Bon Appétit

Jim Money bites off more than he can chew when he goes to collect a gambling debt. He's beaten, shot at, finds out that his girlfriend is involved with his best friend, and is forced to work with a woman he despises all in one day.In trying to discover what is going on, a more sinister truth is brought to light.Jim Money just wants his money back from Chuck. Chuck refuses to pay it back, and when Chuck's hardened brothers show up, Jim is forced to back down as shots are fired as he narrowly escaped danger.Jim calls his best friend Steve to go collect from Chuck. Meanwhile, Jessica explains to Jim that although she loves the money he makes from illegal gambling and hustling, she wants a normal life free of the dangers associated with his lifestyle. After spending years building his gambling empire, Jim is reluctant at first, but he thinks about it awhile and decides to take a gamble. Besides, he would have a loving wife, and a stable family life free of the criminal elements that haunt him. He realizes that he could have that with Jessica. But before Jim could tell her, she receives a phone call and shuts Jim out.THE NEXT DAY...Jim receives a phone call from Carla, Steve's wife. She insists that her husband and Jessica are having a fling. Jim denies that Jessica or Steve would do that to him, but he humors Carla. He picks her up and they go to Jessica's house. But when they arrive, they are greeted with a more sinister truth.Will Jim Money get the wife and family life that he wants, or is he biting off more than he can chew?THIS IS THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF THE JIM MONEY STORIES.Here are the other stories in chronological order:Bon Appétit EscapeOn the RunJamesBUSTED: a Prequel to the Jim Money Stories