Chapter 32

Phoenix

Kenz's head lays in my lap as I rock us on the swing in our gazebo. She told me the memory she had, and we settled into a comfortable silence after. Me mulling over what she told me. I comb my fingers through her hair.

"I need to start believing everything you tell me," I say. She rolls over on her back and stares up at me. I gaze down at her and trace the contours of her face with my finger. "I'm such an asshole. I was so sure you were remembering wrong." She doesn't respond, probably knowing I'm talking through this.

"I never got a text from you, so I don't know if they were able to intercept it or something. And Clyde came rushing into my office and said you went into the Marketplace and he couldn't find you." I run my hands through my hair. "How the fuck did this happen? I ran every single one of my guys. I checked their background, everything."

McKenzie sits up and climbs onto my lap. She takes my face in her hands. "Your mom has been one step ahead this entire time. She probably knew you'd do that and did something so you wouldn't find anything." Dropping her hands, she sighs and looks away for a moment before focusing back on me. "I think we need to go to my dad."

Every muscle in my body tenses at the idea of going to her dad for help, but she might be right. "I'll consider it." She slumps a little, so I lift her chin with my thumb and forefinger. "I've considered him my enemy for years. Give me some time to come to terms with who the real villain turned out to be."

"Okay," she whispers and leans up to kiss me.

We're both exhausted and emotionally drained, so I told her we were staying home today and dealing with everything tomorrow. But after she told me what she remembered, I need Rex to confirm the new guys we hired are trustworthy.

I pull his name up on my phone and call him. He's in the house with Anna, so he answers immediately. "Kenz had a memory. Clyde helped take her the second time, and they did take her from the house."

"What? How?" Rex barks. I give him the rundown and he curses. Anna asks him if everything is okay in the background, so he takes a minute to soothe her. "I trust these new guys with my life, but if you think—"

"No, I trust you. But she knows where we live." Dread settles in my stomach. I have to deal with her and soon. "Let them know to be on guard until I get rid of her." He agrees and I hang up.

"We're not going to leave, are we?" Kenz asks.

"No. We moved out of the house downtown because it was my mother's and I knew you weren't comfortable there. You had a hand in everything about our house and this land. She will not take that from you."

Kenz places her hand over my heart. "From us."

"Valentine," Victor answers on the second ring.

"Hey, this is Phoenix Stone."

There's a slight pause. "Phoenix, how are you?"

"That's the question," I reply.

I've met Victor a few times over the past year or so. He and his wife have come to a few of the auctions, but they never buy anyone or participate. It piqued my curiosity last year, and I looked into them. What I found is why I'm reaching out to him now.

"What can I do for you?" Victor asks. I tell him everything that has transpired over the past several years and he listens intently with an interjected question here or there. When I'm done, there's silence on the other end for several moments.

"I'll need to talk to Olivia, but I'm sure she'll agree to help. I'm sorry you and McKenzie have gone through this. Let me get some things together and I'll call you back in a few days."

We hang up and I lean back in my office chair, turning to look out over River Street. McKenzie is down there, walking from store to store again. It's her way of sticking up her middle finger to the memory she had. I love that woman so much and the strength she shows in the face of everything she's gone through.

I pull up the app on my phone that's linked to the tracking device on her collar. She's at the Marketplace. Knowing I can track her whereabouts at any time brings me peace.

Standing, I exit my office and lock up. I nod at Jason in greeting. Anna joined Kenz today, which is a big step for her. I told Rex I wanted him and Luca, one of his other security guys, to stay with them.

"Sir, do you think it would be wise to look into all the fighters before the next one?" Jason asks. I glance at him as we step out onto River Street.

"Yes, I do. I'm meeting with Felix tomorrow to tell him we need to do that. You can join if you'd like to."

Jason nods. "Yes, sir, I would."

Jason is slowly becoming Rex's second, and I understand why. He takes initiative, and he does things the way Rex would. I grab the photo I had drawn up of what my mother looks like now, according to Kenz, and hand it to Jason.

"If you see a woman that looks like that I need you to notify me immediately. Apparently, she changes her hair a lot, so keep that in consideration."

Jason studies the picture and nods. "Yes, sir."

We walk to the Marketplace and I find Kenz looking at some wind chimes. Luca stands a few feet from her, pretending to be checking out some knives, but his eyes are flitting about looking for any threats. He relaxes a little when he sees me, but not completely.

