Chapter 8

The morning sun woke her. Winter lay still, not wanting to wake Viper. Carefully, she edged to the side of the bed and maneuvered herself into her wheelchair. Grabbing some clothes, she went to the nightstand glancing at the bed to make sure Viper was still sleeping as she snagged his phone. Going into the bathroom, she made a quick phone call. Dressing herself and brushing her hair into a ponytail, she rolled her chair to the bathroom door, peeping out to make sure that he was still sleeping.

Going slow so no squeaking floorboards would raise an alert, she slowly moved across the bedroom until she reached the door, peering out into the hallway and seeing no one, hoping everyone was still sleeping after their late night. She rolled her chair out into the hall before shutting the door quietly behind her. Winter rolled the chair down the hallway, sure this time she would be able to make her escape. When she got to the head of the stairs, she unintentionally let a small scream of fright escape her.

Shade was leaning casually against the wall hidden from view from the hallway. He looked tired and cranky, which on him wasn’t a good look, it was a scary one.

“Going someplace?” He asked casually.

“Breakfast?” Winter tried not to appear guilty.

“No one is up yet.”

“I can make my own.”

“How were you going to get down the steps?” He said coldly.

Winter didn’t answer his question.

“What are you doing here?” Winter asked impatiently.

“Viper had a feeling you would try to make a run for it after last night.” Shade shrugged. “Seems he was right.”

“He asked you to stand here all night?” She asked in disbelief.

“Yes, need a lift downstairs or do you want to go back to bed?”

“Downstairs, please.” She needed to be downstairs for her plan to work. The doorbell rang just as he was about to lift her.

“Your accomplice?”

“Who is it?” Viper asked from behind her.

Winter stiffened, he was wearing faded jeans that hung low on his hips and no shirt. He wasn’t even wearing shoes. She almost did not answer him but knowing all he had to do was open the door to find out the answer to his question, she decided it would be stupid to argue.

“Pastor Dean.”

Viper grinned. “Could be worse, Shade answer the door while I get Houdini.”

Expecting Viper to pack her back into their room, she was surprised when he lifted her into his arms and carried her downstairs.

Pastor Dean was walking in the door as Viper reached the bottom of the steps.

“Viper, Shade, Winter it’s good to see you all again.” Pastor Dean smiled at each of them. Winter was embarrassed that the handsome minister saw her in Viper’s arms.

“Want some coffee?” Viper asked, not waiting for a reply while he carried Winter to the kitchen and sat her at the table, leaving to start a pot of coffee.

“Sounds good to me,” Pastor Dean sat down at the table next to Winter, giving her a reassuring smile.

“Going to bed, Viper.”

“Thanks, Shade.” He left without a word to her or Pastor Dean. Winter’s angry glare followed him out the door.

“So what brought you out so early in the morning Dean?”

“I called him.”

Viper leaned against the counter with his arms folded against his chest. His eyes pinned her to the chair before he moved to get cups and filled each with coffee. Setting them down on the table, he took a seat.

“Why?”

“I asked him to take me home.”

“In that case, he has wasted a trip. You’re not ready to be on your own yet. Give it a couple more weeks, if you still want to go home then I will take you myself.” He said lifting his cup to his lips.

“I want to go now.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Why?”

“I think that is self-evident.” He replied.

“No, it’s not. I can get myself in and out of the wheelchair. I can get dressed and cook. There are people in worse shape than I am who stay by themselves.”

“That’s true. But do you have a gym, with all the equipment you need? Do you have a hot tub to relax your muscles, someone to massage those cramps out of your legs that you still have to take medication for? I actually think you could be on your own, but it would drastically slow your recovery.” Viper’s hard reminder of the club’s resources that had benefited her recuperation began to make Winter feel ungrateful.

Winter hated to admit it but he was right. He had not even mentioned that Evie worked with her in the mornings and evenings.

“I still want to go home.” Winter said still not wanting to give up.

“What you want to do is escape because of last night.”

“What happened last night?” Pastor Dean asked when Winter remained silent.

“It’s all right Winter, I can guess. The first time Beth went to one of their Friday nights, she stopped seeing Razer and started dating me. Let me ask you a question and I want you to be truthful. Did they force you to do anything you did not want to do?” His serious expression left no doubt of his concern for her.

“No.”

“She let me finger fuck her in front of Train and Cash.” Viper informed her Pastor without remorse.

“Viper….”

He shrugged and looked at Winter. “You’re the one that dragged him into this. I’m not embarrassed.” Winter was mortified.

“You wouldn’t be. You probably do it every Friday night.” Winter said hating him.

“Pretty girl, I usually do more than that on Fridays. I restrained myself for you.” Winter stared at him in stunned surprise. The asshole thought he had actually done her a favor.

“Don’t do me any favors, you jerk!” She yelled at him.

“Be careful how you talk to me or next time, I won’t. I am not bashful. I don’t care who sees me fucking you.” He warned.

Winter wanted to melt into the floor. She could not believe he was talking this way in front of a pastor.

“I am sure you are feeling embarrassed but I have to agree with Viper. I hate for you to delay your recovery because you’re regretting your actions of last night. If you don’t want to attend the parties I am sure Viper has no intention of forcing you to do so, nor into doing anything else that you’re uncomfortable with.”

“Of course not, she can stay in the bedroom. I will even keep her company.” Viper agreed with a smile of intent.

“Good, then it’s settled.” Pastor Dean stood up preparing to leave. “Winter, I hope to see you back in church soon.”

“Wait,” both men ignored her. What was happening here? A man of the cloth should have been shocked at what he had heard, instead, he was shaking Viper’s hand and walking out the door. Viper walked back into the kitchen after seeing the Pastor out and all Winter could do was stare in bewilderment at losing the opportunity to escape from his grasp.

“If you want to exercise while I make breakfast for us, I can carry you downstairs.” Winter was smart enough to know when she had lost the battle.

“Thank you, I have some venting I need to do, so I think a few minutes with the punching bag is just what I need.”