Page 9 of Two Chambered Heart

Corey watched the floors light up again, considering whether it would do her any good to beg this man for help. It would be an ironic turn of events if a security guard, the people she’d spent most of her life evading, were to be her knight in shining armor. But from the deference he had given the blood-spattered twins, and the way he hadn’t even blinked at the trussed-up girl accompanying them, she didn’t think he’d be of any help. Corey did make a mental note of the fact that security was likely on floor five. Maybe that would be useful to her in the future.

The elevator slowed its steady ascent, and an automated voice announced that they had reached their floor.

The doors opened and Jenkins passed the card key to Jason, holding the elevator doors open for them. Kayden patted him on the shoulder as he stepped out.

“Have a good day, Jenkins. Bring some flowers home for the missus tonight.” Jason winked at the moustached man with unexpected playfulness and pulled Corey out of the elevator. Jenkins bowed to the twins, but she caught a smile on his face just as the elevator doors closed.

Corey turned around to take in the massive penthouse. The elevator led directly into their condo, the open concept layout revealing that their unit was the entire floor. This was bigger than any house she’d been in before. Floor-to-ceiling windows spanned two stories. A long balcony looked over the sitting room in the centre of the main floor, indicating that there was a second level, the railing made of black wood and iron. The sitting room housed a grey suede, U-shaped couch that could easily seat fifteen people. Black finishes accented the deep cream walls. The entire place was clean and tidy, with nothing out of order.

They were standing in an entryway with tall closet doors on one side and a bench along the other side. In tandem, both guys threw their jackets to the floor and propped a foot up on the bench to unlace their black tactical combat boots. Corey kicked off her own shoes.

When they had their boots off, the twins looked at Corey.

“What should we do with her?” Kayden asked his brother. His tone wasn’t as cruel as the words. “I don’t know if the guest room is made up.”

“I’m sure Belinda hasn’t missed a room. It’ll have to do for now.” Jason grabbed the rope, jerking Corey forward.

Corey reared back, catching the rope now pulled taut, and yanked as hard as she could.

Jason just sneered and let it fall to the ground. “I was wondering when you were going to bite back, dog. I was sure you had some bark in you after that display on the driveway.”

Neither of the guys made to pick the line back up, so she brought both her hands to the rope around her neck and pulled. It didn’t so much as budge, and she pulled harder, gritting her teeth, the cord digging into her nape. The guys just watched her struggle, humour dancing in their evil eyes. She was ready to spit fire.

“Get this off of me!” she screamed, her voice cracking slightly. She tore at the knot, digging her fingertips into it. Corey wrenched at the knot until the harsh cotton fibres left her fingernails jagged and her fingertips raw and burning. She wanted to cry. In frustration. In pain.

But she refused to let a single tear fall again today. Not in front of them, at least.

Finally, she dropped her hands in utter defeat. “If I tell you my name, will you untie this fucking rope?” Her voice came out stronger than she felt at that moment.

“The name was just to have something to call you, but I already found something suiting. You can keep your name for yourself, if it’s so important.” Jason gestured into the air and made to turn around.

Kayden shot his brother a look. “I’ll untie it. But you’ll have to tell us your firstandlast name.” Kayden stepped towards Corey, crowding her into the harsh metal doors behind her.

“It’s Corey,” she recoiled, giving him what he wanted in an attempt to create space.

“Last name?” Kayden rumbled over her.

“Smith.”

“Let’s see about that, Corey Smith.” Kayden reached into her coat pockets, finding her mini cordless rotary tool. He pursed his lips, taking it for himself and reached inside her coat, feeling the interior. There was nothing there. Then the fucker had the audacity to grope her ass with both hands. Corey shoved him away.

“Don’t fucking touch me!”

Kayden just shrugged, a lopsided grin on his face. “A back pocket is a reasonable place for a wallet.”

“I don’t have a wallet,” she answered truthfully.

“Phone?” Corey just shook her head. She’d run from her ex’s house, which had also been her house for the last two years, with nothing but her shoes, the clothes she had been wearing, her stupid watch, and this damn trench coat.

Kayden puffed out a breath. “Okay, no phone, no wallet. Do you have anything to confirm your identity? Your name literally sounds made up.”

“It is,” Corey mumbled.

Kayden lifted a brow at her, but reached out to untie the knot anyway. His deft fingers made easy work of it. Corey rubbed her hand across the raw skin on the back of her neck and hid her wince from Kayden.

“We’ll show you to the guest room, I guess.”

Jason led them out of the entryway and down a side hallway. There were no pictures on the wall of the corridor, just a smooth, deep cream that matched the living room she’d seen. It looked staged, like no one really lived here.

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