I walk up behind Kenz and wrap my arms around her waist. She lays her head on my shoulder and smiles up at me. We share a kiss that I'd like to turn into more, but we're surrounded by too many people for that. So, I pull away and place my chin on top of her head. "Find something you like?"

"I love these wind chimes." She touches them and the sound they make is beautiful. "They're made of bamboo." The lady standing behind the counter smiles at McKenzie and how much she loves them.

"We'll take them," I tell her.

"Can we have two? One for the porch and the other for our gazebo?" Kenz rarely asks for anything, so I'll give her whatever she wants. I nod, so Kenz points out the other wind chimes she wants. The lady boxes them up, places them in a plastic bag, and hands it to us. Luca walks over and takes it.

Anna and Rex walk over to us. "We're going to go home," Rex says. I place my hands in my pockets and nod as Kenz hugs Anna.

"I'm so proud of you," Kenz whispers. Rex and I share a look proud of both of them for how they're trying to overcome all the trauma they've faced.

"I wish I could stay longer, but I've reached my limit for the day," Anna says.

Kenz leans back and pushes Anna's hair over her shoulder. "That's okay." They hug one more time before Rex walks Anna toward the SUV he's driving.

We spend the rest of the day walking to each shop down River Street and wind up at the piano bar. After we eat our food and Kenz has had two drinks, she settles into me to watch the show. I make her come twice before it's over. I lick her off my fingers as I escort her to the SUV and we head home.

She lifts the privacy window between us and Jason as she climbs on my lap and rides me. We both come just as Jason pulls into our long driveway. She stays on me until the very last moment when she has to get off. I immediately mourn the loss of her warmth wrapped around me.

Rex and Anna meet us inside. Kenz hugs Anna, holding her tightly for a moment. "I couldn't stay any longer," Anna says.

Kenz kisses her on the cheek. "You will. Today was a big step for you. I'm proud of you." Anna smiles at her.

"Thank you, Kenz." They hug for a moment longer before we head upstairs. I give Rex a small salute and he returns it. My phone vibrates as we walk up the stairs. Grabbing it, I glance at the text I received from Victor.

We're in. Olivia is okay with it. I'll send you the address tomorrow then we can call and discuss plans.

"Who's that?" Kenz asks. So, I tell her the plan as we get ready for bed. She crawls into bed in one of my T-shirts and this time I watch. She's not wearing panties. Again. So, I climb in naked and pull her against me; her back against my front.

"I hope this works, Nix," she whispers, voicing her worry and fear.

I kiss the juncture between her neck and shoulder. "It will." I promise her. She's quiet for a long time. I'd think she was asleep, but she's not breathing like she's asleep.

"Nix?" Her voice is barely above a whisper.

"Yes, love." She takes her time replying, but I don't push her. I wait for her to say what she's gathering the courage to say.

She takes a deep breath. "Have you ever wanted to be so close to me, but it doesn't feel close enough?"

I try to decipher what she's saying between the lines, but I'm at a loss. "What do you mean, love?"

I run my hand from her stomach to her sternum and stop at her throat. Circling her throat with my hand she swallows, moving my hand as she does. "Ever since the other night, I want to be close to you in a way that borders on crazy." I huff, but don't interrupt her. "So, I was wondering, could you be that close to me? But without it turning into sex? Like what we did in the SUV?"

I run her words through my mind over and over again before it clicks. "Cock warming?"

She shifts against me as I harden against her back at the thought of it. "I didn't know there was a name for it," she murmurs.

"Yes, it can be done like how we did earlier or as something comforting and calming. Like what you're asking for now."

She swallows against my hand again. "Would you want to do that?" She sounds shy and meek. It makes me smile. She has no idea the control she has over me.

"Yes. I could fall asleep like that every night." She giggles and presses her ass against me. I rub my hand up her thigh and lift it so it rests over my thigh. I run my fingers through her pussy to make sure she's wet. She sucks in a breath. "Just checking to make sure you're ready."

I enter her slowly, loving how hot and tight she is around me. Once I settle in, it takes some effort not to pull out and push back in, but I stay perfectly still. Both of us are breathing hard and fast. I push her hair over her shoulder.

"You okay?" I ask.

She hums. "Yes. It feels…" she trails off. "Different." She settles against me and tightens around me slightly, making me grit my teeth.

"Don't be surprised if I wake you up in the middle of the night," I warn. She giggles and I grit my teeth again at the sensation. "It's going to take me a few nights to get used to this."

"You'd be willing to do this every night?"

"I'll give you anything you want. All you have to do is ask."