Velvet Roses Ch. 10

"Who is she?"

"How do you know It's a she?"

"I'm not stupid, Dane, so please don't insult my intelligence."

"My ex-girlfriend."

"Are you still in contact with her?"

"No."

"But you're willing to die for her."

"When did I say that?"

"You know there's a chance this guy could kill you, but instead of being worried about your own life, all you can think about is saving hers."

"Well yeah, but I'd feel the same way about anyone that I love."

"You *love* her?" "I meant I care for her."

"You said love."

"Look Cassie, I don't have time for this right now. So knock it off, and stop being so damn jealous."

"This is the way you talk to me after I do you a favor? You're a dick. Don't ever call me again."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get angry with you. I'm just under a lot of pressure right now."

"That still doesn't give you the right to treat me like dirt. And I don't appreciate being used."

"I said I was sorry. And I'm not using you."

"Yes you are."

"No, I'm not. You're my friend, and I care about you."

"You're just saying that."

"Honestly, Cassie. I really do still consider you as my friend."

She fell silent, and as both remained mute, the stillness between them became almost deafening. Then finally, Cassie's voice drifted from the other end of the line.

"I still consider you a friend, too. And just so you know, I'm not jealous. I'm just worried about you, that's all."

"Well don't be. I can handle myself."

"Yeah, I know. Anyways stay safe, and keep in touch, okay?"

"Alright. Talk to you later, Cassie."

"Bye."

He pressed the end call button, then turning his attention to the yellow legal pad on his lap, he studied the information that had just been relayed to him by Cassie.

6 CCTV security cameras-(1) near the front door, (1) in shipping and receiving,(2) at dock loading area, and (2) perimeter cameras along the edges. Fuse box wired into buildings power. Cameras night vision enabled. Motion sensors-when activated will alert security guards.

Control Room-several surveillance monitors, 9-1-1 response equipment, radio and communications head-end equipment. Most likely two guards in control room, possibly more.

Security managed over a VPN server with a private IP network. Combination of both active and non-active monitoring.

Allowing his eyes to drift to the notes he'd made about the exterior of the building, Dane allowed himself a moment to read what he'd written.

Sixteen large windows

Double doors in the front

(2) dock loading areas in back with large drive-in roll up doors -blind cameras here first, then access interior of building through the heating units on the roof. once inside, blind camera in shipping and receiving, then locate control room. Cut power supply to CCTV cameras and disable telephone system.

So far it seemed like he had a pretty solid plan on how to efficiently bypass Invotech's security system, but there was still more work to be done. First off, he would need to find lasers that were powerful enough to overwhelm the lens of the CCTV's. In addition he would also need a gunscope, as well as a few other key items.

After purchasing the equipment, he would need to figure out the best place to stand so that he could effectively shoot the laser. Judging from the past jobs he'd pulled, he would need to be standing at least 40 feet away in order to completely disable the camera, and he would also need to make sure that his aim was completely accurate. It'd been some time since he'd last done something like this, so he would definitely need to brush up on his skills.

Dane flipped to a fresh sheet on the legal pad, and after taking a lingering glance at the warehouse across the street, he began to make a sketch. The tip of the pen scratched faintly against the paper as he rendered the drawing, and after sketching the front view of the building, he utilized his memory to create a portrayal of the backside.

He made sure to add every detail he could think of, including the position of the CCTV cameras, security lights, and any other feature of the warehouse that would aid him in thoroughly planning the robbery. What seemed the most trivial of details often turned out to be far more important than he ever could have imagined, so he made certain to render a sketch that most closely resembled the real-life building.

Once he was satisfied with his drawing, he took a moment to study it, glancing back and forth between his sketch and the actual warehouse across the street. Then he set the pad down on the passenger's seat and retrieved a pack of cigarettes from the pocket of his jacket.

With every day that passed, it seemed that his addiction only grew stronger, and although he longed for the days before his relapse, he knew it would take some time before he would have the strength to once again kick his bad habit.

As he sat there smoking, his gaze drifted to his reflection in the rearview mirror, and as he glanced at his face, he suddenly felt as if he were looking at a stranger.

