The Last Riders - First Four Votes (22 page)

“They are not my own personal stash. The women in The Last Riders don’t belong to anyone,” Viper sighed. He had not wanted the conversation to turn ugly, but he could see that had been a false hope. “The members are not exclusive to anyone; neither male nor female.”

Winter could only stand there with her mouth open, her mind unable to comprehend the sheer magnitude of his deceit.

“Like a sex club? You share the women?”

“It is a motorcycle club first and foremost. We share different interests, one of those is sexual. To answer your question, as best as I can, we have sex with whomever we want within the club. We are very careful with safety and have stringent rules that are followed.”

She felt her retort bubbling up her throat, unable to prevent it bursting free. “Two freaking years.”

“Winter, I had to find out the truth about my brother.”

“You could have been honest with me. You know I would have helped you and never opened my mouth. You knew that!”

“I couldn’t take the chance.”

“Because it was easier to let me be hurt. You met my mother; you let me introduce you to her knowing that I was hoping we would eventually become more than friends. You could have made it perfectly clear you had no interest in me that way. Instead, you played me, using my desire to be with you to manipulate yourself into situations where you would come into contact with the men you believed killed your brother. Any man would realize when I introduced you to my mother that it meant something. She died with that lie.

“I… hate... you. You are a liar and a deceitful man. You could have made sure anytime within the last two years that I knew our friendship wasn’t going to grow into something else, but you didn’t! Instead, I felt like it was something I was doing wrong.” Winter furiously blinked back her tears. “Did you even realize how embarrassed I was to ask you to spend the night? I offered myself on a silver platter and you couldn’t run away fast enough. You practically fucked everyone you came in contact within two states except me.” Taking deep breaths, Winter tried to regain control of her boiling temper.

Viper stood, coming towards her, and she put out her hand to stop him. “If you come near me, I will slam my fist in those ribs, and by the look of you, they are extremely painful.” He came to a dead stop. “I think it is past time for you to leave.” He stood there silently, taking in how deeply he had hurt her, unable to make excuses for himself. He had done exactly what she had accused him of doing.

“I’ll go. I wanted to explain, but now I can see I should have given it time. I hope you will be able to forgive me someday. I am sorry.” Winter followed him to the door, trying to maintain what little control she had until it closed behind him. As he was going out the door, she asked him the question that had been on her mind since last night.

“Which woman at your club has blond spiked hair, about average height?”

“Bliss?”

“She the one that group of biker women wanted?”

“Yes.” Viper’s jaw tensed.

“That’s what I thought.” Winter took a step back and slammed the door in his face.

T
he fenced
in backyard of the church was filled to capacity with the congregation and the members of The Last Riders. Winter carefully balanced the potato salad she had prepared, thankful the buffet table was empty of guests as she slid it among the colorful array of choices.

Glancing around the yard, she saw her friend and secretary drawing flags on children’s faces.

“Hello Emily.” A highlighted strand of hair had fallen across her forehead into her eyes. With her paint-stained hand, she was unable to move the irritant, so Winter casually brushed it away, receiving a thankful sigh in response.

“Keeping busy?” Winter grinned.

“I could use some help,” Emily admitted.

Winter jumped into the fray, organizing activities for the children in different areas of the yard so that Emily was allowed a breather. She was setting up the horseshoe game when a large cheer from the picnic table area drew her attention.

The Last Riders were gathered around Beth and Razer. It was obvious what the cheers were for as she was holding out her hand to the women in the group to examine the ring on her finger. Winter went back to handing out the horseshoes to little hands anxiously waiting for them, her face carefully blank. She had been conscious of Viper’s eyes on her, but she ignored him, turning her back so that she could no longer see the group.

Winter hadn’t seen him during the last four months, yet the small town rumor mill had been active. She had stayed away from the gossip, though her friends—self called—had made sure that she was aware of Viper’s actions. No longer hiding his connection to The Last Riders, her friends spitefully let her know each and every time he was seen out in public with one of the women from the club. She eventually quit taking their calls and avoided them in public. She had quickly learned not only to hide her reactions from the viciousness of the gossip, but also to suppress them until she no longer felt much of anything.

The only reason she stayed in Treepoint was because she loved her job and the few true friends she had left. She hoped eventually the gossip would die down, however having grown up in Treepoint, she realistically knew that it would be a long time coming.

Winter was playing freeze tag with the rambunctious preschoolers when Lily joined the group with a grin. She smiled at the beautiful girl as she chased the children around the yard. Lily was one of the few friends she had remaining. Winter had been a student teacher when she had tutored Lily, then eventually taught her in high school for a couple of years before she had been promoted to principal.

When her mother became ill with cancer, both of the sisters had been there for her. Beth had been an excellent caregiver and made it possible to let her pass away at home. Winter didn’t know if she would have been strong enough to do it without their help. Lily had also helped by giving her time to rest; she would stay by her mother’s bed when exhaustion would claim Winter. She felt she owed both women a debt of gratitude.

