The Redemption of Memphis Drake: A Second Chance Romance

by Shay Stone

  Pushing the thought aside, I focus on what needs to be done. “I have to find Mike and let everyone know what’s going on.”

  “I can do that.”

  “No, I need to see my dad and make sure he’s alright. This is a lot for him. Will you stay with Mason?”

  “Of course.”

  “Thank you.”

  As I make my way down the hall, I notice Giovanni lingering around, chatting up some nurses. I keep my head down and head in the opposite direction. No sense in taking a chance jogging someone’s memory. Halfway down the corridor, I run into Mike.

  “Where is everyone?” I ask.

  “Max needed to make a call and your dad had to take a piss.”

  “And you didn’t go with him?”

  “No, I didn’t go with him. What do you want me to do? Go in there and hold his dick for him? He’ll be fine. Cora’s waiting outside the door. What’s going on?”

  “They’re getting ready to air lift Mason to New York-Presbyterian to perform a procedure that might help him. That’s why Nyla met with her ex last night. He’s a heart surgeon.”

  “And you believe her?” Mike gibes, pissing me off again.

  “I’m not getting into this now. I need to go. Take my dad and Cora to the address I gave you of that apartment in the city and let them know I’ll get there when I can.” I lean in lowering my voice. “There’s a cop here asking about James Hamilton.”

  “Shit. Really?”

  “Yeah, I think I’m good, but I want to get out of here before someone recognizes me.”

  But I’m too late.

  “Jimmy? Jimmy Hamilton? Is that you?” a woman calls out, waving to us from a waiting room across the way. “It’s Sally Reed from Church of New Hope.”

  She hastens towards us, full of smiles. I have no clue who this woman is, but she obviously knows me, or more aptly, she knows James Hamilton. I glance around making sure Giovanni isn’t within earshot. I spot him further down the hall engrossed in a conversation with an orderly. He doesn’t appear to have heard Sally. But if she keeps shouting, he might.

  Mike grips my arm. “Go. Be with Mason. I’ll handle this.”

  I nod my appreciation and sprint off down the hall, leaving Mike to deal with whoever the hell Sally Reed is.

  When I make it back to the room, they’ve got Mason strapped in, ready to be transported. We see him off and then find Max and follow close behind in his helicopter, explaining why we’re traveling there along the way.

  Max sits back in his chair. “I can’t believe you called Trevor. I mean, I’m glad he’s willing to help, but I thought Hell would freeze over before you’d ever talk to that asshole again.”

  “Extenuating circumstances,” Nyla states flatly.

  “Yeah, I guess so. Well, I suppose I can wait to beat the shit out of him until after the surgery,” Max snarls.

  I arch a brow looking between them. “Am I missing something?”

  “It was a bad break-up. I swore I’d never speak to him again, but some things are more important than grudges,” she says, lacing her fingers with mine.

  Man am I prick. I’ve spent the last twenty-four hours doubting her and accusing her of cheating when all she’s been doing is trying to help Mason. I caress her cheek with my thumb and lean in to kiss her, but I’m jerked backward, restrained by the seatbelt harness. We smile at my failed attempt.

  I want to push for more information and find out how this asshole hurt my angel, but the helicopter is loud, and this is the kind of conversation that should be had in private over a bottle of wine. Not screamed across a helicopter in front of other people.

  By the time we reach New York–Presbyterian, they’ve already taken Mason into surgery. Edward and Jen are waiting for us in the lobby, and I have a message from Colin saying he and Alex are flying back tonight and to let them know if there is anything I need. I can’t believe the way these people are coming together to rally around Mason. They don’t even know him, but they’re here because they care about me.

  Hours pass, as we sit in a private room with recliners and couches awaiting any update on my brother’s condition. Max, Jen, and Edward have gone off in search of a vending machine. Nyla is beside me with her head against my shoulder, her hand threaded with mine, the way it has been the entire time.

  She traces a finger over my tattoo. “Why’d you get this?”

