The Unfortunate Night

Author's POV

Elena was late for home. Again. She was running towards home as she didn’t want any drama tonight, but she felt something was wrong. The lights were off. She turned on the torch on her phone and searched for keys in her bag.

“John?” She called his name but there was no answer. Shit. She had given him money to pay the power bill as today was last date of their extension period. She screamed in frustration. But where is he? Oh no. He must have gone back to his poker. No, no, no, he will lose all the money. She opened the door and when she didn’t find him, she went to her room and searched for the envelope of money. It wasn’t there.

She called John's friend, Dan and cursed under her breath as she did so. This man was the real culprit who had made her John addicted to gambling.

He picked up on tenth ring. “Dan, where is John?” She spoke without any pleasantries. She so hated this man.

“He is playing.”

“I said where he is?”

“We are at Kings Casino.” What is he doing there? It is one of the biggest casinos in New York. She knew he played at local houses but Kings? She took a deep breath.

“Dan, is he drunk?” She crossed her fingers. “Please let the answer be no,” she prayed.

“Ummm, yes, actually.” She wanted to shout at him.

Why was the guy talking in monosyllables? “Please bring him home, Dan.”

“I am sorry, I can’t.”

“Then keep him there. I am coming to get him. And please don’t let him play. Please Dan, I beg you, don’t let him play.”

Her heart was thumping when she changed the subways and cabs and arrived at Kings Casino.

The place was bigger than she had imagined. She took the elevator and arrived at the 39th floor which she heard was the top. All the while she had been praying to keep John away from playing. As she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Dan. “Where is he? Please tell me he isn’t playing.” Please god, don’t make him lose all the money.

“I am sorry, love, he is playing.”  He  said unapologetically as if his friend was winning the world. She saw a large door and entered it without looking back at Dan. Her eyes got blinded by all the lights. The hall was a dark red color with a single table. It was surrounded by suit-clad men and she couldn’t see clearly. What is John doing among these men? God, please keep him safe. She walked closer to the crowd and poked her head from above two shoulders. She saw her drunk husband on the other side of the table.

“John.” She left her place and ran to his side, but her eyes locked with two blue orbs as she reached behind John.

Her gut twisted as the man smiled. What a coincidence. Yesterday she had seen him in park, and tonight he is here, playing poker with her husband. Something was  amiss. “John, let’s go.” She tried to pick up John but he shook her away. “I have to play. I have to win.” He was drunk but he was still dealing the cards like a pro.

“John, please leave it. I beg you. Let’s go.” God! How to get his drunk ass out of here?

“Let him play.” She heard his voice. It was deep, dark and dangerous, one that would make you flinch. But she didn’t let go of John’s hand. Who the hell is he to tell her what to do and what not to do? John was her husband who was playing with her hard-earned money.

Aslan smiled to himself. The moment arrived sooner than he expected and she entered the hall like an innocent deer lost in the woods. Her asshole husband had already lost his money and was overdrawn by $5000. At this point, he would have kicked anyone else out, but Aslan let the guy play. The more he plays, the more fun Aslan will be having.

His friend Jeremy owned the place. Aslan was not into casino business and until now the idea had not visited him, but now, playing opposite this bastard, he was  thinking about it. And why not? After all, the house always wins. Just like it was gonna win tonight.

She was trying hard to pull her husband but he was not ready. Her small frame shook as he jerked her off. She was dressed in a shirt and jeans. Her blonde hair were piled up above her head messily and she was void of any makeup. God her pink lips were luscious.

“Let him play.” He commanded and expected her to obey, but she challenged him with her eyes.

“I said, let him play.”

She stepped aside and he let the  bastard show his cards. Aslan smirked, throwing his cards on the table. “You have just lost another round and now, you owe me $10000.” He saw as her eyes moistened.

The amount made her insides churn. How the hell did John lost $10000 and how is she going to pay all this money? Clearly, they won’t let him off the hook without paying.

She was cursing John while Aslan  was  enjoying  the show. She was such a little temptress.

“So, how do you intend to pay, Mr. Moore?” She saw John struggling with his clammy hands. Aslan smirked, “Do what you want, man. You will lose tonight.” He thought to himself.

“I got no money.”

“But you know that poker is a game of money. Now, I want my money. Bet whatever you have.” His eyes met Elena’s and she shuddered. The look was beyond dangerous. She took a step back to call anyone who will help. They had no money in bank. How are they going to pay $10000? Oh, John.

Aslan saw as she retreated. He gestured towards his man who bent down to say something in John’s ears.

“No, I can’t do that. I am not going to bet my wife.” The jerk whispered to himself but Aslan heard him.

“Look at me, Moore.” The guy lifted up his heavy eyelids. His vintage whiskey was doing its work. “What else do you have, John? You bet her money, you lost; now you owe me $10000. How are you gonna pay me? I hope you damn well know what’s your wife is worth. I am not letting you go unless I get my money. You got a way to pay for it? Think about it. You can get out of here as a free man.” He leaned back in his chair and watched her, standing at a distance, trying to call someone desperately. John’s mind was playing tricks on him. Aslan patted himself mentally for planning everything so perfectly.

Elena cut the phone and a tear slipped. Why the hell she never gets any help? Tears were scalding her cheeks, but she had to get John out of here. She looked back to see that the dangerous man was looking at her with predatory eyes. She averted her eyes as he scared her. She walked to Dan who stood at the door.

