Hard Earned Cash: A Dark Mafia Romance

by K. L. Hiers

  “The authorities will want Monsieur Poe to make a formal statement soon,” Jerry added quietly from the doorway. “Shall I make the arrangements with Mademoiselle Beccali?”

  “Yes, thank you, Jerry,” Cold said, his eyes flicking to Lorre. “I trust you finished your errand?”

  “It’s done,” Lorre replied. “Just waiting to go see Tamerlane.”

  “I bet you are,” Pym mumbled bitterly.

  “Pym.” Cold said his name softly, but it carried a threat.

  “Yes, Boss,” Pym sighed obediently. “I’ll find out where they’re keeping the damn thing and let you know.”

  “Jules?” Cold turned to his old friend. “Tomorrow, I want you with Jimmy. Our friend Richard Champignon will most likely be present for his statement. Make sure he minds his manners.”

  “You got it,” Jules grunted.

  “Now... go.” Cold waved his hand, and the Gentlemen filtered out one by one.

  Jimmy was thankful when they were finally alone, leaning up for an urgent kiss. “I still can’t believe you’re here. How?”

  “A million-dollar bail and the provision that I remain on house arrest,” Cold said, lifting up his pants leg to show Jimmy a shiny ankle monitor.

  “Cute,” Jimmy snorted.

  “Are you all right?” Cold said, his hands moving to cup Jimmy’s face.

  “I’m... I don’t know,” Jimmy replied honestly. “I can’t stop seeing it. That guy... Waugh? I didn’t even know his last name before. He was just Paul the flower guy.”

  “Did he say anything to you?”

  “Yes.” Jimmy shuddered as the memory flashed before his eyes. “He said that he didn’t want to do it. That they made him. He said you were going to kill him and he... and he couldn’t live like this.”

  Cold thought that over, petting Jimmy’s cheek tenderly. “I’m sorry you had to see that. It was never my intention for Mr. Waugh to be handled in such a crude manner.”

  “He was one of the three witnesses, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “What were you going to do?”

  “Do you really want to know?” Cold quirked his brows curiously.

  “No. I don’t know. Were you... were you going to kill him?”

  “Mr. Waugh had been loyal to the Gentlemen for several years. I was hoping to reason with him and help him escape whatever the authorities were using against him.”

  “What are you going to do to the one in prison?” Jimmy blurted out. “Is Tamerlane gonna whack him?”

  Cold scoffed at the crude expression, replying, “Not directly.” He tilted his head. “Any other pressing questions you don’t need to hear the answers to?”

  “Is your ankle monitor chafing you?”

  “Brat,” Cold snorted, pulling Jimmy in for a kiss.

  Jimmy boldly wrapped his arms around Cold’s neck and kissed him hard. “I was so worried about you. I just wanted to stop and get you some damn flowers!”

  “Quiet now,” Cold soothed. “I’ve told you there’s no need to worry.”

  “Managing to get yourself out on bail is one thing. Beating these charges? Rod... Rod, this is so bad.”

  “Still don’t trust me?” Cold was amused.

  “I trust that you trust yourself,” Jimmy replied urgently. “I trust that you really believe you’re going to get out of this, but—”

  “Then that’s all you need,” Cold insisted. He leaned close, pressing their hips back together with a smirk. “You still have so many doubts... is that why you touched yourself? You didn’t think I was actually coming home?”

  Jimmy squeaked, his cheeks immediately flushing. He gazed up at Cold in shock. “How did you know? That’s, that’s not freakin’ possible!”

  “Your beautiful face told me,” Cold chuckled, nudging Jimmy’s chin.

  “It just sort of happened,” Jimmy said quickly. “I took a shower and I was really upset and I wasn’t even thinking about the punishment—”

  “Mr. Poe,” Cold said softly, his voice dropping down to a throaty purr. “You know what this means, don’t you?”

  “I was bad, sir,” Jimmy replied quietly as heat pooled between his legs.

  “That’s right,” Cold said, his thumb tracing Jimmy’s lower lip, “and now you’ll need to be dealt with. Upstairs. Strip. Now.”

  Jimmy was half-hard as he hurried up to their room, noticing that Cold had done his own cleaning up here. Everything had been put exactly back into place as before, and he couldn’t even tell that anyone had ever disturbed this sanctuary.

