“You weren’t what was making me sick. Those men were. Do you expect, if Deputy Moore was buried in our backyard, I wouldn’t spit on his grave if I could? You expect me to be sorry Beth’s father is dead after that self-righteous bastard tortured her and then tried to kill Razer, Lily, and his own daughter? Hell no! I hope he burns in Hell. When you get ready to kill Vincent, let me know. I want you to piss on his grave.” Winter took a deep breath, trying to settle the rage that had taken over.
“I don’t need to know who else is there if they deserved it. You wouldn’t have killed without a reason. I trust you. It’s you who doesn’t trust me, Viper.” She reached out, taking his hands in hers. “You have been shouldering everyone’s demands and problems for so long you have forgotten how to ask for help.” She raised his hands, kissing his fingers as she listed those who depended on him. “All of the members of the Last Riders, their wives, the clubhouse in Ohio, me, my aunt, the factory, the school board, Hennessy, the Blue Horsemen, Penni—all of us have been taking from you.” She spread his fingers wide. “You don’t have anything left for yourself… or a child. That’s why you became so upset.”
Winter leaned over and reverently kissed each of his palms before straightening and twining her fingers through his. “You don’t have to do everything alone. If you learn to lean on me when it becomes too much, I won’t let you down again. I swear.”
“What if you’re not here?” His voice ached with raw emotion.
“Then you have all those men waiting down below to help you. If anything happens to me, do you think they wouldn’t help you raise our child? They would walk through the fires of hell for you. If we lose the baby, then we’ll deal with it together. It would be painful, but we could get through it together.”
Viper yanked their clasped hands, pulling her closer. “I love you so much. I’m sorry I was such an ass.”
Winter laid her head on his chest, feeling his beating heart against her cheek. “It’s not me who needs the apology.”
His face lightened. “I’m really going to be a father?”
Winter laughed huskily when he placed his hand on her abdomen.
“According to Dr. Matthews. But he’s going to call in the morning when my blood work gets back.”
“It better be a son, because we’re only going to go through this once.”
“Yes, sir.”
Viper let her go to pick up the empty cans and throw them in the trashcan someone had placed there for dead flowers. He then took her arm, leading her down the winding trail, coming out to see the Last Riders silently waiting. Their concern for Viper clear on their faces. Even Moon had been sitting anxiously, waiting for his leader’s appearance.
When he saw them, he gave them a huge grin. Then he lifted Winter in his arms, placing a passionate kiss on her lips and grinning at her wickedly before turning to greet his men.
“Everything’s cool. Winter was just pissed, because I knocked her up.”
15
“You goon.” Winter punched Viper’s shoulder again, crammed between Rider and him in the truck on the way back to her aunt’s house. “I can’t believe you did that.” She punched him again.
The Last Riders were riding behind the truck. They would leave them when they reached the clubhouse.
“You want my son to think I’m pussy-whipped before he’s even out of the womb?”
When she would have punched him again, he kissed her, making out with her until Rider stopped in the driveway.
Rider cleared his throat. “We’re here.”
Viper slid from the truck before helping her down.
“You can go back to the club. Send someone to watch them when I go to work in the morning.”
“Who do you want?”
“Anyone but Moon. Tell him he can have the day off.”
“I’ll take care of it. See you in the morning.”
“Later.”
As Viper was about to close the door, Rider said, “Take the morning off. I’ll keep everyone in check.”
Viper hesitated then nodded his head. “I may take you up on that offer. Don’t go crazy. Take it easy on them. I don’t want them to mutiny.”
He shut the door on Rider’s laughter.
Winter tucked herself under Viper’s arm. “He may finally be growing up.”
“Rider?”
“Yes.”
“Pretty girl, Rider is the most mature of us all. He’s smart enough to know he doesn’t want to deal with responsibility. He’s been there and done that, and he never wants to go there again.”
“Are we talking about the same man?” She was skeptical Rider even knew how to spell responsibility. “You sure you’re not talking about Train?” She hurried to unarm the alarm after they stepped through the door. Then she re-armed it when Viper locked the door.
“Woman, you’re going to start making me jealous if you keep bringing Train up.”
“Don’t blame me. You’re the one who made him my protector.” She giggled when he tried to tug her up the steps. “You go take a shower. I have to check on Aunt Shay.”
“Hurry.” He leaned over the banister to give her a lingering kiss.
“Don’t use all the hot water,” she warned him, going to her aunt’s bedroom.
The television was on, and so was the lamp by her bed. She had fallen asleep while doing a puzzle.
Winter picked up the television remote, turning it off. Closing the puzzle book, she placed it and the pencil on the nightstand before switching off the lamp.