  I gaze down at my wrist. “I trusted the wrong person and got screwed over pretty bad. I got this to remind me to never let my guard down.”

  “I hate it.”

  “Yeah, it’s faded over the years. It wasn’t done very well,” I admit. I should get it removed.

  “That’s not why I hate it. I hate it because someone hurt you bad enough to make you feel that way.” She sits up to face me, her eyes fill with desperation. “You know you can trust me, right? The only reason I met with Trevor was to see if he could help Mason. I’d never cheat on you or do anything to hurt you.”

  After everything she’s done today, I believe that. “I know you wouldn’t.”

  “Nyla,” a man in scrubs calls out from the doorway.

  “Trevor,” Nyla rises to greet him, and I follow suit. He shakes my hand, but his eyes drop to where Nyla has her arm linked with mine. I instinctively wrap an arm around her waist pulling her closer. He looks up, forcing a smile. “You must be Memphis. I’m Doctor Davis.”

  “How’s Mason?” I ask, skipping the formalities, not because he’s Nyla’s ex, but because I’ve been waiting to hear something for the last four hours.

  “It’s too soon to tell. This isn’t like most procedures where you see immediate results. The progress happens over time as the muscle begins to regenerate. But the surgery went well and there should be some improvement. I expect your brother should see tremendous benefits from it.”

  “So, he’s going to be okay?” I ask, needing him to say the words.

  “If the trials we’ve conducted so far are any indication, I think he’ll be more than okay. You can see him now if you like?”

  “Yes. Please.”

  I help Nyla gather her things and we follow Trevor—excuse me Dr. Davis—into the recovery area where Mason is sleeping soundly. “Keep it brief. He needs to rest. I suggest you go home and get some sleep, too. There’s no need to stay. The nurse is going to give him something that’ll knock him out for the night.”

  “Thank you for saving my brother.” I extend my hand to him while Nyla sets her things on the chair.

  “You’re welcome,” he replies, shaking it and pulling me inward. “But I didn’t do it for you. I did it for her.”

  Nyla rejoins us enveloping him in a hug. “Thanks, Trevor.”

  My mouth forms a tight smile. I have to remind myself the asshole just saved my brother’s life when he holds her a little longer than I’d like. My assessment from the photo was right. He’s still in love with her. It helps knowing she doesn’t feel the same, but I still want his goddamn hands off her. She’s the first to break the embrace, coming back to my side and slipping her arm around me. I don’t miss his slight grimace.

  “Of course. Glad I could help. Nyla, we’ll talk soon?” It’s both a declaration and a plea as he exits the room.

  “Oh no, we won’t,” Nyla mutters once she’s sure he’s gone. She really does hate him, which makes the fact that she did this all the more meaningful.

  I place my hand on the small of her back. “Come on. Let’s check on Mason.”

  “Memphis?” Mason squeaks out, hearing my voice.

  “I’m here Mase.” I hurry to his bedside taking his hand in mine.

  “Where am I?”

  “The hospital. You collapsed and had to have emergency surgery, but you’re going to be okay.”

  He digests the information and nods. It’s not the first time he’s ended up in the hospital with no memory of how he got there. His brow furrows, smoothing when he focuses in on me. “I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it.”

&nbs
p; “I know, buddy. Neither did I. You know I love you. Even if I don’t say it, you always know that, right?”

  “Yeah. I do. I love you, too.” His eyes lift, looking past me. “Is that Nyla?”

  “It is,” I say, reaching for her to formerly introduce them.

  She bends down, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

  “I’m happy to meet you too. You notice he waited until I was laid up in a hospital bed to introduce us,” he teases.

  “Well, he was probably afraid we’d run away together. He told me you were the good looking one in the family.”

  “Obviously.”

  My heart cinches seeing the two of them together talking and laughing. We’ve only visited for a few minutes when the nurse comes in to give Mason his medicine and kick us out. I leave reluctantly and call Cora to let her know the good news.