  As he took off his clothes, he also noted there were all new linens on the bed. He wanted to check the status of the bedside table drawer, but he had a feeling he already knew what he would find.

  Nude, Jimmy sat on the edge of the bed and waited.

  Cold strolled in at a leisurely pace, asking, “Safe word, Mr. Poe?”

  “Ice.”

  Cold smiled, ordering firmly, “Lie on the bed, face down, Mr. Poe.”

  Jimmy obeyed, and his cock was at full attention now. He tried to remain as still as possible, groaning when he felt Cold’s hands sliding over his bare ass. “I’m sorry, sir. I know I was bad.”

  “It’s all right, Mr. Poe,” Cold said. “I’m going to help you learn.”

  Jimmy heard the click of a lubricant bottle.

  “New bottle,” Cold said quietly. “New everything, just for you... and a few new surprises.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Jimmy sighed gratefully, mewling when Cold’s fingers began to probe between his cheeks. He resisted the urge to rock back and let Cold tease him without protest.

  “I saw you had disposed of our toys, and I understand completely.” Cold was quick but careful, stretching Jimmy open with skilled thrusts. “I wouldn’t want to use anything on you that’s been tainted.”

  Jimmy panted into the sheets, and he groaned when Cold added a third finger inside of him. He didn’t know what Cold was opening him up for, but it was big. His mental query was answered when he felt the sensation of cool silicone replacing Cold’s dexterous hand. “That, what is that, sir?”

  “A new plug,” Cold replied, pushing it gently inside Jimmy’s wet hole.

  Jimmy shifted his hips, finding the shape alien and almost too much. He realized that it was very thick and curved, stretching him out and pressing against his prostate.

  “How does it feel, Mr. Poe?” Cold asked smugly.

  “Good, sir. Weird, but good.” There was a soft click, a new sound, and Jimmy gasped when the toy began to vibrate inside of him. It was a low hum at first, tolerable and pleasant, and Jimmy smiled wide. “Mmm... very good, sir.”

  Cold stroked his ass, squeezing his cheek roughly. “I’m going to keep this toy in you until I think you deserve to come.” He must have set the controller to the toy down because now both of his hands were free and grabbing Jimmy’s wrists. “And since I can no longer trust you not to touch yourself...”

  Jimmy groaned eagerly when he felt silken rope winding around his arms.

  “I have to make sure you’ll behave.” Cold wove the rope around Jimmy’s forearms and between his wrists, tying them tightly together. “There... beautiful.”

  Jimmy tested the bindings, finding them snug but not uncomfortable. The vibrations inside him were constant, but nowhere nearly enough to bring him any satisfaction. “Thank you, sir.”

  Cold sat against the headboard, beckoning Jimmy over with a crook of his finger. “Come here, Mr. Poe. In my lap.”

  Jimmy struggled to get to his knees without the use of his arms, clumsily plopping down between Cold’s legs. He grunted when Cold swiftly rearranged him, his back now flush against the gangster’s chest.

  Cold picked up the controller for the plug and clicked it up another notch.

  Jimmy moaned at the stronger wave of vibrations, the pulsing making his balls shudder from within. “Mmm... sir...”

  Cold reached around Jimmy’s side, his fingertips lightly dancing across his stom
ach until he found his cock. He squeezed him and slowly began to stroke. “Do you like this, Mr. Poe?”

  “Yes, sir,” Jimmy whispered, his head dropping back against Cold’s shoulders. “The ropes, they help me be good for you. The toy... mmm, I like the toy, too.”

  “The toy is part of your punishment,” Cold said with a dark chuckle. His hand began to speed up, while he simultaneously turned the vibrations up to teeth-chattering levels.

  “Oh, fuck!” Jimmy cried, his hips twitching from the avalanche of stimulation.

  “Are you close, Mr. Poe?” Cold asked, his tone taunting and wicked.

  “Yes, sir,” Jimmy whined. His thighs were starting to tense, and his breath was coming out in stunted gasps. He was right on the precipice of orgasmic joy, pleading, “Can I please come, sir?”

  “No,” was the cruel reply.

  Jimmy whimpered, groaning when Cold’s hand stopped and the toy’s vibrations were reduced to a low hum. He swallowed thickly and tried to focus. He had to be good, he had to obey.

  Cold watched him patiently while he waited for him to calm down.

