Christmas was quiet around the house with just a few of The Last Riders remaining. Even Shade had disappeared for the holiday. Beth and Razer had spent the holiday with Lily, who had seemed recovered from the biker grabbing her. Beth told Winter that she had finally convinced Lilly to see a psychologist. The women had never shared with her what demons tormented Lily, and Winter wasn’t sure she wanted to know what had damaged the sweet girl so badly. Some things in life were better left undisturbed.
Christmas dinner had been good with just Viper, Rider, Knox, and Evie. This time, Winter had pitched in to cook and was rewarded with the compliments given. Smiling, she shrugged off the compliments and they settled down to a night of watching television. Two days later the crew was back and it was Friday, a combination that Winter could tell would lead to a wild night. She hadn’t attended another party and wasn’t about to. She planned on returning to her home at the end of next week, giving herself one more week of therapy, and though she adamantly refused to admit it to herself, a last week with Viper.
***
“That will do it. I don’t want to overwork those muscles.”
Winter relaxed, leaning down to catch her breath.
“You’re looking much healthier, Winter.” Donna complimented her.
“Thanks. I actually feel pretty good. I don’t take pain meds anymore and I don’t have as many muscles spasms.”
“That shows they are almost healed. What does your doctor say?”
“To take it easy and not run before I can walk.” The doctor had made the joke but Winter hadn’t found humor in the pun.
Donna laughed. “Don’t worry, you’re handling the workouts well and I think in a couple of months you’ll even be able to ditch the cane.”
Winter grinned back. “I am planning on it. I’m already scheduled to return to work the week after next.”
Donna frowned. “Are you sure you’re ready? There is a big difference walking around a house and staying on your feet for short periods versus standing for hours at a time. What did the doctor say?”
“I didn’t tell him.” Winter confessed. “I will do fine though, I have a staff at school. When I get tired, my vice-principal can handle things.
“I would think about it seriously, Winter. I think the next school year would be a more realistic option.”
“I need to get back to work. I don’t want them to replace me permanently. There is just the one high school in Treepoint. If I lose my job, I would have to find another school district.
Donna stopped arguing, knowing good jobs in Treepoint were hard to come by. “Let’s get you in the hot tub.”
Winter changed into her swimsuit and met Donna in the hot tub room. Sinking into the warm water, she was beginning to relax when Donna’s phone rang. Listening unashamedly and seeing Donna’s concerned look, she came to the conclusion one of her patients had an accident.
“I’m afraid we need to get you out of the tub,” she said after disconnecting her call. “One of my patients has had a bad fall and they need me to help get her back in the bed.” Winter got out of the hot tub with her help. Donna normally would have stayed while Winter got dressed, but she urged her to leave.
“I can handle it from here by myself. You go on, I’ll be fine. I can get dressed then call someone to help me up the stairs. While Winter refused to let herself be packed around any longer, for safety someone always stood close by as she went up and down the steps.
“Are you sure?” Donna asked, her mind on the other patient.
“Go.” Finally convincing the woman to leave, Winter went inside the restroom to get changed. When she was almost dressed she heard voices enter the hot tub area then splashing as they obviously entered the water.
Winter hurried, not wanting to remain there without anyone’s knowledge. Quickly opening the door, she went out and started towards the hot tub room. The door was half closed blocking her from view. She was about to make her presence known when she heard voices and stopped.
“Leave that alone.” Winter recognized Bliss’s voice and Rider’s when he replied.
“Take it off.”
“No, I don’t know where Winter is.”
“We saw her therapist leave so she obviously isn’t down here. She has to be in her room. Lose the top.” Rider demanded with a voice full of frustration.
Winter frowned. Why would Bliss be concerned about her whereabouts before she took off her top. The other women in the club had no problem baring their breasts, regardless of who was around. But thinking back, Winter realized Bliss had never exposed more than the bare minimum of her upper body, although she had no shame when it came to walking around in skimpy underwear.
“Damn shame to hide such a pretty tattoo.” Rider murmured. Through the crack of the door, Winter could see him playing with the woman’s breast. Feeling uncomfortable with the situation she had found herself in, Winter was determined to leave as unnoticed as possible.
“Be glad when everything gets back to normal, when she goes home. Viper said it won’t be much longer.”
“I think he’s starting to care for her, Rider.”
“Same way he always has, as a piece to a puzzle, not a piece of ass.”
“What does that mean? Vincent Bedford is in prison, what information does Viper need Winter for?”
“He won’t cut ties with her completely until he finds that kid. Once he does then she won’t matter to him anymore.”
“I think you’re wrong.” Bliss argued.
“Yeah? Hell Bliss, you have been around long enough to know how Viper likes to fuck, you fucked him yourself. Think her body, as broken as it is, can take a pounding the way Viper likes to give it?”
This time Winter noticed Bliss didn’t interrupt Rider. She couldn’t, the man had his tongue down her throat and wasn’t giving her time to talk about anything anymore.
