To say that it'd been a tough week is an understatement-- Alison had been working non-stop for the last couple of days, and tonight was one of those rare nights where she was free and needed to unwind. Now a little known secret about Alison is that she had a fondness for games of chance, a slight addiction to gambling, and what better place to burn away her money than the grandest casino in all of Las Vegas?

As she arrived in the Pure Paradise Hotel and Casino clad in a long red dress and high heels, she smiled to herself before heading straight to the blackjack table. Of all games, she loved this one the most as it's high risk, high reward, and chance was the gamemaster. Her opponents looked familiar, all regulars to KL's hotel, except for one. No, this new guy was a stranger to Alison, a man in bulky glasses and a wrinkled suit. Out of all the rich socialites dressed to the nines in this table, the man stuck out like a sore thumb, with his cold, calculating eyes never leaving the dealers' hands, and piles and piles of chips in front of him.

"Eh, probably just another one of those antisocial kind of people." She muttered to herself as she was dealt in the game. 10,000 dollars she cashed in, wanting to start small. The cards she was dealt with were a King and a Jack. She smiled to herself, clutching the two cards dearly. She had a good feeling about this. "Stand." She declared boldly, meeting everyone's eye, including the newcomer. Face as stoic as it was a while ago, the man stared at his cards for a long time, seemingly thinking intensely before looking back to the dealer.

"Hit me." He said in a cold, deep voice. He smirked as everyone overturned their cards, revealing his blackjack, while everyone else either busted or was too short. Rolling her eyes at his cockiness, she was determined to win and regain her money from the house before she left the casino.

A second round turned into a third, and then a fourth, until there were so many rounds that she couldn't count how much money she'd lost already. Sure, she got the occasional win, but she was still down by a few hundred thousand at the least, while the stack of chips in front of the steely-eyed stranger kept on growing. She was starting to get suspicious-- how is it that he knew exactly when to hit, stand or double? Why did he always keep his eyes on the dealer's hand?

Observing him for the next couple of rounds, Alison noted his lips moving as if he was... calculating something. And then it hit her-- he was counting cards. That why he was so good, that's why he rarely lost money. Now she knew counting cards wasn't illegal, but it was enough a reason to get banned from the hotel-- or worse.

She scooted over next to him and smiled at the stranger, trying to distract him. Clearly annoyed, the man faced her with a sour face. "Not interested, love. Go find some other man to make your sugar daddy." He said in a thick British accent before returning to the game.

Offended, Alison tried to keep her cool and not grab the knife in her stocking and stab him right there. "I'm not a fucking prostitute. I'm just here to tell you-- I know what you're doing. And I suggest you stop it now. Leave the game to chance, as it was designed to be." She whispered to him intently.

Another arrogant smirk lit up his face. "Sorry you lost your money, darling, but being a sore loser doesn't suit anyone, not even a pretty face like yours. I suggest you just get up and leave me be, it's not my fault you're not fast or smart enough to count cards."

Asshole, she thought. "This is your last warning. Stop now, or else I'll make you stop." Alison warned.

"Go ahead. I'd like to see you try." He said as he was given another huge pile of chips by the dealer.

Walking away with a furious look on her face, she boarded the elevator and got off at a familiar floor and into a hallway. She banged at the door that said " KL ", hoping he was awake.

As soon as he opened the door, Alison went off. "There's this fucking guy downstairs that's fucking stealing from you. Counting cards. I told him to knock it off but he wouldn't budge. I just came up here to ask permission to murder someone in the middle of your casino." She said, partly joking.

"Kidding aside, I know we're not very close, but can you help me deal with that asshole? He's been hustling all of us out of our money for the past few hours." She said, fists clenched as she awaited for his answer.

I could tell Alison had a lot of rage, I seen it in her face. I looked down and seen both of her fists clenched.

"Of course ill help you, but first calm down. I'm going to go into the casino and sit down at the table and act as a normal civilian. Play a few more hands and let me catch him counting cards. Then irritate him a little more so he loses his cool a bit. Ok?."

I put on my coat and straitened my tie and waited for Alison to respond.

Alison nodded, taking a deep breath before forcing a smile on her face. "Alright, fine. Let's do it." She agreed, calming down before heading down to the casino with KL by her side.

She let KL go to the table first since it might look suspicious if they arrived together. She got a drink by the bar and waited a few minutes before following him there. Reclaiming her seat next to the stranger, she feigned drunkenness, acting rowdy and a bit wild.

"Hey, cheater. I'm back." She whispered to him. "Didn't I tell you to stop counting cards? It's not very nice to the other players." She said with a fake pout.

"And didn't I tell you to fuck off?" He said, his eyes still zeroed in on the dealer's hand.

"You're not very nice." She moved closer and started peeking at his cards. "C'mon, lemme see your hand, big shot!"  She told him, pretending to be drunk out of her mind to know what she was doing. He tried his best to ignore her, just focusing on counting the cards. After a while, she sensed him being annoyed at her distractions, but despite that he kept on playing and winning. It wasn't after a few rounds of poking and teasing that he finally snapped and grabbed her by the arm, forcing Alison to look him in the eye, fingernails digging into her skin.

"Look here, love. You don't know who the hell you're messing with. I told you to bugger off. You're throwing me off my game, and if you don't stop, I'll fucking slit your throat. Got it?" He threatened, and he looked like he meant it.

As Alison nodded slowly, he let her arm go, most probably leaving bruises. With geniune fear in her eye, she shot KL a look that says "What now?"