A touch on her arm had her freezing in place not far from where one of her female students was standing. Carmen was leaning against a tree with her boyfriend standing next to her and they appeared to be arguing. Winter was about to interrupt them when Carmen caught her eye and shook her head. Just after that, a small family arrived, distracting her attention from the arguing couple.

“Hi, Jenny,” Winter greeted the parents of nine-month-old twin boys. Dressed in matching blue jean overalls, they were adorable. Her hands were reaching out for one of them before she had finished her greeting.

“Hello, Winter.” Laughing, Jenny released her child into Winter’s grasp.

Lily was already snagging the other twin from the proud father.

“I remember when everyone was glad to see us, now it’s all about the boys,” Jenny mocked reproachfully to the two baby thieves.

“That’s what happens when you have two adorable babies,” Winter complimented. “Why don’t you let Lily and I watch them while you two go eat?”

“Are you sure; they can be a handful?” Dan replied.

“Don’t question our luck.” Jenny laughed.

“Go ahead,” Lily agreed.

“All right, if you’re sure?” Dan questioned once more before taking his wife’s hand, leading her towards the buffet table.

Winter and Lily grinned at each other with their prizes in hand. The other children quickly regained their attention, both of them running with a baby balanced on their hip. Their laughter sounded sweetly through the yard, drawing attention to the women.

About that time, Lily’s boyfriend approached and Winter watched him hand her a drink. Lily looked at him with a grateful smile. Winter’s heart lurched at the emotion evident in Charles’s eyes. He had always loved the girl, and everyone in town knew it. Winter had experience being around hormone crazy young adults and knew when the chemistry was there. With them, it wasn’t. Something was missing, and whatever it was, it was missing on Lily’s part. The passion was plainly visible in Charles’s face and body language while Lily simply treated him like a friend. They had dated since high school and now that Lily was in college, she didn’t see them together as often. It hurt Winter to see someone make her own mistake of caring for someone who would never return their feelings. She had a feeling Charles would one day learn his own painful lesson.

Lily handed Charles the cup, and as he took it, he reached out to place his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to his side. The two with the baby between them gave a false image of a small, happy family. Winter could almost imagine them one day looking just as they did now with their own family.

A sudden movement from across the yard where The Last Riders were standing drew Winter’s attention. The guy with all the tattoos was flipping out. He was heading towards Lily with an expression of lethal intent, and it was focused on Charles, who had never been in a physical altercation in his life.

Razer tried to hold him back, and Winter gasped as he was punched in the face. Viper moved forward and tattoo guy’s boot flew out to nail him in the balls. Winter fell in love. She was unable to keep the smirk from her lips as Viper laid on the ground in a crumpled mess. Two of the other bikers ran forward to stop him and were promptly smashed together. They were just infuriating him even more. Winter looked for Beth, and not seeing her, knew she was going to have to take charge.

“Charles, I left a couple bags of clothes in my car for the rummage sale. Could you get them and take them to Pastor Dean’s office for me?”

“No problem. I’ll be right back,” Charles told Lily before moving towards the parking lot.

Lily went back to playing with the kids while Winter wasn’t able to stop herself from looking back at The Last Riders. The four men who were holding tattoo guy released him and quickly backed away. Winter felt the questioning gazes of the group on her, wondering why she had interfered, and truthfully, Winter didn’t know. Giving them her back, she began rounding the children up to play horseshoes.

The game was fun and the excited pleasure from the children made Winter forget that Viper was nearby.

“The little hellions are going to wear us out,” Winter said, out of breath.

Lily laughed. “I know.”

As Lily’s laughter trailed off, the sound of an argument began drawing the attention of those close by to Carmen and her boyfriend. He had her pinned against the tree with his hand at her throat. Winter moved forward before she remembered the baby on her hip. Motioning for Emily, who had seen her signal and was hurrying towards her, Winter was unable to believe what was happening before her eyes. A metal horseshoe was flying across the yard, striking Jake in the back. Surprised into releasing Carmen, he turned to see Lily glaring in his face.

“Don’t touch her,” the girl hissed. Winter couldn’t believe it was Lily standing up to the young man. There she stood, with the baby on her hip, demanding that he didn’t lay a hand on a cringing Carmen. Quickly, Winter passed the baby to Emily and hurried to Lily’s side.

“What business is it of yours?” Jake tried to intimidate the young girl.

“I am making it my business. You were hurting her,” Lily replied.

“Perhaps, Jake, you could take a breather until you calm down,” Winter interrupted, using her authoritative principal voice.

“You two cunts need to back off.”