Unobtrusively, Winter edged quietly by the door, making her way into the gym before going upstairs. Thankfully nobody saw her come up from downstairs. She got herself a drink, sat at the table and waited. It wasn’t long before Evie came in and Winter asked her to watch her up the steps.
Once in her room, she thanked her.
“No problem. I was coming up anyway to get dressed. You coming down tonight or staying in the room.”
“I think I will come down for dinner.” Winter said coming to a decision.
“See you then.” Evie grinned before leaving, unaware of the hurt Winter was hiding. She made her way to the chair by the window and looked out without actually seeing anything. The day was unseasonably warm, making one think spring was officially here. It hadn’t been a warm winter, so the men took advantage of the weather and fired up the grill in the huge backyard. It took several minutes before she could gather her thoughts enough to realize she was actually watching Viper and Shade putting steaks and burgers on the grill. The women were sitting around the two large picnic tables, talking. Winter did not need to see the scene below to realize she didn’t belong.
She was about to turn from the window when she saw Evie approaching the men with a seductive walk. Both men turned and watched as she approached. Winter’s stomach clenched and she was sick at what she knew was about to happen. Evie leaned into Viper, who put a casual arm around her waist and laughed at something she said. Evie wiggled closer and reached out a hand to trace down a particular path on Shade’s arm. Winter felt eyes on her; Shade was watching her watch them.
He turned back to the grill, turning the steaks, moving beyond Evie’s touch. When Viper and Evie looked up, she realized he had used the motion to warn the other two that she was watching.
Stepping away from the window, she went into the bathroom, locking the door and turning on the shower. Winter was not surprised to hear the bedroom door open and Viper knock on the bathroom door.
“Do you need some help downstairs? The food will be ready soon.”
“No thanks, I’ll get something later. I think I will take a short nap first.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.” Winter cut off the water, not wanting to raise his suspicions, and was relieved when she heard the bedroom door open and close. She waited a few minutes before opening the door, making sure he wasn’t coming back. She went to the closet and dragged out her suitcases. Packing her things took little time, mainly jeans and shirts. Putting everything by the bedroom door, she changed into jeans and a loose fitting emerald sweater. Brushing her hair out, Winter took a long look at herself. This time she was determined get out of the house. He wouldn’t be able to throw up her helpless condition when she looked healthy. For the first time in a long time, she stared at herself shocked at the changes.
Her hair had grown out and now brushed the top of her shoulders, curling softly and gleaming the chestnut color that suited her pale complexion. The green sweater matched her emerald colored eyes. She had lost weight after the attack but the workouts had tightened and toned her body. She was still underweight but she had gained muscle mass. She would never be as pretty as the other women but she at least no longer looked helpless. Winter reached out and grabbed the dresser as she fought to regain control of her emotions.
When she had first found out the severity of the damage that had been done to her body, she didn’t see an end to her misery. Winter feared she would never fully recover, not only from the attack but also from her love for Loker. Now she could see that she was almost there. To do the rest she had to accomplish two things. First, keep strengthening her body with the therapy and workouts, and two, put an end to Viper’s games. With that in mind, she used the phone to call the one person she knew would enable her to walk away from the man she was determined to cut from her life for good.
Carefully going down the stairs, Winter focused intensely on making it on her own. Everyone was outside, leaving the house strangely quiet, but every creak made Winter’s hear skip a beat. After finally making it to the bottom, she let out a huge sigh of relief and headed towards the back yard.
Their Friday night was in full swing. She made her way to the picnic table that Evie, Bliss, Dawn, Rider, Viper and Shade where sitting and eating at.
Finding an empty seat at the end of the table next to Dawn, with Bliss across the table, she gave everyone a fake smile as they greeted her.
“Let me get you a plate.” Viper offered as he started to get up.
“No thanks, but I will take one of those beers. She pointed to the cooler at the end of the table. Shade reached in and pulled one out, passing it down the table until it reached her. Opening it, she took a long drink as the conservation returned to normal. She sat and listened as they talked, watching as several members from the other table got up and began dancing and sitting around on the patio furniture. The music was a nice touch and for a second Winter regretted not being there for the spring and summer, imagining the yard was very nice during the warmer months.
“Bliss, I like your top, the color suits you,” Winter complemented the woman during a lull in conservation.
“Thank you, I got it with the gift certificate you gave me for Christmas.”
“I’m glad you were able to find something you liked,” Winter said sincerely.
“I was wondering something, I noticed all the women members have tattoos with different numbers on them.” Evie and Dawn tops were barely there, and had tats that were easily seen on the curve of their breasts.
“Yes, we can pick which tattoo we want and put the date on it.” Evie explained. “Some, like me, just have the date tatted.”
“I see.” Beth took another sip of her beer, aware of the conversation at the table.
“Does everyone have the same date?” Winter wanted to know why Bliss was hiding her tattoo from her and she was determined to find out before she left.
“No.” Evie spoke cautiously now beginning to suspect the trap that was waiting.