“You gotta help me, Dan.” We have to get John out of here.”

“You have money? I don’t, Elena.” H spoke nonchalantly.

“Then why the hell did you bring him here?”

“He brought me here, love. He called me and invited me.”

Her brows furrowed. There must be something wrong. She walked to the table and told John, “We are leaving, John.”

“No.” His slurry voice was making her want to hit him in the head and knock out his brains to put some sense.

“I bet my wife.” Elena’s eyes widened and she looked at John to find if she heard him correctly.

Aslan smirked.

“What?” She couldn’t believe what he said.

“I bet my wife.” He repeated.

“Ooooooo.” Aslan hollered.

She looked across the table to watch serious expressions on that blue eyed man.

“What are you saying, John?” She poked him in the shoulder.

“You are all I have, Elena.” John looked at her with red eyes.

“The game has just gotten very, very interesting. Do you all agree?” Aslan spoke. He loved to win and right now, everything was going just as planned.

“I refuse to be a part of this childish game.” She took John’s hand as her heart was beating loudly in her chest, “John, let’s go, before it’s too late.” Her voice was breaking. “Please.” She pleaded.

“No.”

“Make your bet fast, John.” A guy spoke. She looked at her husband who was looking like a stranger to her in the moment.

Aslan was having fun. Things that come by easily don’t excite him anymore. This was fun.

“I bet my wife.” This time Elena didn’t say anything to him.

“I am leaving. You guys can do what you want. But I am out.” Aslan motioned and two of his men blocked her way. “Get out of my way.” She tried to find a way, but failed. Her heart was crying. Oh lord, what’s going on?

Aslan stood up. “Here, woman.” She turned, her face angry. “Your husband came here, he played, he lost, he drank my expensive whiskey, and now, when he owes me ten fucking thousand dollars, you can’t walk out on me like the Queen of England. Heard me? Either you pay me my money, or get your ass down here and give your husband a chance to win it all over again.” Elena cursed him under her breath. “And you John, control your woman.”

John came out of his slumber and he looked pathetic to both Elena and Aslan.

“Elena, come here.”

“John, please, let’s go. We will pay him somehow.” He dragged her into his lap. She tried hard to wriggle out and fell on the floor. The men laughed and Elena started weeping silently. She had never been so embarrassed, or maybe she had been when she married this awful man.

“I bet her.” John downed his drink and Aslan smirked as he took his seat again.

“I am not your property, John.” She shouted as she couldn’t do anything else. She was angry and lost.

John held her wrist tightly and she winced. Aslan punched his fist on the table. “Leave her hand, John or you will suffer.” John fearfully let go of her hand and Elena saw the faint red marks appearing.

“I am not your property, John. You can’t bet me.”

“Oh, I can and you are going to shut up. Don’t you have any shame? Want to leave your husband in  trouble?  You know you are my last chance that’s why you are treating me like shit, aren’t you? But mind you, woman, I am gonna bet you and I am gonna win and don’t you dare to run away from me, coz if I lose, I will make your life hell.” Wow, how easily a man could insult a woman and get away with it? She cried on her fate and kept sitting there on the ground while those two men wrote her fate. Aslan didn’t like her sitting on the ground. She deserved to be in his lap like a queen. But he had to win her first.

“What I get when I win?” John asked the question as if he was the king and Aslan wanted to punch him in the face.

“You get to get out here without any debt and you get back your wife.”

“And if I lose?” This question was burning Elena’s mind.

This is what Aslan was waiting for. He leaned towards John and spoke. “I get to keep your wife, you divorce her right away, and never show me your face again. Also, you will walk out without any debt.”

“No.” Elena shouted. “No, I am not part of this thing. You,” she pointed at Aslan and he didn’t like it that she talked to him in such a tone. “You can’t keep us here against our will. I…I… will call the police.”

His devilish laugh echoed in the space and shook Elena to her very core. No, no, no.

“Just wait and watch, darling.”

“Is it even legal? Betting a living person? Come on, we are in America. Act like civilized humans, both of you.” He loved when she opened her mouth. Wow, this beauty can talk. Well, he will made her shut up with his cock in her mouth.

Aslan relaxed back and said, “You are on Parker property, Miss. Here, I decide what is legal and what is illegal. And right now, you are my way of having some great fun. So sit down and enjoy the show.”

Elena saw as an agreement was signed. Was everything always ready for this man? The two men started playing and Elena kept her eyes closed all the while, praying to god for letting John win.

“I am gonna win” She heard John’s voice and opened her eyes to see him smiling. Oh, she so wanted for him to win.

Aslan smiled inwardly. Man, you have no idea who you are against. Poor thing, he doesn’t know he is against a poker champion.

Elena wanted to see as John showed his card with a triumphant smile, but she was on the floor. She stood up and saw a full house on the table before him. It was a good sign. When she looked at the blue-eyed man, her heart stopped, he was smiling. Then he showed his card and the straight flush made her legs go jelly.

Aslan saw as John cursed and started to shout. But Aslan didn’t care. His eyes were fixed on his prize. There was no expression on her face.

"Yes, baby, you are mine, now." He thought.

“So, where is my prize.” He stood up and stretched. Elena made a feeble attempt to run but she knew that it was too late now.