Chapter 45

“How…” The word came out thick and Jesse had to swallow before asking, “How do I look better? We look exactly alike except for…” Except for the scars.

“Not exactly. I’d bet David could pick his Jesse out, just as much as I could.” Gideon ran the tip of his finger along the outline of JT’s thigh. “This here, for instance. You’re slightly bulkier. JT looks a lot like you did when you first came to Chicago. You’ve had all these years to carve yourself into something new.”

David’s reappearance stopped Gideon from continuing, and they both fell silent as David circled JT’s hunched frame. He slapped a leather flogger against his thigh, each soft sound echoing into Jesse’s flesh as well.

“I’m not happy with you, boy.” David’s baritone, though still in its same soft cadences, bled from the speakers even more than JT’s breathing had. “Did you think I wouldn’t see how you practically begged Gideon to use this room?”