There was little light left in his eyes, and such deep sadness within them, that he found it difficult to maintain eye contact with himself. He also noticed that they had taken on a bit of a hard glint, and as he caught sight of a scar along his jaw, he was reminded of Brody, the Irishman who had ruthlessly cut him.

As his mind replayed images, Dane relived his brutal fight with Brody, and tormentedly recalled the terrible things that he'd done. Not only had he stabbed a man with a dirty needle, but he'd also blown his kneecaps off, undoubtedly paralyzing him in the process.

As this thought ran through his head, he felt a wave of nausea come over him, and as bile rose in his throat, he quickly rolled his window down, then stuck his head out so he could take a breath of fresh air.

Who was he and how had he become this person? The answer to this question eluded him, but it seemed that his inner voice knew just the right words to bring him some peace of mind.

It was a necessary evil. You know that.

And he did. Yet still he couldn't help wondering just how much good It'd done. Slade undoubtedly had an endless number of lackeys at his disposal, so immobilizing one goon probably hadn't made even a dent in his overall manpower.

*It sent a strong message, though.*

Perhaps, but the fact still remained that Jeneda's life was in danger, and until this thing with Slade was settled, he would continuously be on edge.

Glancing at the clock on the dashboard, he saw that it was nearing two p.m., which meant that only an hour remained before he met up with his publisher. Contract negotiations were never fun, but it was something that needed to be done, and would actually be a welcome escape from the endless nightmare that his life had become.

Never before had he felt so powerless in his life, but even now, in the midst of turmoil, he was determined to make things right again. And as he drove off down the street, he made a promise to himself that no matter what, he wouldn't be broken.

* * * *

"Is it just me, or does cereal taste so much better late at night?" Ethan asked before spooning more Cinnamon Toast Crunch into his mouth.

"It's not just you," said Jeneda. "It really does taste better."

"I think it's a psychological thing," Luna piped in. "You know it's supposed to be for breakfast, so when you eat it later in the day, it kinda makes you feel like you're breaking the rules."

"So basically what you're saying is, it makes you feel like a rebel," Ethan said.

"Yeah, it kinda does."

Ethan let out a humorous snort, then shared a smile with Jeneda before grabbing the remote control and flipping through the channels.

Seated on a queen-sized bed, the threesome were hanging out in Ethan's bedroom, enjoying a late night snack as they watched TV on his medium-sized flat screen. Upon finding an episode of the Twilight Zone, he halted his channel surfing, and the three friends focused their attention on the screen, crunching loudly as they watched.

"This is one of my favorite episodes," Luna said. Then directing her gaze at Ethan she asked, "If you had a genie, and were granted one wish, what would you wish for?"

"Five more wishes."

"Smart. What about you, Jeneda?"

"Hmm, I don't know." A thoughtful look crossed her face as she thought it over. "I guess I'd wish for lasting happiness, because it never seems to stick around for very long. At least not for me."

Luna exchanged a look with Ethan, then once again resting her attention on Jeneda, she posed a question.

"You still miss him, don't you?"

Jeneda nodded, absentmindedly nudging the last few squares of cereal that were floating in her bowl of milk. Luna set her dish down on the bedside table, then scooted closer to Jeneda so that she could loop a reassuring arm around her shoulder.

"I know it hurts right now, but things will get better. Just be glad that he showed you who he really was, because if you'd stayed in that relationship any longer, you could have ended up getting a lot more hurt."

"Has he called or come by since you broke it off with him?" Ethan asked.

"Yeah. When I woke up this morning, I found a note and a rose sitting on my living room windowsill. So I guess he climbed up the fire escape and left it while I slept."

"Oh my gosh, that's so romantic," Ethan said. "I'd love it if someone did that for me."

"Oh please," Luna said. "That's not romantic, it's lame. If he truly wants to win her back, he's gonna have to try harder than that."

"Well I think It's nice." Ethan's firm voice asserted his opinion. "And at least it shows he's thinking of her."

Offering no response to Ethan, Luna directed her gaze back at Jeneda. "So are you thinking of taking him back?"