  “Oh, praise Jesus!” she sobs into the phone. “We’ve been waiting up. Well, I’ve been waiting up. Your dad fell asleep in the chair about an hour ago. I had to give him something to calm him down. The move and everything happening with Mason had him very confused.”

  “I’m sorry. That’s why I thought it was better you guys went to the apartment instead of coming up here. I’ll get there as soon as I can. I want to see Nyla home first.”

  “Don’t be silly. You must be exhausted. You go with your lady friend. Your dad’s asleep, and I’m going to turn in for the night. There’s no sense in you coming here now.”

  With my conscience eased, Nyla and I thank everyone and say our goodbyes. Once again, I’m quiet on the ride home, but for much different reasons than last time. Nyla removes a flyer from a local Chinese restaurant hanging around the doorknob, reading over it as we walk inside.

  “Are you hungry? Do you want me to order something or do you want to go straight to bed?” I pull her into my arms and capture her mouth, kissing her senseless. She links her arms around my neck, grinning mischievously. “Straight to bed then?”

  I close my eyes and rest my forehead against hers. I’m exhausted and I probably shouldn’t be doing this now, but it remains a wall between us, and I can’t go without addressing it any longer. “I know about the embezzling.”

  She pulls back from me. “What? I don’t …”

  I hold up my hand and sit on the couch. “Don’t do that.”

  “Don’t do what?”

  “Insult my intelligence. Manipulate me. Not now. It’ll only piss me off.”

  “How did you know?” she asks, sitting beside me.

  “I had a hunch for a few weeks. It was confirmed when I found the purchase orders in your desk yesterday.”

  “That’s why you started acting strange.”

  She doesn’t ask why I was going through her desk. If she did, I would be honest. Her eyes remain glued to the floor. “I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how to bring it up, and I didn’t want to put you in that position. Everything has gotten so out of hand. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to get the money back into the account before anyone noticed, but I don’t know how. And now, I don’t know what to do.”

  “You want to put the money back?”

  “Yes. Of course!”

  I mull over my next words carefully, making sure I’m absolutely certain I want to do this before I make the offer. But I already know I am. I’ve been thinking about it all day. The con is over. It’s time to give up my final piece of leverage. I’m risking it all, praying what Nyla and I have is real and she’s not going to dump me the second I get her out of this mess.

  “What if I told you I could help you and no one would ever have to know?”

  Her head whips to me. “You could do that? How?”

  “I have my ways. Who else knows about this besides Edward?”

  “My father doesn’t know.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “One hundred percent. He has no idea. He’d be crushed if he did.”

  “Yes, he would,” I agree. “So, he really did just bring me in to vet the company?”

  “Yes. He’s been talking about expanding overseas and is looking into taking the company public. He wanted to have someone from the outside come in to access our vulnerabilities. Trust me. If dad knew Uncle Harrison was embezzling, I’d know about it.”

  “Harrison?”

  “Yeah. Why do you sound so surprised? Isn’t that what we’re talking about? How Harrison has been embezzling for the past three months?”

  There’s genuine confusion on her face, which puzzles me. “Why do you assume it’s Harrison?”

  “Because it makes sense. Dad cut him off and he was furious about it. And I know he has gambling debts. I’ve paid off a couple. Sometimes I think he avoided paying them, hoping someone would come after him and …” She swallows hard before continuing. “… hurt him.”

  “So why the secrecy? Why not tell your dad? Why cover for Harrison?”

  “Because my dad would be devastated if he found out. Harrison’s already broken his heart enough. And I guess I felt if Uncle Harrison wanted the money, he should have it. I owe him.”

  “Owe him for what?”

  She shakes her head. “Please don’t make me tell you.”

  “Look at me,” I demand, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Why don’t you want to tell me?”

  Her gaze falls back to the floor and her lip starts to quiver. “Because then I won’t be your angel anymore.”

  I wrap my arms around her folding her into me as sobs rack her body. “You listen to me. You will always be my angel. There’s nothing you could tell me that will ever change that. Okay?”

