Page 102 of Cold Hard Cash

Jimmy bounced anxiously on the balls of his feet, turning back at Cold. “So, uh—”

“Upstairs,” Cold barked, his voice so loud it made Jimmy flinch. He took a deep breath, more calmly adding, “Right now.”

Jimmy heard Lorre and Tamerlane snicker to themselves as he raced up the stairs to the office, his heart pounding with dread. It was the same feeling of trepidation as being marched through school to see the principal. He wasn’t sure what exactly he had done wrong, but it was very obvious Cold was not happy with him.

Cold looked around the trashed office disgustedly as he walked in, groaning, “What the fuck happened in here?”

“Rowena,” Jimmy explained, “and a half bottle of tequila. She was upset because she doesn’t think Dario will like her any more if he finds out she killed Dickie—”

“She told you?” Cold stared heavenward, saying out loud to no one in particular, “I’m going to kill her.”

“Look, I’m sorry. She, she wanted to talk, I didn’t know what she was going to tell me. You know you can trust me.”

“Oh, can I?” Cold narrowed his eyes into venomous slits, his upper lip curling defiantly as he slammed the door shut behind them. “Is that why I saw you cozied up with Miss Duplin? Because you’re so trustworthy?”

“She just showed up!” Jimmy protested, eyes wide in disbelief. “I had no idea she was going to be here! Are you being serious right now? Look, I wanted to apologize for this morning. I know I upset you—”

“After all that I’ve done for you,” Cold seethed, “you let her put her hands on you. Right in front of me.”

“All you’ve done... are you freakin’ high?” Jimmy argued, throwing his hands up in frustration. “What have you freakin’ done for me, huh? Lie to me, manipulate me, use me—”

“I’ve clothed you, I’ve fed you, I’ve provided for you, I’ve allowed you to share my bed,” Cold snarled back, his voice rising to overtake Jimmy’s. “Everything I have done has been for you!”

“And for you, too!” Jimmy countered. “Don’t you dare act like you’ve been some selfless saint! You do remember how this all started, right? Don’t insult me like that!”

“You mean like how you insulted me with Miss Duplin? Hanging all over her?” Cold challenged, his eyes shiny and bright with anger.

“Oh, my God,” Jimmy gasped as realization clicked into place. “You’re jealous.”

Cold scowled, but didn’t deny it.

“She’s just an old friend,” Jimmy groaned, exasperated. “And we’re probably not even going to be friends now! If you had shown up like two seconds earlier, you would have heard me defending you!”

“Was that before or after her lips were all over you?” Cold asked in a sickeningly sweet voice.

“I’m not interested in Anna! I don’t want her!”

Cold did not look convinced.

Jimmy was getting frustrated, snapping, “You’re all that I want, Rod! Just you! It’s crazy and it’s stupid, but I do. Even when you push me away all the time, even though you refuse to kiss me—”

“I am giving you everything I fucking can!” Cold was in his space in a second, forcing Jimmy to stumble back into the desk, his teeth bared as he growled quietly, “I have given you so fucking much, and still, you want more! It’s never enough!”

“I’m not going to apologize for going after what I want!” Jimmy protested passionately, grabbing onto the edge of the desk to steady himself. “I want to be with you, Rod! I want this to be real! I don’t want to be your freakin’ whore anymore! I don’t want any more stupid deals! Why can’t I actually just be your boyfriend? Why can’t you just admit—”

“You’re whatever the fuck I want you to be when I want you to be it,” Cold snapped back, his hands sliding around Jimmy’s neck. “You’re mine.”

“But you’ll never be mine, right?” Jimmy spat defiantly, fingers curling tight around Cold’s wrists. “You know, maybe you should be jealous. At least I know Anna wouldn’t be afraid to kiss me.”

“Oh, you fucking brat. You have no idea what it’s like to be afraid,” Cold sneered, something hurt and wild clouding his eyes.

“I’m afraid all the time!” Jimmy wailed, his eyes beginning to flood with tears. “I’m afraid to go to sleep sometimes because of what I might dream about, I’m afraid for my dad, that something is gonna happen to him in prison, I’m afraid for myself... I’m afraid you’re never going to care about me even half as much as I care about you.”

Time seemed to slow down, Cold’s hands tight enough to make Jimmy’s breath catch, and he could feel Cold’s pulse thrumming rapidly under his fingers.

Just like the day they met.

The energy in the air began to shift, the anger retreating from Cold’s gaze. He was so beautiful and he looked frightfully lost, staring down at Jimmy’s mouth as if he could find all the answers he needed there. He suddenly lunged forward.