“Yes,” Cold said, hungrily scanning over Jimmy’s body. “And you’re mine, Mr. Poe.”
Jimmy didn’t think it was possible to be sexy in a hospital gown, but the delicious way Cold was staring at him made him feel incredibly hot. He took a deep breath. “Yours.”
“Knock knock,” Duplin piped up, rapping his knuckles against the door as he walked in.
Cold’s expression hardened, and he glared at Duplin for interrupting.
Duplin ignored the look and offered a strained smile to Jimmy. “Hey, Jimmy. How are you?”
“You know, feel like I got hit by a van, and all that,” Jimmy replied, silently cursing his half-hard dick. He tried to sit up a little straighter and winced when his back strongly disagreed. “So. What happened?”
“There were two men in the van that hit you,” Duplin said grimly. “Eyewitness claims they fled the scene and security footage from an ATM confirms it.”
“Hit and run?”
“Emphasis on the hit,” Duplin said. “We’ve IDed one of the men as Gary Luchesi.”
Jimmy’s pulse began to race again. Gary was one of the men who had attacked him and Rowena last year when they were out at a club together.
“It was sloppy, but we believe they were trying to kill Legrand,” Duplin continued. “Maybe they saw you guys leaving the station and decided to take a chance, who knows. We’re looking for them now.”
“Christ,” Jimmy mumbled, looking worriedly to Cold. “I thought, I thought the Luchesis were all gone!”
“Not quite.” Cold glanced warily at Duplin.
“Look.” Duplin dropped his voice down. “Ever since we found Marco’s body last month, they’ve been popping back up in Strassen Springs again. The heads of the family, those two brothers? Cristian and Luigi? They’re still in Perry City as far as we know.”
“As far as you know,” Cold echoed.
“Legrand, if you know something...”
“I know that this is not over,” Cold said, “and the best thing for you to do, Detective, is to stay out of my way.”
“I still have a job to do.”
“And I still have all those lovely tampered case files. Thinking about having one of them framed, and I’ll hang it in my living room.”
“For fuck’s sake, Legrand,” Duplin hissed angrily. “You can’t keep blackmailing me forever.”
“Oh, but I think I can.” Cold flashed an icy smile. “Unless you’d like your own little trip to Westchester, that is. I’m sure Tamerlane would love to see you. His beau is still pretty sore with you.”
Jimmy gulped anxiously, his stomach twisting up with a wicked mix of fear and excitement. It wasn’t fair for Cold to be so attractive when he was being a ruthless bastard.
“Fine,” Duplin snapped dismissively. “If they try again, don’t expect me or the SSPD to cooperate.”
“I expect nothing from you,” Cold said dryly. “This way, I’m never disappointed.”
“Jimmy,” Duplin said, looking to him with sympathy, “take care of yourself.”
“Goodbye, Augustus,” Jimmy said, waving farewell. He watched Duplin leave and shut the door behind him.
Duplin spoke to the other officers, and then they all left.
Jimmy melted down into the bed, groaning loudly. “Fuck.”
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Cold soothed.
“Someone tried to kill you today,” Jimmy shot back. “I’d say there’s plenty to worry about.”