I always got enraged when men put their hands on women. I stood up slowly and said "Well I've lost my shorts here!... excuse me and good luck to all of you."

As I walk for the exit I approach one of the guards, first giving Alison a look to stay calm then looking back at the guard I reply to him in anger. "That guy over there, glasses and wrinkled suit...I want him brought to my fucking office now!. Tell him that you've noticed the women harassing him and you want to take him to a quiet area to count his winnings. The lady over there is a friend of mine so let her ease her way into the office with the man before shutting the door behind you. If he don't cooperate pick him up by the fucking throat and drag him to my office got it?."

The guard nods while replying "yes sir".

I then walk to my office infuriated and take a seat at my desk while waiting for this man to come through the door.

A burly hotel guard approached the stranger and whispered something in his ear. Flashing that arrogant smirk again, he stood up and collected his chips. "Why yes, this woman is in fact harassing me. And thank you for giving me the chance to count my hard-earned money in peace. Let's go." He said cockily before sauntering away in the direction of the elevator with the guard.

Alison was completely confused on what kind of game KL was playing until a different guard approached her and told her the plan-- slowly, a grin creeped on her face as she stood up and followed them upstairs.

As she entered KL's office, she saw the bodyguard twist the man's arms suddenly, causing him to double over in pain. "What the fuc-- I thought this was-- y-you've got the wrong g-guy here! Let me go!" The man shouted as the big guard held him capture and dragged him in front of KL. Alison smirked in triumph as she strutted inside before locking the door behind her, his screams of pain like music to her ears.

The man faced her with pure fury in his eyes. "Did you do this, bitch?"

She smiled sweetly at him before kicking him in the shin, followed by another kick to the balls. "I'm not a fucking bitch. And I warned you-- I told you I'd make you stop counting one way or another." She said with a wink, before facing KL.

Her hands trailed over her thigh, grazing her revolver and her knife, her hands itching to bring this asshole to justice by just putting a bullet in his head. But of course, Alison had to wait for what KL had in mind first. "So, what do we have in store for this filthy cheater, KL? After all, it's your hotel he stole from." She asked the blonde in a sickly sweet voice.

I have the guard sit the man down while I take a seat near him.

"So who are you? and how long have you Been stealing from my casino?". The man speaks up and says "names Charles and I haven't stolen from your ca-".

I stop him from finishing his sentence with a strong hook to the face shattering his glasses.

"Well Charles before I ask you one more time let me introduce myself and tell you a bit about the place. Quite simple really, My name is KL and I own this place your sitting and stealing in. Lady behind me is a good friend of mine, her name is Alison not bitch and I really don't think you have the slightest fucking clue who your dealing with right now."

I stand to my feet and continue talking.

"Counting cards is not against the law but when your in my house it is... because as long as I'm alive this house always wins. Now I will be informing Jezebel... the assistant manager here that you are no longer welcome here. And these winnings you have here...550k in chips will be going to the lady behind you who you know as bitch. Now I am a man who believes in eye for an eye so I will let Alison here do what she sees fit. You will then be tossed out and if I see your face again ill tear it off!."

I look to Alison with a nod to get even for the man's actions.

A small smile creeped upon Alison's face. She drew the small sharp knife from her thigh and approached Charles. "You know, I'm not really a fan of violence." She started, looking into the asshole's furious eyes. "But my mother always said thieves get their hands cut off. And you know what they say... mother knows best."

Crouching in front of the man, she dangled her knife right in front of his eyes. "I want you to stay still--this will be quicker if you do. If you don't, I'll stab your legs as well. Do you understand?" 

The man's previously defiant stare turned into one of pleading and desperation. "Please, please don't. I s-swear I won't do it again, just fucking l-let me g-go!" 

For a second there, Alison felt sympathy for Charles, on his knees and in tears. But of course, that was before she remembered the foul way this man treated her and everyone around him earlier. She knew that she had to teach men like him a lesson, and that she had to make an example of him so no one who think of cheating KL's casino again.

Sighing, she stood back up. "Get up. You look pathetic. Stand up, Charles." As he stood up, Alison put on a very serious face, one she rarely made. "Close your eyes and hold out your hands. Do it. Now." She said with authority in her voice.

He complied hesitantly, hands shaking and all. Swiftly, she cut off his right thumb, followed by the left one. He screamed in pain as his blood gushed out and dripped to the carpet. "There we go, this ought to keep you from holding cards ever again." She said as she wiped the blood off her knife on her dress and thanked the stars she wore red tonight-- the blood just blended in the fabric.

She gestured to the guards to dispose of him and his cut off digits before turning to KL. "Thank you for helping me deal with him.." She trailed off, before looking back to where he used to kneel, noting the blood on the floor.

"And sorry for making such a mess. But hey-- at least you won't be seeing any card counters in your casino for a long, long, long time."

I watched the commotion awhile ago and saw a man being led off by the guards followed by Alisson and KL... I bet it was another scum who counted cards. I don't understand the math behind counting cards. It was rocket science to me. I prefer poker. Even if I usually end up going home a pauper. I'm not much of a gambler, but I loved spending a night in the casino. Poker with a drink in hand, getting to know people. That's it. I usually bring just a few thousands, then go home when I spent it all. Me and gambling, we were never a couple.

"Card counter!" The dealer told us. I nodded my head and looked at my cards. Fucking lady luck won't even visit me. I threw the cards, folding. I took my drink and went to another table. I wondered if the card counting scum would come out alive.