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  Beth not so much. Winter loved Beth; she was a truly kind person who didn’t want to intentionally hurt anyone. Winter swallowed a lump in her throat when she saw Razer’s gaze fixed on Beth. It was obvious he loved her; he knew she wasn’t happy with the solution but didn’t have another solution.

  “Okay, if that makes everyone more comfortable,” Beth conceded. The whole room nodded their heads.

  Chapter 11

  Winter borrowed Evie’s car to drive herself to the doctor on Monday. Satisfied with her progress, he agreed to sign her work release. Winter wanted to celebrate, but she was by herself, all the members were hard at work at the factory. A big order was due to go out on Thursday and many had to work overtime. She frowned, realizing suddenly that her world had narrowed down to The Last Riders. She had never had an overabundance of friends, but there were a few she could have called at a moment’s notice for lunch.

  Winter decided to go to the diner for lunch by herself. The diner wasn’t very busy with only a few customers occupying the tables. Pastor Dean was sitting at one by himself.

  “Mind if I join you?” Winter asked

  He rose and pulled out a chair at the table. “Not at all.”

  Pastor Dean sat back down as the waitress came to take her order. Winter appreciated his gentlemanly manners. He was an extremely good-looking man, who was also an excellent Pastor. Winter had sought his guidance several times after her mother’s death.

  “You seem to be recovering well.”

  “Other than the cane and that I move slow as a turtle, I am,” Winter agreed happily.

  “Now that you’re better, I am hoping to see you in church again. The children in your class miss you.”

  “I miss them.” Her class of preschoolers was small, but she was eager to see them again. “I’ll be back this Sunday.”

  “I’ll count on it.” They discussed how several of the older church parishioners were doing until their food arrived. They were drinking coffee when Mrs. Langley came in from her beauty shop appointment to meet her friend.

  Mrs. Langley was Winter’s aunt. Samantha was her granddaughter, who was as cruel as Mrs. Langley was kind. She sat down at their table to wait for her friend’s arrival.

  After both assured each other that they were doing well. Mrs. Langley brought up the uncomfortable situation herself.

  “Winter, I heard at the beauty shop what happened with Samantha. I am deeply ashamed at her actions.”

  “Aunt Shay, you’re not responsible for her actions, you have nothing to be embarrassed about,” Winter reassured her there were no hard feelings.

  “First Vincent, then Samantha. My daughter would be heartbroken if she were still alive.” Mrs. Langley’s daughter had died three years ago. Samantha, who had always stayed in trouble, had become even wilder without her mother’s guidance. A sudden thought struck Winter, she didn’t want to hurt the woman, but the truth needed to be brought out.

  “Aunt Shay, has anyone told you that Samantha had a baby three years ago? It was right around the time of Samantha’s mother’s death.” Mrs. Langley’s expression became cautious. Winter knew then she was right, everyone had been so cautious of protecting the woman’s feelings, they were ignoring the only source of information they had. Even Pastor Dean was giving the older woman a concerned look.

  “She told Loker James that it was his brother’s child. He is devastated, he loved his brother and the thought of his murdered brother’s child out there with no family caring for it is hard for him to accept,” Winter explained gently.

  Mrs. Langley stared at Pastor Dean several minutes before answering in a quiet voice. “She told him it was Gavin’s?”

  Winter heard Pastor Dean break into the conversation. “You knew Gavin?” Surprised at the familiarity of the name coming from Pastor Dean, it was only Mrs. Langley’s answer that made her forget to question him.

  “He stayed at my home while they were building the factory. Vincent invested in the business and as my home was so large, he asked if Gavin could stay there. Of course I accepted. I didn’t know Vincent was planning on killing him.” Her frail hand shook as she sat her tea glass back on the table. “It probably made it easier to make him disappear.” A tear ran down her withered cheek. Pastor Dean handed her a handkerchief.

  “You couldn’t have known, please don’t blame yourself.”

