“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.

“I already know that Beth. When I went out today, I didn’t even think of going by my house to check on it or consider moving back. Then when I came here and Viper said what he did, I lost my temper. It’s no excuse, but I just wanted you to know I didn’t mean to be a bitch,” Winter said miserably.

“You could never be a bitch,” Beth lied.

“You’re too nice for your own good.” They laughed and even Razer relaxed as they ate their dinner. Winter didn’t see Viper during dinner; afterwards she went back upstairs to find it still empty. Too early for bed, she turned the television on watched a movie until she knew Viper wasn’t coming back that night. Holding back hurt tears, she took a shower and climbed into the bed. Trying not to think about where he was sleeping or with whom, she slept restlessly until she felt the bed depress and Viper pull her close. A tiny sob escaped.

“Go to sleep,” he murmured. She nodded her head while sinking into the soft mattress, finally letting a deep sleep take her.

***

The rest of the week passed quickly. Each night Viper didn’t come to bed until well after she had gone to sleep. Her eyes had circles underneath from imagining him with the different women. It was hurting her so much she couldn’t sleep. She would have moved back home if not for the punishment the club would give her that night. Winter was determined to face the music and accept whatever punishment they gave her to make amends for her harsh words.