He stopped to glower at her. Winter had never seen her husband so angry.
“You thought wrong.” His cold words hit her like a whip. “Just like the other bullshit you keep spouting off over. I have never been unfaithful to you, nor have I wanted to. Sasha came back early, because a search warrant had been served on the clubhouse thanks to the mayor’s interference, and she didn’t know where to go. I found out when I came back from taking Ton home. Sasha and Moon tried to call me to tell me that she was on her way back, but I was too busy dealing with piss-ass drunk Ton to answer my phone, which is why I didn’t answer your calls. When we were outside, we were talking. I hired Diamond to help her out of her tough situation. She has an ex-boyfriend who blames the Last Rider’s for their breaking up, even though they ended before she started hanging out at the club. He accused her of stealing some jewelry she sold. He pressed charges against her, saying it was his mother’s and she stole it when she visited. His mother is, of course, taking his side. The cops are pressuring the Ohio members to give her up. I was going to tell you she was there when I went upstairs. When I gave Sasha a chance, I made it conditional, that she had to earn your vote, or she couldn’t stay in Treepoint. Once Diamond can get the charges dropped, Sasha can go back to the clubhouse in Ohio, and she can stay there until she earns your vote. Do you have a problem with Sasha if she stays in Ohio?”
“No.” Winter’s conscience was stricken. Viper had been dealing with Moon and Sasha’s problems, as well the Last Rider’s business. All the time, the accusations she had been throwing at him had only made matters worse as he tried to keep her happy.
Viper’s anger didn’t lessen, as he barked, “You’ve known me long enough to understand, if I wanted you gone, I would divorce your ass and tell you not to let the door hit you on the way out!”
Winter silently listened to her husband’s scornful words, feeling droplets of water trail down her cheeks.
“I had your name tattooed on my chest, and you’ve got my name on you. Do you see anyone else’s name on me?”
Through trembling lips, Winter answered, “No.”
“I put my ring on your finger. If neither one of those things show you how much I love you, then you’re just shit out of luck. I’m not going to kiss your ass to prove my love to you. If you wanted a marriage like that, then you should never have married me.”
Viper toed his boots off, taking his T-shirt off at the same time before unbuttoning his jeans and yanking them down.
Winter treaded water away from him as he began stalking her from the pool deck. Her husband reminded her of a wolf, determined to catch his prey.
“You think you can outswim me?” he taunted, as he walked to the edge of the pool.
His threatening stance made her shiver. She now understood how he kept men like Shade, Razer, Knox, and the rest of the Last Riders under his control. He was terrifying.
She stopped treading water when her toes finally felt the pool floor under her. “I know you love me. You just don’t understand what it’s like to see other women wanting you, too. Most women can go to their homes and not be faced with that every day. I see it every morning and every evening until I go to our room at night.”
“How many times have I offered to build you a house? How many times have I offered to build one for Aunt Shay? You’re both stubborn as shit.”
He had. Numerous times. She had always put him off.
Viper was wrong about one thing, though. She wasn’t anything like her aunt. Her aunt was independent. She enjoyed the house she and Uncle Dennis had built, even though she had lived in it alone since he had died.
“I enjoy living with the Last Riders. I really do,” Winter confessed, which was something she had never told him before. “I like the house filled with them, even though they’re a pain in the ass sometimes. On the nights you have to work late, they give me someone to talk to. They give me someone to hold hands with when I know you’re putting your life on the line for them. They keep you from getting bored with me when I talk too much about the school and my students. I like that there’s always a light on because someone’s up.
“When my father died, the house was so quiet. He used to always joke around or talk about anything to everyone. I missed that so much when he was gone. Even after all these years, I still miss it.