Her shoulders pulled into a faint shrug. "I don't know." She then quickly added, "I mean no, of course I'm not. I can't. Not after what he did."

"Okay, wait a minute," Luna said. "From what you told us about his criminal past, he didn't kill or hurt anyone, so just what exactly did he do?"

"I told you what he did. He was part of a crime ring that broke into warehouses down at the docks."

"Yeah, I know that. But the way you just worded it right now made it seem as if he was involved in something a lot worse."

"I don't know what you mean, Luna." A light shake of the head emphasized her statement.

"Yes, you do. There's something you're not telling us."

The expectant look on Luna's face caused Jeneda to avert her eyes, and as she focused her gaze on the wall behind the TV, she did her best to come up with some words which would repair her unintentional utterance.

"All I meant was that now that I know his past, it makes it hard for me to see him the same way."

"Come on, Jeneda," Ethan said. "We know something's up. Tell us."

A harsh sigh left Jeneda's mouth. "Guys, please don't do this to me. I'm already under a lot of pressure as it is, and I really can't take anymore."

"What kind of pressure?" Luna's brows crinkled in concern.

"The kind that weighs me down and makes me wonder if I'll ever be happy again. I'm forced to choose between being with the man that I love, or doing the right thing. Does that answer your question?"

The threesome sat wordlessly for a long moment, and as each was left to think their own thoughts, Jeneda pulled her legs up against her chest and rested her chin on her knees.

The TV droned on, but nobody listened or watched, and as Ethan and Luna stole glances at Jeneda, she only focused her attention more intently on the wall in front of her.

"Wow, I didn't know it was *that* heavy," Luna finally said.

"Yeah, well that's why I don't feel comfortable sharing it with you guys. Because if I did, then you'd probably feel obligated to do something. Or you'd try to pressure me into making a decision, and then I would be even more stressed out." She gave brief pause before continuing. "And I can only handle so much."

Her voice had wavered with the last few words, and as Ethan rubbed a palm against her knee in a gesture of sympathy, Jeneda rested her head against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry I can't tell you guys, I really am. But bringing you two into it would only complicate things. And I'm already confused enough as it is."

Concern etched Luna's features. "Jeneda, It's okay. You don't have to say anything else. You obviously have a good reason for not wanting to tell us, so don't feel bad about it."

"I agree with Luna," Ethan said. "You're clearly torn up about this, so we aren't going to give you a hard time. Just relax and know that we're here for you."

The tenseness in Jeneda's body instantly dissipated, and as Luna clasped palms with her, Jeneda gave her hand a light squeeze. "Thank you for not being mad at me. You're such good friends."

"Hey, no need to thank us," Luna said. "Friends are supposed to support each other."

They settled into a comfortable silence, watching an episode of I Dream of Jeannie as they reclined on the bed. The heat from their bodies added to the already cozy atmosphere of Ethan's bedroom, and as the sugary cereal in their bellies worked its way through their systems, they drifted off into a pleasant sleep.

* * * *

After climbing the last step on the fire escape ladder, Dane stepped onto the deck outside of Jeneda's living room window, and as he caught sight of a rose lying on the metal walkway, he bent down to pick it up.

He gazed sadly at the flower, his shoulders sagging with disappointment, and as he came to the harsh realization that Jeneda was still unwilling to forgive him, his heart constricted painfully.

Of course he'd known there would be a chance that she would still be unwilling to forgive him, but nevertheless it stung badly to know that his attempt at rekindling their love had proven unsuccessful.

From his peripheral vision, he caught sight of a torn piece of paper lying on the metal grating of the deck, and as he picked it up, he realized with sadness that it was a remnant of the note he'd written to Jeneda.

rgive me.

This was all that remained of his message to her, and if there had been a shred of hope still residing within him, the torn up note had thoroughly obliterated it. She'd rejected him-made it undoubtedly clear that getting back together was impossible, and just like the shredded message, his heart was torn to shreds.

It felt as if his throat was tightening with each passing second, and although he gave several hard swallows, it seemed as if the lump in his windpipe was intent on staying put. Directing his attention back to the rose in his hand, he gazed dismally at it for a few moments, then after setting it down on the metal grating, he retrieved two items from his inside coat pocket.

