“That’s true. But do you have a gym, with all the equipment you need? Do you have a hot tub to relax your muscles, someone to massage those cramps out of you
r legs that you still have to take medication for? I actually think you could be on your own, but it would drastically slow your recovery.” Viper’s hard reminder of the club’s resources that had benefited her recuperation began to make Winter feel ungrateful.
Winter hated to admit it but he was right. He had not even mentioned that Evie worked with her in the mornings and evenings.
“I still want to go home.” Winter said still not wanting to give up.
“What you want to do is escape because of last night.”
“What happened last night?” Pastor Dean asked when Winter remained silent.
“It’s all right Winter, I can guess. The first time Beth went to one of their Friday nights, she stopped seeing Razer and started dating me. Let me ask you a question and I want you to be truthful. Did they force you to do anything you did not want to do?” His serious expression left no doubt of his concern for her.
“No.”
“She let me finger fuck her in front of Train and Cash.” Viper informed her Pastor without remorse.
“Viper….”
He shrugged and looked at Winter. “You’re the one that dragged him into this. I’m not embarrassed.” Winter was mortified.
“You wouldn’t be. You probably do it every Friday night.” Winter said hating him.
“Pretty girl, I usually do more than that on Fridays. I restrained myself for you.” Winter stared at him in stunned surprise. The asshole thought he had actually done her a favor.
“Don’t do me any favors, you jerk!” She yelled at him.
“Be careful how you talk to me or next time, I won’t. I am not bashful. I don’t care who sees me fucking you.” He warned.
Winter wanted to melt into the floor. She could not believe he was talking this way in front of a pastor.
“I am sure you are feeling embarrassed but I have to agree with Viper. I hate for you to delay your recovery because you’re regretting your actions of last night. If you don’t want to attend the parties I am sure Viper has no intention of forcing you to do so, nor into doing anything else that you’re uncomfortable with.”
“Of course not, she can stay in the bedroom. I will even keep her company.” Viper agreed with a smile of intent.
“Good, then it’s settled.” Pastor Dean stood up preparing to leave. “Winter, I hope to see you back in church soon.”
“Wait,” both men ignored her. What was happening here? A man of the cloth should have been shocked at what he had heard, instead, he was shaking Viper’s hand and walking out the door. Viper walked back into the kitchen after seeing the Pastor out and all Winter could do was stare in bewilderment at losing the opportunity to escape from his grasp.
“If you want to exercise while I make breakfast for us, I can carry you downstairs.” Winter was smart enough to know when she had lost the battle.
“Thank you, I have some venting I need to do, so I think a few minutes with the punching bag is just what I need.”
Viper lifted her easily into his arms, carrying her down to the gym. Winter changed into her workout clothes and did exactly what she had told Viper she would do; worked all the aggravation he was putting her through out of her system.
Viper came and took her back upstairs when the food was ready. Everyone slowly began coming in as they ate their breakfast. Viper had made a lot of food. A few ate what he had prepared but many stuck with toast and coffee. At first she felt self-conscious around them, especially when Cash and Train entered and found a place at the table to drink their coffee. Gradually she relaxed when neither man paid any attention to her. Viper, who was sitting next to her, placed his hand on her thigh giving it a squeeze. Winter stiffened but when he didn’t move it she reached down intending to do so herself. He took it in his hand and linked his fingers through hers. Winter gave up trying to get her hand back and simply let it lie within his grasp.
“What’s everybody doing today?” Beth asked after her and Razer finished eating. Winter wasn’t surprised when the general consensus was sleep.
“Winter, Lily and I are going into town to get an early start on our Christmas shopping. Anyone else want to go?”
Winter really wanted to go but didn’t know if she wanted to be seen around town in her chair.
“I’ve been looking forward to shopping but are you sure I won’t be intruding?” Winter asked, eager to get out and go shopping. She hadn’t been out since before her accident.
“Not at all. Lily is dying to see you. Her friend is dropping her off at noon. We can be here to pick you up at one.”
“Thanks Beth, I can hardly wait.”
“Don’t worry about picking her up. We can meet you in town. I promised Ton that I would take him to the grocery store. We can all meet up at the Buy/Low market.” Viper said, finishing his breakfast.
Viper packed Winter upstairs to get showered and changed. He went to his desk, sorting through scattered paperwork as he waited for her to get dressed. She was going into the bathroom when she stopped.
“Viper, thank you for helping me recover. I also appreciate you hauling my ass up and down the steps.”
Viper gave her a sexy grin. “It is a very sexy ass, I don’t mind at all, now go get changed.”
