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“Like that, huh?”

“Just like that.” Valdemar nodded.

The newcomer did not appear amused.

Rowena called out her drunken salutations, and the other Gentlemen either mumbled or ignored him. He didn’t seem distressed by their dismissal of him, his attention zeroing right in on Jimmy.

“Well, hello there,” the man said, a bright smile lighting up his face as he approached.

“Hands off,” Rowena warned with a slight slur to her words. “He’s with my brother. My brother’s.”

“Oh ho ho. What a sweet little princeling. And imagine that, for the king himself.” The man snorted, looking Jimmy over curiously. “So, Cold left you here all by your lonesome?”

“He just, uh, he had to have a meeting.” Jimmy forced a small smile and figured he would try to at least be polite. He didn’t know this Gentleman, but there was something about him that made Jimmy squirm.

The man was staring at Jimmy unabashedly, his eyes flicking over him from head to toe, like he either wanted to sleep with Jimmy or wear his skin.

Maybe both.

Definitely creepy.

Jimmy fidgeted, his smile becoming more strained as he said, “I’m sure he won’t be much longer.”

The man advanced, so close now that Jimmy could see the blue of his eyes and his gaze was uncomfortably intense. He bowed his head as if they were about to share a secret, and he murmured softly, “Do you know who I am?”

“Uh, no?” Jimmy backed toward the fireplace to create some space between them. “I’m sorry, I’m not technically supposed to, uh, talk to anyone. I don’t… I don’t know who you are, sir.”

The man relaxed, his lips curling up. “No, I suppose you wouldn’t,” he said after a moment, allowing Jimmy to retreat to a tolerable distance. He smiled and extended his hand. “I’m Rufus Corman.”

“Hi,” Jimmy said, shaking his hand. “I’m Jimmy. Jimmy… You know, just Jimmy.”

“Jimmy Poe,” Corman said confidently, not letting go of his hand. He squeezed so hard it hurt, pulling him in close as he hissed, “You may not know me, but I definitely know who you are.”

Fuck.

Jimmy’s face flushed as he frantically jerked his hand away. This wasn’t good. How did Corman know his name? How did he know who he was?

Lorre had been hovering a few feet away, watching Corman stalk Jimmy. He had drifted into hearing range, and he snapped, “Wait, Jimmy Poe? As in, Augustus Duplin’s kid?”

Corman scowled for a moment, but his cordial expression returned in a blink. It seemed he hadn’t wanted to share his discovery with the rest of the class, but there was no point in hiding it now. “Indeed.”

Jimmy didn’t know what to do. Cold had told him to stay put, but all he wanted to do right now was run like hell. Neither Corman nor Lorre looked very amicable at present.

“Oh yeah, I knew you looked familiar. I fucking know you.” Lorre sneered as he glared at Jimmy. “Your fucking dad killed my fucking brother. What the fuck! Does Cold fucking know who you are?”

“I-I don’t know anything about your brother,” Jimmy stammered, retreating until he hit the wall with both Lorre and Corman closing in on him. “And Cold… um…”

“Hey, hey, hey!” Rowena shouted, stumbling as she came around the bar and struggling to sober up with a quickness. “What the fuck do you think you idiots are doing?”

Lorre jerked his head at Jimmy, barking, “This is Augustus Duplin’s kid! Like, his adopted kid!”

“Oh please! He is not.” Rowena groaned, but she paused, staring curiously at Jimmy. There was doubt beginning to sneak in, and her pretty lips curled into a frown. She looked hurt, asking him directly, “Are you?”

Jimmy, eyes wide with terror, tried to explain. “Yes, but fuck, look, we don’t ever talk, I ran away—”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Rowena demanded, obviously feeling betrayed and upset.

“I kept trying!” Jimmy cried, frustrated and shaking as fear rattled through him. He yelped when Corman grabbed his collar, dropping his drink and wincing at the sound of shattering glass.