Chapter Eleven

Memphis

I drum my fingers against the handlebars, staring at Venom's place—a small, dirty white Craftsman a few miles from the bar. Frankly, the place looks like shit. It's overgrown and not well-maintained, making it clear Venom doesn't give a damn about it.

At this point, I'm not entirely sure what he does care about. He's worked for me since I opened the bar, but I don't think I know the big bastard at all.

I'm fucking positive he was tailing us last night, but why? I can't shake the nagging feeling that it's got something to do with Kylie. I've seen the way he looks at her sometimes. It's like he can't fucking stand the sight of her. That worries the hell out of me. I'm just not entirely sure what his goddamn problem is. Is he still pissed about Shelby, or is there something else going on? Something I've missed?

As I contemplate the question, his neighbor pulls into the driveway. I haul myself off my bike, crossing the pitted street to stand at the edge of the woman's driveway. I try like hell to be non-threatening. But let's face it. A motherfucker who looks like me in a neighborhood like this is always a threat.

"What do you want?" she asks, her hazel eyes narrow in suspicion as she clings to the door of her car, keeping it between the two of us.

"You seen Venom around?" I ask.

"Who?"

"Your neighbor." I jerk my head toward his place. "Big, surly bastard. Rides a bike like mine. Owns a white van."

She glances at my bike and then back to me. "I know who you're talkin' about. He ain't been around here in weeks. Matter fact, I ain't even sure he still lives there." She cocks her head to the side. "You look familiar. You been around here before?"

"Nope." I give her a two-finger wave and turn on my heel, heading back to my bike before she has a chance to figure out who the fuck I am and where she's seen me. The last thing I want to do is cause a goddamn scene right now. "Thanks for the info," I call over my shoulder.

Halfway to my bike, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out to find Riley's name flashing across the screen. Fuck. She's been calling me since last night, but I've been ignoring her.

Riley: Get over here now. I have news that can't wait.

Riley: Don't make me come to you, Memphis Hughes.

"Fuck my life," I growl, shaving the phone back into my pocket. I don't have time for this shit. But I know damn well if she has to come find me, I'll live long enough to regret it.

Riley Jamison majored in music management and torture. She's a fucking expert in both. Her kids aren't getting away with shit when they're teenagers.

I throw my leg over my bike and take off, heading for Saunders Management on Music Row.

Twenty minutes later, I step into Riley's office to find her and Cash inside, their youngest asleep in Cash's giant arms. The sight of their baby brings a warmth to my chest that I've never felt—one I like all too well.

I want that shit for myself, and I never fucking thought I'd say that. Kids and marriage were never on my radar. In fact, I never wanted to screw up a kid like I was. The way I was raised, bouncing from foster home to foster home made me hesitant to ever bring a kid into this world. But that was before Kylie.

Now, everything is different. I want my ring on her finger and my kid in her belly more than I've ever wanted anything. When I think about the future, that's the shit I think about—a family with her. A future with her. I want everything and I don't want to wait.

She'll make one hell of a mom.

My fantasies about her carrying my kid are quickly overshadowed by the worry etched on Riley's face when I catch sight of her behind her massive desk.

"It's about time," she growls, exasperation coloring her tone. "I've been calling you since last night."

"I know." I rake a hand through my long hair, grimacing in apology. "Been kinda busy."

She arches one dark brow at me. "You asked me to look into Kylie for you, or did you forget?"

"Fuck." I blow out a breath. "I didn't forget. I just…changed my mind."

Her brows furrow, and she exchanges a glance with Cash. He doesn't say a word, so Riley turns back to me.

"You changed your mind?" she asks.

I jerk my chin in a nod.

"So you already know who she is?"

"No." I scrub a hand down my face, my emotions a tangled knot. Confidence wars with the need to know every goddamn thing about my girl. A healthy dose of worry about Venom adds to the mix. I'm impatient as fuck to know everything, but I want to hear the truth from her lips. And I promised her that I'd give her that chance tonight.

I won't go back on that now. Not when she's accepted every part of me without reservation or hesitation. I owe her the chance to tell her truth on her own terms.

"It's complicated, Riley," I say instead of trying to explain all of that.

Riley hesitates for a long moment, chewing on her bottom lip, and then her expression softens. "You're in love with her."

"That fuckin' obvious, huh?" I ask.

An amused smile tugs at the corners of her lips. "I know the look."

"Then you know I want to hear the truth from her," I say, my voice firm.

Riley and Cash exchange another look, which irritates the fuck out of me. They obviously know something they're worried about.

"What the fuck is that look about?" I demand, my patience wearing thin.