  It took several minutes before the older woman could get herself back under control.

  “I couldn’t help him, but at least I can help Loker. I knew Sam was pregnant. She came to me when she first found out because she wanted to have an abortion. She was too far along and she stayed with me until she had the baby. When she went into labor, she called Vincent and he came to the house to pick her up. Afterwards, when I asked about the baby they told me Samantha had given it up for adoption. I would have cared for the child, but they told me no. I have no idea where my great grandchild is and they won’t tell me.” Anguish filled the old woman’s eyes.

  “Do you know if the baby was Gavin’s?” Winter pushed gently, knowing her aunt had to understand Viper’s predicament.

  “It wasn’t. She never told me who the father of the child was, but I know for a fact it wasn’t Gavin’s.

  “How?”

  “Because I was the one who drove her to the doctor’s appointments when she was pregnant. She became pregnant after Gavin disappeared.”

  Winter sat back disappointed. “Samantha gave Loker the baby’s date of birth. He was still in town when she conceived.” Pastor Dean looked as disappointed as Winter.

  Mrs. Langley shook her head, saddened by her granddaughter’s treachery. “The baby was premature. Doctors said that it was because Samantha was so young and she didn’t take care of herself.”

  “Will you give me the name of the doctor you took her to?” Winter asked.

  “Yes.” Opening her purse, she took out a pad of paper and pen writing down the doctor’s name and address.

  “The doctor is in Jamestown.” The town next to Treepoint was thirty miles away. Which was a distance that would enable Vincent to keep his daughter’s pregnancy a secret.

  “Yes. Vincent was afraid of the gossip in town, so he had me take her there, that was where she had the baby.”

  Winter stood up from the table and hugged her aunt tightly. “Thank you, Aunt Shay. Loker has been upset that his brother was accused of getting a underage girl pregnant, then having that child missing was hard on him.”

  “I am glad I could help.” Winter could see a tiny bit of the burden on the woman lightening. Her aunt’s friend entered the restaurant; with a hug and promises to see her soon she left to join her.

  “No one thought to ask her. Samantha never went to visit her grandmother,” Pastor Dean remarked.

  “That’s how I can tell you’re not from a small town,” Winter answered. A closed expression came over his handsome face.

  “What do you mean?”

  “If you were from a small town, especially Treepoint, you would know however many problems you have with your family that you always turn to them when you’re in trouble.”

  “Good to know.” Pastor Dean gave her a wry smile.

  “Beth wouldn’t think to ask because that woman is incapable of hurting anyone’s feelings. She would have avoided upsetting Aunt Shay.”

  “Yes, she would,” Pastor Dean agreed.

  “You should know, you dated her for a while,” Winter probed.

  “Beth is very kind hearted.” His expression became closed.

  “Yes, she is.” She reached out and gripped his hand, his turned and held hers. The waitress brought their ticket, when she would have paid, Pastor Dean wouldn’t let her.

  “My treat.”

  They walked out together. Pastor Dean followed beside her as she walked to her car and held the car door open for her. She was about to get in when he spoke.

  “Winter, it was a nice thing you did today, Loker wouldn’t have stopped until he found that child, he
wouldn’t have been able to.”

  “I know, Viper is stubborn.”

  Pastor Dean’s head tilted to the side in question. “You call him Viper?”

  Winter paused, finally admitting to herself what she had known all along. “Loker was imaginary. A disguise he surrounded himself with, he’s Viper to me now.” She confessed something to him that she hadn’t been able to do to herself. “I never had Loker, he was a mirage.”

  Pastor Dean shook his head in disagreement. It seemed as if he was about to say something but changed his mind. “See you this Sunday.”

  Winter watched him walk away before getting into the car and driving back to the clubhouse. She was getting out of her car before she realized something and stopped in her tracks, turning back to the car she bumped into Shade.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t watching were I was going,” she apologized.

