“Okay, you haven’t actually freakin’ asked me and, wait...” Jimmy’s stomach churned violently. “What’s already done?”
“We’re already married,” Cold replied as if it was obvious. “I had the papers drawn up and notarized already.”
“You, you what?” Jimmy shouted, gasping in horror. “How could you do this? What did you do, forge my signature?”
“Yes,” Cold answered simply.
“This is bullshit!” Jimmy raged, his chest getting tight as he struggled not to cry. “How, how the hell could you possibly think I’d be okay with this?”
“I thought you’d be pleased.”
“You’re insane!” Jimmy shouted, stepping into his pants. “You do know all that shit with Dickie and Rowena wouldn’t be protected by spousal privilege because I found out about it before we were married.”
“I know,” Cold retorted dryly. “That’s why I had the marriage certificate backdated.”
“Youwhat?”
“Everyone will think that we eloped when we first met, and we’re going to have an official ceremony next month,” Cold growled. “All the other families that I have alliances with are coming, and so are my political associates and all the Gentlemen.”
“You already set a date?” Jimmy gasped, blinking rapidly.
“Yes,” Cold sighed, bringing the ring box back to Jimmy and pressing it into his hands. “Trust me. This is the best thing for us, Jimmy.”
Jimmy stared down at the box, but he still didn’t dare open it. He loved Cold with all of his heart, and there was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with him. He would have happily married him.
But not like this.
He began to slowly shake his head, saying quietly, “No.”
“What?” Cold spat.
“No,” Jimmy repeated stubbornly, and his voice rose louder and louder as he raged. “I’m not marrying you or pretend marrying you or what the fuck ever! This isn’t some stupid deal! This is marriage! I want you to propose because you love me, because you want to spend the rest of your freakin’ life with me! Not because of your stupid gangster bullshit!”
“We’re having a wedding, Jimmy,” Cold growled, a rare sliver of anger working its way through his icy demeanor. “It’s already done.”
“Ohhh, the fuck it is!” Jimmy seethed furiously. He jerked his head toward the door when he heard it open without warning, groaning when he saw Jules Price lumbering in.
Jules was Cold’s right-hand man and most likely had Sasquatches somewhere in his family tree. He looked concerned, munching on a sandwich as he grumbled worriedly, “Everything okay in here? Heard buncha shouting.”
“Everything is fine, Jules,” Cold replied quickly.
“No! Nothing is fine!” Jimmy growled angrily and grabbed his robe. “And learn how to freakin’ knock! Geez!”
“Oh, so you finally told him,” Jules mumbled through a bite of his sandwich.
Jimmy was almost hyperventilating now, glaring at Cold as he fiercely snapped, “Jules knew before I did?”
“Yeah, of course I knew.” Jules shrugged his shoulders and snorted dismissively, “Damn, calm down, fuckin’ bridezilla.”
“No!” Jimmy yelled frantically. “I will not calm down! And I am not a fucking ‘bridezilla’ because I am not a damn bride because I am not fucking getting married!”
“But you’re already married—” Jules began, confused.
“No, the fuck I’m not!” Jimmy wanted to scream, cutting his eyes at Cold as he snapped, “There is no ring on my finger, and I didn’t say yes! You didn’t even ask my father for permission, did you?”
“I don’t need anyone’s permission,” Cold retorted with a faint growl.
“Right,” Jimmy laughed bitterly, “because this is just a business deal. Not like it’s a real marriage built on trust and love or any of that crap!”
