Page 16 of Hollywood

“That’s why he’s the perfect fucking victim,” Hawk growled. “That’s what they do, find people who are more likely to blame themselves than the assholes who lied to them. If you don’t mind, I’ll try to talk to him.”

“Anything we can do to keep Winston alive and safe, I’m on board with. Even if we have to kidnap him until this is over.” Winter would never recover if something happened to her father and honestly, I wasn’t sure I could make it in a world where Winston didn’t exist anymore. He’s been part of my life longer than anybody except my parents.

“Noted.”

Diesel dismissed us and I took my time making my way back home, not because I didn’t want to see Winter, I really fucking did. I didn’t want to look into those big, guileless eyes and be the one to tell her that she was in even more danger than she realized. I didn’t know how to tell her this news without breaking her spirit and dimming her light, but I couldn’t keep it from her.

All I could do was keep her close and keep her safe, no matter the toll it took on my mental health or how much my need for her grew. Fuck it all, she was theonlything that fucking mattered now.

Chapter Ten

Winter

Ihadn’t been able to eat or sleep since I saw my dad. That damn black eye hit me like a ton of bricks to the gut. My dad, the dorkiest, sweetest, most loving man in the whole fucking world was beat up by some damn criminals and for what? Money? Obviously, money was an important thing in life, most people said it made the world go round, but this wasn’t some down on his luck schmuck who made a bad decision. This was a concerted fucking effort to get more money out of good man who was already scammed.

I was furious.

I was terrified.

And that translated into being unable to focus on anything other than my dad. Hollywood had insisted that I stay with him at the house he was renting, I wanted my dad to come with us too, but he refused, saying no one was gonna scare him out of his home. I tried to do a reading assignment for one of my classes and gave up after forty minutes of reading the same paragraph over and over without any comprehension. So I had skipped class for the last two days, barely leaving my room thanks to the important business of staring into space.

Thinking.

Plotting and planning—what, I didn’t know. I just knew that I had to do something. Even now, I’ve been up for atleast an hour, yet I was still laying on my back as I stared up at the ceiling wondering if this would all turn out all right. Not that I didn’t have confidence in Hollywood, I did, but that confidence meant jack shit until I knew what type of criminals were after my dad. Were these just two-bit scam artists shooting their shot, or was this some organized crime syndicate who did whatever it took to make money and cover their tracks?

I still didn’t have any answers about anything and all I wanted was to talk to Luisa. I was dodging her calls because the moment I told her what was happening, she would lose her shit and then she would probably start digging into the company, which would put her in danger. I couldn’t risk that, but dammit I missed my best friend.

And if I didn’t text her soon to let her know I was okay, she might file a missing person’s report.

Hollywood hadn’t given me any information yet even though he had some big MC meeting a few days ago. I wasn’t sure if they hadn’t found out anything or if he thought he was protecting, but after spending this much time with him I would put money on it being the latter.

My bedroom door burst open, and it startled a scream out of me that was perfect for a horror flick. But it wasn’t any anonymous intruder, oh no, it was a too damn handsome biker with a stunning smile. He took in the sight of me, still in bed and under the covers. Silently judging me.

“Excuse me,” I said indignantly. “Get the hell out of my room!”

His eyes sparkled with amusement as if this was all some big joke. “Time to get up and face the day.”

“Iamup,” I shot back with an annoyed sigh.

“No, you’re awake but you’re still in bed. Still wallowing. Still pouting.” He stepped inside the room and fisted the comforter at my feet in his hands. “Time to face the fucking day, Winter.”

“Go away.” I tried to fight for the comforter, but he was twice my size and three times as strong, so I let it go and covered my face with my arms.

“I will, as soon as you get up.”

“I don’t want to. I’ll get up when I’m ready. You’re my protector not my keeper.”

“I’m also your friend and I wouldn’t let anyone sit like this for more than two days before giving them shit until they realized it was easier to get the hell up than argue with me.”

“You’re annoying.”

He let out a loud, rumbling laugh. “I know, now get up or I’ll pick you up and put you in the shower myself.”

My body responded to his words instantly. My nipples went hard, and my breaths came in quicker, shallower. “You wouldn’t.”

“There are easier ways to get me in the shower,” he joked.

I wondered if he was joking or if this was just an elaborate ploy to getmenaked. Did I care? Hell no. But I wasn’t in the mood for games, either. “You wouldn’t dare.”

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