"Are you sure she's going to tell you?" Riley asks, not beating around the bush. That isn't her way. She's fiercely loyal and a hell of a friend, but she always shoots it straight, even when it's tough to swallow. That's who she is. It's part of what's made her one of the most powerful women in Nashville. She may look sweet as pie, but she has a backbone and balls bigger than most men in this industry.

"What does that mean?" I growl.

Cash shoots me a warning look. "Watch your tone talking to my wife, man."

I hold up my hands in apology. He's protective as hell of Riley, and I'm not trying to piss him off or cause problems. I just want to know what the fuck is going on.

"What does Kylie know about Jayson, Memphis?" Riley asks.

My hackles rise at the mention of his name. In all the years I've known her, she's never brought him up to me. I told her as much of my story as I was willing, and we never spoke of it again. She doesn't know about the people I killed.

Some things, she didn't need to know. I wasn't going to make her carry that shit. If my crimes ever catch up to me, her hands will be clean. I owe her that much.

But she knows about Jayson. She knows the guilt and shame I carry because of his death. She knows how far gone I was when she found me in that bar. And she's never spoken his name to me since the day I told her and Cash what happened.

Until now.

"What the fuck?" I growl, feeling like I'm in some goddamn movie where everyone knows the script except me. "We're not talking about Jayson, Riley."

Her eyes soften, empathy welling in her expression. "We have to talk about him, Memphis. It's important."

"No, we don't," I disagree. "Jayson has nothing to do with Kylie."

"That's what you think," she mutters.

I see the concern in her gray eyes, but I don't know what the fuck it means. And I don't know what the fuck Jayson has to do with Kylie either. But saying their names in the same sentence like that sends a goddamn chill through me. It's familiar in a way I can't even fucking explain.

"Explain," I growl, gripping onto the edge of Riley's desk so hard my knuckles turn white.

"You told me not to tell you what I know," she reminds me. "Have you changed your mind again?"

"I…" Have I? My mind spins, hesitation sliding through me. I'm missing something. Something big.

"Jesus Christ," Cash mutters, patting their little girl on the back as indecision rages through me. "Enough of this bullshit. I know you want her to tell you herself, Memphis, but the two of you are talking in fucking riddles, and there are more important things at stake here. She has everything to do with Jayson because her real name is Kylie Conroy, Memphis."

Understanding blasts through me as soon as Cash says the name. My knees threaten to buckle, and I stumble back a step, my heart pounding like a jackhammer against my chest.

Jesus Christ. Kylie is Jayson's little sister.

Faint memories of a little girl with the same emerald eyes as the woman I've given my heart to flash through my mind. From day one, I thought she was familiar, and couldn't figure out why. I thought I knew her even though I'd never seen her before. I was right in a way. She is familiar, and I hadn't ever seen this Kylie before because she was just a kid when I left town. Twelve years of growing up separated that little girl from the woman who walked into my bar.

I barely knew her back then. Their mom hadn't let Jayson see her in years. We had to fucking sneak over there on her birthday or Christmas while their mom was at work just so Jayson could spend five minutes with her. It was the only time he was allowed to see her. Not getting to see her grow up was his one big regret—the only thing he would have changed about his life if he could have done it.

"Why didn't she tell me?" I whisper, my voice shaking. But deep down, I know the answer. Of course I do. Like everyone else, she thought I got him killed. That's why she came here. That's why she sought me out. She thought I got her brother killed.

And she's right. I did get him killed.

Jesus.

She should fucking hate me.

And yet…she gave herself to me instead.

Why, baby? Christ. Why?

"She loves you," Riley whispers, her voice gentle enough to break my fucking heart.

I glance up at her through bleary eyes, too fucking afraid to hope. Kylie hasn't said it. She said she thinks her heart is in danger and that it doesn't belong to her any longer. She looks at me with stars in her eyes. But she hasn't said she loves me.

Can she?

Should she?

Fuck.

I never thought of myself as a particularly selfish man. I never needed much. Aside from my bike, my house, and the bar, I don't buy a goddamn thing with the money I make. But when it comes to Kylie, I am selfish. Because she's the one thing in this world I can't lose.

I thought watching Jayson die in my arms was going to kill me, but I survived that shit. I don't know how because it was hell. For years, it was hell. But losing Kylie? I won't survive that. I need her like air. She's the only damn thing I've ever done right in my life.

I sink down into a chair, my head in my hands, my whole fucking world spinning out of orbit. "I can't believe I forgot her," I rasp. "I should have remembered…" She was a sweet little thing, always so fucking happy to see Jayson when we'd sneak over there. "I should have known."