  “It’s alright. I was coming out of the factory when I saw that you were upset about something.” Winter took a step back, being close to Shade made her nervous. He was wearing loose jeans that clung to his hips, black biker boots, and a black t-shirt. His arms and neck that were visible gave a menacing air to the man, and combined with the vibes he put off, anyone would be afraid of him. When they were surrounded by the other members it slightly muted the effect, but alone it was overwhelming.

  Winter was upset. “I just realized that I have been trying to get back to my home since I returned to Treepoint, then the first time I actually have the opportunity, I don’t even go by to check on my house.”

  Shade laughed, taking her arm as they walked to the flight of steps to the house.

  “Well, it’s too late now.” With a swift movement he had her up in his arms packing her up the large flight of steps.

  “I could have done it.”

  “There are seventy-five steps, everyone has counted them. Twice. There is no need to put that kind of pressure on your back.” Winter gripped the cane as he effortlessly packed her inside the house before setting her down on her feet inside the doorway.

  “Thanks, I appreciate the lift.”

  “Anytime.” He said before going back out the door. No one could say Shade was a man of words, Winter laughed to herself. Excited about telling Viper the good news, she went into the kitchen to see if anyone knew where he was. He was sitting at the table with Knox and Jewell finishing lunch.

  Not wanting to interrupt their lunch, she went to sit at a chair next to Viper.

  “Doctor’s appointment go okay?” He questioned.

  “Yes, he signed my work release. I’ll take it by the business office tomorrow.”

  “I still think it’s a little soon, but I know you’re bored around the house all day.”

  “Not really, I have all your paperwork to keep me busy. I think you need to hire someone fulltime to do the paperwork and keep the ordering on schedule.”

  “Nope. It is a club business, only a member is allowed access,” Viper said firmly.

  “I’m not a member.” Confused at his words, Winter was surprised he had allowed her to do the paperwork for him.

  “That’s a different situation.” He said getting up from the table to get himself another bottled water and handing one to her before sitting back down at the table.

  “Why, because I’m sleeping with you?” Winter started to get angry, she was still upset with herself for not going by her house. She had thought to herself earlier that The Last Riders were taking over her life when in fact she wasn’t ready to admit that she was letting herself become too attached to Viper.

  “We don’t do much sleeping anymore, plenty of fucking going on though,” Viper teased her.

  Winter flushed with Knox and Jewell listening closely.

  “But that is not why,” he continued.

  “Well?” Winter asked.

  Taking a drink of water Viper answered. “Because you are a probate, that allows you access to almost anything.”

  Winter gave him a glare. “I thought you were joking when you said that to Tara and Stacy.”

  “Tara and Stacy?” Jewell butted in enthralled with the argument going on in front of her.

  “The fuck twins.” It was Knox who answered.

  “Oh.” Jewell nodded her head.

  “You know them?” Winter asked surprised.

  “Yes. Everyone does,” Jewell answered not knowing she was walking into quicksand.

  “Is there anyone that walks through the door you guys haven’t fucked?” The three members at the table wisely remained quiet.

  “Winter,” Viper tried to head off the eruption that he could see coming towards them.

  “Don’t Winter me, you manwhore. I told you that I wasn’t going to become a member and I meant it. I am not going to fuck any members and I am certainly not getting a tattoo branding me as your club’s whore. I have no idea how Beth allowed herself to fuck eight different men,” Winter said angrily.

  A gasp from the doorway had Winter turning in her chair to see Beth and Razer standing in the doorway. Her face was pale and she looked like she was about to cry.

  “Beth, I am sorry I didn’t mean anything. I was just angry at Viper, I let my tongue run away from me,” Winter apologized.

  Beth turned and left the room and with an angry glare Razer followed her.

  “Winter.”

  Winter turned to look at Viper who gave her an angry stare.

  “I’m sorry,” Winter wanted to cry, she felt terrible at what she had said.