Viper stiffened in surprise at the turn of the conservation. He turned to look at Winter and saw the intention in her expression.
“What determines the date that goes on the tattoo?”
“It’s the date we become a member of The Last Riders.” Evie explained slowly.
“I see. How do the women become members?” Winter asked knowing instinctively that the information was going to hurt.
Evie looked around the table, willing someone to jump in and take over the conservation. Thankfully Viper did, with a grim look.
“Ask what you want to know, Winter.”
“I just did. What’s the big secret?”
“No secret, it’s just club business. Only the members or potential members need to know, but I will tell you. The women become members by fucking or causing six of the eight members to have an orgasm.”
Winter’s hands tightened on the beer bottle, disgusted that she could ever care about the man staring coldly back at her.
“Well, doesn’t that make it nice for the male members. How do they become members? By fucking a certain number of women? What is it, a hundred?” She said snidely.
“No, the recruit that wants to become a member and join us must pick four of the original members.”
“Male members to fuck?” Winter asked in surprise. The angry glares from the men around the table answered her question.
“No, they pick four of the eight members to beat the hell out of them, then if they fight well and aren’t hurt too bad, they become members.”
Winter didn’t know which was worse. The ones she was pretty sure were the original members, she wouldn’t want to take on, one on one, much less four of them.
“You guy’s have a thing for numbers, don’t you?” Winter said sarcastically.
“We have to know that a man we are making our brother can handle himself and have our back. Going on beer runs and dumb shit like that won’t be of any help to us when another club wants our cut.”
Winter could kind of see his point of view on that scenario.
“Well your club has worked out all the details. So the women get the tattoo after she fucks her sixth original member?” Winter still didn’t understand what Bliss’s tattoo had to do with her.
“Basically, yes.” Viper’s firm voice held no apology.
“I can see by the women’s tattoo’s they are very proud of their accomplishment.” The women at the table stiffened. Evie was the first to speak.
“We don’t deserve that attitude. You might think that is a large number of men to sleep with but we happen to think we are very selective. I have girlfriends who aren’t in The Last Rider’s that go out to party every weekend, that fuck a couple of different guys a month, knowing shit about them. I know everything about these men, who I might add, have lugged your ass around for the last month and been nothing but polite to you.
“I agree. I apologize for any affront I may have caused. All of you have been more than kind to me and I shouldn’t repay your kindness by being a bitch.” The women relaxed at the table but Winter could tell they were still angry and so were the men.
“I don’t see your tattoo Bliss? May I see it?” Bliss stiffened in her seat looking at Viper.
“Show her.” Viper ordered.
Bliss reached out and pulled her top back leaving the curve of her breast bare, giving a clear view of the tattoo. It was very pretty. Winter swallowed the nausea rising in her stomach as she saw the date. It was the day she had been attacked, surrounded by a daisy chain of four flowers.
“Who gave you the last vote you needed?” Winter sat staring at the striking tattoo, with images of her attack replaying through her mind.
“I did.” Viper admitted.
Beth knew that the daisy chain had significance and it was only when the word chain came to mind a second time that the realization hit her.
Winter forced herself with an iron will to remain calm and not let anyone see the hurt screaming through her body. She fought herself to stay seated and finish her beer. Those at the table wanted to leave but it was like a train wreck everyone was waiting to happen. Win
ter wasn’t going to let them see how devastated she was but she couldn’t leave, letting Viper get away with his games.
“Now I understand why you said what you did to Bliss today, Rider.” Everyone looked at the two members who sat in confusion, not understanding yet what she was referring to, but Winter was about to remind them. “I heard you tell Bliss that you guys could get back to normal after I leave like Viper told you. If that is any example,” she pointed to Bliss’ tattoo. “I bet you can hardly wait until I am gone. Viper told you two weeks; I am not going to cramp your style. I am leaving tonight, my bags are packed and my ride should be here any minute. I would like to thank each of you for your help this last month.” Winter said proudly.
Turning to Viper, who stared at her impassively, except for the burning fury in his eyes.
“You put yourself out for nothing. They said that you were still playing me, hoping Vincent would tell me something about the baby. You were way off base. Sorry, I couldn’t have been more help. But at least this time you didn’t have to waste two years of your life.”
“I see that Rider and Bliss were a fountain of information for you.” Both of them sat still as statues. Bliss had fear on her face.
“They didn’t know I was even there. I was in the hallway and they were in the hot tub.”
“But they were discussing my business?”
Winter shut up. She hadn’t wanted to get Bliss in trouble. She didn’t know Rider well but he had always been helpful and kind to her. She was beginning to regret her plan, especially now that she was afraid she had gotten Bliss in trouble. She had made friends with the woman and she hadn’t wanted to hurt Winter. Bliss had covered herself for the last month, something she was proud of, just to spare her feelings.
“Bliss and Rider didn’t do anything wrong, I was the one eavesdropping.”
Viper ignored her defense of the members. “So who did you call to come get you this time?” He huffed.