Jimmy's Game (Ruthless) (3 page)

Mickey knew that Jimmy really liked her and despite the fact that she rarely spoke, he knew by the way she looked at Jimmy when she thought no one could see her, she felt the same way about him. Often on their way home after the game they would talk about her. There was one such occasion a few months earlier, when Jimmy hit the dashboard so hard with his fist that he cracked it, making it quite clear to Mickey that he hated the way Nick treated her, but knowing there was nothing they could do; Mickey would tell him to just let it go. It was just the way things were, she was Nick’s property and there was nothing they could do to change that, making an issue of it would just be asking for trouble. Mickey knew that although Jimmy always agreed with him, one night Nick would go too far and that would be the night Jimmy would show his true colours. Little had he known when he picked Jimmy up for the game that Friday, it would be
that night Jimmy would go too far and everything would change.

The pot was around twenty grand as the time approached three that morning, the atmosphere was intense. Most of them had just about broken even, although Nick had won several big hands and Jimmy had lost the previous two to him. As the game continued the ante rose, which saw several players folding until finally it was just Jimmy and Nick left in the game.
After ordering Maria to pour him a drink, Nick gathered his thoughts. With over thirty grand now on the table Nick tried to rattle Jimmy by saying, “Your call Jimmy and I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that you’ve lost the previous two games to me.” “No you don’t Nick,” replied Jimmy arrogantly. “I’m just stating a fact Jimmy; it could cost you several grand to stay in, only to lose to me again.” “I know that.” A deathly silence had fallen over the table when Jimmy stated in a clear firm voice “I’m in.” Nick laughed and said “I think you’re bluffing.” “Ok Nick, name the stakes anything you like; just name your fancy.” Nick had sat back in his chair, took a slug of scotch and calmly replied, “Ok, but I still think you’re bluffing, so I’ll raise you two hundred big ones against your club Dixie’s.” Mickey had shaken his head and urged Jimmy to fold, knowing how much they loved that club, especially Jimmy because it had been their first.

You could almost cut through the atmosphere with a knife; tension was at an all time high. The smell of stale tobacco and alcohol hung in the air like a thick cloud as Jimmy looked Nick in the eye and said, “Two hundred grand isn’t enough; the clubs worth three times that.” Cockily Nick replied, “Name your pleasure Jimmy, after all you’re going to lose so why should I worry.” Everyone watched silently as Jimmy wrapped his hand around his chin and hesitated for the briefest of moments before replying, “Ok Nick I’ll take the bet, against Maria.” Immediately jumping to his feet in an outburst of anger; Nick shouted “Fuck you Jimmy, who the fuck do you think you are!” Before he’d had time to say anything else Jimmy started laughing and replied, “Calm down Nick, I was just testing you; perhaps you’re not so sure about winning?” Nick was ready to explode as he said, “Fuck you; I’ll see you for what’s on the table and her!”
Flipping over his cards, they all watched in horror as Nick produced a straight flush; two of hearts through to the six of hearts. “Jesus Christ,” said Mickey looking at his friend, “what the hell have you done Jimmy?” Nick smirked and said, “Looks like I’ll be changing the club name from Dixie’s to Nicky’s.” Slowly Jimmy looked up before laying his hand on the table and calmly stating, “Not this time Nick.” The tension was electric, everyone sat holding their breath, you could have heard a pin drop as Jimmy slowly turned his hand over and produced a royal flush; ten of spades through to the ace. Mickey had thrown his arm around his shoulder and shouted, “Fuck me Jimmy you sure know how to scare me!” Nick looked evil and implied that he must have cheated, instantly he ordered Shaun to search him. The other players stuck up for Jimmy arguing that he was no cheat.

After frisking him Shaun confirmed that he had won fair and square. Knowing he was beaten but needing to save face with his crew, Nick angrily said, “I’ll have her delivered to your place in the morning, but it’s not over I want her back!” Jimmy looked menacing as he’d replied, “It’s over, you have no respect for her, if you had why did you gamble her? I’ll take her now Nick!” Having no intentions of letting him take her that night, Nick needed to convince him that his reasons for keeping her were sincere. Trying to act calmly in an effort to convince him he’d said, “She’ll need to sort some things out, I’ll get Shaun to bring her to you in the morning.” Knowing that the situation could have quickly spiralled out of control Mickey intervened and advised Jimmy to agree. “I’ll expect her by eleven, don’t make me come over and get her!” snapped Jimmy. After their heated exchange of words, Nick ordered Shaun to get everyone out.

