Page 12 of Broken Strings

I want to rip my fucking heart out to stop the way it hurts. But I can't. Because if she's lived with that pain for six fucking years, then I can live with the knowledge of what she's gone through. I owe her that much.

"Now she knows the truth," Memphis says calmly. "Once she has time to process, she'll be back."

I hesitate, not so sure that's true.

He notices. "You told her the truth, right?"

"I tried." I scrub my hands down my face. "I fucked it all up, man."

"So…she doesn't know what really happened?"

"Pieces." I'm not even entirely sure what pieces. "I was trying to explain, but it wasn't fucking working. Everything was coming out wrong. And then she detonated a bomb, telling me that we aren't married anymore. That shit hurt like a motherfucker, not gonna lie. I just remembered her, and I'm already losing her. By the time my fucking legs started functioning again, she was already gone."

And I made a promise to Winter. She's the reason I'm here. I couldn't just walk away from everything her, Ronan, and the band did to get me back here, to help me. I had to get on that goddamn stage and put on a show. I don't remember any of it. The whole thing is a blur.

I'm desperate to go after Mina, to fix this. But where the fuck do I even start? How do I convince her of the truth when I don't even know it? She needs answers…and I've never had those. All I have are questions.

"Shit," Memphis whistles. "You need to go after her, man. Explain what really happened."

"You think I don't know that?" I scowl at him.

"So…why aren't you?"

I pause, thinking it through. Why am I here right now instead of tearing this city apart looking for her?

"Once I was released from the hospital, I started digging for answers," I say after a moment. "I didn't know a goddamn thing, and I couldn't live with that shit."

"I get that," he says, his expression tight. I figure if anyone understands the shit I've done, Memphis does. Don't know much about his past, but I know he's got skeletons in his closet. I don't ask, though. They aren't my fucking business.

"I don't know how many skulls I cracked trying to find out who I was or what the fuck happened to me. Eventually, I found someone willing to admit they were paid to have me hauled to that trap house." I tip my head back, staring up at a water stain on the ceiling. "Never could shake loose who it was or why me." And believe me, I fucking tried. I left a goddamn trail of bloodied bodies behind, trying to get my answers. Either no one knew or they weren't willing to talk. "But as soon as I saw her and memories started flooding back in, her father is the first person I thought about."

He's one more memory that was taken from me, one more thing I should have known and didn't. I lost my life, every connection to the people and places that matter. And for the very first time in six years, I'm beginning to think that was the entire goddamn purpose.

Lionel Cordova hated me because Mina chose me. But with me dead in Mexico, she was no longer tied to me. He was free to sweep back in and take over her life again.

Christ. Is that what happened? Is that why her life has been so fucking miserable for the last six years? Because I wasn't here to protect her from whatever bullshit he designed to punish her with?

"You think he did it."

I jerk my chin in a nod. "How the fuck am I supposed to tell her that her father is the reason her life fell apart? That I disappeared in Mexico because he made me disappear? She already thinks I'm full of shit. If I tell her what I know and what I think, it sounds like I'm blaming the one man who was there forher when I wasn't. I'm asking her to choose between us all over again."

"Well, you need to tell her something," Cash, Riley Jamison's husband, says, stepping into the green room. His broad shoulders fill the doorway as he ducks to avoid cracking his head on the frame. "Because there are things you don't know."

I narrow my eyes on him. "What kind of things?"

"I can't tell you that, Priest," he says softly, holding my gaze. "My wife would kick my ass if I did, and it's not my place. I shouldn't even be saying anything. But if our roles were reserved, I'd want someone to say the shit I'm saying to you right now."

"Is she okay?" I ask, worry clawing through me as I haul myself to my feet. "Is something wrong with her?"

"No," Cash says with a shake of his head. "Nothing like that. Just…fucking talk to her, man."

Fuck. He's right. I won't be able to settle until I see her again. He can stand here all goddamn night and tell me that she's fine, but I won't believe it until I see it myself. I need to talk to her. Work this shit out. Doesn't matter how long it takes to convince her; I have to convince her. My goddamn heart won't be whole until I do.

"I didn't mean right now," Cash sighs as I stride toward the door.

"Don't care," I mutter. "Concert is over. I'm out." I pause when he steps aside, leaving me room to go around him. "Where is she? Can you at least tell me that much?"

"Her dad's."