Page 84 of Cold Hard Cash

“Okay.” Jimmy sighed and pulled his robe tighter around himself.

“Get up, get dressed,” Jules ordered. “Got shit to do.”

Jimmy frowned, seeing his outfit from last night folded on the chaise at the foot of the bed. “I’ll need to go home. I need to change clothes, um, I have a check to cash…”

“What else?” Jules asked grumpily. “Gotta get your hair did too?”

“No! I just, you know, have things to do.”

“Hurry it up. I’ll be waiting.”

Jimmy waited for Jules to leave, got dressed, and then grabbed his phone and scooted downstairs to find him. Jules was in the kitchen, stealing bacon right out of the pan while Jerry yelled and cursed at him in French. Jimmy watched in awe as Jerry fearlessly threatened to bash in Jules’ head with the frying pan.

Jules was not impressed, swiping another piece and barking at Jimmy, “Eat up!”

Jimmy accepted a plate from Jerry before Jules could eat it all. He watched them bicker and tried not to laugh. Jules was hardly fluent, but apparently he did know how to say some pretty vulgar things in French.

Once Jimmy had finished eating, Jules led him outside, cheerfully calling over his shoulder, “Au revoir, jackass!”

Jerry screamed something in French. It did not sound nice and was likely slandering Jules’ mother.

Jules’ car was parked out front, a slick black El Camino with gray-and-white flames streaking down the sides. He waved for Jimmy to get in and then cranked it up as he mused, “Sorry it ain’t a limo.”

“No! It’s great!” Jimmy ran his hands over the dash. “Seventy-nine, right?”

Jules smiled, toothy and big, proudly replying, “Yup. Bought it when me and Boss were in tenth grade. The first time.”

“You’ve known Cold that long?”

“Oh yeah.” Jules rolled his shoulders. “We were beatin’ kids up for their lunch money since kindygarten. Came from the same hood. Grew up together.”

Jimmy smiled at the thought, shaking his head as Jules pulled out from the compound. He had so many questions. “So, you’re, like, best friends?”

“Brothers,” Jules corrected, driving along at cruising speeds. “We’re family.”

Biting his lip softly, Jimmy thought about what Tamerlane had said the other night. “I’ve never really had anybody like that.”

“Sucks for you,” Jules remarked in genuine sympathy.

“Well, there’s my dad. But… I guess you know.”

“Prison.”

“Yeah.” Jimmy sighed. “Hopefully not for long.”

“Boss is workin’ on it,” Jules reassured him.

“He told you that?”

“Ain’t nothin’ he don’t tell me.”

“So…” Jimmy fidgeted, watching the city go by as they drove, wondering if he should even bother asking. “Does Cold… Does he really…”

Does he really care about me?

“Twig,” Jules said firmly, “if you have to ask me, you obviously ain’t been payin’ attention.”

“What do you mean?”