Page 44 of Hollywood

He didn’t respond because the motherfucker was out like a light.

“We’ll talk about it later,” I called out with a crazed laugh.

“Laugh all you want,” JT called out. “But I want that crypto wallet back and if I don’t get it, I’ll make it my missionto take Winter and torture her until she begs me to slit her throat. And then I’ll sell her to the cheapest, most disgusting whorehouse I can find.”

My heart stopped dead in my chest at his words because I knew he meant it, knew that I would have to protect her with my life to make sure she didn’t end up as some fuck doll for a gang. “Forget about Winter and Winston and you’ll get what youthinkyou’re owed.” I wasn’t authorized to make that deal and I was grateful neither Diesel nor Rocky called me out in front of the Jade Devils.

Tamazaki laughed and shook his head. “No fucking way. He’s caused us too much trouble and he owes me for all the shit I’ve been through.”

I didn’t bother pointing out that his scam was the cause of his trouble, because it was pointless. I got to my feet and shrugged. “Had to try,” I offered calmly and stood my ground until every last one of those fuckers was on their bikes and riding away.

When the roar of the group of bikes could no longer be heard, Diesel turned to me with a scowl. “What the fuck was that? In case you’ve forgotten, we don’t make decisions like that. Got me?” He poked my chest, pissed off that I might’ve gotten us into a deeper hole.

But I didn’t and I smacked his hand away. “Yeah, I know that. But I had to see if he was a reasonable person, and now we know he’s not.”

Diesel nodded but Rocky got in my face next. “Yeah, and how the fuck does that help us?”

“Because,” I shoved him and raked both hands through my hair. “Now we know this will never end. He won’t leave Winston alone until he gets his money, and Winston does not have that kind of fucking money. He has to die.” I wasn’t sure if my brothers would get on board with the plan, but I knew deep in my soul that the only way Winston and therefore Winter, would have any peace was if JT was dead. Maybe his whole fucking MC.

“Fuck!” Rebel shouted into the night, frustrated because he saw the look on my face and knew what it meant. “Here we go again.” He laughed bitterly. “At least this isn’tjustover a woman.”

Diesel gripped my shoulder and sighed. “I get it, but don’t make promises we haven’t agreed to.”

“I won’t. I wouldn’t. I knew he wouldn’t take the deal, I just needed him to say it out loud. That way when the consequences came, everybody would know he orchestrated it. Most of them only care about the money and he was offered a chance to get that money back, money that belongs to all of them. He passed and now they’re out of the cash and some of them are going to die.”

“Fuck,” Gio laughed. “I thought I was crazy and bloodthirsty. Come on, I need my woman and a drink or nine.” The kid had a knack for lightening the mood and after a good laugh, we all headed back to the clubhouse.

To our women.

To Winter.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Winter

Icouldn’t sleep and even though I told myself it had nothing to do with the fact that Hollywood wasn’t here. He’d come back to the room briefly and I felt the weight of his gaze on me, but he didn’t say anything. Didn’t attempt to talk or apologize, he just left.

Probably for good.

Oh, I didn’t think he was forfeiting his promise to my dad to keep me safe, I just figured he would pawn the job off on one of his brothers. The idea stung but there was nothing I could do about that. I knew where I stood with him and it hurt like a son of a bitch, but I also knew I couldn’t make anyone feel something they just didn’t.

“I’ll get over it.” That’s what I told myself as I pushed off the uncomfortable sofa that was probably purchased sometime in the nineteen hundreds, grabbed my phone and went to see what was going on in the bar.

“There she is!” Ruby greeted me with a smile and waved me over. “Were you sleeping?”

I shrugged. “Trying, but sleep decided to elude me. What’s going on?”

She frowned. “Hollywood didn’t tell you?”

I shook my head. “He did say anything.” Hadn’t even tried to tell me anything important was going on, which wasjust another clue that I wasn’t important to him, at least not beyond a few hot fucks and being his best friend’s daughter.

“The guys had a meeting with the Jade Devils tonight.” She spoke so matter-of-factly, as if she wasn’t terrified some of them might come back with bullet holes. Some might not come back at all.

“Why? Did something happen?” I shook my head and bit back any sounds or signs that might reveal my displeasure.

Peyton joined us with a heavy sigh and set a shot glass filled with clear liquid in front of me. “Nothing specific,” she answered. “But they need to figure out if this is a problem that has a solution.”

Right. “That makes sense.”

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