This is exactly why I didn’t want to come here. Bad shit happens when I get my hands on anyone. It’s what fucked my life up in the first place. I refuse to let it ruin me again.

In my rage with my adrenaline pumping, I didn’t even notice the screaming of the crowd that now seems to be surrounding us. I don’t care. I’m not here for them, although, I think some of them have figured out who I am now.

Drowning out the crowd, I push through them, fighting to get air. It’s been too long since I’ve felt freedom and being boxed in is fucking with me. I just need to find Alex and get the hell out of here. I knew this was a bad idea.

I start looking around again, but realize that in this crowd it’s close to impossible to find him without getting my ass into any more trouble. It’s best to just leave. If he hasn’t been home in a while then my guess is he isn’t even in town. I’ll have to do some digging at home.

“Holy shit! Is that you?”

I stop dead in my tracks at the sound of the familiar voice: Trevor Locke. The only person I was ever able to trust outside of my mother, Alex, and Jack. He’s my old best friend and the one that had my back through everything.

“Memphis? Holy fuck, is that you?” He steps around me and places his hand on my shoulder. “You’ve gotten huge.”

Yeah, well, that’s what happens when you’re being held hostage in a cage.

Looking up, my eyes lock with his as he checks me out, trying to figure out if it’s really me. I’m surprised to see how big he’s gotten as well. The dude’s a beast now, which tells me right away that he’s probably still fighting here, even though I had to practically drag him here in the past.

We both stand here, getting lost in the crowd again, before I pull him through the ruckus and to a quieter spot. If anyone knows where Alex is it’s him, at least, I hope.

“Hey man. Where the hell is Alex?” That being the first thing coming from my mouth after so much passing time sounds shitty as hell, but right now he’s my only concern. Trevor was good to me in the past, but now is not the time to reminiscence.

It takes a second for him to respond, as if he’s in shock or some shit. “I wish I could tell you, but he’s not here. When the hell did you get back? I didn’t think you’d come back here. Holy fuck!”

I take in a deep breath and run my hands over my face in a mixture of relief and dread. I’m relieved he’s not here, but scared shitless at the fact that I have no idea if he’s okay or not.

“I got into town an hour ago,” I respond stiffly. “I just need to know where Alex is. Have you seen him?”

He brushes his hand through his hair before shaking his head and holding up his finger to someone that’s trying to get his attention. “Nah. I haven’t seen him in months. I have no clue where he’s at. I’ve been checking in and no word. He’s been spending time with some Asher guy and his men, I think. At least he was the last time I saw him.”

His words cause my blood to run cold. I haven’t heard that name in years. A fear runs through me that I’ve never felt before. This is bad shit.

“Shit! I have to go,” I say through gritted teeth. “Thanks, man.”

I take off walking, allowing the anger to build up inside at the memory of the last time I saw Alex. It was the worst night of my damn life and still I wouldn’t take back what I did. I have no regrets, but I don’t like the thought of him out there somewhere fucking up just like I did.

“Memphis! Come on, bro. Stay and chill with us. Give the crowd a good fight. It’s been six years.”

“Can’t. I’m done with this shit, Trevor. I’m over it.”

“You’ll be back. I give it a week,” he yells. “A fucking week. You can’t turn away from something that’s in your DNA.”

I don’t look back to react to his words. Instead, I just walk as fast as I can until I’m back to my truck.

Right as I’m about to open the door Rachel appears out of nowhere, places her hand on the door, and slides in between me and my truck. She looks up at me with those big blue eyes before placing her hand on my chest and pulling her bottom lip into her mouth. I’d recognize those red lips anywhere.

She’s damn cute and she knows it: blonde hair, short, denim skirt, and red cowgirl boots to match her lips. My dick may hate me later, but fucking is not what I have in mind right now. Everyone that I touch gets hurt. They always have. I was just too much in denial to admit it back then.

“That was damn sexy what you did back there, Memphis.” She smiles while running her hand down my stomach, stopping just above my belt. “You knocking him out with your knee. Everyone out there is always talking about you, you know. I heard you’ve only ever lost one fight and it’s because you were drunk out of your mind. All the guys want to fight like you and all the girls want to fuck you, including me. I’ve waited a long time and I’m really horny right now.”

“Rachel,” I say with a snarl. “I see you haven’t changed for shit,” I mutter as she slithers her hand down to cup my package with a moan, groping me through my jeans.

She bites her bottom lip and moans. “Mmm . . . exactly what I expected to find. A big, hard dick. I can take care of that, baby.”

Grabbing her wrist, I pull her hand away from my dick, spin her around so she’s out of my way, and open my truck door. I can tell by the smell of liquor on her breath that she’s wasted and I really don’t have time for this. I need to keep my head straight. Fucking her won’t do anything to help that at the moment.

“You can keep on waiting. I don’t have time for your shit.”

She gives me a shocked look before crossing her arms over her small chest. “Are you serious, Memphis? Don’t act as if you didn’t want me in the past. I know you did. Now is your chance. I’m right here, asshole.”

Pinning her against my truck, I move in close enough to lean into her, beside her ear. She lets out a little moan as her breathing picks up in anticipation. Brushing my lips under her ear, I whisper, “That was in the past, Rachel. Things have changed. I’ve changed.”

Backing away from her I get in my truck and start the engine, watching as she walks away. I don’t even feel bad as I drive off. She’s not worth stressing over.

ONCE I GET BACK TO the house I park my truck in front of the garage and sit for a while, taking in my surroundings, and realizing how different everything is going to be now than before I left. I never thought that freedom could make me feel so empty, but I definitely feel it. This feeling hits you hard and it’s definitely tough to swallow.