Page 138 of Cold Hard Cash

“Why kill her over a fucking piece of jewelry?” Jimmy had waited a lifetime for answers, and tears raced down his cheeks as he screamed, “She was a beautiful and kind woman, a mother, a wife! Why? Why did you do it?”

“It’s not just a ring, you fucking simpleton.” Corman scoffed. “It’s a symbol. Why do you think I was going to get it resized? I was going to wear it and rub it all in their fucking faces.”

Jimmy couldn’t stop his tears, his mouth twisting in anguish. The very ring on his finger was what had cost his mother her life. She had tried to do the right thing and died for it. She had to have realized that Corman had no good reason to have that particular ring, and she had called Augustus to report her suspicions. She’d had no idea Corman was going to show up at their door.

She had no clue Jimmy would see a white blazer and think it was his father’s coat.

Fuck.

Fuck all of it.

That tiny chunk of metal and rock was what stole his mother away from him.

Jimmy wanted to throw it away, destroy it, melt it into nothing.

Shove it down Corman’s throat and watch him choke on it.

No, he had to let him keep talking. Augustus was listening. They had to keep Corman talking no matter what. This had to be part of Cold’s plan. It just had to be. This is what would free his father.

“I’d spent years serving the Italians and kissing that fucking thing,” Corman said, still ranting away. “It was finally going to be mine, all fucking mine, along with the kingdom of Strassen Springs. And it will be. Now hand it—”

“You killed the Don to start the war,” Jimmy snapped in realization. Even as upset as he was, he knew he needed more. He had to keep going. “You knew his sons would fight over who was going to lead! Just like now, you were trying to start a war between the Gentlemen and the Luchesis—”

“Shut up, fuckin’ Scooby Doo.” Corman groaned. “You think you’re so clever putting all of this together? Ha! But the joke’s on you. Both of you. Especially you, Cold, you fucking cock-gobbling prick.”

“That really hurts my feelings, coming from a cowardly nine-fingered cunt,” Cold said smoothly.

“Fuck you,” Corman spat, leveling the gun at Cold. “I’ve spent months planning this. I have the Luchesis all behind me. They’re eating out of the palm of my hand. Who do you think gave me the gun? Huh?”

“The Luchesis who don’t know you killed their father yet,” Jimmy mumbled as he clung to Cold’s arm.

“You know,” Corman said with a languid sigh as his eyes drifted over every inch of Jimmy’s body, “I had so much fun sticking it to your mom all those years ago. I would love to know what it would be like to stick a few things in you. Ruin that pretty face—”

Cold lunged forward, the barrel of the gun hitting his chest as he bared his teeth. “You will not fucking touch him.”

“Tough talk coming from a dead man,” Corman sneered with a wild grin. “I have been waiting for this for so long.”

“Ungrateful waste of flesh,” Cold drawled in disgust, his icy eyes sparkling with his fury. “I was good to you, I took you in, I took care of you. I made you a Gentleman.”

“You treated me like a fucking child!” Corman roared back and slammed the gun against Cold’s chest. “I’m done with you! I’m fucking done with your condescending bullshit! I’m smarter than you, and I’ve finally fucking won!”

“Well,” Cold said calmly, “I guess that means you’re out. And when you’re out… You’re out.” He raised his hand, index and thumb in a mockery of a gun aimed right at Corman’s head. He smiled and whispered, “Bang.”

Corman, looking confused and angry, growled, “Rot in hell, Legrand.”

“You first.”

Corman pulled the trigger.

Jimmy’s chest violently convulsed as he screamed, “No!”

Nothing happened.

The gun didn’t fire. Corman’s eyes bugged out of his head, Jimmy thought he was going to faint, and Cold grinned.

Jimmy’s knees turned to jelly, and he collapsed against the vanity as Cold lunged forward to grab the gun. Cold cracked the weapon against Corman’s face and watched with undisguised satisfaction as he crumpled to the floor.

“The gun!” Jimmy gasped, trembling all over.