Beth and Lily met them in the parking lot of the Buy/Low Market. Viper and Winter had stopped on the way to pick up his father, Ton, at his home. When Viper and Winter had been dating, she hadn’t really gotten to know Ton well. Viper had never encouraged any invitations she had wanted to extend. Looking back now, that should have been a big warning for her. She had obviously missed a lot of those signs.
“Ready?” Both sisters were patiently waiting.
“Yes.” Winter answered Beth after Viper had helped her into the wheelchair.
“Let’s roll.” Lily joked taking the wheelchair handle.
“Let’s meet up at the diner in two hours.” Viper suggested.
They all agreed, going their separate ways. The girls hit all the stores, laughing and giggling at some of their choices of gifts for the members of the Last Riders. Beth commissioned a hand crafted long handed razor knife for Razer, boots for Evie, and took the time to get each member a gift. Winter didn’t know the women as well so she picked up several gift cards when Beth assured her the women loved to shop. Winter drew a blank as to what to buy for Viper. Beth fell in love with a hot red leather jacket so Winter purchased it as an early Christmas present despite her protests.
Winter was looking through a tray of bracelets, sliding different ones on and off her wrist; Lily and Beth strolled over to watch. They were so pretty Beth even started trying them on, admiring how they looked on her own wrist. One in particular caught Winter’s eye. It was a beautiful hand crafted, wide bangle bracelet with little dangling charms that had designs engraved into the purplish silver. It was truly a piece of art.
“Lily, this would look fantastic on you with your coloring.” She held it out to the women, unsnapping it so Lily could slide her wrist inside. When she didn’t move, Winter raised her eyes to Lily’s face. A look of pure terror was frozen on her ashen face.
“Are you all right? What’s wrong, Lily?’ Winter didn’t know what to do, looking towards Beth.
Beth looked up at her words, seeing what was in Winter’s hand and quickly took it away.
“She is allergic to silver.”
“I am sorry. I did not realize or I wouldn’t have shown it to her.”
“That is alright. I shouldn’t have been a baby about it.” Lily smiled at her, but the look of terror still lingered in her beautiful eyes.
“It’s time we met Viper and Ton at the diner.” Beth said, changing the subject. The women paid for their purchases before walking down the street to the diner. Ton was walking across the parking lot when several motorbikes came roaring down the street. The women turned thinking it was The Last Riders, only to stare in amazement at another group of five bikers with a lone woman on the back of one. Easily recognizing Sam, Winter was amazed at the woman’s bol
dness at taking up with another group of bikers.
They parked in the diner’s parking lot with Ton staring them down.
“This is going to be bad.” Beth predicted, hurrying off to reach Ton before the crazy man picked a fight. Winter and Lily took off after her, with Lily pushing the chair as fast as she could. Winter was sure they appeared ridiculous barging towards the group of bikers.
“Move out of my way, old man.” Samantha ordered.
“I want to talk to you and you’re not going to be able to ignore me this time.” Winter saw Beth try to tug Ton away from the group of bikers but he was not budging. Giving up, Beth took a step back while searching in her large purse for a phone. Winter heard her calling someone when the argument between Ton and Sam got even more heated.
“I have nothing to say to you because you don’t want to hear the truth. Whether you want to believe it or not, Gavin is the father of my baby.”
“Gavin wouldn’t have touched an underage girl.”
“Oh he did all right, several times as a matter of fact.” Sam taunted.
Winter could only sit in her chair and watch, powerless as the two argued, slowly coming to the realization of some dangerous undercurrents coming from the bikers. The Last Riders were often scruffy and wore faded clothes but they never had the appearance of these scumbags that Sam had attached herself to.
These bikers were dirty and she could smell the alcohol and weed on them from where she was sitting. Their eyes were on Lily and Beth as they spread out around them. Winter was about to warn them when one slid his arm around Lily jerking her to his chest. Two others were maneuvering Beth towards the back of the diner’s parking lot. Lily’s scream was cut off as the biker put his hand in her hair, jerking her neck back at an awkward angle, his head was lowering to hers. Winter tried to ram him with her wheelchair but he struck the wheel violently with his heel, sending it careening in circles before she could manage to stop spinning.
“Ton.” Winter screamed, watching in horror as Lily fought frantically to get away from the biker determined to thrust his tongue down her throat. Beth started screaming and so did Winter, trying to find help. Ton, realizing what was happening, hurried to Beth, trying to get her away from the men but another that had been standing behind Sam blocked his path. Ton tried to hit him but the biker punched him hard in the stomach. Ton dropped to his knees. The biker that had Lily, grabbed her ass, lifting her against him until her feet were off the ground, carrying her in the same direction as the two men were taking Beth.