Page 72 of Mimosa

He’d forgotten all about those. “This isn’t some locker room, you children.”

Ignoring the scolding, Goldie told Cosmo, “That man must have some meat between his legs. The noises Mims was making…”

Cosmo laughed and asked Mims, “Any thoughts on that, Mr. Mimosa?”

“Yeah. He’s hung like a horse and knows how to use it,” he bragged.

“Thanks,” Sonny said from the doorway.

Mims groaned and then glared at his friends. “Thanks a lot!”

“We didn’t see him either,” Cosmo said then to Sonny, informed, “We were giving Mims hell. It’s part of our charm.”

“Perfectly fine with me,” he said as he walked over and kissed Mims. “Good morning, gorgeous.”

“Morning,” Mims sighed.

Sonny nodded to the others, “Morning.”

“Good morning, stud,” Goldie said.

Sonny kissed Mims again and whispered, “Go get in the shower. I’ll be there in a minute. Just gonna get some coffee.”

“Okay. I’ll see you there.”

*****

As soon as he was gone, Cosmo told Sonny, “That was slick. You obviously wanted to talk to us alone.”

“Listen,” Goldie said, “we were just teasing him.”

“No, that’s fine, and yes, I wanted to speak to the two of you. I, uh…I might have to leave for a while and I want to make sure that you all know I’m not leaving him.”

Cosmo’s eyes narrowed at him. “Oh? Is that so?”

“I…fucked up a little. They have me in charge of the young men they’re pimping out, because, well, they know I’m gay. These guys are barely legal, taken from colleges, mostly, some were on the streets. But…I, uh, I’m not pushing them to do all that the cartel wants them to do. I’m taking care of them and I…I helped one get away.”

“Damn,” Goldie said, hopping off the counter. “Can’t say I blame you, but that is a spotlight to those dicks.”

“It is, and I’m afraid that I’m in their crosshairs now. I just can’t do it. The things they’re doing to those guys and women, feeding them drugs to keep them pliant. Cosmo, I’m seeing Taran today, but after…”

“So what do you want us to do?” Goldie asked.

“When and if I need to leave, you have to make sure he knows that once they’re busted, I’m coming back to him.”

Cosmo shook his head. “No. Fuck no. You tell him.”

“Oh, I’m going to! I wanted us to have a great night, just in case it’s the last for a while. But you know, when someone’s gone, a person can start to think terrible things. And I swear to you, his family, I love him. I truly love him.”

Both relented from the way they’d puffed up in defense of Mims. That told Sonny that his guy was in good hands. “No worries. We’ll make sure he’s okay,” Cosmo said. “He…he’s a sweetheart.”

“He is and he’s fragile. As tough as he wants to be, he’s fragile. I don’t want him to hurt more than necessary.”

“Why do you have to leave completely?” Goldie asked. “We know a lot of people around the city. We can hide you better than the cops.”

“Especially with other cops looking for you. Best find the friends in low places to hide you.”

“That won’t sell me out?”

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