“Why in the hell would you sign a contract with that in it?” Evie asked.

“Some professions require them,” Winter said in defense.

All the women were giving her pitying looks.

“Anyway, the teachers’ union will give me a lawyer, but it will take several months to look into the case which means I won’t be returning to school this year.” Winter was saddened by the thought.

“That means you can stay with us. No sense in moving back just to be by yourself,” Natasha said.

“I don’t think that’s what Winter wants.” Evie told Natasha, again the women turned to Winter. She looked around the house. If she was honest with herself, no, she didn’t want to come back to the empty house. The clubhouse had become a home to her. The thought of coming back here to live by herself had her blinking back tears. The only thing holding her back was the distance Viper had put between them the last few days.

“I told you she doesn’t want to be here,” Natasha whispered to the other women. Each of the women had been in Winter’s position when it had come time to make the decision to become a member of The Last Rider’s. It wasn’t easy and it required a soul searching within oneself to find the decision that would be life altering.

“Well, she doesn’t have to decide today, let’s get busy so we can get back to the club before the meeting,” Evie said matter of fact.

The women split up into groups. Winter and Evie did the kitchen, cleaning the refrigerator and freezer out, then began tackling the cabinets throwing away the items that had gone out of date. Winter made a box of food items to take to the church on Sunday for a food donation. The other women dusted and mopped the house for her. When Natasha was done vacuuming, the women packed the box of food and extra suitcase of clothes she had prepared to Winter’s car.

When she looked at the window that Jake had smashed her face into she paused for a second.

“You okay?” Evie asked.

“Yes.” Actually she was, the women’s camaraderie had made her feel better after the way Murphy had treated her. She didn’t deserve their help after the way she had put them down for the way they chose to live, especially since she was finally admitting to herself that she didn’t want to leave them.

“Let’s get back. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m dodging my punishment.” Winter’s car started with no problem, someone had taped up the driver’s window. She paused when she saw it, remembering the pain and fear of that night. Evie came to her side opening the car door.

“Let’s go.” Evie’s words dragged her from the nightmare of that night.

The women followed behind her, both cars pulling into the parking lot of the clubhouse at the same time. The women helped with her suitcase, putting it in her room for her while she waited tensely in the kitchen for the meeting to begin.

Bliss sat a beer in front of her before sitting down next to her.

Winter smiled at her, the woman really was beautiful. She was wearing a tiny purple top left unbuttoned and short blue jean cutoffs. Whenever Winter sat next to the blond woman she felt plain and boyish. Bliss put out sexual vibes that a blind man would see, she no longer tried to hide her tattoo and it looked very pretty against the purple of her top. Winter would hate her if they hadn’t become friends, she was too freaking nice to dislike.

“You look pretty tonight,” Winter complimented Bliss.

“Thanks, I love the material of this top.” Winter could see why, she thought glumly. All the men coming in were giving lustful glances at her. Winter swallowed, she didn’t know how she would take it when Viper saw her.

“Don’t look so worried, I have a punishment coming tonight too. I was late three shifts this week. We’re not supposed to let our play affect our work but …” Bliss leaned towards Winter, lowering her voice so no one could overhear.

“Trying to earn another punishment?” Razer sat down at the table interrupting her words. Bliss closed her mouth on the rest of the sentence. Winter stared at the embarrassed woman, not sure what was going on. Obviously she was not supposed to talk about whomever was making her late for work, but why would that matter to Razer? A sick feeling hit Winter. Unless it was Viper or Razer himself, and Winter truly didn’t believe that it was Razer.

Razer leaned across the table. “Don’t want to know what you’re thinking because it’s wrong whatever it is. I haven’t touched Bliss. Won’t have you getting Beth upset, so you need to get that straight in your head.” A clear warning was in his eyes.

Winter nodded getting his message loud and clear.

“Cool it Razer,” Viper said behind her back. She hadn’t even seen him come in the door, too frightened at Razer’s reaction.

Razer leaned back in his chair. “We’re straight, aren’t we Winter?”

Winter nodded her head, ignoring Viper. If Winter had any real concern that Razer was cheating, even badass as he was, Winter would still tell Beth. The fact was though, Winter never saw him act any way than in a friendly manner with the women. Worried now more than ever that Viper was the reason Bliss had been late to work, Winter started to get angry. He was responsible for not one, but two women getting punishments. If he had been aggravating her, she wouldn’t have mouthed off, and now Bliss was getting in trouble for obviously letting him wear her out at night.

Bliss and everyone at the table could tell that Winter was ready to lose her temper, but before she could open her mouth she was lifted from her chair and packed outside into the cold backyard.

“What are you doing? It’s freezing out here,” Winter asked angrily.

“I could tell you were about to bust my balls for something, I thought I would save you the hassle of another punishment. From now on when you want to argue with me do it in private,” Viper informed her.

“ I can do that, this private enough for you?”

“Yes.” Viper folded his arms across his chest; he could tell she was about to bust his balls about something.

“I don’t think it’s fair Bliss and I have to take a punishment when it’s your fault that we both got into trouble.”

“How in the fuck is it my fault Bliss got in trouble?” Viper’s confusion was obvious, and truthfully, she didn’t know how she had jumped to that conclusion other than she had been worried sick about Viper messing around on her this last week.

“Well?”

“Give me a minute I’m thinking,” she snapped.

“I am freezing my balls off and you’re thinking?” Viper asked giving her a look that doubted her intelligence.

“I may have been wrong about Bliss,” she admitted. “Bliss was telling me she was taking a punishment for being late to work. Razer stopped her from telling me who so naturally I just assumed...”

“You assumed it was me fucking her all night making her late for work?” His expression had her crossing her arms in front of her as she stood her ground against the furious biker.

“Why would he care who she told me she was with?”

“Probably because it was none of your fucking business,” Viper snapped back.

Winter swallowed her reply.

“Bliss was late last two weeks. Whose pussy was my dick in last week?”