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No matter if the man’s words are true, Gideon is resentful of the implication.

He had taken to Carnell’s violent ways as easily as a duck to water. It’s why they were here, after all. He has very graphic plans to use some of those well-learned skills on the bastard very shortly, in fact.

“Why help me if you think I’m just like him?”

“Because you could have been just like him, but you try so hard not to be. I’ve asked around. You try to live a good life, don’t you, Allistair?”

The name he’d been given at birth grates on Gideon’s nerves.

It was not the name he’d assumed when he and his mother had fledNashville, nor the name he lives with now.

He is Gideon.

“It’s Gideon. And what do you know.” Gideon isn’t asking.

There would be any number of people willing to talk about the Chef and Owner of Quest. The mate to rockstars ofLong Road Home. The active—and formerly very popular—member at the kink club,The Black Hole.

Any number of people who are grossly ignorant of the real Gideon.

The man he shows only to his mates.

His Luca.

Gideon feels the burn of shame, because he hasn’t been the real Gideon for months.

“Nothing really, I suppose. Or enough, depending on how you look at it. Charitable donations to food banks and volunteering with shelters for both animals and humans. Donations to several seniors’ facilities and wherever your mates perform, there’s a huge donation to the LGBTQIA+ youth centers. Don’t ask how I know, I have connections, too.”

The man chuckles, and then he coughs and coughs.

Gideon offers him the unopened bottle of water from his jacket pocket, which the man accepts with a smile.

“Thank you. So. Ask me what you want to know, and then you can get back to your hunt.”

He dumps the last of the birdseed onto the wet sidewalk, and the older bird finally scrounges up his share.

“You were in his home for decades. Your grandson still works for him. Tell me where he might be hiding, and I’ll make sure your son is avenged. I swear it.”

The man bursts out laughing maybe at Gideon’s dramatic words, or maybe at the idea of Gideon’s ambitious plan.

“Sorry, sorry. It’s just that you looked just like her again. She could always make me laugh, and yet she was so passionate in her loyalty and duty…and aboutyou.”

The man shakes his head, eyes far away.

“I’m sorry you lost her. She did not deserve her life with him, and neitherdid you. So I’ll help you, with two conditions.”

Gideon feels his anger surge.

How dare this old fool hold back the information… how dare he think he had a right to bargain.

Gideon should—whoa.

Gideonshouldwhat? Hurt this old man?

It’s enough to turn his stomach.

He’d been living in the shadows too much lately—reveling in threats and minor acts of violence, using money to buy loyalty and information.

It has led him here, where he has thoughts of using his power to hurt and manipulate someone whose only mistake had been trusting Gideon Carnell.