(Dixie Reapers MC)
Motorcycle Club Romance, 2nd Chance Romance
Date Published: April 11, 2025
What happens when a life shrouded in memories fades away, leaving only a faint echo of love?
Ridley -- Life can change in an instant. For me, it was the day I got that devastating call -- my world crumbled when I found out my husband, Venom, had been shot. He woke up, but the man I loved was a stranger. Then someone gave me a great idea. Make him fall for me all over again! Venom might not remember our past, but deep down, I know our connection is still there.
Venom -- I woke up in a hospital, no idea how I got there or what the hell happened. The angel by my bed seems familiar and yet not. Then she tells me she’s my wife. What the hell?
But as I spend time with Ridley, every story she shares awakens something deep within me. Her laughter, her warmth… the taste of her lips… every moment I spend with her ignites a spark that feels so right. I may not remember our years together, but I know one thing for sure: she’s mine.
Fall in love with the thrill of the ride, the heartache of forgotten memories, and the fierce determination of a love that refuses to die.
WARNING: Reclaiming Venom is intended for readers 18+ due to adult situations, bad language, and violence. While Reclaiming Venom can be read as a standalone, we recommended you read Venom (A Dixie Reapers MC 1) and Emergency Date (Swift Angels MC 2) first to better appreciate Reclaiming Venom.
EXCERPT
Venom
I moved quickly, coming up behind Tinker. I couldn’t believe this asshole was still alive. Pressing the barrel of my gun to his head, I made sure I had his fucking attention. “Drop it. Now!”
Tinker froze, a string of curses spilling from his lips. Slowly, he turned to face me, realization dawning in his eyes.
“You sneaky bastards,” he snarled.
Torch and Bull emerged from the shadows, their own weapons trained on Tinker. The old man’s face contorted with rage. “This is all your fault,” he spat at us. “You and your damned club!”
Torch stepped forward. “Until you decided to stir up shit, we all thought you were dead. Why now, Tinker? Why didn’t you just stay gone?”
Tinker’s laugh was bitter. “You want to know why?”
His gaze darted to Justin, the President of the Swift Angels MC. “I only found out about him a year ago. My own flesh and blood, a cop. I watched. I waited. Hoped maybe he’d at least be dirty, something I could work with.”
I got it. Sort of. I hadn’t been too pleased to find out my son, Dawson, was not only a fireman, but also the VP of another club. I’d hoped he’d follow in my footsteps. But now, I had to admit I was proud of the man he’d become.
“Then I realized,” Tinker continued, a cruel smile twisting his features, “that the Swift Angels had ties to you Dixie Reaper scum. That’s when I knew it was time to make my move. All these decades, waiting for a chance to get revenge, and it fell right into my lap.”
“It’s over, Tinker. You’ve lost. Do you really think you’ll get out of this alive? We may not have made sure you were dead last time, but things are different now,” I said.
Tinker’s grin widened. “You sure about that, Venom?”
Without warning, chaos erupted. Two men materialized from the shadows behind Justin. Shit! Wire had said Tinker would be alone. Where the hell had these men come from?
“Justin, down!” Logan yelled, but it was too late.
A deafening crack split the air. Justin’s body jerked, his blue eyes wide with shock. Blood bloomed across his chest, a crimson stain spreading rapidly. “Shit,” he muttered, his voice barely audible before his knees buckled.
Logan appeared shocked at first, then the paramedic sprang into action. He snatched the med bag he’d brought as a precaution and sprinted toward Justin’s fallen form.
Two more shots went off, and pain hit me like a fucking freight train. I stared at Tinker in confusion as I sank to the ground, everything going dark around the edges of my vision. I could hear everything around me, even though it felt like I was down a long tunnel, voices echoing.
“Logan! Hurry the fuck up!” Dawson’s frantic voice cut through the chaos.
I felt something pooling beneath me and realized it was my own fucking blood. The world got darker and darker, and I knew I was going under. Jesus fucking Christ! I’d lived this damn long, and a snake like Tinker got the drop on me?