  She pushes away from me, wiping underneath her eyes with the side of her hand. “That’s what Trevor said, too. That nothing would change. But once he found out, everything was different. He’d make sarcastic comments and throw it in my face whenever he got the chance. During our last fight, he told me he didn’t want us to have kids because he wouldn’t trust me with them. That’s when I called off the engagement.”

  “Well, then Trevor’s an asshole. Anyone would be lucky to have kids with you. In fact, I’ll put a baby in this belly right now if you want,” I declare, rubbing my palm over her stomach.

  “Memphis,” she drawls, chuckling through her tears.

  “Listen to me angel. I would never use something you told me against you.” I cup her face in my hand forcing her to look into my eyes. “NEVER.”

  She sniffles, struggling with the secret she’s about to divulge. “Katie wasn’t the way she was because of a birth defect. She was a perfectly healthy little girl. I’m the one who caused her brain damage.”

  TWENTY-SIX

  Know When You’re Being Played

  The gravity of her words hangs heavy in the air. Nyla wrings her hands together working up the nerve to speak while I sit patiently waiting. “Uncle Harrison and I used to be really close. He and Aunt Wendy doted on me a lot because they didn’t think they could have kids of their own. I used to spend at least two weekends a month with them until Katie came along. I think everyone was a little worried I’d get jealous, but it was the opposite. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her. I used to beg them to let me babysit. When I was twelve, they finally did.”

  A wistful grin crosses her face recalling the memory. “My dad was out of town, but my mom was there, so they felt comfortable leaving Katie with me for a few hours. I remember how excited I was. The first thing I wanted to do was feed her.”

  She laughs. “We made such a mess. There was food all over me … on the dog’s back … it was in Katie’s hair and all over her chubby little face. My mom and I were going to give her a bath when I finished, but then she got one of her bad headaches and had to lie down. I decided to give her a bath anyway, even though Mom specifically told me to wait.”

  Blotches of red creep across Nyla’s face and chest and her eyes well. “I should have listened, but she was just so sticky.” She pauses to compose herself. “I’m sorry.”


  I rest my hand over hers. “It’s okay, angel. Take your time.” I want to tell her she doesn’t need to go on, but I think she needs to get it out. And I think she needs to know I’ll still love her after I hear it.

  She stares at our hands for a moment, running her thumb over the back of mine. “Katie was splashing in the tub laughing when my mom appeared in the doorway. I thought she was coming to tell us we were being too loud, but she got the strangest look on her face. Then she collapsed. Everything happened pretty fast after that. I rushed over and started CPR having no clue what I was doing. At some point I must’ve called 911, because before long, EMTs were pounding on the door. But they were too late. My mom was already gone.”

  Nyla stands and begins to pace the length of the couch, hugging her arms around her waist to comfort herself. “The police arrived shortly after. There were people everywhere. Our dog was in the bathroom barking like crazy. I went to grab him to put him outside and I noticed he wasn’t barking at them. He was focused on the tub. That’s when I remembered Katie was still in there. She had gone under water during all the commotion and wasn’t breathing. I screamed and dragged her out. An EMT managed to revive her, but she had been deprived of oxygen for several minutes and suffered severe brain damage.”

  Her tears are coming hard and fast making it difficult for her to get the words out. The guilt and the pain she has lived with her entire life must be crippling. I wish there was some way I could take it all away.

  “Come here,” I say, reaching my hand out to her. She takes it and allows me to pull her onto my lap. Her body trembles in my arms.

  “I didn’t mean to do it. My mom collapsed … and I was so scared … and I thought I could save her … I-I-I didn’t mean to hurt Katie … or H-H-Harrison … I’m sorry … I’m so sorry.”

  “Shhh, angel, it’s okay,” I whisper, rocking her like a child. “It was an accident. Harrison had to know that.”

  “I think on some level he did, and that made it even harder for him because he wanted someone to hate. After everything happened, my Aunt Wendy couldn’t cope. She ended up in a psych ward and stayed there until she died a few years back. He had to raise a disabled daughter all alone.”