Locked Hearts (Chained Hearts Duet 2)

Wren starts making some noises, her hands patting my face.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I miss her already too.”

I actually haven’t held a baby before Wren, and I’m glad I never did. Wren makes more noises, and before long she starts to cry just as Sailor steps back into the room.

“I’m gonna have to organize a helper for Benny. I was helping him, but now—”

“Joey can stay and help until you find someone.”

Her eyes go wide. “No! No way. He wouldn’t know what to do.”

“Leave a list for him,” I tell her, standing and handing her Wren. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes to collect you both.”

Joey is waiting out the front when I step outside. I haven’t spoken to him today, and he didn’t know I was coming until I arrived. He pulls himself off the car when I get closer and stands tall.

“She’s coming back with me,” I tell him, and he smiles. “You’re staying to look after the old man.”

His smile falls instantly as do his shoulders. “Really?” he whines.

“You want another black eye?” I question.

“No,” he mumbles. “You haven’t forgiven me yet? I’ve done everything you’ve asked. I want to come home.”

“You can, after he’s taken care of.”

“How long is that going to take?”

“However long it takes Sailor to find a new caregiver.” I look to his car, then back to mine. “Get that baby seat in my car.”

“She actually agreed to go with you?” Surprise laces his tone as he does what I asked and grabs the car seat. I’ve missed my brother, even if he is a lying sack of shit. Doesn’t mean I don’t want him around.

“She did.”

“Any news on Romarc?” he asks, lifting the seat from his car and shifting it to mine.

“He hasn’t come out of hiding yet, but he will. News is spreading fast that he’s back to selling. Won’t take him long until he slips up.”

“What do you plan to do with him?” my brother asks as he clips in the seat and slides his body back out.

“I plan to burn him to the fucking ground.”

“At least you didn’t just say shoot him.”

“That too,” I reply, smirking. I managed once to put thirteen bullets into a guy without killing him. The fourteenth one was the kill shot. I wonder how many I could get in Romarc before the end game.

“What now?” Joey asks.

“Now, show me where her boss lives.” I smirk.

“Fuck!” Joey sighs but gets in the car and drives me straight to a small coffee shop. I get out and Joey stays close behind me as I enter.

He’s the only one there. Music is blaring, and when he finally notices us, he turns the music down and walks to the counter. “What can I get ya?” he asks, looking straight at me. I pull my gun from my trousers and place it on the counter. He freezes and raises his hand. “Take what you want, I don’t have much.” His hand moves and he pops the cash register. I watch as his creamy skin goes bright red. How his hands shake as I stand in front of him.

“Sailor…” I say her name, and he blinks a few times before his hands lower. “Tell me… do you spy on all your employees?”

“What?” He shakes his head.

Joey walks around the counter to this lowlife, reaches into his apron, then pulls out his phone and unlocks it using the douche’s face before he throws it to me. I go straight to his camera roll and shake my head.

“It’s not what you think,” he says, hands up in the air again.

I turn the phone around to face him and his face reddens even more. “What I think is that you’re spying on Sailor. Taking photos of her for your own pleasure.” Dropping the phone to the floor, I stomp on it and smash it to pieces.

He goes to yell, but when my hand touches the gun on the counter, his mouth shuts again. Then he says, “She knew. She liked it.”

Slime. That’s all I see when I look at him. Scum. Sludge. Filth. Someone who takes advantage of young women.

“And she’s going to love what I do to you.” I lock the door and turn off the lights. “Did you ever touch her?” I ask.

“Her hand, only ever her hand.” I slowly make my way back to the counter as I screw a silencer on the gun.

“But you wish it were more, correct?” He doesn’t respond, his eyes trained on the gun. “Don’t lie to me,” I push.

“Yes, I like her,” he whines, his body visibly trembling now.

“Because you were honest, you can keep your life.”

A rush of breath leaves him. “Thank you.”

“Just not your hand,” I say and pull the trigger.

Joey automatically reaches for the guy’s mouth and covers it with a cloth to muffle his screams.