“When do you want to hit the Blue Horsemen?”
“We don’t go in blind. Let Shade do the recon, then we’ll make the decision. I want the brothers from Ohio here a few days before we hit their club. When I give the word, I want to be ready to ride.”
The Last Riders sat grim faced, each preparing for the battle ahead. The Blue Horsemen club would pay for what just a few had done. By the time they were done with them, they would no longer exist.
Chapter 9
Monday morning dawned with the members quietly getting ready to work their shifts in the factory. Winter rose early, letting Viper sleep. After she dressed, Winter rolled her wheelchair to the desk and began tending to Viper’s never ending paperwork. The amount was staggering. If she hadn’t been working on the paperwork during her free time, it would have been even worse.
After an hour she took a break, grabbed a drink from the small refrigerator Viper kept in his room, and opened a granola bar to snack on. Viper lay on his stomach on the bed, the sheet tangled around him, barely covering his firm ass. He hadn’t come to bed last night until late. He had eaten dinner with her then told her he had to return downstairs. She had watched television until drifting off to sleep.
He had not touched her since Friday night at the party. Winter couldn’t help but question if he was still hooking up with the female members. Jealousy tore at her but she forced those feelings out of her head, refusing to go down that road with Viper again. He had misled her once so this time she had to be wary and keep her eyes open and her heart detached.
“What has you looking so gloomy?” Winter had been so lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t been aware that he was awake and staring at her.
“I was wondering how Lily was doing, have you heard?”
“Yes, Evie said she’s doing better.”
“Good, I was worried about her.”
“You know Beth and Lily well, don’t you?” Winter was hesitant to answer but answered truthfully.
“As well as they let me. They are pretty tight, never fought or tried to steal each other’s boyfriends the way some sisters do. I don’t know if Beth even dated anyone before Razer. Lily has always been with Charles. Everyone in town knows he has loved her for years.”
Viper nodded, adjusting himself so that he sat up in the bed leaning back against the headboard. The sheet barely covered his cock, which Winter noticed had a morning erection.
“She return the feeling?” Winter didn’t know how to answer. She was a hundred percent sure that Razer would get zip out of Beth about Lily. She knew them better than anyone in town and they expected her to maintain their privacy.
“I don’t know.” Winter decided to plead ignorance. Going back to the desk, she returned to his mound of paperwork.
“Why are you being so evasive?”
“Why do you want to know so much about them? You want to know something, ask Razer or better yet Beth. She will tell you herself if she wants you to know.” Winter snapped in return.
Viper moved to the side of the bed before standing and stretching lazily. Winter didn’t turn her eyes from the ledgers, trying to keep her eyes off his impressive body. The tattoos on his chest, abdomen, and arm, she hated to admit, pushed her buttons. Thankfully she had never known he had a tattoo when they dated or it would have driven her crazy. Winter determinedly returned to the paperwork, ignoring the warmth flooding her body. She heard him go into the bathroom then the shower running.
Several minutes later she heard him come out and get dressed, the whole time refusing to even glance in his direction.
“You have a new therapist starting today.” He interrupted her wayward fantasy.
“What happened to Connor?”
“He quit Friday.”
“Before or after the party?”
“Before.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Didn’t want you changing his mind.” He said pulling on his shirt. “He needed to concentrate on your recuperation, not getting inside your pussy. You ready for some breakfast?”
“Yes.” She said through gritted teeth.
Viper gave her a sexy grin, picking her up. Minutes later, she was seated at the table with a plate of food in front of her. Winter had just finished when the doorbell rang. Train escorted an older woman into the kitchen.
“Winter, this is Donna, the new physical therapist.” Viper briefly introduced the two women.
Viper carried her downstairs where she changed out of her clothes. She had developed the habit of leaving extra workout gear in the laundry room off the gym. It saved several trips up the stairs for Evie. Donna put her through her paces. Tired, Winter started to roll her chair towards the showers.
“Where are you going?”
“I was going to get a shower?” Winter asked confused.
“I am not done with you yet.”
“You’re not?”
“No.” Donna said firmly.
“See this.” Beth saw her walk to a piece of equipment that was covered up. She had thought the men had purchased a new piece of equipment for themselves. It wasn’t, it was for her, a set off parallel bars for her to start walking longer distances. Winter felt tears of happiness try to break through.
“You ready?”
“Oh yes.”
“Let’s get started then.” It was the hardest thing Winter had ever done. Before, Conner was just having her take a few steps, now she was walking back and forth the length of the bars. Donna wouldn’t let her push it and brought it to a stop after a few attempts.
“We’ll work on it again tomorrow.” Donna promised.
The hot tub was heaven on her muscles. She was relaxing against the side of the tub when Viper came into the room.
“How did it go?” Viper asked Donna, but it was Winter who answered.
“Great.” Happiness shone out of her face, removing the sadness that always seemed to cling to her.
“I need to get to my next client, you got her?” Donna asked.
“Yes.” Donna left telling Winter she would see her tomorrow.
“I am ready to get out.” Winter moved to stand by the side of the tub, waiting for him to help her out.
“The hot water help your back?’
“Yes, it relaxes the muscles in my back and legs.”
Viper nodded, his eyes tracing a drop of water rolling down the skin between her breasts. Winter felt self-conscious for the first time, standing before him in the tiny bikini.
“Viper?” His dark eyes came back to hers, reluctantly leaving the expanse of exposed flesh. He lifted her out of the hot water before reaching out and handing her a towel. He waited patiently as she dried off, then picked her up and carried her to their room.
“I really like my new therapist. I got to walk again today, Viper.” He had sat her in her chair and was watching as she gathered her clothes to wear. Winter looked back at him before entering the bathroom to get dressed. ?
??I am hoping I will be out of your hair in a couple of weeks.” Viper nodded, not saying anything.
He stood staring out the window, for the first time in his life, confused at how to reach a woman. Winter refused to see his interest in her, ignoring the messages he was sending her at every opportunity. She had turned the tables against him. Now he knew how she had felt for those two years trying to attract his attention while being constantly rebuffed.
He heard the shower stop and the sounds of her getting dressed. She was still fragile and would be for quite a while. She wasn’t strong enough yet to deal with the full force of his desire, but she was healing. When he thought she was capable of dealing with him then all the restraints he had placed on himself would be removed. He was giving her the time her body needed to heal but also to repair the mind fuck he had done for those two years.
Viper’s hands clenched into fists, forcing his body to relax and to get his cock back under control. The sight of her in the bikini had almost sent him over the edge to grab her, but he had been able to gain control. He hadn’t fucked anyone since the night she had been attacked and it was beginning to get to him. When she had thought he was faithful to her for those two years, he had fucked anything that crossed his path, working his desire for her out on numerous willing female bodies. Now, when she could care less about him, he found himself unable to bring himself to touch another woman.
Winter had her revenge and she didn’t even know or care.
Winter was walking by Christmas. She was slow and hesitant but gradually becoming stronger. Without saying anything to Viper, she called the school board and told them she would be able to return to work in the upcoming semester. Thankfully the school would be closed until the second week of January. She would still need the cane she was using but she felt more than capable of dealing with the workload. The physical part of her job she could delegate to her vice-principal while regaining the final stages of her strength.