Locked Hearts (Chained Hearts Duet 2)

“Stop touching me whenever you feel like it.”

“Why?”

“Because…” I shake my head and step out.

“You like it when I touch you. I know you do because I can feel it.”

I have my hand on my door, but he’s there again, his breath at the back of my neck causing goosebumps to break out across my flesh. “Stop it.”

“Never,” he challenges.

With a quick flick, I open the door and push away from him.

Keir walks in, smirking as if he’s just won some sort of competition.

He has not.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Keir

Her mother questioned me throughout the entire dinner, and I let her because of who she questioned me about. If it was any other person, I would have told her to shut up. And if she didn’t, I would have killed her, but I let this one go.

Now everyone has left, and it’s just Sailor and me.

My mother took Wren for us—she said we had stuff we needed to sort out and it was best we did it without a baby around.

So I suggested we go back to her place to talk.

She declined.

I offered to take her to mine.

She declined.

So here we sit at the restaurant.

Joey’s waiting outside with Piper.

“Boundaries,” she purrs, lifting her margarita. “They need to be set.”

“Why?”

She flips her hair back off her shoulder. “Because you don’t seem to understand them, and you and I…” she waves between us, “… are not a thing.”

“Yes, we are,” I argue. “We, for sure, are a thing.”

“No. And I don’t think we should confuse Wren either.”

Taking a deep breath, I lean over the table so I’m close to her. Her lips are glossy, and I want to taste them. Taste her. But I know she wants me to go slower. Slower for her.

“I’m going to tell you something.” I take another deep breath and lock eyes with her. “I would love you the hardest. Of that, I’m sure.” Her eyes so wide—those doe eyes I love so much—go so wide. My lollipop is shocked and I like that about her, like that I can shock her.

Before she can speak, the doors open, and Joey is at our table. “Roberto is talking crazy.”

As he interrupts at the very worst moment, I sit back and take my eyes from Sailor reluctantly. “What do you mean?”

“He let her go, that’s what I mean,” Joey snaps.

Piper walks in and shakes her head, rubbing her temples. “I had a feeling Roberto still wanted her,” she says, then smiles at Sailor, who offers a small wave.

Looking back to her.

“I’m coming with you. We have more to discuss.” Sailor stands, towering over me. “Unless you would rather I not,” she challenges, and I know she wants me to say no. Instead, I smile and stand with her.

“After you, of course.” She smirks, happy she’s gotten her way, and makes her way toward the door. I watch her ass the whole walk out, and when we reach the car, she turns around to face me. “Did it look good?” I know she’s talking about her ass.

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply, nodding.

We pull up to an old house on the outskirts of town. It’s run down and appears like it’s barely holding together considering the gutter is down on one end and the front steps look like they have seen much better days. The paintwork is peeling, and the grass is so high, there could be anything lurking in there.

I remember this house—it was Paige’s father’s when we were kids.

Granted, it didn’t look like this back then. He ended up moving to the city when he made the deal with my father, and their lives were forever changed. He died, along with my father, and then our lives were forever changed.

The front door opens, and Roberto appears. Piper is the first to reach him, and he shakes his head at her.

I look to Sailor. “Stay in the car.”

“Who’s inside that house?” she asks, looking out the window. Her arm lifts and she places her hand gently on my shoulder, just above the gunshot wound, which is all bandaged and covered. “I will hunt you down if you die.”

I laugh. “That’s next to impossible.”

“I read a lot of paranormal and fantasy books, so I’m sure I’ll find a way,” she says with a worried smile.

“I’ll be fine,” I tell her. I go to kiss her, but I pull back at the last minute, remembering her words. Turning to me fully, she reaches for me anyway and pulls my head to hers and kisses my lips. Then she pries herself away and nods. “You can go now.”

“I will stay, for you.”

“Go.” She brushes me off. “I know where to find you. I’ll wait here.”

I nod and get out of the car. Roberto’s eyes track me as I walk up the stairs. He’s blocking the door, preventing me from entering.