  Jimmy, sweating, confident that his testicles were going to implode from being denied, asked breathlessly, “Again, sir?”

  “Yes, Mr. Poe.” Cold wrapped his fingers back around Jimmy’s cock and started stroking him once more. “For the next few weeks, you’re going to need to stay here at the house for your own safety. Do you understand?”

  “Y-yes, sir,” Jimmy groaned. He tried to thrust up into Cold’s hand, greedy for release. “Mmmph... please?”

  “Slow down,” Cold warned. “Always in such a hurry, Mr. Poe.”

  Jimmy squeezed his eyes shut and yielded immediately. He relaxed against Cold, and he moaned when he was rewarded with another strong pulse of vibrations against his prostate.

  “Good boy,” Cold praised warmly.

  Jimmy knew the rewards of obedience were always worth the arduous struggle, grunting and wiggling as he fought against the urge to come. He wouldn’t come until Cold said he could and then completion would finally be his, and it would be divine.

  Finding release along such a difficult path was more than mere physical satisfaction. It was a deep happiness that came from knowing he had pleased his lover. He could make Cold happy, he could be good for him, and the resulting pride that would swell within his chest would be without compare.

  It wasn’t always easy, but Jimmy reasoned that was part of the thrill. He liked having to work for Cold’s approval, deep down loving every torturous second because he knew of the sweet bliss that would inevitably follow his labor.

  “If you must leave the house, you will be escorted by Jules or Jerry, preferably both,” Cold went on, his thumb pressing into the head of Jimmy’s cock. “Should you need to visit anyone, your father or whomever, I would much prefer they come here.”

  “Fuck...” Jimmy watched Cold play in a bubble of his own sticky pre-cum. “But the statement... I have to go give a statement to the police!”

  “And so Jules and Jerry will go with you,” Cold said calmly. “Miss Beccali will be with you, and I trust she will keep our best interests at the forefront of her thoughts.”

  Jimmy’s eyes fluttered closed, the tension between his legs leaving him aching. His cock was so wet and he wanted to come so badly. “I’m so close, sir...”

  “Not yet,” Cold said firmly, turning off the toy and squeezing the base of Jimmy’s cock.

  Jimmy wheezed as the very air was stolen from his lungs. He grinded back on Cold’s hips, the toy moving inside of him and making him cry. He could feel how hard Cold was through his pants, and he whined desperately, “Please, sir. I’ll be so good, I’ll be so fucking good!”

  “This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” Cold sneered, twisting his fingers cruelly around Jimmy’s balls. “To be punished?”

  “Fuck, yes, yes, sir!” Jimmy’s eyes were stinging with tears, and he tugged at the restraints that held him in place. “I wanna be good, I do! I’ve been so bad! But, but I wanna come!”

  “You don’t deserve to come yet,” Cold informed him flatly as he teased over Jimmy’s cock with feathery strokes.

  “What... what do you need me to do?” Jimmy whimpered. “I’ll do anything, please!”

  “Then trust me,” Cold urged, something emotional softening his usually dominating tone. “There is no reason for you to see any more bloodshed.”

  “There’s... there’s going to be more?” Jimmy’s stomach tightened.

  “Yes.” Cold began jerking him off again with smooth rolls of his fingers, and the vibrations returned at full force.

  “Fuck!” Jimmy was nearly in tears, pleading pitifully, “Please, sir? Can I please come now?”

  “Yes, Mr. Poe,” Cold growled. “Come for me...”

  “God! Fuck!” Jimmy sobbed and moaned as he threw himself off into absolute rapture. Every tremor of his orgasm shook him down to his bones, his load shooting out with incredible force, and he wailed triumphantly, “Thank you, sir! Thank you!”

  Cold turned the vibrations down at an agonizing rate, seeming to enjoy how Jimmy was left twitching. He kissed Jimmy’s shoulder as he said proudly, “Such a very good boy for me, Mr. Poe...”

  Jimmy beamed, his heart full of love even as it pounded frantically from being worked over so many times. He melted in Cold’s arms, sighing, “Wow...”

  “Good?” Cold asked, presenting his hand to Jimmy to lick away the mess.

  “So good,” Jimmy said, eagerly sucking Cold’s fingers into his mouth and swallowing back his own cum. He ran his tongue over his palm and his knuckles. “Sooo very good.”

