Page 28 of Hollywood

“Okay Winter, we’ve given you plenty of time to get used to us and come on over and you still haven’t, so we’re taking matters into our own hands.”

I froze at the sound of the voice. It was soft yet throaty and despite her words, non-threatening. I turned and found a trio of women forming a wall between me and the rest of the bar area. “I’ve been here for about ten minutes.”

The redhead rolled her big blue eyes. “Like I said, plenty of time. I’m Peyton, Rocky’s old lady, and these are Laura and Harper, Hawk and Gio’s old ladies.” Her smile seemed like it would be a better fit for a homecoming queen than a biker’s woman. “How are you doing with all of this? I know it’s a lot, but nobody understands better than us.”

I scoffed. “Not to be rude, but you know what it’s like to have a bunch of scammers coming after you and threatening you?”

“Not scammers,” Laura offered. “I helped a man being extorted by a bunch of thugs and they tried to kidnap me, so Hawk pretended that I was his woman and then it became real.”

Wow. “Seriously?”

“Yep.” Peyton wrapped an arm around me and guided me to one of the tables. “Someone murdered my roommate and stalked me. I went to Rocky for help because when I dated his son, he always talked about how badass his dad was.”

“Okay, wow.” I looked to Harper, eager to hear her tale.

“Overheard some bikers talking about things I shouldn’t have and then threatened my life. Gio, my brother’s best friend, kept me safe and then kept me for good.”

“So you do understand. I’m sorry, it’s just… how are you all so normal?”

“I’m a nurse,” Laura offered. “What you think of as normal is more changeable than you might think. So seriously, how are you?”

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “This is a lot. I’m not upset about spending time with Hollywood but this being scared all the time? It’s stressful as fuck and I have to do it without my best friend.”

“See that’s where you’re wrong,” Peyton offered. “Just because you can’t leave, doesn’t mean your bestie can’t come here. When you’re here, you’re safe and that’s what the guys care most about.”

“Totally,” Harper agreed and stood. “Now, call your friend and tell her to come over while I get us set up on thefirst round of drinks. Except for Emma since she’s baking baby number two.” She winked at me as the two tables erupted in squeals in laughter.

“Thanks,” I told her after I sent a quick text to Luisa asking if she wanted to hang out at a biker clubhouse.

“No problem. I was in your position most recently so I know how overwhelming it can be.”

I gathered shot glasses, wine glasses, and beer mugs as instructed and followed Harper back to the table, sitting quietly and listening to the way the women interacted with one another. They were a unit, that much was clear and coming from a family of two, I envied them.

***

We’d been sitting and chatting for an hour or so when a knock sounded on the door, and everyone froze, including me.

“I’ll get it.” The deep baritone voice belonged to one of the Steel Demons, with a bald head and big gray eyes that seemed to see everything.

“Thanks T-bone. It should be,” Peyton turned to me for an answer.

“Luisa,” I stammered out.

He wore a deep frown, but it shifted the moment he laid eyes on Lu. “Hey big guy, is this where the party is?”

His lips twitched but he managed to maintain a blank expression. “And you are?”

“Luisa. Best friend to Winter, who invited me.”

T-bone stepped back and let her inside. “Have fun. Don’t leave without telling me.”

“You betcha,” she answered in a sing-song voice.

I was on my feet as soon as I spotted her. “Lu!” Our bodies slammed together, and I hugged her tight. “It feels like I haven’t seen you in years.” The truth was we hadn’t spent more than a week apart since we became friends in the third grade, and that was only because of stupid family vacations over the summer, so the last few weeks had been hard.

“I missed you too girl. And I brought booze and salsa.”

I laughed and squeezed her again. “Damn, I really did miss you.” I pulled back and took the salsa from her hand. “Let me introduce you around.”

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