Page 51 of Hollywood

Hollywood smiled but it wasn’t his sexy or his flirty smile. This was a different smile altogether, one that was menacing with a hint of promise. He turned his head, using his shoulder to clear some of the blood from his beautiful face. “You had that chance before, and you basically told me to go fuck myself.”

“You weren’t authorized to make that promise.”

Hollywood shrugged. “Now we’ll never know.” He took a step forward. “You called the bluff and now you have to pay the price.” He aimed the machete at the injured men behind him. “More than half of your MC is gone and when the rest of my boys get here, we’ll wipe out the rest of you.”

He’s alone?That was stupid. Brave and incredible, but also stupid.

A perfect match, we are.

JT shook his head and applied more pressure to the knife’s tip until he broke my skin. “This is the only blood of hers that will spill if you let me go. Otherwise,” he sank the knife a little deeper until I cried out. “I’ll gut this whore like a pig.”

Do something, Winter!I hated feeling useless especially when Hollywood had risked his life to come after me. I moved back and forth against the chains, ignoring the pain as the metal tore through my skin because those moves knocked JT off his game.

Hollywood took advantage of the moment and lunged forward those last few steps until he stood inches from JT. “Don’t ever and I meanfucking everthreaten my woman again.”

JT laughed and slashed Hollywood forearm with his blade. “Or what?”

His teeth clenched as bloody spilled from his forearm, but he showed no other signs of distress. In fact, he smiled. “Or it’ll be the last thing you do.” With lightning quick moves he lifted the machete and slid it across JT’s throat, stepping aside as blood spurted a few feet out.

“Holy shit!” Lu screamed her head off, unable to look away without causing more pain from the chains. “You killed him. Holy fuck you totally killed him,” she cried out, repeating the words over and over.

Hollywood holstered his gun and smiled up at me. “Winter, fuck it’s so good to see you.”

“Better to see you,” I smiled back. “Lu is kind of losing her shit.” The truth was that I was too, but my best friend was more important now that we were safe. She was crying and screaming, naked, and bloody thanks to JT’s dramatic end.

“Come on, Lu. I got you.” He unraveled the chains until she sank against his chest. “You’re safe now.” Like the gentleman he was underneath the tough exterior, he took off his bloody shirt and slid it over her head.

“Th- th- thank you.”

“Of course.” He turned to me and quickly freed me. “Winter,” he growled.

I gripped his face in both hands and pressed my lips to his. “You came.”

“I’ll always come for you, babe.”

My heart swelled. It wasn’t quite the declaration of love I was hoping for but for now, it was enough. I smiled at him, and he smiled back, and we might have stood like that for the rest of our lives if the sound of heavy boots and angry men hadn’t spoiled the moment.

“Get down,” he shouted and spun around as more bikers entered with guns drawn. It only took them seconds to notice their men, injured or dead on the floor, before more bullets flew. Hollywood turned back to us and used his body as a shield against the bullets.

His weight grew heavy, and I knew in that moment that I was going to lose him. Warm liquid touched my skin, and I looked down to find Hollywood bleeding. “No!” His weight was oppressive on top of me.

Lu cried out as she pushed Hollywood’s chest trying to free herself. “He’s been shot.”

Twice, based on the spacing of the blood stains on his undershirt. “Shit. Come on Hollywood, not now. Not ever.” The warmth of his blood was a stark contrast to my cool skin and as the men closed in, I was sure that today was the day all three of us would die.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Hollywood

“Shit. Come on Hollywood, not now. Not ever.” Winter’s words, her anguished tone hit my ears, and my eyes opened. I took two bullets, one of those fuckers went straight through my tricep and the other lodged on the right side of my lower back. I wiggled my toes and when I realized I was fine, I let out a low grunt of pain as I pushed myself off the women. “You scared the fuck out of me.”

I managed a half-smile at her words. “Move,” I urged, my words low and filled with pain. “Run and don’t look back.” My gaze bounced between the best friends and Luisa looked relieved to have permission to run. “Keep your head down.”

Luisa got to her feet and crouched down low as she rushed around the shelves and disappeared.

“Winter, please.” I couldn’t do what I needed to do if I was worried about her and how the fuck could Inotworry about this woman when I was fucking in love with her? This wasn’t about a promise to Winston, it was purely fucking selfish.

She shook her head, and defiance lit her eyes as she notched her chin high in the air. “I’m not leaving you.” She pushed to her feet when she was free of my weight and faced me. “You’re hurt. Let me help.”

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