Along with a note, he also held a white rose, and although he knew that all roses were beautiful, it seemed as if this one in particular was especially stunning.

He supposed it was probably because he was used to seeing red ones, so the lack of color made him appreciate it more. But as he took a moment to really study it, he noticed that the petals were perfectly spread open, and seemed to reflect the moonlight that was casting its beam on the fire escape.

He also couldn't help but feel that the white rose had a virginal quality to it, and although Jeneda was unquestionably the most sensual woman he'd ever met, there was also something a bit innocent about her, and that made him all the more certain that a white rose was perfect for her.

He ran his thumb along the creamy white petals of the rose a few times before setting it down next to the crimson one, and as he offered them a lingering gaze, he couldn't help but admire the striking contrast. Roses may have been cliché when it came to romantic gestures, and he certainly knew that Jeneda was deserving of more, but there was no doubt that these flowers would catch her eye.

Still holding the note in his hand, he placed it beneath the two roses, then glanced at Jeneda's dark living room window. There wasn't any light shining from beyond her bedroom window either, and although it was already five minutes past midnight, he was pretty certain that she wasn't sleeping.

Something told him that she wasn't at home, and although it was his hope that she was hanging out with her friends, he found himself wondering if she wasn't in the company of a man.

He felt his jaw clench, and as his mind flashed back to the last day he'd seen her, he was reminded of the man who had been in her presence. The memory was still sharp, and he would never forget the anger and jealousy he'd felt upon seeing her in a car with a strange man.

Even now, as he squatted on Jeneda's fire escape, he could vividly remember the features of the guy's face, and recalled how his hair has been cut into a buzz cut style. He guessed that was good indication that the stranger was a military man, and although he knew absolutely nothing about the guy, Dane already felt a strong dislike towards him. Whoever the man was, Dane didn't want him around Jeneda, and although he knew she was no longer his, he couldn't help but remain protective of her.

Casting another gaze at her windows, Dane found himself longing to know what she was up to, and desperately hoped that she was safe, and in the company of her friends.

He rose to his feet, then glancing down from the deck of the fire escape, he trained his eyes on the street below him. From what he could see, there weren't any approaching cars, nor was there anyone walking along the street, and as the chilly night air tousled his locks, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He had to stop this; had to quite worrying and wondering and driving himself crazy with thoughts of her. She hated him and was clearly doing her best to move on with her life, so why couldn't he do the same?

*Because she is your life. You have nothing else to live for.*

His eyes popped open in response to his inner voice, and before he even knew what he doing, he spoke aloud.

"That's not true, I have my art. That's what keeps me going."

*But would you die for your art?*

His inner voice seemed to snidely ask the question, and as he stood there gazing down at the quiet street, he took a moment to contemplate the question.

Having already created a decent body of work, his art's existence wasn't dependent on whether or not he continued to live. If he died tomorrow, the graphic novels he'd already created would surely live on, allowing generations to come to enjoy what he'd brought into being.

Jeneda's existence, however, was currently dependant upon the things that he did, so if this situation he was in led to his untimely death, then clearly that was the way it had to be. It was his fault that she was involved in the first place, so whatever it took to make things right, he was prepared to do it.

Not to mention that she was made of flesh and bone, so why wouldn't he be willing to give his life for her? It made him feel scared and vulnerable to acknowledge that he'd fallen so hard for her, but the reality was that she truly was in possession of his heart.

Dane took one last glance down the street, then cast a hopeful look at the two roses lying on the metal deck, and after releasing a soft nasal sigh, he made his way down the rungs of the fire escape ladder.

Upon reaching ground level, he headed for his car, and although the street was quiet and still, he couldn't help feeling as if a pair of eyes were watching him. Where they were located he didn't know, but if there was one thing he was certain of, it was that hostile energy was being sent his way.

Even as he slid behind the wheel of his car, Dane still got the oppressive feeling of being observed, and after putting the car in drive, he took off into the night, knowing all too well that he wasn't eluding a thing.