Chapter 48

“You’re lying.”

Jesse’s head snapped to the left. Gideon was closer now. It sounded like he was on the far aisle, maybe halfway up.

“Why would I let a pet carry weapons?” Gideon continued. “How stupid do you think I am?”

“You’ve trained me to fight, to take care of myself. You trust me because I’ve never given you reason not to.” Jesse held up the knife, letting it reflect the moonlight so Gideon could see it. “And I trust you to take care of me.” He very deliberately lowered the kitchen knife to the altar, leaving himself unarmed.

“You’re an idiot, then.” He hadn’t moved. “The only people who trust me are the ones who end up dead.”

“I’ve trusted you with my life for five years now. I’ve never regretted it.” Jesse moved toward his dark form. If Gideon really intended to kill him, it wouldn’t matter if they had twelve feet, six feet, or six inches between them. “You saved my life, and that was it. I belonged to you.”

“But you’re still a pet. You have a collar, right?”