"You blocked out memories of the past to survive, Memphis," Riley says gently. "Don't hate yourself for that."

"She was just a kid," Cash agrees. "She was what? Eight or nine?"

"Eleven," I whisper. "She was eleven." She was shy and sweet back then, always had her nose in a book. I guess some things don't change. She's always fuckin' reading now. And she's sweet as hell. But she grew up. She's fierce, sassy, and so goddamn beautiful. "Jayson would fucking kill me for touching her."

"Or maybe he'd be grateful that the two of you found each other," Riley counters. "It's been twelve years, Memphis. That's a long time. She's not a little girl anymore. Don't let the past mess up your future because you're clinging to ghosts instead of the woman who needs you now. The past has taken enough from both of you."

I jerk my chin in a nod because she's right. Maybe Jayson would hate me for claiming his little sister. Maybe he wouldn't. I don't fucking know. But I do know that he isn't here anymore, and she is. She's mine. I couldn't save him. But I will love her the way she deserves.

It won't absolve me. It won't bring him back. But it's the best I can do for him now. And it's what I want for her…and for me. We can't cling to the past anymore. All we have is the future and each other. If she's willing to have me, and I think she is, then I'm not fuckin' letting her go. Not for her brother's sake. Not for anyone.

Can she love me? I don't know. Should she love me? Hell no. After what I did, I'm the last motherfucker she should let into her heart. I wouldn't blame her if she wants to slip a knife between my ribs and cut mine the fuck out. But I'm not giving her a choice.

She's mine, and I'm not giving her up. I'll find a way to smash through every wall she places between us, to convince her that I can be a man worthy of her. I'll find a way to conquer her heart, the same fucking way she's stolen mine.

"I need to see her."

"Yeah, you do," Riley says quietly. "But before you go…I found something else we need to talk about."

I glance up at her, my brows furrowed. "Can it wait?"

She shakes her head, her expression serious…worried. "How well do you know Clive Jepson?"

"Who?"

"Clive Jepson, um, Venom. The bouncer at your bar, Memphis."

My fucking heart skips a beat, my stomach twisting into knots. "Why?"

She exhales a breath. "Because when I was looking into Kylie, I learned that she isn't the only one connected to your past. So is he."

"What the fuck?" I stare at her, shell-shocked. "What the fuck does Venom have to do with my past?"

"His brother was a Graceland Reaper, Memphis," Cash says, handing the baby to Riley as she starts to fuss. He hits me with a look that lets me know he knows a helluva lot more about what I did back then that he's ever said. Whether or not his wife does, I don't know. But Cash knows. "He went missing the same day everyone in your MC was killed."

"Jesus," I breathe.

"He probably died in the attack," Riley says softly.

Cash shoots me a hard look—one that tells me without words to keep my fucking mouth shut. If that's what his wife believes, that's what he wants her to keep on believing. I don't think that look has anything to do with protecting me and my secret, though. It has everything to do with protecting her and her innocence.

In her world, the people she loves are inherently good, incapable of doing evil things. That's how her world works. That's what keeps it functioning. He needs to protect that belief, even if it means letting her believe a lie about who I really am and what I've done. He'd kill for her, no questions asked.

But he'll never have to do that, because darkness never touches her world. He doesn't allow it to do so. That's the kind of man I want to be for Kylie. That's the future I want her to have—one unmarred by darkness or evil deeds or people. That's the life I want to give her.

And I have feeling Venom is standing in the fucking way.

It's not Kylie he's after. It's not her that he hates. It's me. All this fucking time, he's been biding his time, just waiting for an opportunity to pay me back for what I did to his brother. Because Riley may believe he died when they attacked our clubhouse, but I know better. And I'm guessing Venom does too.

"You're sure Venom's brother was a Reaper?" I ask.

"Positive," Cash says. "Our private investigator dug up the connection when he was looking into Kylie. I asked him to confirm it. Venom arrived in Nashville a few weeks after they started running ads about the bar." He pauses. "I'm guessing he came specifically with the intent of going to work for you."

"Fuck," I growl, defeat coursing through me. "Yeah, I'm guessing so."

"What are you going to do?" Riley asks as I rise to my feet.

Cold anger settles in the pit of my stomach as I consider the situation. "Go fire his sorry ass," I growl, turning to stride toward the door.

I don't want him around my bar, around my girl, or in my fucking life. If he has a problem with that, too fuckin' bad. I'm done with the Reapers. I'm done with the man I was, and I'm done with him. If he doesn't like it, he can take it up with his brother's bone. Or I can bury his sorry ass in the same shallow grave.

