Page 97 of Cold Hard Cash

Shifting his body on top of Jimmy’s, Cold was mindful of his injured arm as he held him in place. “I seem to recall telling you that I would explain everything when it was the right time. That time is not now.”

“Hey!” Jimmy wiggled beneath him in protest. “I deserve to know. If this really has something to do with my mother, please. Tell me.”

Cold pursed his lips in that gorgeously sexy smirk he wore so well, thoughtful and calculating as he scanned Jimmy’s body. The borrowed clothing was too big, shapeless, but Cold didn’t seem to mind.

His gaze was as ravenous as if Jim was wearing sleek silks and exotic leathers instead of baggy sweats. Scooting down onto his elbows, he kept Jimmy pinned while pushing the loose fabric up his stomach. His long fingers traced the lines of Jimmy’s lean hips and then moved up to feather along his navel.

Jimmy sucked in a sharp breath, amazed at how those few touches could leave him starving for more. He wanted to touch too, but he knew better than to try. He was patient and kept his hands on the mattress where Cold wanted them.

He let Cold continue to pet and tease him, praying that Cold would give him an answer.

Something.

Anything.

“That ring belonged to Don Luchesi,” Cold replied at long last, his tongue running over his top teeth. “Rafaello Luchesi.”

RL.

Rafaello Luchesi.

Holy crap.

“The don who was murdered?” Jimmy exclaimed in disbelief. “Are you sure? I mean… How, how did it end up in my mom’s jewelry box?”

“I am positive. I spent years kissing that ring. I am quite familiar with it. As to how your mother came into possession of it… That I cannot say.”

“Can’t because you don’t know or can’t because you’re not telling me?”

“Both,” Cold answered smugly, his nimble fingers pinching Jimmy’s nipple.

Jimmy whined, and his body focused its circulatory attention between his legs. He tried to stay on topic, demanding, “Why would the Luchesis be willing to kill me over a stupid ring?”

“The don had always planned to pass that ring on to his heir.” Cold teased Jimmy’s other nipple. “When he was murdered, it was stolen. Probably by whoever killed him. They searched for it for years, never found it.”

“That’s why they’re trying to start a war?” Jimmy groaned. “Over a ring?”

“Don’t worry about that,” Cold said sternly. “The war was already brewing long before the Luchesis knew about the ring. I am keeping it safe, and I will do everything I can to prevent bloodshed, I promise you. It’s bad for business, after all.”

“So who really killed the don?” Jimmy gasped when Cold’s fingers twisted.

“Mm, most people seem to think it was me.”

Jimmy yelped at another hard pull. “But then wouldn’t you have had the ring already?”

“Trust that I am looking into it,” Cold soothed, his fingers resuming their more delicate torture of Jimmy’s nipples. “I believe your mother’s murder and the don’s may be connected.”

“Really?” Jimmy groaned as Cold pinched him harder.

“Yes. I’ve contacted a very reliable source to look into the case.”

“You mean Geemaw?”

Cold snorted. “Yes. She’s also the one who’s going to help me free your father.”

“Wait.” Jimmy moaned breathlessly. “I heard you and Jules talking about Geemaw before we made the deal for the ring.”

“And?”