Chapter Twenty-Three
Hollywood
“C ome on, JT, these white boys ain’t serious. Let’s just go grab that bitch and get what’s ours.” The bruised face identified the man as the left ball sack or maybe it was the right one. I didn’t remember.
“You prefer a woman who can’t fight back, do you?” I taunted the asshole. “I’m happy to remind you why that’s a bad fucking idea.”
His eyes widened with alarm before they returned to normal, and he smirked. “You and what army?”
“The same one that took you and your boys out last time.”
JT, also known as Justin Tamazaki, President of the Jade Devils MC, frowned at the ball sack. “You got your ass beat by that old fucker?”
“Just because my balls have dropped don’t make me old, asshole. You want a taste too?” My arms hung loosely at my sides, but my hands were balled into tight fists. I was angry. Fuck that, I was beyond angry and pissed off. It wasn’t just the fight with Winter that had me on edge, it was the fact that she was still in danger, and I wasn’t sure if she would let me keep her safe.
And it was all these asshole’s fault.
Hell yeah, I was ready to fight.
JT’s lips curled up into a lopsided grin and he shook his head. “And embarrass you in front of your brothers? Not this time.” JT stepped forward and crossed his arms, his gaze focused on Diesel, but his words were meant for me. “Give us the crypto wallet back and the bitch will be safe. For now.”
The bitch. That asshole was itching for a fight, and I was dying to give it to him. “Leave her out of it.”
JT smirked again. “Can’t. Not when you’re so desperate to save her.” He laughed outright and his boys joined in.
“What crypto wallet? If someone had stolen that money, I would consider it payback for the damage you did to my shop. And my employee.” Diesel towered over JT, his low words and even tone spoke of just how lethal he could be. “We’re even right now. That can change any minute.”
“Nah, fuck that. That was retaliation for the theft.”
“What theft? Maybe you ought to make a police report if you think someone stole something that belonged to you.”
They went back and forth, and I listened with half an ear, on guard as my mind wandered to thoughts of Winter and the epic way I fucked up last night. She thought I didn’t want her, that maybe I was ashamed of her when that shit was fucking impossible. She was great. Smart and beautiful, kind and wild and just fucking amazing. She had no idea how great she was or that I was a lucky bastard that I was the one she wanted.
But now wasn’t the best time to talk about it. Or tell Winston.
I would explain it better to her when I got back.
“Not acting so tough now, are you, asshole?” The ball sack was in my face, getting closer by the second.
Come on, asshole. “Don’t need to act tough when I can back it up, shit stain.” I smiled when my guys laughed, a surefire way to piss them off and bruise their egos.
He pulled his arm back and I braced myself for the hit I knew was coming. I gave him one hit, took it like a champ when my head snapped back and then smiled. “Bitch.”
“Nah, that’s your mother’s name.” That was all I said before I unleash a torrent of blows on that motherfucker, worse than the first time. I hit that asshole until my knuckles split open and bled, until they hurt more than the pleasure I felt pounding the fuck out of him. All the anger and frustration I felt about the threats to Winter and Winston came out in those blows. All the fear I felt over losing Winter exploded out of me in a fit of rage I’d never experienced.
“Hollywood, enough.”
I heard Diesel’s voice, but it sounded far away, and my fists were in charge until I felt two sets of hands pull me back. “Come on brother, this asshole ain’t worth catching a charge.”
I laughed. “Nah, he’ll think of me whenever he looks in the mirror for the next few months, won’t you dick face?”
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 mission to 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 you think you’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’t just over 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.