“To make a marriage last, you have to take the years one step at a time. One year, the path may be a clear walk. Another year, you might find yourself walking on gravel, thinking you’ll never get through it. But you do if you want to badly enough. That’s why some marriages don’t end up making it—couples get tired of the walk. Sometimes, you have to rest. Then there are times you stumble, and you have to take turns carrying each other.
“Viper and you have been coasting along, and you’ve come to a place that he stumbled on. You can let him take your hand and lean on you, or you can leave him behind and go back to finding another path on your own.”
Her aunt kissed her cheek. “Goodnight. I’m going to bed. It’s way past my bedtime.”
“Goodnight, Aunt Shay. I love you.”
“I know you do, dear. I love you. You’re my favorite niece.”
Despite her broken heart, she couldn’t help smiling at her attempt to lift her spirit. “I’m your only niece.”
“For now,” she said as she left.
Winter stared down at her flat belly, her hand resting on the child she and Viper had conceived. She had a choice to make. A few weeks ago, she had thought it was whether she and Viper would have a child. The choice had been taken out of their hands now, but she wasn’t going to let him run away from either her or the baby. His days of midnight runs were over.
14
“Rider…”
Winter gasped when Rider threw the cell phone he had been talking into and grabbed his gun that was sitting on his thigh, as she approached the truck from behind.
“What the fuck are you doing sneaking up on me?” Rider asked harshly, as he climbed out of the truck.
“I’m sorry. I thought you saw me when I came out of the house,” she apologized, now furious.
Rider was the most laid back of the Last Riders. She didn’t think she had ever seen him angry before.
“What are you doing out here? I thought you had gone to bed when the lights went out.”
“No, I just waited for my aunt to fall asleep. I want you to drive me to the clubhouse. If you had fixed my car, I wouldn’t have had to bother you.”
“I told you, it needs new tires. They come in this week.”
“Jo sells tires—”
“That’s who I ordered them from. They should be in by the end of the week. Go back in the house and go to sleep.” He climbed back in the truck, slamming the door closed.
Winter gritted her teeth. She was getting pretty damn tired of the men slamming doors in her face.
Going to the other side of the truck, she pulled the door open and got inside. When he started to say something, she cut him off.
“Either you drive me, or I’ll walk. It’s your choice.”
Rider stared back, his anger dissolving. He didn’t have the personality to remain mad long.
Giving an audible breath, he twisted sideways in his seat. “Tonight is not the night to go back to the clubhouse. Hennessy, Jackal, and Fade are there. Viper let them have his room to sleep in.”
“I don’t care. I only want to talk to him.”
“He’s not at the clubhouse.”
Winter’s stomach sank. Had Viper taken off to Ohio?
“Where is he? Rider, please tell me. I know he’s upset—”
“That’s an understatement. He gave Moon a black eye when he asked where Viper was going after he told me to come here and watch Mrs. Langley’s house.”
“Why didn’t he just call you?”
“Because Viper said he broke his phone. It’s sitting in the middle of the road.”
“Where could he be? Did he go to Ohio?”
Rider turned on the overhead lights. “Did you two have a fight?”
Winter nodded, holding back her tears. “I told him I’m pregnant, and he freaked out.” Afraid she couldn’t keep her tears at bay much longer, she began pleading. “Will you drive me to Ohio?”
He turned to face the front of the truck. “He’s not in Ohio. I’ll take you to where he is.”
Starting the truck, Rider picked up his cell phone that was lying on the dashboard while she buckled her seatbelt.
“Knox, I’m driving Winter to Viper. Have one of the deputies watch Mrs. Langley’s house.” Rider shook his head at something Knox said. “It’s cool. I found out what set Viper off. Winter told him she’s knocked up.”
She didn’t care that he was driving; she punched his shoulder, wishing Knox was there so she could punch him, too, when she heard his laughter through the phone.
“See you in a minute.” Rider leaned toward the steering wheel as they passed Rosie’s bar.
Winter looked out his window at the movement, thinking he was trying to hide Viper’s bike sitting out front.
“Why are you acting so weird?” she asked suspiciously. “Is Viper at Rosie’s?”
“No. I was just holding onto the steering wheel in case you decided to punch me again.”
“Wimp.”
“I heard that.”
“Good. At least nothing’s wrong with your hearing.”
As they neared the curve of the clubhouse, Rider pointed out her window. “That’s the biggest herd of deer I’ve ever seen.”
Winter looked out her window, trying to see in the pitch dark. “I don’t see them.”
Rider leaned back as they came up to another curve, taking them past the club.
“You must have missed them. It must be mating season.”