Believing that everyone had left and he now alone with Maria, Nick grabbed her by the hair and dragged her into another room. From outside the apartment Jimmy could hear her screaming and begging him to stop, but his attempt to re-enter the apartment was blocked by Shaun. From the doorway Jimmy shouted, “Fucking leave her alone, she’s no longer your property!” “Fuck you!” shouted Nick from inside, “she’s mine ‘til the morning that was the deal!” At that moment Shaun bundled Jimmy out into the lobby in the hope of defusing a potentially dangerous situation. Had it not have been for his assurance that he would honour what Nick had said and bring her to him later that morning, Jimmy would never have left. Shaun only managed to calm him down by telling him it was just Nick’s way because he didn’t like to lose, but he would make sure that he kept his word.

Jimmy could feel his adrenalin pumping as he thought about Nick; it was only when Maria stirred he came back to the present, reassuringly touching her face he said, “Sshh babe, everything’s ok.” Instantly she settled back into a deep sleep. Jimmy continued to sit with her as he tried to imagine exactly what Nick had done to her when he left. The one thought going through his head was, ‘Why did I leave her there? Why didn’t I insist on taking her last night?’

Outside in his car, Shaun was also thinking about her as he drove away from Jimmy’s apartment. If anything he felt worse, because he knew something would happen once everyone had left after the poker game despite his reassurances to Jimmy. Thinking back to the previous night he could remember feeling reluctant to leave after the others had gone, even though Nick had told him to. In an effort to stay he’d said to Nick, “I’m not in any hurry boss, thought you might want me to hang about just in case Jimmy comes back. You know what he’s like, there could be trouble?” Nick was having none of it, he knew as well as Shaun that the likelihood of that happening was remote, especially as Mickey had taken Jimmy home; he knew that he would talk him round to leaving things till the morning. He also knew that despite Shaun’s loyalty to him, he would defend Maria. In the hope of lulling Shaun into a false sense of security he’d calmly replied, “In that case I’ll pour us a drink, but I don’t think Jimmy will be back, he agreed to the deal.” Passing Shaun a scotch he’d added, “I’ll make sure she’s ready to go by half ten, there’ll be things she’ll need to pack.” Shaun hadn’t believed one word of what he’d said, he could remember replying, “Aye there will and like you said a deal is a deal. I wouldn’t want to see anything happen to her, she’s just a kid.” The look on Shaun’s face told Nick that he feared leaving her with him. Keeping his anger hidden he’d tried to act rationally as he’d replied; “I won’t hurt her Shaun, it wouldn’t be good for business. I was just angry with myself for letting that bastard win, anyway I’ll work something out with Jimmy she won’t be gone long. Now finish your drink Shaun and get off home, I’ll see you in the morning.” Although still unhappy about leaving, Shaun did as Nick ordered and put his glass down on the coffee table before heading towards the door. Had he have known how bad it would be for her he would have refused to leave. Unbeknown to him Maria had overheard the conversation from the bedroom. Hearing Shaun leave she felt panic, sitting on the bed she shook violently as she waited for Nick to enter.

Back in the lounge Nick poured another scotch and waited until he was certain that Shaun had left then knocking his drink back in one he walked towards the bedroom. The moment he opened the door she scurried up the bed like a frightened animal crying and shaking, as he approached her she begged him not to hurt her. Ignoring her plea he looked evil as he stood over her. Knowing what was coming; she curled herself into a ball in the hope of protecting herself. Then it began, Nick grabbed her by the hair and punched her in the face, before dragging her off the bed and throwing her onto the floor. Terrified she’d begged him to leave her alone.

During her time there he had always beaten her, but never with such ferocity and rage. Kicking and punching her as he shouted, “This is your fault! Don’t think I didn’t see you encouraging Jimmy to bet for you! You’re just a fucking whore!” Begging him to stop, she pleaded for him to believe that she hadn’t done anything, but in his drink fuelled rage he was void of any feelings for her. Dragging her up from the floor by her hair, he’d thrown her across the bed and shouted, “Do you think for one fucking minute I’d let you go? You’re my property you fucking whore! I’ll see you fucking dead first!” Grabbing her by the throat he pinned her down, tightening his grip before raping her with such force that she passed out. Simply raping and beating her wasn’t enough, he needed to make sure she would never forget that night, being a sadistic bastard he kept an assortment of implements for inflicting pain in the bedroom.