But one way or another, he's done at my bar, and he's done glaring at Kylie.

"Be careful, Memphis," Riley says, her voice soft. "He could be dangerous."

She's right. He could be. But so am I.

"Maybe I should go with you," Cash suggests.

I stop walking and glance at him, surprised by the suggestion.

"Don't look at me like that, motherfucker," he mutters, smirking. "Someone has to keep your sorry ass out of trouble. You've got a tour coming up, and you stress my wife out enough as it is."

"I'll be—"

My phone vibrates in my pocket, cutting me off. I mutter a curse and grab it, intending to silence it. But when I see Jessup's name, I answer it instead. He's at the bar with Kylie. There's no fucking way I'm ignoring a call from him when she's there and so is Venom.

Jesus Christ. How the fuck did I miss something so big?

Because you never cared to look too hard, a little voice whispers.

It's not entirely wrong. Venom's past didn't matter much to me when I hired him. His reference checked out and he knew how to handle himself in a fight. So who the fuck was I to play judge and jury when I had my own shit? I paid him top dollar to be loyal, keep the girls safe, and ensure blood didn't spill in my bar. That's what mattered to me.

I fucked up. Or, shit, maybe I've been fucked up. For a long goddamn time, I've just been going through the motions, smiling in the right places, playing the right notes. And not feeling a fucking thing. Until now. Until Kylie.

I thought I was building a future. But all this time, that isn't what I've been doing. I've just been in limbo, riding it out. Waiting. That's changing now. I know what I want. I know what I need— her .

"What's up, Jessup?" I ask, scrubbing a hand down my face.

"Just wondering where the fuck everyone is," he drawls.

My brows furrow. "What do you mean?"

"Can't find Venom or Kylie. Figured she was with you, but where the fuck is Venom? He was supposed to be here an hour ago."

No. Ah, fuck no.

Please.

My heart slams against my ribcage, panic shooting through me. Venom was supposed to start his shift at the same time as Kylie.

I fucking left her there, unprotected. I thought she'd be safe.

"Kylie isn't with me, Jessup," I growl, so fucking afraid I can't breathe. "I dropped her off at the bar an hour and a half ago."

"Jesus Christ," Jessup mutters.

"Pull up the security footage now," I order him, my hands shaking.

"Memphis, what's wrong?" Riley asks.

"Kylie is missing." I glance over at her, so afraid I can't see straight. "So is Venom."

Her gray eyes widen with worry.

I pace around the office, trying like hell not to give into the pain rushing through me, but it's fucking hard. Kylie is missing. And so is Venom.

Please, God. Not her. You can have me, just not fucking her, I beg silently.

"Hurry the fuck up, Jessup," I growl, impatience coloring my tone.

"Working on it, brother," he promises. A second later, he hisses a breath.

My world goes black around the edges. I grip the phone so tight the metal groans. "Tell me," I bark.

"Memphis, man…" He mutters a curse. "I'm sending you a video. You need to see it for yourself."

I disconnect, barely breathing as I wait for the video file to come through. As soon as it does, I want to fucking howl in rage.

The sight of Venom shoving Kylie into his van hits me like a punch to the gut. She doesn't cry or fight, but there's no mistaking the fear in her eyes. It fucking kills me to see her so goddamn afraid.

"Kylie," I groan, fear for her crashing through me. "Ah, Jesus, Toto." I stumble, damn near falling to my knees. My heart pounds like a jackhammer, blood roaring in my ears. I can't fucking breathe.

Cash rushes forward to grab my arm. "Easy, brother," he says, his voice soft as he supports my weight. "Easy."

It feels like losing Jayson all over again, only this is so much worse. Because my heart fucking beats for her. She's the one thing in this world that makes sense, the only goddamn thing that brings me any peace. I breathe for her, and I'll die for her.

I promised I'd take care of her. I told her that I'd die for her, and I meant it. I couldn't save Jayson, but I will save his baby sister. She means everything to me, and I'll sacrifice everything to protect her. Every damn thing. No one is taking her from me. Not Venom. Not Shelby. No one.

Christ, I should have known something was wrong. I should have been there for her, instead of sitting in front of Venom's place today. Had I been there, this never would have happened.

"I have to get her back," I mumble. "Christ, I have to get her back."

"We will find her, Memphis. We'll get her back." Cash clamps a hand on my shoulder, steadying me. "What do you need?"

"Find them," I growl. "Find that fucking van."

"Where would they take her?" Riley asks, her eyes filled with concern.

"Fuck if I know," I snap, my frustration boiling over. "But I swear to God, I'm going to tear this fucking city apart until I find her."