Page 47 of Two Chambered Heart

“Nice, pass it over here.”

Kayden opened the box, sliding the savoury pancake to Jason. It was topped full of green scallions, bonito flakes, and a lattice of Kewpie mayo spread across the top.

“Um, I think that thing is still alive! It’s moving!” Corey said in panic, pointing a chopstick at the top of the dish and pulling her legs up onto the couch like the food was going to walk right off the table and bite her toes.

Jason choked on his food, laughing at her hysterics.

Fuck, she’s so damn adorable.Kayden couldn’t help his grin. “It’s the bonito flakes. The heat from the pancake makes them move. There’s got to be some science behind it, how the heat affects the protein molecules and the water in the flakes, but I’m honestly not too sure. Give it a try.”

Corey didn’t look convinced.

“You’re eating raw fish anyway. You’re opposed to eating something moving?” Jason asked her, sipping on his whiskey to clear his airways.

“I guess not. Give it here, let’s try this okomomoyoko.”

“Okonomiyaki,” Jason corrected, passing her the box.

“That’s what I said.”

“Not even close.” And Jason was trying like hell to hide his smile, but Kayden saw right through his efforts.

“Okay, that’s fucking amazing,” Corey said after her first bite. She quickly took another.

“Told you,” Kayden smirked.

Jason held out his hand, silently asking for the food. Corey looked like she wasn’t going to give it up, but sighed and passed it over.

Between the three of them, they devoured everything Kayden had ordered.

There was only one piece of sushi left in front of Jason.

Corey snipped at it with her chopsticks like an insect with pincers. Before she got to it, Jason intercepted it with his own chopsticks, fighting her off. It escalated to an all-out chopstick brawl, and Kayden was a littleamazed by the dexterity on display. Corey was giggling, dashing about with the stupid wooden sticks, but with a jab from Jason, her fingers fumbled, and he went in for the kill, shoving the last piece of sushi into his mouth and smiling like a cat with a bird in its mouth.

“I win,” Jason announced once his mouth was empty again.

“Whatever, I’m full enough to burst,” she said, nestling back into the couch and patting her bloated belly.

It wasn’t long before a soft snore from Corey indicated she was fast asleep.

“We have another shipment for Kreig scheduled this week,” Kayden murmured to Jason. “Can the Afghanis support that supply?”

“We already secured it from Kovack before.”

Damn.He hadn’t been keeping up with the inventory, and guilt roiled in his gut. “It’s a 20 million dollar transaction. I’m not letting you do another transfer alone, Jase. If anything happened to you and I wasn’t there….” Kayden’s chest tightened at the thought.

“It’s fine. I got Archie watching out. Just enjoy yourself.”

“Please, Jase, no more solo runs.”

Jason blew out a breath. “Okay.”

“Okay.” Kayden repeated, not feeling that much better about it. He switched gears, trying to avoid any further protests. “Man, it felt so good to run through the city. We went to the market by the pier the other day, too. I haven’t been there in ages. It’s like I forgot what it was like to be alive, to actually be in the real world without wanting to blow my head off.”

Kayden looked at Corey, her beautiful face so peaceful while she slept.

“We can’t keep her here forever, Kay.” Jason said, like he was trying to explain to a child why they couldn’t keep the baby bird they’d rescued. It made Kayden’s blood boil.

“No? Then what’s your plan for her, Jase? Because it’s really unclear to me. I knowmyplan.” His voice was aggressive, barely containing his rage athis brother’s stubbornness. “No one is coming for her, and she isn’t even looking for a way out.”

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