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)
"What did you do?"
"I went after the people who killed them," I whisper, the first time I've said the words out loud. "Christ, Kylie. I killed five, six people that night."
"Memphis," she whispers, tears thick in her voice. Her hand finds mine, squeezing it tightly, offering me comfort and understanding.
"I don't regret it, baby. Never have, and doubt I ever will. The only goddamn thing I regret is not getting Jayson the fuck out of there when I had the chance. He's dead because I introduced him to that kind of life." I pause, swallowing hard. "People back home still think I'm the one who betrayed the MC. I let them think it. It doesn't fucking matter. At the end of the day, I am the one who got him killed. That guilt does belong to me."
I check the rearview mirror again and the sight of the van still tailing us sends a shiver down my spine.
"It wasn't your fault, Memphis," Kylie says softly, reaching out to touch my face, distracting me from the van behind us. I glance down at her, finding tear-streaked cheeks and those beautiful emerald eyes full of empathy.
Christ, she's so fucking sweet.
"I know you don't believe that, but I do." Her voice is a whisper, shaking with sincerity.
"Toto," I murmur, my heart aching in ways I can't put into words. Telling her everything hurt, but it healed too. Or maybe it's the way she's looking at me that's healing me. I don't fucking know.
All I know for sure is that, for the first time, I don't feel like a goddamn monster for what I did. I feel…like someone who might be worthy of the angel staring up at him with stars in her eyes.
"You're fuckin' perfect, Toto. Don't ever change."
She smiles at me, the warmth of it lighting up the entire goddamn night.
As we pull into my neighborhood, I check the rearview mirror one more time, relieved to see that the van has disappeared.
Kylie notices my preoccupation.
"Is everything okay? You keep looking behind us like you expect to find something back there," she asks, turning to peer out.
"Everything is fine," I lie, forcing a smile. I'm not sure it is, though. Something is off. That van was definitely following us. But I'm not telling her that. Not until I know what the fuck is going on. Why the fuck would Venom be following us?
I intend to find out.
What we're building here is worth fighting for. It's worth every goddamn thing. And if the truth about who I am and what I've done didn't tear it apart, I'll be damned if I let anything else destroy it.
We ride in silence the rest of the way to the house, her body pressed up against my side. The garage door opens with a slow groan, and I pull in beside my bike, killing the engine.
As soon as the truck falls silent, she crawls into my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. I can't help but pull her closer. Her lips come down on mine, her kiss tinged with tears.
"Thank you," she whispers, her breath warm against my face. "For trusting me."
I brush my fingers beneath her eyes, drying her tears. "You own me, Kylie. I have no secrets from you." In this moment, it's true. My past, my sins…they're all laid bare before her.
She meets my gaze, hers somber. "It doesn't change anything for me, Memphis. Your past, the things you did…they don't change the way I feel about you or the man you are now."
"Fuck," I groan, pressing my forehead to hers as a current of emotion sweeps through me. Knowing that she accepts me despite everything I've done is overwhelming.
"I just thought you should know that."
"Christ, Toto. I'd die for you and not regret it," I groan, the simplest, most profound truth I've ever spoken. "That's how completely you have me. That's how wild I am for you. Maybe it's fuckin' cheesy to say it. I don't know. But it's true."
Killing is easy. I've already done that. But sacrificing my life for hers? I wouldn't even hesitate.
"Same," she whispers, making me smile.
"Nah, baby. You aren't allowed to die for me. You're going to live." I plunge my hand into her hair, brushing my lips across hers. "For me and my cock."
"Yeah," she breathes against my lips as the pain of the past recedes, no match for the feel of her in my arms and the promise of a future with her.
Chapter Ten
Kylie
At midday, Memphis's phone chirps, waking me up, and I'm greeted by the sight of his muscular body sprawled across the bed, one tattooed arm thrown over his face as if to shield it. The sheet slipped down at some point, leaving every inch of his body on display…including his massive erection.
I don't think he's ever anything less than rock hard and ready to go. He spent half the night inside me after we came to bed, and he's still hard and aching.