Chapter 36

“Depends on your definition of hurt.”

“What definition are you using?”

Foster turned off the stove, leaving the frying pan on the burner as he reached overhead for a plate. “Physical damage? No, can’t say I see Michelle doing that since she went to so much trouble to save you. But other kinds of hurt?” He slid the omelet smoothly out of the pan. “Michelle doesn’t like Gideon very much, and if I was her, and I wanted to get to you, seems to me he’d be the best way to go about doing it.”

“Gideon can take care of himself, and I’m not going to let her take him from me again.” Jesse grabbed the hot bread from the toaster. “What did you mean by earning my stripes?”

Foster fell silent, pouring out a fresh cup of coffee and seasoning his eggs. Jesse watched him out of the corner of his eye, trying to evaluate if the man’s movements were normally so deliberate, or if there was something else at play, but like Foster’s tone earlier, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.