Winter's Touch (The Last Riders Book 8) (11 page)

“
R
ider
…”

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.”

“Must be.” Where in the hell was he taking her?

As he made the turn onto Cash’s property, she relaxed. Viper must be spending the night there. It was where Cash’s grandparents had first built their home. The Last Riders used it now to have bonfires and parties, since it was hidden from view from the road by huge oak trees.

When he made the turn and brought the truck to a stop, Winter was shocked to see the Last Riders sitting on their bikes, several with their headlights on.

“Viper’s here? I don’t see him,” she said, getting out of the truck.

Rider got out, too, meeting her in front of the truck. “See the path that Knox is blocking? He’s up there.” Rider walked past her to the beginning of the path, where Knox was standing.

Winter knew where that path led. It was the small cemetery where Viper had buried his brother.

“You don’t want to go up there.” Shade’s voice came from behind them. He moved to stand in front of them, next to Knox, blocking the path.

“Move, Shade. I need to talk to Viper.” She didn’t back down, taking a step forward.

“Right now, you need to wait until he comes down from the hill.”

“You both need to move now. That is my husband up there. He may be your leader, but he is my husband. Move!”

Shade raised a brow at her fury. “I guess we need to move, then, Knox.”

Both men stepped to the side, and Winter stepped between them. She was still wearing her sundress and the flimsy sandals.

Shade took her arm as she stepped up onto the path. She wanted to knock him away, but she accepted his help when the path grew steep.

His hand tightened on her arm when they neared the top. “He took two six-packs when he left the club, so he’s been drinking and is probably shit-faced.” His voice was so low she could barely hear him.

“You let him leave drunk?”

“He didn’t start drinking until I got here. I followed him—we all did. We knew something was wrong when he hit Moon for no reason. Viper doesn’t do that.”

“I know.” She wanted to cry at how upset he was about her pregnancy.

“I’ll wait here. If you need me—”

“Viper would never hurt me,” Winter protested.

“I don’t think he will, but he might need someone to carry him down.”

“Go on down. He can lean on me if he needs help.”

Shade gave her a searching look before going down the path.

She took a deep breath then walked toward the cemetery, coming to a stop, her hand going to her mouth and biting down on her knuckles. He was sitting beside Gavin’s grave, leaning against the gravestone.

The moon shone down on the graveyard, giving it an eerie feel that had her crossing her arms in front of her breasts.

Winter moved closer to stand a foot from Gavin’s grave. “Viper—”

“Go away.” He didn’t bother to turn his head at the sound of her voice.

“I’m going to give you the same answer I gave those cavemen at the bottom of the hill. No.”

Viper took a drink of his beer then tossed the empty can onto his brother’s grave. He twisted another one from the plastic ring, popping the can, ignoring her.

Delicately, she stepped around Gavin’s grave to stand by Viper’s boots. “I didn’t deliberately get pregnant.”

“I know.” He still didn’t look at her.

“Then why are you so angry?”

Her question finally got a reaction from him, but it was more than she had bargained for.

He stood up, slamming the still full beer can onto Gavin’s headstone. “How do you want me to act?” he yelled at her, fury in his taut body. “You’re thinking about the morning sickness, and the cravings, and baby showers. Do you want to know what I’m thinking?

Hesitantly, Winter nodded.

“I’m wondering if you’re going to be able to carry our baby to term, the complications our child could have, and how you are going to be handle it if something happens and we lose the baby.”

Winter gasped, taking a step back.

“Exactly,” he said when he saw her reaction. “Ton raised me to be a man who can take of his woman. I would give my life to make sure nothing and no one will ever hurt you, but no matter how much I love or try to protect you if anything goes wrong, I will be powerless.”

“Viper, that’s every parent’s nightmare. But even if my spine were perfect, we would still have the chance of something going wrong. Women have miscarriages every day. You’re not God, Viper. You can’t prevent bad things from happening, no matter how hard you try.”

“Yes. I. Can.”

In the military, he must have been a force to be reckoned with. Winter stared and realized her husband had never truly been vulnerable before. His confidence had become shaken, knowing that hers and the safety of the child she carried was in someone else’s hands.

“No, Viper, you can’t.” Winter shook her head, trying to touch him, but he backed away.

He looked at his hands, clenching them into fists. “I made every nook and cranny safe in the club. No mail comes in that house until it’s taken to the back of the factory to get checked out. I even paid Dr. Price a fucking fortune to move to town in case you convinced me to get you pregnant. Didn’t know that, did you?”

“No, I didn’t.” Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Well, I did.”

“If you knew I couldn’t change your mind… I don’t understand.”

“Because I’m not fucking ready. Just like I wasn’t ready when Gavin came to Treepoint and got his ass killed!” Viper’s hand clenched in a fist, punching himself on his chest.

“I needed more time with him, and I need more time with you.” Viper’s face was a mask of pain. He had been tortured by his brother’s death, and her telling him she was pregnant had been the worst thing she could have done.

“I told him to wait until I could go with him. He wouldn’t listen. He said he could handle it on his own. He kept telling me I didn’t have to watch his back at every move he made. It turned into a big argument. We didn’t even talk the week before he left.

“I was pissed at him. If he wanted to do it on his own, he didn’t need any other brothers going with him. When he didn’t answer any of my or Ton’s texts, I still thought he was being a dick, blowing me off. If Shade hadn’t shown me the money was missing from our account, it would have taken even longer before I figured out he was missing.”

“That wasn’t your fault—”

“Yes, it was. I was his president and his brother, and I failed him, just like I failed you when you were getting the shit beaten out of you. I need more time with you, so if anything happens, you’ll know I’ll be there for you.

“That wasn’t your fault, either. I was wrong when I told you that. I didn’t mean it. I was upset about Sasha.”

“You meant it. The truth always comes out when you don’t care about hurting someone.”

“That’s true. I was being a jealous bitch, and I wanted you to hurt as badly as I was. Gavin was angry, and he left without giving you both the chance to heal the breach between you. I apologized for being a bitch. Did you accept the apology?”

“You know I did.” He flushed before admitting, “But it still hurts inside.”

“You hurt the ones you love the most, Viper. Gavin just didn’t have the time to tell you he was sorry before he was killed. Gavin was wrong; he should have waited for you. I was wrong for saying that to you when I thought you were cheating. Thank God I had the opportunity to tell you I was sorry. Gavin wasn’t as lucky.

“You can’t place the blame on your shoulders. The Last Riders don’t blame you for Gavin’s death. If they did, they wouldn’t have made you their president. They gave you their trust, just like I did when I married you. I might have had doubts when Sasha sent that text, but I never thought you would fail to keep me safe.”

Viper gave a bitter laugh that made the hair on her arms stand up.

“You don’t fucking know me. You see these hands?” He arrogantly strode forward, placing his palms up before her. “Do you know how many men I have killed with these hands? Do you!” His voice rose. “Dozens when I was in the military and at least eighteen since I’ve gotten out.” His voice lowered ominously. “About a quarter mile from the clubhouse, there is a graveyard with no markers. No one will ever find the bastards there.”

“Who?” she asked through numb lips.

“The deputy who beat you for one. I have to admit, I enjoyed killing him the most. If Bedford gets out of prison, he will die by my hands. I’ll make sure of that. He would already be dead if I could find a way without the Last Riders being blamed. Beth’s father is there. Believe me, you don’t want to know how that son of a bitch died. I buried—”

“Stop!” Winter cried out.

“You don’t want me to tell you who else is buried there?”

“No, it’s making me sick.”

“That’s the man who’s been touching you every day and night.” His shoulders dropped in despondency, his hands falling to his sides.

“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.