Hollywood (Steel Demons MC #7)

Chapter One

Hollywood

“M an I swear it’s fucking good to be free.” I laughed with my boy Gio and smiled up at the clear blue sky, enjoying the feel of the sun on my face. “The sun don’t feel like this in the joint.” I should know since I spent five and a half years inside a California prison for a fight that went wrong.

Gio grinned and shook his head. “Glad you were a good little boy then, and they sprang you early.”

“Me too, brother. Fuck, I ain’t going back. It ain’t right, another man telling you when you can and can’t take a piss.” I know people look at me with my long blond hair, two full sleeves of tattoos and more on my chest, back and legs, and they think one thing—.criminal. But fuck that, I’m a biker and I love living the biker life, but that was my first and last time in prison. I hope.

“Now that that chaos has died down for now, what’s your plan?”

I shrugged. “A few people I need to call on, who held me down when I was locked up.” My dad was long gone, alive or dead I don’t know and don’t give a fuck. My ma though? She was a different story altogether. She moved to California years ago and visited me regularly while I was locked up.

“I thought you stopped to see your ma before you guys came back home?”

“Yeah, I did. But my best friend lives here and I didn’t tell him I was getting out early.” It would be a trip to see Winston again, it’s been years since we last saw each other.

“The computer dude?”

“Yep. We grew up together and he became my best friend. The jock and the geek.”

Gio barked out a laugh. “Sounds like one of those romance books Harper loves to read.”

“Funny fucker,” I grumbled and walked around my bike checking her out. “It’s so good to have my baby back.” My hand slid over the leather seat, newly polished and shining under the sun. “Thanks for taking care of her for me while I was locked up.”

“No problem. The maintenance is all up to date so ride her freely.” He wiggled his eyebrows and the double entendre, and I couldn’t stop the laugh that exploded out of me.

“Good to see being domesticated hasn’t changed you, man.”

“If anything it’s made me worse,” he answered with a sly smile. “The things a woman in love will do and suggest? Mind-fucking-boggling, brother.”

“And on that note, I’m gonna head out. See you later.” I started the bike, smiling at that familiar thunderous roar.

“Don’t forget, we got church tomorrow. We’ve still gotta figure out that shit with the Santangelos. Diesel thinks it’s a bad idea to agree to do business with them, but I’m not sure they were actually asking.”

Yeah, I tended to agree with Gio on that one. The asking was a gesture they used to make you think it was a partnership when it really was them trying to make us their bitch. That ain’t never gonna happen.

I put club business out of my mind as I rode the familiar path to the home of my oldest friend in the world, Winston Hart. He worked as a computer programmer for some big-time corporation, and he created his own cybersecurity business as a side hustle. He was one impressive dude and despite going to college and becoming a success, we remained friends throughout his marriage and my military career. Then through losing Kristen, his wife, and me becoming a member of the Steel Demons MC. He didn’t think he was better than me, didn’t give up on me, not even when I went to prison.

The house wasn’t what you might expect from a tech guy, but the home Winston lived in with his little girl wasn’t some sleek box of a house, this place was very homey like one right out of a goddamn sitcom. It was one of those craftsman homes that seemed popular in the neighborhood with a big front yard, porch swing and even flowerpots on the stairs. I looked and felt out of place but that didn’t stop me from bypassing the knocker and using my fist.

A few seconds later the door opened, and a bombshell appeared. Inky black hair fell around her bare shoulders in soft waves and big blue eyes took me in slowly. She wore a pair of skintight jeans and a tank top that left a strip of pale skin bare at the midriff. She had curves everywhere and all I could think was that Winston was a very lucky man.

“Um, hi,” she said in a breathy voice that hit me straight in the cock.

Down boy, this is Winston’s woman. She’s not for you. “Hey, I’m looking for Winston. Is he around?”

Her full pink lips twitched, and she nodded. “You don’t remember me?”

I frowned, “No, sorry. Last time I talked to Winston he didn’t mention he was seeing anyone. I would’ve remembered him telling me about a beautiful woman in his life.”

Her smile brightened but it was at odds with the words that came next. “Ew, gross. It’s me, Hollywood. Winter.”

To say I was stunned would’ve been a gross fucking understatement. There was no fucking way in hell that this bombshell was Winston’s little girl. No way that those perky tits and hard nipples belonged to Winter Hart. I couldn’t say any of that, though. “You grew up,” is what I came up with instead.

She laughed. “That does tend to happen over time.” Her big blue eyes raked over my body from head to toe before she met my gaze again. “You, however, look exactly how I remember you.” There was an unmistakable heat in her tone that I pretended not to notice.

“Winter who’s at the—holy shit, Hollywood! It’s really you.” He took my hand and pulled me close for a hug, complete with a big ass thump on my back. “Come in, come in.”

I stepped inside and noted all the homey details from the plush furniture, the family and school photos that lined the walls and shelves. It smelled like pine and apples and the sun streamed in through every window. “Nice place.”

“Thanks. I bought it about three years ago. The price was good, and we needed a new neighborhood.”

“That’s because Dad didn’t like all the college kids who rented houses on our block. I had no problem with it,” she added with a saucy smile before she left the living room.

When she was gone, Winston turned to me, still smiling. “When did you get out? I thought you had a few more years to go.”

“I did but good behavior time racks up quickly and they freed me early. Been out a couple of weeks and now that I’m adjusted, I wanted to see you.”

That made him smile even bigger. “I’m glad you did. It’s been too damn long, man.” He shook his head. “It wasn’t too horrible in there for you, was it?” That was Winston, he was still the same freckle-faced redhead with the biggest damn heart. He worried about me in school, thought I wasn’t living up to my potential. At first, I thought it was just gratitude because I’d saved his ass from bullies, but even after school he said the same thing.

“Other than shitty food and the distinct lack of women, it wasn’t too bad. But I wasn’t keen on staying one day more than I had to.”

Winter returned with two beers and set them on the table. “How does freedom feel this time around?”

I laughed and accepted the beer. “About as good as you look Winter.” My gaze flicked to Winston. “You freaking out yet?”

He sighed and nodded quickly. “Since she turned fifteen and stopped looking like my little girl.”

“Dad,” she rolled her eyes. “I’m a grown woman and who knows what kind of men I’d attract if I dressed like a little girl.”

“Stop it, please,” he groaned. “And thank you for the beer.”

“Yeah, thanks Winter.” I kept my gaze on her face because I had to, she was my best friend’s daughter, which made me old enough to be her father.

“I’m sure your MC is happy to have you home.” Winston never spoke of my club with disdain, and I appreciated that shit a lot.

“Yeah, there was a party and everything after the shit was over.”

He was quiet for a long minute. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, just that my homecoming coincided with a bit of trouble. It’s over now and that’s why I’m here.”

“I’ve been to Demon Head Guns,” he offered with a proud smile. “Figured it was time I learned to shoot. I liked it. In fact, I made a game because I liked it so much. It’s doing pretty well too.”

“I bet it is. I think you suck at failing, Win.”

He laughed. “Maybe but I’m still a mess when it comes to women.”

“I’m happy to be your wingman, just say the word.” I finished my beer and sighed. “You free to grab some lunch?”

“I was just about to toss some steaks on the grill, stay. We can catch up properly.”

“Sounds good.” Spending the afternoon with Winston was just what I needed. I loved my MC brothers but when I was here with my oldest friend, I wasn’t just Hollywood. With Winston I could just be Greg and I needed that sometimes.

Like now.