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He was actually looking forward to being with Cold again, shuddering at the memory of what it felt like to have the mob boss inside him. He had never experienced anything like giving himself over to Roderick Legrand’s every desire, and he couldn’t wait to do it again. He was still bouncing, full of nervous energy, smiling as he gazed out the window.

It was enough that the cab driver laughed, teasing, “What’s up, slim? Hot date tonight?”

Jimmy bowed his head and tried to hide a grin. “Yeah. Something like that.”

Chapter four

Rent taken care of and groceries purchased, Jimmy spent the rest of the day tidying up and dragging clothes downstairs to wash a few loads. He didn’t have a washer or dryer in his apartment, but there were several coin-operated ones in the basement. It was nice to have fresh, clean clothes again instead of washing them in his bathtub. As he put the laundry away, he debated what to wear for his evening with Cold. He had washed his red shirt, but he didn’t want to wear the same outfit twice.

Doubting that Cold would care what he wore, he settled on jeans and a faded T-shirt. He washed up the dish he had liberated from the hotel, humming to himself. He was in such a good mood, he wasn’t even going to let his confrontation with Augustus ruin it.

Jimmy briefly wondered if he should bring that up to Cold. Certainly the gangster knew the police were always watching him, but did he know about Jimmy’s family? Did he know about Augustus? Would he have agreed to the deal if he knew?

Jimmy wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t want to anger Cold, and he certainly didn’t want to do anything to upset their arrangement. Maury had said that Augustus wouldn’t do something so mean, and he wanted to trust his friend. Maury had been watching out for Jimmy ever since he ran away, and he decided not to worry about it. If anything got weird or hairy, Maury would let him know.

Wait. How would he let him know?

A phone.

Jimmy groaned. He picked back through the cash left over from Cold’s tip, finding only a hundred and seventy-eight dollars left. Oh, and two cents. He dragged the pennies around on his counter with a sad sigh. Definitely not enough to purchase a phone or pay the phone company what he owed to get his landline restored.

Maybe tonight he could earn himself another big tip, he decided, pushing his worries to the back of his mind as he got ready to leave.

A quick cab ride brought him back to the hotel, and he grinned shyly as he approached the front desk. He offered out the dish, explaining, “Look, so, I borrowed this, but… Well, here.”

The clerk gave him a funny look but didn’t question his odd return.

Jimmy practically skipped to the elevator, his body thrumming with excitement. He wasn’t as nervous as before, and the dinging of the passing floors was almost soothing as he ascended to his destination.

The army of suited men was there again, Jules Price front and center, pursing his lips thoughtfully as he looked at his watch and grinned. “Look at you, Twig. Bein’ all on time and shit again. Boss likes that.”

“Thanks?” Jimmy replied awkwardly.

“Search time.” Jules waved two of his fellows forward to give Jimmy a quick pat down.

Jimmy obliged, certain that this was probably going to be part of his normal routine when visiting Boss Cold.

“All clear.” Jules winked. “You go have some fun.”

“I plan to.” Jimmy hurried inside as soon as Jules opened the door.

The door closed with a distinct click, and Jimmy let out a breath. Here in this room, the rest of the world seemed to melt away into nothing. There was no rent, no bills, no lawyers, no Augustus.

It was only him and Boss Cold.

Cold was at his desk as before, but this time he looked up when Jimmy walked in. He peered over the rim of his glasses, wrinkling his nose. “What are you wearing?”

“Clothes?” Jimmy blinked in surprise. The jeans seemed fine, though the T-shirt had a few holes. “I didn’t think, uh… Since, well, you know… I’m not gonna be wearing them… for… very long.” He could feel his face turn red. “It’s not good?”

Cold didn’t answer, silently returning to his ledgers.

Jimmy frowned, rocking back and forth on his heels. His stomach wobbled a little, and now he wished he had thought better of his fashion choices.

“Shower,” Cold said, nodding toward the bathroom.

“Yes, sir.” Jimmy scurried off to bathe. The shampoo and soap bottles had been replenished from the previous evening, and there was a new plush robe waiting for him. Once he was done, he wrapped himself in the robe and walked back out into the room.

To his surprise, Cold wasn’t at the desk. He had moved to the small sitting area between the bathroom door and the bed, lounging back in a plush slipper chair. He gestured for Jimmy to approach, pointing at the floor by his feet. “Kneel.”