Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 48700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
People back home believe Memphis got his MC killed, but he didn't. That guilt isn't his to carry, but he shoulders it anyway. He never tried to correct that assumption. He never tried to clear his name. He just shouldered the burden in silence, did what he could to avenge them, and then walked away.
That's the man he is. He's flawed and broken and so damn beautiful. God, I've never met anyone like him, and I never will again because there is no one else like him. There's just Memphis.
"Kylie Conroy."
I freeze, my blood running cold as a familiar voice calls my name—my real name.
I spin around, watching as Shelby steps out of the shadows, her hard blue eyes narrowed and a malicious smirk on her lips. She's beautiful the way snakes are beautiful—it's a cold, vicious kind of beauty.
"You really should've taken my warning and stayed away," she says, sashaying toward me.
"What are you talking about?" I ask, trying to feign ignorance while my pulse hammers against my ribs. I don't know what she wants, but I really don't want to find out. If she knows who I am, it can only mean trouble.
"I tried to warn you to stay away from Memphis, but you didn't listen," she says, smirking as she draws to a stop in front of me, her arms crossed over her chest, pushing her boobs up in her low-cut top. "You should have listened."
"Are you seriously still pissed that he doesn't want you?" I roll my eyes. "Get over it, Shelby."
She throws her head back and laughs. "Please. I wouldn't touch his cock with someone else's pussy. I only threw myself at him because I had a job to do."
"What job?"
"Venom's brother." Her smirk grows, turning vicious. "We've been waiting for months for the perfect opportunity to pay Memphis back for killing him. Hate to tell you, but you're it."
My heart drops at the mention of the surly jerk who stares at me like he hates me. All this time, I thought I did something to piss him off. But it's worse than that.
Memphis killed his brother. No. God, no.
"He's one of the Graceland Reapers," I whisper. Venom was never loyal, and Memphis doesn't even know. He thinks he's a friend, someone he can rely on.
"Nope, but his brother was. Memphis murdered him." Shelby cocks her head to the side, hitting me with a considering stare. "Odd that you're riding his dick so hard when everyone says he got your brother killed. But I guess trash attracts trash, right?"
My hands clench into fists, irritation coursing through me. I've never hit anyone before, but I really want to hit this chick. Before I can, I hear footsteps behind me.
I spin around, and my freaking heart plummets toward my feet. Venom's standing directly behind me, a small black gun pointed at me.
His denim eyes bore into mine, cold and unfeeling. "Get in the van," he orders, nodding toward the curb where a white van idles.
"Go to hell," I spit, panic clawing at my insides as the enormity of the situation crashes over me. If I get in that van, God only knows what he'll do to me.
"Didn't your mama ever teach you manners?" Venom growls, his grip tightening on the gun.
"Yeah. She also taught me not to get in creepy vans with weirdos," I retort.
"Cute. Now, get in the fucking van, or I'll put a bullet in that pretty little head of yours." He eyes me levelly. "I don't give a fuck if you're alive or not when I take you. Memphis won't know the difference either way."
I glance back at the bar, praying for some kind of miracle—but none comes. I'm on my own here. Either I get in the van, or he shoots me.
Memphis, I'm sorry. I'm so damn sorry.
He's going to be mad as hell at me for this, but I've gotta do what I gotta do.
"He's going to tear you apart when he finds you," I warn Venom, my legs trembling as I make my way to the van, the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders.
"Let him try," Venom snarls, shoving me inside the van.
Shelby climbs in behind me, and the door slams shut.
My heart trembles, anxiety coursing through me in a tidal wave. But I refuse to let them see my fear. I'm not just fighting for myself now; I'm fighting for Memphis.
For his sake, I refuse to lose.
Chapter Eleven
Memphis
Idrum 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.