  “Good.” Cold seemed relaxed now, kissing Jimmy’s neck and his ear. “Now, do you understand that you need to trust me?”

  “Yes.” Jimmy looked up at Cold through the haze of his afterglow. “Whatever you’re planning, you’re right... I don’t want to know. I don’t want to be a part of it, but I’m already in so deep now.”

  “If you believe nothing else, know that I am going to use all of my power to protect you.” Cold’s hand moved to touch the puckered scar on Jimmy’s arm. It was from a bullet that had been meant to kill him. “Always.”

  Jimmy nuzzled against Cold’s shoulder, his hands reaching back despite the awkward angle to pet his side where Cold had his own scars from being shot. He smiled and agreed passionately, “Always.”

  Chapter Six

  Cold teased Jimmy through another orgasm before finding his own end in Jimmy’s mouth. Toys put away and all cleaned up, they stayed cuddled in bed for the rest of the afternoon until Jerry announced that dinner was almost ready.

  After a quick shower, they were both getting dressed, and Jimmy couldn’t help but notice how Cold was fussing with his socks. “What’s wrong?”

  Cold scowled, waving at his feet as he said, “The monitor is prohibiting me from pulling both of my socks up.”

  “Why don’t you just pull it up over the monitor?”

  “It will stretch out my sock.” Cold’s nose wrinkled up in disgust.

  Grinning, Jimmy hugged Cold’s neck and kissed his cheek. “We all have to make sacrifices to get through this difficult time.”

  Cold growled.

  “It’s really going to bother you, isn’t it?” Jimmy patted Cold’s shoulder. “Maybe you could try wearing ankle socks?”

  “Never.” Cold actually looked offended.

  “Come on,” Jimmy said with a fond smile. “Let’s go eat.” He walked downstairs with Cold, stopping in his tracks when he saw Charlie setting the table. “What are you doing here?”

  “Right! Sorry,” Charlie said with a sheepish smile. “After you sort of ran off into the house, Jerry told me to wait in the kitchen to stay out of everyone’s hair. So, well, I waited.”

  “You’ve been in there all of this time?”

  “Not the entire time,” Jerry answered, swishing in from the kitchen with a happy grin. “When I found Monsieur Swenson still in our comp
any, I put him to work.”

  “Oh?” Jimmy glanced between the two men expectantly and smiled wide when he saw the way they were looking at each other. “To work, huh?”

  “With dinner!” Jerry exclaimed, blushing furiously and holding his nose up high. “Monsieur Swenson is quite the aspiring chef, I will have you know.”

  “Coming from you, that is indeed high praise,” Cold said, taking his seat at the head of the table. He seemed oddly calm regarding Charlie’s continued presence.

  “Thank you both,” Charlie said shyly. “I do hope you enjoy it. You know, I must say, it’s giving me so many ideas for your wedding—”

  “Later,” Cold said sternly.

  “Right! Later! Yes, Mr. Legrand!”

  Jimmy sat down next to Cold, eyeing Charlie for a moment. His sweet affection for Jerry seemed genuine enough, but there was something that felt off.

  When the flower clerk started screaming, was it really because he saw Jimmy? He had been going there ever since he had first stopped to get flowers for his mother’s grave. It seemed so strange that Jimmy’s presence would have been so upsetting.

  Maybe it was because of the trial.

  Perhaps the police had made threats...

  Or was it because of Charlie?

  Jimmy’s gut turned at the thought.

  Charlie was just the wedding planner, and he had been hand-picked by Cold himself. There wasn’t any reason to worry. Jimmy silently berated himself for getting so carried away even as his suspicions worried at his stomach.

  After serving dinner, Charlie opted to eat in the kitchen with Jerry, leaving Jimmy alone with Cold.

  “What’s troubling you?” Cold asked pointedly. “You have the oddest look on your face.”

  “Sorry,” Jimmy said. “I just...”

  Think our wedding planner is bad news? A spy?

  “Just worried about all of this.”

  “All you need to do is worry about the wedding,” Cold said with a faint smile.

  “Right. The wedding I’m not going to.”

  “Oh, but you will.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Jimmy stabbed at his food with a bit more force than necessary, struggling to make small talk for the rest of the meal. He couldn’t escape the feeling that something was very wrong.