***
The parking lot was dark as she locked the doors to the front of the school. Winter was angry with herself for staying so late. She knew better but the paperwork had been piled up with it being the end of the first week. She had wanted to sort what needed to be done and take the rest home to work on leisurely over the weekend. Thankfully her car was parked nearby. Placing her briefcase on the hood of the car, she bent to unlock the door.
A rough hand grabbed her hair pulling her backwards, almost off her feet before slinging her forward, smashing her face into the driver’s side window. Winter didn’t know how she didn’t lose consciousness. The pain was that horrendous; she crumbled to the asphalt by her car, crying softly. She knew there was no one around to hear if she screamed since the school property was isolated on the edge of town. Pain and fear filled her body as a boot kicked her in the ribs as she lay helpless on the ground. Winter had never known real terror in her lifetime but she felt it when she realized he was not done with her.
Forcing herself to move, she tried to get to her feet. The agonizing pain in her ribs stopped her upward movement. A fist to her jaw flung her backwards; blood from the cuts on her forehead ran into her eyes, blurring her vision. The parking lot light above her head obscured any vision she had left. Winter rolled onto her belly trying to crawl away from the person attacking her. Her nails that she had polished and buffed just that morning, broke as she used them to claw herself from the source of her agony. She knew whoever was hurting her was intent on killing her but she had to try. The final agony came when the booted foot slammed down on her spine releasing her from consciousness.
***
The cell phone ringing on the table next to the bed woke Cash from a deep sleep. Rolling over, he snagged the phone and raised it to his ear.
Viper came out of the bathroom leaving Evie to finish her shower alone and saw that Cash was sitting on his bed talking on his cell phone with Bliss laying naked by his side. The club’s usual Friday night gathering had ended up with the four of them in his room. Now he just wanted them all to leave so that he could get dressed and go downstairs for breakfast. Ignoring the others in the room, he went to his chest and pulled out his jeans and shirt. By the look on Cash’s face whatever news he was receiving was bad.
Evie waved on her way out the door giving Bliss a look that couldn’t be mistaken. Taking the hint Bliss climbed out of his bed. Coming to stand in front of him she reached up to place a kiss on his lips. He wanted to turn away but didn’t, letting her have her moment.
“Thanks Viper.”
“Thank you, Bliss.” Giving a cheeky grin, the woman left. He was sure to gather the women together to make a run to town to get the tattoo proclaiming her a full fledged member.
“Viper.”
Viper sat down on the bed, putting his boots on. He turned to see Cash getting dressed.
“What’s up?”
“Don’t know how to tell you this so I am just going to tell you like it is. That was the sheriff’s office. They need me to track a suspect into the mountains that almost beat a woman to death last night. They didn’t find her until this morning when security got there to open the school for a basketball practice.”
Viper sat there in the chair and knew whom Cash was talking about. He had warned Winter a hundred times about staying at school so late.
“How bad?” Cash tugged on his boots, while grabbing his bike keys off the nightstand. He hurried to the bedroom door pausing just long enough to tell him what information he had been given.
“Bad. He almost beat her to death, and then she lay in the parking lot exposed to the elements all fucking night. The Sheriff doesn’t think she is going to make it. Sorry man, but I have to go. They are waiting for me.”
“Go.” Cash didn’t have to be told twice.
As Viper was walking out, he could hear the sound of Cash’s bike as he throttled it down the mountain road. His hand reached out to grab the handlebar of his bike but he couldn’t climb on. He was too busy vomiting.
***
Pain. That was all she knew for the longest time. At first when she would try to wake up, the pain would drive her back into unconsciousness. When she was able, after the longest time, to open her swollen eyes, her screams of pain could be heard down the hallways and the nurses would rush to inject her with more pain medication.