I watched the pigeons tussle for seeds and other scraps among the cracks in the path. She was with him now but I didn't have to watch anymore. I reflected on the past eighteen months and the roller coaster ride it had been. From Vegas, Atlantic City and the Bahamas to a park bench watching pigeons.
I had always been a gambler! Even as a kid I loved the thrill of the bet. . .I'd bet on anything. I asked my friends to bet so often that they started calling me, 'Betcha.' But I'm not a kid anymore and the eight months of success is still hard to believe from where I sit on this park bench.
I had played poker for years and when Texas Holdem became a worldwide sensation I was caught up on the wave. I was 52, moderately successful in real estate, had a nice home and a lovely, 40 year old wife. Nikki. Some of my friends said she was a trophy and I guess to some extent she was. A green-eyed, natural blonde, she stood a shapely 5' 9'' and looked great in a bikini and what's more, she was great in the sack. She rode the wave with me and loved to watch me play, and especially, win. As I said, the charmed life lasted eight short months. The cards never let me down and there seemed no end to my luck. That's what all gamblers believe so I didn't worry when I had a few big losses, it was sure turn around. When the losses continued we started to sell off some luxuries; the Mercedes sports car, diamonds and the condo on St. Kitts. Before we knew it there was not much of value left and the real estate market was in decline. My luck had to change soon Nikki and I believed; it was just the next game, the next shuffle and deal of the cards.
I knew Jimmy Cardoza by his powerful reputation only. Some said he was in the rackets and associated with the Mob but no one knew for sure, he was definitely not completely legit but he had never been charged with anything. He'd loan me the money, they said, until I got back on my feet and like a fool, I went to him. I took Nikki along; I thought that with her standing next to me in that little, short black dress with her big tits half exposed and the tops of her stockings and a bit of garter strap showing, it wouldn't hurt may case. . .and I was right. Jimmy was a short, pudgy, ugly specimen and reminded me of a gnome, He was about 65, a few wisps of black hair sprouted on the sides of his otherwise bald head, above his ears. Despite his Armani suit he still projected a sleazy image to the world. He rose from behind his desk after we were ushered into his office by one of his assistants, a guy not dissimilar to Luca Brazzi from the Godfather movie. His eyes were all over Nikki as he approached us to shake hands and made no attempt to hide the fact that he was staring at her tits. He offered us chairs and guided Nikki into hers with his hand too far below her waist as he looked down her cleavage as she sat. I thought the little creep might ask if he could feel her ass and tits then fuck her right there on the desk.
He listened to our story while alternating his stare from Nikki's tits to the hem of her short dress which had ridden up as she crossed her legs exposing her stocking tops, naked thighs and garter straps. 'So, you want ten grand and you're sure you will pay me back with interest in a week. Your past indicates that you just might do that, but what if you don't?
I told him that wasn't an option; my luck just had to change. He nodded, opened a desk drawer and tossed a wad of bills across the desk.
Of course my luck didn't change and I was back in Jimmy's office the next day looking for another ten grand. Jimmy was all smiles when he looked at Nikki's face for once and asked, 'Are you 100% with him on this?' Nikki replied that she was, 110%. Jimmy's eyes were back on her tits again. He put his fingers together forming a triangle, looked over them and said, 'That'll be twenty grand, what if your luck doesn't change?'
'It will, it will, it has to, I assured and Nikki agreed.
'Very well, I'm telling you now that if you and,' he leered at Nikki, 'are not back in my office in a week with my money don't bother coming. I will come to your house and we will discuss other ways you can repay me,' again he leered at Nikki. I knew it wouldn't come to that, I looked at my wife and she nodded. Jimmy tossed another wad over the desk and we left to find a game. 'Oh, by the way,' Jimmy said just as we reached the door, 'if I do need to come to your house, you will be wearing that black dress, stockings and heels, won't you Nikki? We just stared at him and we knew exactly what he meant.
The next few days went well and I had almost thirty grand, enough to pay Jimmy but I needed more. My good luck was back and Jimmy fucking Cardoza could go fuck himself instead of thinking about fucking Nikki. I went all in with a full house, jacks full of sixes and lost to four sevens. There was nothing else to do except wait for Jimmy to come a calling.
'What'll I do about that dress Cardoza told me to wear?' Nikki asked.
'Better do what he said, we need to keep him in a pleasant mood,' I responded.
Jimmy called and said he would arrive at seven and we'd better be home. He was prompt and I led him, accompanied by 'Luca,' through to the living room. Nikki was seated in a chair with her black dress on; Jimmy smiled, or rather, leered when he saw her. I sat on the arm of Nikki's chair and Jimmy sat on the sofa with Luca standing at his side. 'We have a dilemma here, a little matter of twenty grand plus interest and I'm guessing you can't pay,' Jimmy surmised correctly. 'Now, I could get Luca to have a word with you but that would not get my money back, only a little satisfaction. If I'm not going to get my money there must be other ways I can get a lot more satisfaction,' and his eyes drifted across to Nikki.
'What exactly do you mean, spell it out,' I fired back with venom.
'Now, now, there's no need for this to be nasty, it's just a business agreement but I will spell it out for you. I want Nikki. Whenever the fancy takes me, I want her. He looked at me and said, 'And you and she will do exactly as I say, is that clear?'
'You bastard, you're not going to fuck my wife.'
'Oh, I believe I am, when I want, where I want and how I want.'
'Never!' I spat. The thought of this ugly dwarf with my beautiful wife was obscene.
'Very well, I'll let my friend here take you downstairs,' Jimmy motioned to Luca and he started across towards me.