“Well, they did a very terrible job, didn’t they?” Cold smirked, bringing Jimmy’s hand up to his mouth. “Mm. We’re both safe.”
“For now,” Jimmy grumbled. “I really thought the Luchesis were done since you-know-who was killed by the cops.”
“Obviously, I didn’t kill enough of them,” Cold said mysteriously and refused to speak any more about it.
The doctor came in to assess Jimmy, pronouncing him concussed but fit to return home. Cold brought Jimmy out personally in a wheelchair, and Jerry had the limo waiting for them outside. Jimmy was stiff as he crawled into the backseat, immediately snuggling against Cold’s side when he sat down beside him.
“Just wait until I get you home,” Cold promised. “I’ll take care of you.”
“And we can finally talk?” Jimmy pressed. Although Cold’s care was very intriguing, right now he was more concerned with why people were trying to kill him.
“Yes.” Cold didn’t say anything else. He wrapped his arm around Jimmy’s shoulders and cradled him close.
Jimmy allowed himself to relax in his lover’s embrace, and he was nearly asleep by the time they were pulling up to the front door of the mansion. Cold helped him out, easily sweeping him into his arms and beginning to carry him upstairs.
“But, Rod,” Jimmy protested, “you’re hurt.”
“Shush,” Cold said firmly, not stopping until he was upstairs and setting Jimmy down on their bathroom counter.
Jimmy gently touched the wounded side of Cold’s face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” Cold carefully peeled Jimmy’s shirt over his head and began to reverently touch his chest. He moved onto his arms, checking over every inch of him as if to make sure he was all still there.
Jimmy could feel a bruise forming on his shoulder, likely from where the seat belt had caught him. Cold’s fingers were so very gentle that he felt no pain when he touched it, and he was melting beneath his considerate affections. He resisted the urge to give in so easily, looking deeply in Cold’s eyes as he pleaded, “Take off your clothes. Let me see you, too.”
A glimmer of hesitation passed over Cold’s face, but he nodded. He slid off his jacket, meticulously folding it before setting it down on the counter. He began to loosen his tie and smirked when Jimmy eagerly reached out to start unbuttoning his vest.
As Cold’s bare torso was revealed, Jimmy was gasping before he could stop himself. Cold’s left arm was a mess of purple bruises and stitches, and there were varying other colors promising more bruises to come. There was also a raw streak crossing his chest from his own close encounter with the seat belt.
“Rod,” Jimmy said, wanting to touch him but hesitating for fear of hurting him.
“Nothing’s broken,” Cold assured him.
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Not as much as when I thought I might have lost you,” Cold replied, his hands circling Jimmy’s neck.
Eyes fluttering, Jimmy grabbed Cold’s wrists as he said, “I’m here. I’m yours.”
“Always,” Cold said quietly, though it almost sounded like a question.
It was too easy to feel the familiar pang of lust surging through his body with Cold’s hands around his neck, but Jimmy found that Cold was soon pulling away. “What’s wrong?”
“Shower,” Cold ordered firmly, “and then we’re going to rest.”
“What about talking?” Jimmy demanded, crossing his arms with an angry pout.
“Shower,” Cold repeated as he stepped out of his pants before assisting Jimmy in undressing the rest of the way.
Once the hot water was going and Jimmy was gritting his teeth against the bittersweet sting of it on his sore flesh, Cold began to speak.
“Since Matteo was killed last year, Cristian and Luigi have been fighting over Perry City,” he said. “At least, that’s what they wanted me to think. They’ve been slowly returning their people to Strassen Springs and thought I wouldn’t notice. They’re idiots. Now that Marco’s body has been found and they’ve reestablished themselves here, they’re out for blood. They want revenge for him, for Matteo, and for lowly little Vincenzo.”
Jimmy shuddered, unable to stop a troubled memory of blood and lifeless eyes flashing up in his mind. “But why try to kill you in broad daylight like that? And how did they even know where you would be?”
“Because someone is helping them,” Cold said, lathering up his hands and starting to wash Jimmy’s back. “They held you as bait and told Gary where I would be. It was risky, but they took the chance that was given to them.”
“Charlie?” Jimmy knew it all along.
