Page 92 of Cold Hard Cash

All Jimmy could see was splashes of red, and his heart thumped heavily in his chest. “He shot me. I saw the blood… I just… passed out.”

“Did you see who shot Mr. Luchesi?” Augustus asked directly.

Jules’ scowling face appeared in Jimmy’s mind’s eye. “I don’t… I can’t be s-sure. No clue.”

“I think we both know you’re lying,” Augustus pressed. “Who shot Vincenzo Luchesi?”

“Uh.” Jimmy’s cheeks flushed with warmth, and he melted beneath Augustus’ piercing glare. “Somebody with… a gun?”

“Jimmy, you need to help us out here. Tell me who killed Vincenzo Luchesi.”

“He didn’t see nothin’,” Maury growled, resting a supportive hand on Jimmy’s shoulder. “You fuckin’ ugly and deaf?”

Augustus rolled his eyes.

“What’s the matter? Can’t threaten Jimmy with outin’ him as a snitch no more, so now you’re trying to play good cop again? Go get fucked on a traffic cone.”

“What he said,” Dario agreed.

“Jimmy, listen to me,” Augustus said earnestly, his cop persona weakened for a moment by obvious concern. “I don’t know why, but the Luchesis are very interested in you. Someone broke into your apartment earlier today. Trashed it. Like they were looking for something.”

Jimmy’s eyes almost popped out of his head. “O-oh, isn’t that… weird.”

“Let me help you,” Augustus said gently. “Same for you, Mr. Romero. We can make a deal that will benefit everyone.”

“A deal?” Jimmy repeated.

“Yes. Help us, tell me who killed Vincenzo. Tell me what the Luchesis are looking for. Let’s make a deal, Jimmy.”

Jimmy took a deep breath and lifted his chin defiantly. “Already got one of those, thank you.”

Augustus looked confused for a moment before saying slowly, “If you don’t cooperate, you’re not going to leave me any choice. Either of you. I’m trying to give you a chance to do the right thing here.”

“Too bad we can’t help you.” Dario shrugged. “We didn’t see anything.”

“Nope,” Jimmy agreed, his mind made up. He would not betray Cold, especially not to Augustus. “Nothing.”

Augustus opened his mouth to argue again, but there was more excitement outside that drew his attention. The officer who was posted at the door backed away, obviously terrified and frantic.

“You… you can’t go in there,” the officer protested weakly.

“Then try to stop me,” growled a voice of velvet that made Jimmy shiver down in his bones.

Boss Cold himself was here, several of the Gentlemen right behind him.

Lorre, Valdemar, and Thirdsies.

Cold stormed right by the officer, pushing the door open, eyes wild and teeth bared, searching for Jimmy. When their eyes met, Jimmy swore there was electricity crackling in the air like bolts of lightning striking the earth.

“Rod,” Jimmy caught himself whispering, sitting up straighter in bed. There was an honest moment where he’d thought he was never going to see Cold again, and he was overjoyed now that he had been so very wrong.

“The man himself,” Augustus sneered with open contempt. “I’m in the middle of taking a statement, you need to leave.”

Cold’s face softened for the briefest of moments as he gazed at Jimmy, relief washing over him with a slow exhale. His body relaxed, and he strolled leisurely over to Jimmy.

“Hey! Everyone else might be afraid of you, but I’m not,” Augustus barked, tracking Cold’s every movement.

Cold sat on the edge of the hospital bed, gloved hands reaching to cradle Jimmy’s face. He completely ignored the other occupants of the room, Augustus in particular. “Are you all right?”