"Are they okay?"

"Yeah, buddy," Stryker tried to reassure. He had spoken to them over the phone but after the way his day had gone, he hadn't ended up going over to check up on them as a good friend should have done. "We'll go and see them now, okay?"

Jamie nodded. Even as Stryker drove, he could feel the heavy force of his stare.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked quietly once Stryker pulled up outside of Kernal's house.

"Yes." Stryker forced a smile and leaned over the seat so he could kiss Jamie.

As soon as his lips made contact, he felt so fucking ashamed that he...