“You really do have it all fuckin’ figured out, don’t you?”
“I certainly make a valiant effort,” Cold replied smugly. “Now, as a gesture of goodwill for our new friendship, I’ll be sending Mickey Tamerlane and some of our boys to keep an eye on you.”
“Mickey... the Shadow?” Blalock began to visibly sweat again.
“The Luchesis are still in the city,” Cold explained. “I don’t need them killing you before you can ensure there’s no appeal from the city. It would be terribly inconvenient for me.”
“Inconvenient,” Blalock repeated.
“Yes.”
“Well, I guess I know why they call you ‘Cold’ now,” Blalock snorted. He looked at Jimmy, asking shortly, “Nothing to say, Mr. Poe? Aren’t you happy? You’ve fuckin’ won your first case.”
Jimmy blinked slowly and turned his head to Cold. He wasn’t sure if he was allowed to speak or not.
“Refrain from speaking to my husband,” Cold said with a flash of his teeth. “Now or ever.”
“Right, okay, sorry,” Blalock mumbled, holding up his hands in apology.
“Jerry?” Cold called. “Could you please see Mr. Blalock out? Our business is concluded.”
“Of course,monsieur,” Jerry said, gesturing for Blalock to follow him.
Blalock hastily reached out to shake Cold’s hand, stammering, “Thank you, uh, for working with me.”
Cold did not take Blalock’s hand. “We’ll be in touch.”
Jerry ushered Blalock out, leaving Cold and Jimmy alone once more.
“Are you all right, Mr. Poe?” Cold asked, gently petting his hair.
“Yes, sir,” Jimmy replied. Despite the comforting cloud hovering over his mind, he was still fully aware of Cold’s master scheming he’d just witnessed at play. “The evidence, that night on the phone...”
“Planned,” Cold confirmed.
“You knew he would come to you.”
“I took some precautions, yes.” Cold began sliding his fingers down Jimmy’s neck and tracing the shell of his ear. “I was certain that I could take advantage of Blalock’s ties to the Luchesi family. I just had to be patient.”
“You couldn’t let the Luchesis know you were setting up Blalock,” Jimmy said, gazing drowsily up at Cold. “Or you wouldn’t have been able to use him.”
“Precisely so.” Cold paused and appraised Jimmy’s expression. “Keep breathing for me. Nice and easy. Take one deep breath. Right now.”
Jimmy inhaled as ordered, exhaling slowly.
“Take another.”
Jimmy did, and he felt totally relaxed. The fear had left, and he knew he was safe. Now that the anguish had faded, he was left embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Cold said, his tone still quite firm. “You’re human, Mr. Poe, a human who has experienced severe trauma.”
“Trauma?” Jimmy echoed, the word somehow alien and unfamiliar. He honestly didn’t consider himself traumatized, but he knew he had problems with anxiety.
And blood.
Jimmy shivered.
“All the death you’ve seen,” Cold explained gently. “The murders, the violence... it’s trauma, Jimmy. Starting with the death of your mother when you were young, it has certainly been aggravated since the conception of our relationship.”
