Augustus started to argue again, but there was more excitement outside that drew his attention. The officer who was posted at the door was backing 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 could feel the 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 back there where he hadn’t thought he was ever going to see Cold again, 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 down on the edge of the hospital bed, gloved hands reaching to cradle Jimmy’s face. He was completely ignoring the other occupants of the room, Augustus in particular. “Are you all right?”
“I’m okay,” Jimmy said, smiling warmly as his hands came up to rest over Cold’s.
Cold leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to Jimmy’s forehead. The storm that was brewing in his eyes was calmer now, a loving smile playing over his lips.
Jimmy wished like hell they were alone. All he could think about was having those wicked lips kissing his and those gloved hands curling around various parts of his anatomy. Cold had been worried about him, he could tell, and having him being so openly affectionate made his heart ache with want.
“Very touching and all, but right now you’re interfering with an ongoing police investigation,” Augustus snapped impatiently.
Whatever warmth had resided in Cold’s expression vacated immediately, his eyes narrowing as he turned to finally address Augustus. “Detective Duplin,” he drawled, “I think it’s time for you to leave.”
Augustus scoffed in disgust, biting back, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Cold rose slowly, and Jimmy could see him visibly shudder with rage despite his cool expression.
Leaning back in the bed, Jimmy anxiously curled his fingers in the sheets. It was like watching two titans circling a gladiatorial arena, waiting to see who would draw first blood.
“Oh, but you are,” Cold assured him icily, stepping smoothly into Augustus’ space. “Right now.”
“You smug, arrogant son of—”
“You’re leaving or I’m going to call my good friends down at Strassen Springs News and tell them all about how you’ve been harassing two innocent shooting victims,” Cold purred, his eyes never leaving Augustus’.
“That’s pretty cheap, even for you,” Augustus spat disgustedly.
“Mmm, no, cheap would be telling you that I think the apartments over at Baker’s Glen are just lovely,” Cold taunted, delighted when Augustus’ eyes widened.
“Did you... did you just threaten my daughter?” Augustus snarled furiously, his hand starting to go to his gun at his hip.
“Wait. Anna is here?” Jimmy asked stupidly. Baker’s Glen was a local apartment complex in Strassen Springs. Cold’s vague threat aside, Jimmy was stunned that his former best friend was back in the city, and he’d had no idea.
Then again, Jimmy reasoned sadly, they hadn’t spoken in several years.
“You are a fucking bastard,” Augustus continued to rage. He didn’t seem to have heard Jimmy, his hand hovering over his weapon as he glared at Cold. “You are going to regret this.”
“All I did was make a comment about a popular apartment community,” Cold said with a charming smirk. “You’re the one about to draw your gun on an unarmed man with multiple witnesses.”
Augustus froze, seeming to remember that the blinds were cracked open and the Gentlemen were all watching them. Thirdsies had his face pressed against the glass, peering in. He grinned and waved when Augustus looked his way. Lorre flipped him off.