Ridley… What the hell would she do without me? I didn’t want to leave her. There was still so much I wanted to see and do with her. Regret slammed into me, as I tried to recall if I’d told her I loved her before we left.
“Diego!” Logan barked. “Keep pressure on Justin’s wound. I need to check on Venom.”
I felt someone drop beside me, but I couldn’t make out any shapes anymore.
“We need ambulances,” Logan shouted. “Two of them. Now!”
I felt someone rip open my shirt and try to staunch the flow of blood, but I knew it was too late. Nothing could save me now.
“Dad.” Dawson’s voice broke as someone knelt beside me. Was it Dawson? “Dad, can you hear me?”
I heard Logan’s voice on the other side of me. “He’s lost a lot of blood. We need to get him to the hospital immediately.”
Logan worked on packing my wounds. I wanted to tell him to save someone else, that I’d finally come to the end of my journey, but I couldn’t form the words. My body felt cold, and soon even the noises around me faded to nothing.
Ridley… I’m so fucking sorry for leaving you. I’ll always love you.
* * *
Ridley
I stared at my son in horror, seeing my husband’s blood all over him. I wordlessly handed him a change of clothes and watched as he rushed off to a bathroom. Jesus. He’d told me it was bad, but… there was so much blood.
I looked over at Torch, and he came closer.
“What happened?” I asked. “There were so many of you. Was Tinker really that hard to take down?”
Torch sighed and ran a hand over his beard. “He wasn’t alone. Not Wire’s fault. Somewhere he picked up two helpers. While Venom had his gun to Tinker’s head, the other two came out of nowhere. They shot Justin first, and while our focus was on him, the other one shot Venom.”
I pressed a hand to my chest, my knees feeling weak. “How bad? And don’t fucking lie to me, Torch.”
“It’s bad, Ridley,” he murmured. “He nearly coded in the ambulance. By some miracle, the paramedics were able to get him back. They rushed him to surgery the minute we arrived. If it hadn’t been for Logan, he’d have died before they even got there.”
Right when my knees gave out, someone caught me. I glanced up to see Viking behind me. He hugged me tight before picking me up and carrying me over to a chair. He gently eased me down, and I leaned forward, pressing my head to my knees.
“This can’t be happening,” I whispered. “All these years, and this happens now? He was supposed to be safer. He stepped down as VP, and I thought, for sure, most of the danger was behind us.”
Torch took the spot beside me, and Savior sat on the other. We remained silent, praying and hoping for good news. It felt like an eternity before two doctors came out. One talked to the Swift Angels first about Justin, and the other came to me. He faced me, his expression grim, and my heart dropped.
“Venom has a long road to travel before he’s back on his feet. He made it through surgery, but… we lost him. We were about to call time of death, when his heart started beating again. He’s been moved to recovery, but it’s been decided it would be best to place him in a coma to help with the healing process.”
“What…” I licked my lips. “What does that mean?”
“He’s going to sleep until his body is mostly repaired. Then we’ll see if we can get him awake again.”
“What do you mean you’ll see?” Panic welled inside me. “He has to wake up!”
The doctor nodded. “I understand how you feel, but his situation… it’s not the best. For a man his age, well. There’s a lot of trauma to his body. There’s no way of telling when he’ll wake up.”
“Or if, right?” I asked, giving a bitter laugh. “You’re telling me he’s alive, but I may never get the chance to talk to him again? To see his eyes open, or hear him laugh? What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”
I heard my voice rising but couldn’t stop it. Tears streaked my cheek, and I felt the hysteria welling inside me. Then my son was there. Dawson wrapped me in his arms, and I sobbed against his chest while he spoke with the doctor.
Venom. You better come back to me! I can’t live without you.
About the Author
Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a satisfying note each time.
When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book. She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies. Visit Wylde's website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and other exciting perks.
Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde
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