“I am glad everything is wrapped up in a tiny pink bow of happiness for you Viper.” Winter glared at him.
“Actually you conned me too, Winter. The sweet woman with no temper and a smart mouth, where was she all the time we were together?” Winter’s lips tightened, she folded her arms over her chest and turned her head away from him.
“It’s ok, I always liked a woman able to speak for herself.”
“Go to hell.”
Viper burst out laughing. “I’ve gotten off track. Despite my best intentions, I began to care about you and was very attracted to you.”
At that Winter rolled her eyes but refused to speak.
“I was, whether you believe me or not. That night after the football game I almost went home with you but one thing held me back. I knew you wouldn’t be able to handle my life. You had worked hard to achieve your professional goals and succeeded in becoming a principal at a young age. Any association with a motorcycle club, I was worried, would cause negative reactions towards your career. And would you want to get to know me when you found out I was president of the Last Riders?”
“I was going to come clean after Bedford was arrested, but you found out before I was able to do so and have refused to listen to me since. You need to get stronger before you will able to care for yourself. The best place for you to do so is here. I have told the Sheriff that this is where you will be staying and he also agrees.”
“Why would he care where I stay?”
“He thinks that Jake’s family won’t be happy you’re back in town.”
“Jake is in prison.”
Viper nodded his head. “His family wants him out, and they are mistakenly blaming everything on you. They refuse to admit Jake is violent.”
“Surely Carmen has admitted to him hurting her?”
“No. She still refuses to believe it’s him.”
“But what about the fire? He would still be in jail for that and there was a witness to him running from the house.”
“A witness that is refusing to testify.” Viper informed her.
Winter knew Jake had an older brother that was almost as violent as him. Perhaps it would be safer to find another place until after the trial but this wasn’t it.
“I don’t want to stay here.”
“I know that, but you really have no option. Let me do this for you, if nothing else we were friends Winter.”
“How could we be friends? I don’t even know who you are.”
He turned his back to her, his face stark. Winter pushed down the regret within her at speaking so harshly to Viper but she didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t stay here close to him, forget that he had deceived her. All she had to protect her against the hurt he had inflicted was the barrier she had put up against him.
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” Viper answered, moving away from the bed.
Evie came in easily tuning into the tense vibe in the room and sought to lighten it.
“We need to get you dressed and downstairs for breakfast. Your therapist will be here in an hour.”
“Call me when you need me to help get her downstairs.” Viper left the room abruptly.
It was evident that Evie was a trained professional; she had Winter dressed and sitting in her wheelchair twenty minutes later. She took out her cell phone to call Viper, telling him they were ready. Winter was self-conscious, wearing a pair of small shorts with a t-shirt worn over her sports bra.
Viper came in, easily carrying her downstairs to a massive kitchen teaming with a group of people fighting for breakfast. He sat her down at the round table.
“I’ll fix you a plate.” Viper offered. Razer, Knox, and some tattoo guy that Viper had called Shade were also sitting at the table with large plates before them.
“Hello.” Winter muttered.
She got nods in return.
Viper sat a plate down in front of her before sitting down next to her. Evie sat down at the table with a plate. The smaller portions making her plate look as if it would feed six people.
“I need a plate like hers. I can’t eat all this.” Winter protested.
“Eat.” Viper told her then ignored her for the rest of the meal as he talked to the others at the table about deliveries and supplies. Winter was completely lost as to what they were discussing.
“They are talking about a big order going out tomorrow. That’s why everyone is up today, working an extra shift at the factory next door.” Winter remembered something about them running a survivalist company but had not paid attention. It had been too painful to hear about Viper’s alter life.
She had barely managed to finish half her food when she slid the plate away. Viper didn’t take his attention away from the men but pulled the plate to him finishing what remained.
“You need to use the restroom?” Evie asked. Winter blushed bright red and shook her head when she saw everyone had stopped talking.
The doorbell rang, producing a huge smile from Evie. “That must be your therapist.”