As she laid there in an unconscious state he branded her, as the hot iron burnt her flesh she came round and trying to endure the brutality of what he was doing, she begged him to stop before she passed out again. When he finished he punched her face so hard it loosened her teeth. It was as he continued to punch her she regained consciousness, be it all for only a few minutes. Despite the vicious beating she was taking, all she could think about were the many times she had contemplated taking her own life, yet every time she had convinced herself that God would help her.
The countless nights; when she would pray and ask God to give her the strength to go on. That night God listened and she found an inner strength, believing that God had sent Jimmy to save her for the first time she’d tried to fight back, but her efforts were futile, Nick was strong and powerful she was no match for him. Finally when he stopped she was lying on the floor motionless. Kicking her several times more as she lay there, but she didn’t move, he never checked to see if she was alive or dead. Without any conscience he just walked away and returned to the lounge. After pouring a large scotch and knocking it straight back, he poured another, an hour later after drinking several large scotches he collapsed onto the sofa.

It was five hours later, just after nine that morning when he was woken from his drunken stupor by Shaun ringing the intercom. In a dazed state he’d answered it, momentarily forgetting she was lying, as he thought dead in the next room. The moment Shaun entered he knew something had happened when he noticed t
he dried blood on Nick’s hands. Standing in front of his boss he’d listened to his pathetic excuses as to what had occurred, before interrupting him and angrily saying, “Where is she Nick?” With a smirk on his face Nick sat back down and said, “I’m not sure, I think she’s gone, make me a coffee then we’ll talk about it.” Shaun noticed that he’d looked towards the bedroom door, without any thought for himself he headed towards the bedroom. Nick immediately raised his voice in an attempt to stop him and said, “I told you to make the fucking coffee!” Ignoring him, Shaun opened the door. Nick shouted again, “You’re supposed to work for me and I told you to do something!” Seething with anger Shaun was just about to reply when he saw her lying on the floor. Rushing over to her he knelt down next to her; pressing his fingers onto her neck he felt a weak pulse, repeating her name over and over as he picked her up and walked out into the lounge. Nick was still sitting down as he looked at Shaun and said, “She’s dead, get rid of her!” “She’s alive and I’m taking her to Jimmy’s!” replied Shaun aggressively. Suddenly Nick stood up and shouted, “Put her down, she’s not going anywhere! I told the bitch I would see her dead before I’d let her leave. Now fucking put her down!” Defiantly Shaun had stood his ground and shouted back, “I work for you, but you don’t own me. Now like I said she’s going with me. It’s up to you we can do this easy or hard, but I’m not leaving her here! If I were you I’d pray she doesn’t die. We’re leaving now, so you’d best get out of my way Nick. I’ll be back later!” Seeing that Shaun wasn’t about to back down, sarcastically Nick replied, “Take the fucking whore, with any luck she’ll be dead by the time you get there and just remember who pays you, now get out!”

Jimmy knew nothing of what had happened between the two men, other than what Shaun had said about Nick killing her if he hadn’t have turned up when he did.

Gently stroking her hair and holding her hand, he felt a surge of guilt for leaving her at Nicks. Leaning over he gently kissed her forehead, slowly she opened her eyes and tried to focus on his face, but even in her semi-conscious state she immediately put her arms up to defend herself before pulling her knees up under her chest to protect her body. Realising she was absolutely terrified Jimmy scooped her trembling body up into his arms and in a soft voice said, “You’re ok babe; nobody’s going to hurt you.” Laying her head against his chest she drifted out of consciousness.

It was several hours before she woke again and slowly opening her eyes she could see him looking at her. Smiling he said, “I’ve made you some tea babe.” After helping her gently to sit up to drink, he added “You’ve been stirring for the past twenty minutes.” Her lips were so badly cut and swollen she could barely sip from the cup.
Laying her back down, he sat down opposite her, she watched as he clasped his face in his hands and said, “Please forgive me Maria.” Barely able to speak, in a quiet voice she replied, “Forgive you for what?” “For doing this to you.” “You didn’t do this Jimmy.” “No, not technically babe, but if I hadn’t been so fucking stupid in the first place, none of this would have happened!” Before he could say anything else, she drifted back off again.