Winter stiffened. Jake had dropped out of school last year. She had done everything she could to persuade him not to leave, however he had a hostile attitude then and now it was even worse. She was smart enough to know that there were situations better left for someone else to handle and this was definitely one of them. The problem was extracting Carmen and Lily from the volatile situation safely.

“We can do that. Lily and I were just going to get the kids a drink and we could use some help. Carmen, would you mind?”

“She isn’t going anywhere. We’re leaving.” Jerking Carmen to his side, he shoved Winter out of his way. Almost losing her balance, she felt an arm go around her waist, holding her steady until she was able to regain her balance. Jake and the women found themselves surrounded by The Last Riders.

Stiffening, Winter didn’t need to turn around to see who was behind her.

“That was a mistake,” Viper said at her back. Winter quickly moved away from him, finding a place to stand to the side of the group.

“You need to let the girl go and take a walk with me.” The cold voice of tattoo guy drew everyone’s eyes as he stood directly in front of Lily, blocking her from view.

“What’s going on?” Pastor Dean hurried toward the group with Beth at his side. She immediately went to her sister while, thankfully, Dan and Jenny came to retrieve their baby from Lily. They had drawn a crowd around the couple, preventing Jake from leaving with a frightened Carmen.

Winter moved forward, taking Carmen’s hand in hers, tugging her away from Jake. For a second he looked like he was going to explode, but even as furious as he was, Jake knew he was outnumbered. Gratefully, Carmen let herself be led away from her boyfriend and Winter left The Last Riders to handle Jake.

“Can I get you a drink?” she asked Carmen.

“Yes, please.” Winter went to the cooler and took a soda, placing it before Carmen as she sat down next to her.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, it’s not the first time Jake has lost his temper with me. He will cool down and apologize,” Carmen excused her boyfriend’s behavior.

“Of course he will, honey, but, Carmen, he shouldn’t be laying his hands on you when he’s angry.”

“He doesn’t mean anything,” Carmen argued.

“Carmen, he could hurt you. Does he lose his temper often?” The girl instantly became guarded. Winter took that as a definite yes.

“He was just mad because he caught me staring at those bikers. He was jealous.”

“It doesn’t matter what the reason was, he doesn’t have the right to hurt you.”

“Look, Ms. Simmons, Jake was just angry at me for doing something I shouldn’t be doing. I made a mistake. Where is he?”

Winter saw her trying to find him in the crowd, but she wanted to get Carmen out of there before he returned. She didn’t have as much faith as Carmen that his temper had calmed down.

“Why don’t I take you home and he can call you later?” The girl did not want to leave, however Winter ushered Carmen to her car despite her protests of leaving Jake behind. She only lived a block away from her, so she was able to reach the small house without asking for directions.

Following her to the door of her house, she could tell Carmen just wanted her to leave. “Are your parents home?” Winter asked.

The girl thought about lying, yet all the years of experience of dealing with teenagers enabled Winter to push the doorbell with confidence that her parents were home.

“I was going to go in,” Carmen lied.

Before Winter could answer, Carmen’s mother answered the door.

“Carmen? Ms. Simmons?” The woman was obviously surprised to find her daughter’s principal on her front porch.

“Mrs. Jones, can I come in and speak to you and your husband for a few minutes?” Winter requested politely.

The door opened wider, allowing her entrance with a sullen Carmen following reluctantly behind.

Winter tactfully explained what had happened at the church picnic once both parents were present. Carmen’s parents were understandably upset when Winter explained what had occurred between the young couple. Winter exited soon afterwards, feeling it best if she left the family to deal with Carmen privately, praying they would be more successful in convincing the girl that Jake had a serious problem.

Winter could only hope that the girl would wise up before someone was hurt.

W
inter shut off the vacuum
, pulling the plug from the wall. She was about to put it back in the closet when she heard the doorbell ring. She opened the door without thinking and was immediately sorry.

“Go away.” She tried to slam the door in Viper’s face, but his hand caught the door, forcing it to open wider before he brushed passed her as he walked inside. Winter was getting tired of Viper thinking he could simply barge his way into her home.

“Don’t you check before you open the door?”

“I will from now on. Get out.”

“I want to talk to you.”

“As I told you the last time, we have nothing to talk about.”

Viper’s face-hardened, he was angry already and she was making him angrier by refusing to listen to what he had to say.

“What were you thinking to confront that punk?”

“I was thinking I might save Lily from getting hurt.”

“He was never going to get a hand on Lily.”

“Really? I have news for you; tattoo guy wasn’t going to reach her in time. Jake was about to punch her for throwing that horseshoe and he didn’t care she was holding a baby.”

“Shade?”

“Is he the one covered in tattoos?”

“Yes.”

Winter shrugged. “Anyway, it worked out. I took Carmen home, had a talk with her parents who were unaware their sixteen-year-old daughter was dating a scumbag who lays his hands on her when he gets angry. It’s now their problem to solve. Now will you leave?”