Smoke wafted gently through the place, it was impossible to breathe without inhaling a lung full of the toxic substance. This was sleazy place where I first laid eyes on that beautiful heartbreaker. I remember it so clearly. She ruined my life quicker then the prohibition law ruined good times. But I love her, despite what happened. I walked into this place with all intentions of closing it down, it was one of those dirty speakeasy places that decided they were above the law. Alcohol was abundant at this place, it was my job to go in there without being noticed. A lot of our kind would be hurt or killed going to a place like this, I knew it but this was my job. No way some two bit criminal would scare me away.

I went up to the bar and took a seat. Instead of coming in with guns and shouting, I decided to try a different approach. The bar tend asked what I wanted but I refused, just because I was undercover didn’t mean I could break the law.

“Such a strange guy,” A woman spoke, I turned my head to acknowledge her. My jaw dropped and I felt as if I just got hit with a ton of bricks. “One who comes to a speakeasy yet refuses to get a drink?”

“Just looking for good company ma’am.” I winked and she chuckled, her curly blonde hair bouncing as her red lips stretched for the most beautiful smile I had seen.

“You came to the right place.” Long black lashed batted softly over her sky blue eyes. I couldn’t help but wonder why such a beautiful girl like this would be here of all places. I knew I couldn’t get distracted, I needed to find the criminal who owned the place.

“I guess I have.” I answered to this woman. She took a long draw from her cigarette, the smoke escaped her lips so sensually. “What’s a woman like you doing in a place like this?” She chuckled at my question.

“I own the place.” She said and my heart fell a thousand stories before hitting the ground. The music picked up from the band. She turned her head, she turned back and smiled. I couldn’t figure out what to do. I saw her stand, her red dress fitted her body so perfectly, shaping her curves. She grabbed my hat and placed it on the bar. “Dance with me.” Her hand grabbed my own, I was helpless to follow. I was lucky I knew how to dance or else I would have been in trouble. We were the hit of the club, every move was in perfect rhythm to the music.

After, I started to enjoy myself even though I wasn’t suppose to. I picked my hat and put it on, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I heard her whisper in my ear, “Come up to my room.” I turned just as she walked up the stair to the apartment above. I knew what my job was, I had to place the owner under arrest. It wasn’t my fault the owner had other plans. I did as I was told and followed to her room.

When I got up there, the lights were out. That should have been my warning but I ignored it. I flicked on the switch and saw her sitting in a chair. Her legs where crossed making the slit in her dress expose more then enough leg. She stood up and smiled a sultry smile. “I am glad you came up. It makes things so much easier.” She reached into her purse and pulled out something silver, it was a gun. I have stared into the barrel of a gun more often in my life then the amount of stars in the sky. “Listen copper, I know why you’re here and you ain’t gettin’ me” She held up the gun higher just to prove a point.

“How did you know I was a cop?” I asked not even caring I could be looking death in the face. I placed my hand in my coat and waited.

“I can sense a cop comin’ from a mile away.” She scoffed.

“And why didn’t you just kill me at the bar, I’m sure no one would have said anything.”

“Yeah right, you probably got back up waitin’. I’m going to kill you now and get rid of the body. No harm done.” She answered as she took a few steps forward.

“No harm?” I walked forward, it must have unnerved her. She backed up startled. “If you wanted no harm you shouldn’t have asked me to dance.” I walked even closer but she held her ground. I stood so close the barrel was pressed against my chest. She looked up at me, I couldn’t tell was she had in her eyes but some type of emotion was there. I leaned down and pressed my lips to her ruby red ones. I heard the clatter of the gun and pressed myself closer. My hand danced down her arm making the dress strap go with it. She pulled back from the kiss, my hand remained on her soft skin. Her big blue eyes looked at me, they spoke much more then she could. It was then I knew I was smitten. Was it so wrong to love a criminal?

Thats what lead me to this point. Being the nice man I was, I left that club alone. It would become someone else’s problem later. Unfortunately that some one happened to be myself. My arms raised up over my head in submission, the rest of my team lay dead around me. I was pinned against the side of the bridge, it was suppose to be an surprise attack on the rum runners but the surprise was on us. One man stood face to face with myself, he had one of those new tommy guns. A cigar hung lose from his mouth, he took a puff and smiled victoriously.

“Didya really think you could mess with my girl?” He said with a gruff voice. “The only one who touches her is me.”

“She was the one who touched me.” His smile was gone, a snarl replaced it instead. His trigger finger was just itchin’ to fire.

“Listen ya no good cop!”

“Benny please.” It was the sultry voice again but this time with a bit of something else. She walked around the car and stood next to the man in a pin stripped cheap suit. “It was part of the job. How else could I have gotten the information for today.” She gave the man a kiss on the cheek and I damn near threw up. I maintained my composure though. She pointed her gun at me. This was now the second time I would look into her eyes with her gun pointed at me, though it didn’t look like this was going to turn out as well as last time.

“You can’t tell me that night meant nothing to you.” I looked at her dead in the eye.  I could see her react, just the slightest. Her gun lowered only a bit and only for a second.

“It meant absolutely nothing.” Two shots followed the sentence, I stumbled back from the impact. My hand cupped my stomach where blood was oozing out. My eyes looked up at her one last time. She looked at me, was it an expression of pity or regret that she wore. It was impossible to tell. All that was left was the fall off the bridge and the darkness that ensued.

I loved her. That two timing, heart breaking, law breaking dame. I wouldn’t have traded her for anything in the world.