Jimmy swallowed awkwardly as realization settled in. He knew exactly what Cold meant. “You’re going to kill him, aren’t you?”
“Not personally, but yes. I am going to kill him.”
“Who is he?” Jimmy demanded, bile flushing his throat as he tried to speak. “Does, does he have any family? What, what about kids?”
“Jimmy, you shouldn’t ask questions you really don’t want to know the answers to,” Cold sighed sympathetically as he set the cloth aside.
“What are you talking about?” Jimmy scowled, finding Cold’s soft tone patronizing. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to know!”
“If I say yes, what would you do?” Cold drawled. “Beg for me to spare his life and still risk incarceration by allowing him to live? I am not going to do that, not even for you.”
Jimmy stayed silent as indecision tore at his gut and forced the sweet afterglow to fade away. He shook his head, saying at last, “No. You’re right. I don’t need to know.”
“This is why I’ve wanted to keep all of this from you.” Cold leaned down and kissed Jimmy’s hair. “You love the man that I am, but the monster... you can’t.”
“I love you. I love all of you! Even the monster!” Jimmy insisted. “But you can’t freakin’ keep lying to me about everything! Because then you’re bringing the monster in here! Right in our home!”
“One day you’ll understand that the two are inseparable,” Cold scoffed, his gaze diverted to the ceiling. “What else do you want to know?”
Jimmy closed his eyes. “What’s the service you’re providing for Charlie?”
“Mr. Eastwick?”
“Whatever his name is.”
Cold paused, thinking the question over before replying, “I am helping him extort his biological grandfather.”
“The one who was married and tried to make his grandmother get rid of the baby?” Jimmy perked up. Honestly, he’d thought Charlie’s dramatic story was a lie after finding out that he was a federal agent.
“Yes. His grandfather is still alive and in a very powerful position, hence the need for my assistance. We’re extorting him for a large sum of money and forcing him to perform a small task that benefits my case. Once that is done, Charlie is going to leak the story to the press and ruin him.”
“What the fuck?” Jimmy gasped. “But, but why?”
“That’s between Mr. Eastwick and his grandfather,” Cold said with a slight shrug. “I understand that it’s very personal for him.”
“So, you’re going to take all of his money, probably make him do something really illegal, and still destroy his career?”
“Yes.”
Jimmy didn’t know what to say to that, instead asking, “What about the murder weapon and all the DNA evidence?”
“They will be dealt with,” Cold said shortly, scowling when Jimmy gave him an expectant stare. “What’s left of Marco has been released to a funeral home. There’s going to be a very severe misunderstanding and his body will be cremated. I’ve already agreed to generously compensate the crematory employee who will certainly be terminated over the incident.”
“That still doesn’t cover the samples that the police already collected.”
“Those along with the murder weapon will be destroyed,” Cold explained. “That is Mr. Eastwick’s gift to me.”
Nose scrunching up with thought, Jimmy asked cautiously, “Who exactly is his grandfather?”
“As I said, he’s a very powerful man.”
“Is he with the police? Forensics?” Jimmy pressed. “He’s got to have some sort of connection with the authorities if he’s able to get rid of the evidence for you. That’s the task he’s doing for you, right? His grandfather is the one who’s gonna destroy it all?”
Cold glanced away to the ceiling again.
“Fine,” Jimmy pouted, deciding to be grateful for what he had already received. He reached up to touch Cold’s cheek and gently turned his face toward him. “Thank you.”
“For?” Cold sounded hesitant, and he was frowning.
