Winter didn’t even consider refusing, and right now she welcomed oblivion. Evie pulled the covers over her.

“I am going to sit right over there and read a magazine until you fall asleep. I’ll see you in the morning, bright and early.”

“It’s not necessary for you to stay. I’ll be alright for the night.”

“I’m just staying until you fall asleep. With the pain medicine and a sleeping pill, you won’t last long.”

“Okay.” She didn’t have the strength to argue, lying back against the soft pillows and within minutes she was asleep. Evie read half the magazine before getting to her feet to check on Winter. After making sure she was comfortable and her pulse was steady Evie went to the door, opening it quietly. Viper walked in.

“She should be out for the night. You need anything, I’ll be in Knox’s room tonight.”

“Thanks Evie.” Viper said not taking his eyes off the woman lying on his bed.

“No problem.”

Viper moved to Winter’s bedside on silent feet, looking down at her sleeping face. She had lost a lot of weight she couldn’t afford to lose. He had been shocked to see how pale and frail she had become the last two months. Her hair had been cut short and it no longer shined with health. Reaching out with his thumb, he traced a tear that had slid down her check leaving a damp path.

Going into the bathroom, he took a shower drying himself off before going back into his room. Turning off the bedside lamp, he carefully climbed into bed before pulling Winter towards him. Unconsciously she tried to roll away from him, tossing and turning several minutes before she was able to get comfortable against his shoulder with her arm over his waist pinning him down. Her knee rode close to his cock; Viper gently moved it down to rest against his thigh. He didn’t want that knee anywhere near his cock when she woke in the morning.

Winter woke up stiff and unable to move for several minutes. In that time, she realized she was laying on someone. Panic soared through her body and she tried to jerk away but was held immobile, unable to hurt herself.

She was gently turned until she lay on her back with Viper above her. His chest held her down as his hands surrounded her face keeping her from jerking her head. His hair roughened thigh was over both of hers keeping them from wildly thrashing.

“Now, I can understand how waking to find me in bed with you upsets you. But we are going to raise you up in the bed and then we are going to have a talk without you hurting yourself. Understood?”

“Yes.” Winter gritted out between clenched teeth.

“Good.” Viper slowly released her to sit up then helped her to maneuver into a sitting position with pillows supporting her back from behind. Once she was sitting up, Viper climbed out of bed unconcerned with his nudity,

“You slept with me naked!” she screeched.

“Yes.” He went into the bathroom cutting off further comments. She had to bite back words because no one was listening. She heard the toilet flush then water running in the sink, which didn’t help her full bladder. When Viper came out of the bathroom he casually began to get dressed, ignoring her furious glare. Winter was so mad she was beyond speech, until he came to the side of the bed yanking the covers away from her body before lifting her against his still into his arms.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking you to use the restroom.” He answered matter of factly.

“Take me back to bed.” He ignored her, carrying her into the large bathroom and sitting her on the toilet. He just sat her down.

“Can you manage?”

“Yes. Get out.”

“You have two minutes.” She hurriedly used it then flushed the toilet and adjusted her gown with barely a second to spare before he was back lifting her again. Winter was beginning to feel like a sack of potatoes. He lay her back down on the bed making sure her back was up against the pillows before he stepped back, folding his arms across his chest.

“Evie will be here in a few minutes and I want us to get a few things settled before she arrives.”

Winter opened her mouth to speak.

“Be quiet. I am going to talk, something that you have given me no opportunity to do the last two months. When we were dating I was very careful to maintain a platonic relationship with you. I, at no time, led you to believe that we were more than friends, whether you want to accept it or not. I was going to find my brother’s killer regardless of who got hurt. I owed that to Gavin and Ton. I was determined to bring my brother home, to do that I had to use you. I am not happy or proud about my behavior but I did try to limit our relationship so that it wouldn’t be as hurtful to you. I did not succeed. You were hurt and I am sorry. I can’t turn back time and do things differently. I sincerely doubt I would if I could. I was finally able, after three years, to bury my brother and give Ton, as well as myself, closure.”

“I am glad everything is wrapped up in a tiny pink bow of happiness for you Viper.” Winter glared at him.

“Actually you conned me too, Winter. The sweet woman with no temper and a smart mouth, where was she all the time we were together?” Winter’s lips tightened, she folded her arms over her chest and turned her head away from him.

“It’s ok, I always liked a woman able to speak for herself.”

“Go to hell.”

Viper burst out laughing. “I’ve gotten off track. Despite my best intentions, I began to care about you and was very attracted to you.”

At that Winter rolled her eyes but refused to speak.

“I was, whether you believe me or not. That night after the football game I almost went home with you but one thing held me back. I knew you wouldn’t be able to handle my life. You had worked hard to achieve your professional goals and succeeded in becoming a principal at a young age. Any association with a motorcycle club, I was worried, would cause negative reactions towards your career. And would you want to get to know me when you found out I was president of the Last Riders?”

“I was going to come clean after Bedford was arrested, but you found out before I was able to do so and have refused to listen to me since. You need to get stronger before you will able to care for yourself. The best place for you to do so is here. I have told the Sheriff that this is where you will be staying and he also agrees.”

“Why would he care where I stay?”

“He thinks that Jake’s family won’t be happy you’re back in town.”

“Jake is in prison.”

Viper nodded his head. “His family wants him out, and they are mistakenly blaming everything on you. They refuse to admit Jake is violent.”

“Surely Carmen has admitted to him hurting her?”

“No. She still refuses to believe it’s him.”

“But what about the fire? He would still be in jail for that and there was a witness to him running from the house.”

“A witness that is refusing to testify.” Viper informed her.

Winter knew Jake had an older brother that was almost as violent as him. Perhaps it would be safer to find another place until after the trial but this wasn’t it.

“I don’t want to stay here.”

“I know that, but you really have no option. Let me do this for you, if nothing else we were friends Winter.”