouse, make her mine, make her happy. But instead I left her dancing, walked out of the club and got into the Lambourghini.

... to be continued

•••

Can you guys guess what's happening next?! It involves a motorcycle and an acid vat.

I'm sorry I'm taking so long to update. I'm a responsible adult and I've been very busy 😭 My writer's block is still haunting me too. But for those who follow my other book I'll update it real soon I promise.

Comment, sweethearts. You know I love reading your kind words.

💚