  “That won’t do this time. You insulted not only Beth, but also every member of the club. You have to make amends or you need to leave,” Viper said sharply.

  Winter’s heart sank. She had let her mouth run away from her, insulting everyone that had helped her through recovery. They hadn’t deserved the judgmental attitude she had been throwing at them since the day she had arrived.

  “Both. I’ll do what I have to do to make amends then I will leave.” Winter didn’t know why it felt as if her heart was ripping in two. She had wanted to leave since the day she had arrived.

  Viper held his emotions in check, angry with himself for pushing her in front of the others, but being President meant he had to hold everyone responsible for their actions.

  “We are giving out punishments Thursday.” Today was only Monday. That gave her three more days with Viper. If he even still wanted anything to do with her after the way she had acted.

  “Okay, there is something I want to tell you. I don’t expect it to make a difference as to my punishment.”

  Viper nodded his head, his anger unrelenting. Winter swallowed down the tears threatening to fall. Opening her purse she took out the slip of paper that her Aunt Shay had given her and handed it to Viper.

  “That’s the doctor who Sam went to when she was pregnant. She confirmed Gavin wasn’t the father, she didn’t become pregnant until after Gavin had been killed. Both Sam and her father knew the truth.”

  Viper sat stunned, no one had even thought to question Sam’s grandmother, thinking she would have hidden it from her. It had been a stupid mistake. If not for Winter, it would have taken them much longer to figure out the truth.

  “This won’t take away the punishment, but it will lessen the severity. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want. Thank you Winter, it was eating me alive thinking that Gavin’s child was out there somewhere.” Viper never had any intention of letting her leave, but this way he was able to relent without showing favoritism. Everyone in the club was held to the same rules, even himself. Winter had to learn that in public he was the President of The Last Riders, that only in their bedroom could she have more leeway.

  “I know,” Winter said softly.

  “Did she say who the father was?” Jewell asked.

  “No, but I didn’t ask, I was afraid to push for too much information.”

  “I’m going to call and tell Ton, then the Sheriff. Maybe now that we have a doctor’s name there is hope of finding the kid.”

  “You
’re going to keep looking even though the child isn’t Gavin’s?” Winter asked in surprise.

  “It’s someone’s child and we have a responsibility to make sure that the child is safe and cared for,” Viper said.

  “How is it your responsibility? The baby isn’t Gavin’s you have no connection to the child.” Winter had planned on beginning to search for the child herself. However distant the child was, it was a relative of hers.

  “I do as a human being. There is a child out there who has disappeared and no one but a bitch of a mother and a murderous grandfather knows what happened. I think we all have a responsibility to make sure the kid’s in a safe environment.”

  “Me too.” Winter lowered her head in shame. She had misunderstood this group of people from the beginning, she deserved whatever punishment they gave her.

  Chapter 12

  Winter went upstairs while Viper made his calls. She thought he might come upstairs when he was done, but he was conspicuously absent until dinner. Winter went downstairs to the kitchen and wasn’t surprised when the conversation quieted when she entered. Fixing a plate of food, she went to sit at the table with Evie and Knox, but they threw her a dirty look before taking their plates and moving to another table.

  She sat down at the empty table forcing the food down her throat so that she could escape, when she felt a chair pulled out beside her and someone sat down next to her. Winter looked up to find Beth staring back at her. A chair scraping had Razer sitting down in tight-lipped anger. Winter couldn’t blame him.

  “I am so sorry Beth, I was angry at Viper and took it out on the club, you in particular,” Winter apologized.

  Beth picked up her fork. “Don’t worry about it Winter, it was only a few months ago that I believed the same thing. I have become very close to The Last Riders and now I can’t imagine my life without them. When Razer and I get married, we still plan on going back and forth between my house and the club until Lily graduates, then I plan on giving her the house. Razer and I want to build a house for us behind this one. They are his family and they have become mine. If you let them in, they can be the very best thing that could happen to you,” Beth advised.