Page 64 of The Tempted

Chapter Twenty-Two

A week had come and gone without a word from Victor or Jimmy and not for lack of trying on my behalf I had called the only number programmed into my phone several times only for my call to be forwarded to voicemail. I tried not to dwell on it and made very light of the fact that there was no communication with anyone back home for Nikki’s sake. I knew she was worried about her father actually her whole family, but Victor mainly since he was the man with a price tag on his head.

I accepted the fact that Aunt Gina and Nana were complete whack jobs and just went with the flow I didn’t even blink an eye when I walked down the stairs this morning and found Nana cleaning a pistol. Aunt Gina had eased up on her passes at me thanks to Nikki apparently. Aunt Gina needed to get some and soon too. Nikki assured her that with a little help from her, she could nail any guy she wanted, as long it wasn’t me, Nikki claimed me for herself. I didn’t mind the idea of being Nikki’s. Not one bit. I wasn’t delusional to believe that her claim on me was real, but for the time being while we were tucked safely away in Senior Citizen Land, I decided to take what I could get. However, in the back of my mind, I knew that these nights the nights I fell asleep with her naked body in my arms well they were numbered.

Aunt Gina introduced us to her posse a group of men and women who were in their late sixties, early seventies that knew our situation and had our backs. They knew our real names and our aliases and that we were pretending to be newlyweds as we hid from the mob. At first, I was weary I didn’t like anyone knowing the truth about us fearing that it would compromise us and leave us vulnerable but Gina had juice here. This retirement community was like her compound obeying her every command and when she swore them to silence and threatened to sic her mother on them they listened. I guess the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree and authority ran through the Pastore’s veins.

There was nothing to do around here it wasn’t like we could take a drive to Miami and soak up the nightlife we were stuck here with the old folk. What’s that saying? If you can’t beat them join them? That’s the mantra I started to take on a couple of days ago when Burt and Chuck asked me to play a game of bocce with them. When Nikki and I were kids, our families would take us upstate to Villa Roma this place kind of reminded me of that, anyway, there wasn’t much to do there either and I became the kind of the bocce court then just as I had now. I made the game a little bit more interesting, and we started to put money on it a little gambling never hurts anyone.

I was playing bocce with the fella’s when I glanced across the court to the community pool my eyes settling on Nikki. She was in that damn bikini of hers that drove me insane. Her hair was piled high on top of her head in a messy bun and she had these oversized sunglasses on that reminded me of Jackie O. She wasn’t wearing a stitch of makeup except for the red gloss that made her lips look even more enticing. A smile spread across her face as she lifted one arm over her head and stretched out. She had started giving exercise lessons by the pool yesterday. It was pretty amusing watching as the elderly women in swim caps tried to mimic Nikki’s moves. To say my girl was flexible would be an understatement, she could twist herself like a pretzel, but I doubt these ladies could manage a jumping jack. Nikki had patience, and she was kind to them, she didn’t try to show off, but instead, she tried to help them.

I watched as she swam up behind one of the ladies and helped her stretch her arm over her head with a smile on her face as she cheered the lady on once she was able to complete the movement.

“That girl of yours is a real gem. She reminds me of my late wife Vicky,” Burt sighed as he patted me on the back. “They don’t make them like that any more kid.”

I glanced over my shoulder at Burt considering his words before turning back towards the pool and watching as Nikki slowly made her way up the ladder. Her ass seemed to be eating up the skimpy bikini bottom as she turned on the boom box from 1980 that Gina had given to her for the poolside aerobics class. Megan Trainor blasted through the speakers singing “All About That Bass” Aunt Gina and her girls getting buck wild in the pool. Nikki’s eyes found mine, and she giggled before she winked at me and jumped back into the water.

“Gina tells us that this is all a big show you two are putting on so that no one finds you two hiding out here,” Chuck said. “You know what I say? That’s bullshit.”

I raised an eyebrow as I diverted my attention towards the old man who was wearing a sun hat and had a big glob of sunscreen on his nose my fingers itching to reach out and swipe it off the tip of his nose the poor guy looked ridiculous. I glanced around at my new friends Burt was wearing a one-piece bathing suit and by that, I mean like the style men wore in the forties. I glanced down at myself all I was wearing was a pair of trunks and Nike slides. Chuck may have had a point Nikki, and I stuck out like sore thumbs in this place.

“Yeah, I see your point,” I said, flopping down onto a lounge chair. “We don’t really fit in too well.”

“Boy is dumb as dirt,” Burt said as he popped open a bottle of Budweiser and shoved it into my hand. I preferred Corona but beggars couldn’t be choosers I was just happy there was beer. I took a long sip ignoring his attack on my intelligence.

“We’re not talking about whether you fit in with our crew,” Chuck said on a sigh sitting down beside me. It took all my willpower not to spit my beer out. They had a crew?

“You two just pretending to be together or are you really together? Gina couldn’t give us a straight answer. That woman’s head is in the sand since you showed up looking all buff.”

“Yeah, what’s the deal with that?” I nodded in Gina’s direction. “She’s one of the better looking broads here none of you want to tap that?”

“We’re all tapped out kid,” Burt looked down sadly. “If you get my drift.”

My eyes widened at his implication. “You mean it doesn’t work anymore?” I took another gulp of my beer before I scrutinized him. “How old are you?”

“Seventy-two, but a young seventy-two,” Burt said defensively. “It works once in a while,” he sighed and looked over at Gina. “But that one there, she’s a spring chicken. I don’t have the stamina to keep up with her.”

I can’t believe I was having this fucking conversation. Sure, I joked around that Nikki had broken my dick, but the idea of it actually not working scared the shit out of me. If what Burt was saying was true, I only had forty something years left!

“He’s just a pussy,” Chuck said, and that was that I spit my beer all over them. “I told him I’d give him some of my little blue pills.”

“Viagra?” I asked.

“That shit works wonders,” he pointed to the pool where the ladies were. “Look at that smile on my gal’s face. I put that smile there last night, and it hasn’t left yet,” he wiggled his bushy gray eyebrows as he waved at one of the women blowing kisses towards him. Christ was this what Nikki, and I had to look forward to?

“Burt, are you really into Gina?” I asked, watching as Gina whispered something to Nikki both of them turning in our direction but their eyes planted on Burt.

“Of course, I am. Look at her,” he said wistfully. I had looked at her. I had seen more of her than I cared to remember, but that was beside the point.

“So, take Chuck here up on his offer and take her out,” I tipped my chin in Gina’s direction. “A woman like that isn’t going to stick around forever,” I said laying it on thick. If I could help the old guy get a little action why not? Consider it a public service.

“You’re one to talk playing house with a dame like that,” Chuck said.

“It’s complicated. You guys know our situation.”

“Yeah, we do and if I had some dickheads out looking to put a bullet in me, I’d make sure I did what the hell made me happy before they took the chance from me,” Burt said as he shoved my shoulder. “I’m going to take your advice kid because life is too short but you should do the same.”

He walked around to the old Victrola he had on a folding table and changed, the vinyl record, bringing the little needle to it as he turned up the volume. Elvis Presley’s smooth voice filled the air and Burt closed his eyes as he let himself feel the music. He placed his hand over his heart and started to sway to “It’s Now or Never.”

---