Page 58 of Two Chambered Heart

“You’d have to get close to her first, and I don’t want you coming anywhere near here. It’s not safe.”

“I thought you didn’t have a heart?” Archie teased.

“Yeah, yeah,” Jason grumbled as his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, eyes skimming the text from Kayden.

When will you be done? We want to go for dinner.Apparently, somewhere along the way, Corey and Kayden had become a “we.” Cute.

So go for dinner,he typed back.

You’re coming with.

Fine.

“Find anything with that big brain of yours, Arch?”

“Nah, everything looks good. Let’s wrap this up.”

“Alright.”

Jason shot off a quick text to Kayden.I’ll be 1.5 hours. He got a thumbs up in response.

“The network management is complete, so we’re done here.” Archie confirmed. The computers started shutting down before his eyes. “The perimeter is still clear. I’ll stay with you till you’re on the road.”

“Thanks, Archie.”

“It’s what I’m here for.” Guilt bubbled up in Jason’s gut again. It wasn’t what Archie was here for. He wanted his friend to be living a full life, not tied to a computer running cybersecurity for him and his brother’s stupid operation. Sure, Archie was making millions, but he could be making millions anywhere with his gift. He didn’t need to be working with black market opium.

Jason shook his head. He didn’t know why he was feeling so doom and gloom today—probably the hangover. Sensitivity about their line of work wasn’t typical for him. He used to enjoy it. He knew it was starting to wear on him, though. After a decade, it was starting to wear on all of them. It was probably why Kayden was so happy for a distraction in Corey, some purpose other than organized crime and violence.

Jason locked up the entire establishment, said goodbye to Archie, and pulled out his earpiece. Then he called Kayden.

“I just finished. I’m an hour out from the city.”

“What are you wearing?” Kayden asked him.

“Are you flirting with me, Kay?”

“No dumbass, we’re going to Highs. You want to come home and change or meet us there?”

Jason looked down at his leather tactical boots and dark jeans. He was wearing a cream-coloured Henley shirt underneath his leather jacket, along with multiple handguns. He’d be underdressed, but he didn’t really need to dress up to look good. Besides, those who mattered knew who they were.

“Well, I’m not in sweats, so it’ll do. I’m packing, though.”

“As you should be.” He could hear the smile in Kayden’s voice. “We’ll meet you there in an hour, then?”

“As you wish, brother.”

Jason hung up the phone, tightened the straps on his holsters under his leather jacket, pulled on his leather gloves, and hit the road on his bike,letting the speed distract him from his overly contemplative thoughts and his achy brain.

Chapter twenty-four

- Jason -

The low lighting of the restaurant left the tables partially shadowed in the high-end steak restaurant. The noise had hit him first, a crashing wave of internal sound.

“Can I help you, sir?” The hostess stopped him.

“My brother, Kayden Haeven, has a table. He’s waiting for me.”

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