Page 47 of Cold Hard Cash

“Fine, Mr. Poe. What are your demands?”

“Don’t kill Augustus.” Jimmy cringed when he saw the instant look of disgust on Cold’s face. “He and I don’t get along, we probably never will, but please don’t hurt him.”

“Mm, can’t promise you that.” Cold scowled. “I’m running out of options for a peaceful resolution with Detective Duplin. I doubt you’re any good as leverage now.”

“W-why?”

“If I try to use you now, you may decide to end our little arrangement.” Cold rolled his eyes. He hesitated, his expression turning uncharacteristically soft as he added, “Our deal is important to me.”

“It is?” Jimmy tried not to sound too hopeful.

“You do owe me a lot of money.”

“Yeah.” Jimmy pouted, wishing Cold would admit there was more than money involved between them. “Half of which is from you charging me some bullshit penalty to screw with me!”

Cold did not look moved by the accusation but didn’t deny it, his eyebrow quirking again as he said, “And?”

Jimmy gritted his teeth and decided to try a new angle. He smiled sweetly, laying it on thick as he said, “Come on. You’re Boss Cold. You rule over all of Strassen Springs, you’re like the most powerful gangster that’s ever lived. All those wits and instincts, right? You’re clever enough to find another way to get Augustus to leave you alone. Without involving me or hurting anyone else.”

Cold’s lip curled into a snarl. He clearly knew that Jimmy was blatantly playing to his ego. It worked anyway. “Fine. I will find another way to deal with Detective Duplin. What else?”

“A job.”

“Oh?” Cold laughed. “Do you not enjoy your time working for me?”

“You said yourself you might drop me after I pay you off. I need a real job. Something I’ll be able to depend on. I have bills to pay, and I still want to help my father.”

Cold’s fingers began to move, deftly untying the bow around Jimmy’s neck. He dropped it to the floor and then unbuttoned Jimmy’s shirt. “I may be able to arrange something. Is that all?”

“Don’t lie to me again,” Jimmy pleaded, trying not to get distracted by Cold’s nimble touch. “You’re right. For this arrangement to work, there has to be trust. I know… what you are. But what you did, using me like that, what you tried to do with Augustus… And Rowena too? You lied to her—”

“Careful,” Cold warned, his amusement morphing into a cool glare. “What I do for my sister is none of your concern.”

“Fine.” Jimmy groaned. “But don’t lie to me again.” He swallowed thickly. “Please.”

“Very well,” Cold said, finished opening Jimmy’s shirt and gazing over him approvingly. “You should know, as long as we’re reworking our deal, I have some revisions of my own.”

“And those are?”

“You may think of Rowena as your friend, but she’s my sister,” Cold said harshly. “I will do anything to keep her safe, and how I go about it is none of your business. Do not ever question how I treat her again. Are we clear?”

“Crystal.”

“Second, due to your mouthy performance today, I’m going to cut your nightly payments from ten down to five grand,” Cold went on, smiling cruelly.

“But now it will take twice as long to pay you back!” Jimmy whined as Cold’s fingers loosened his belt.

“Mm, maybe you should have thought about that before you spoke without permission at the party.” Cold chuckled darkly. “I’ll still allow you to earn bonuses at my discretion. So, perhaps you should focus more on pleasing me with that mouth instead of running it so much.”

Jimmy’s teeth clicked together before he argued any more. Cold had just ensured they had twice the amount of time together. He wasn’t really going to complain too much. “Anything else, sir?”

Cold visibly shivered at Jimmy addressing him so formally, smirking when Jimmy’s pants dropped down and he was indeed not wearing any underwear. Cold let his eyes glaze over with lust as he admired Jimmy, adding nonchalantly, “Oh, just one more thing.”

Jimmy’s cock twitched in anticipation, his tongue running over his battered lip. “Yes?”

“If Augustus Duplin or any of the SSPD approaches you again, you call me immediately. If I can’t use you, neither can they. Trust goes both ways, Mr. Poe.”

“Fine, but, there’s, well.” Jimmy grimaced, embarrassed suddenly. “There’s sort of a problem. I can’t… It’s just that…”