“I would love one.” While the coffee was brewing, Ton moved around the kitchen putting up his groceries. When the coffee was finished, Ton poured each of them a cup.

They carried their cups to the living room and sat on the couch. Winter loved his cabin, it was rustic and homey.

“Beth told you she was going out of town today?”

“She mentioned it, told her she didn’t need to worry about the groceries,” Ton answered her question.

“Why didn’t Viper just bring them by?” Ton looked at her with surprise.

“I haven’t seen Viper since the day at the diner. He’s pissed at me, and when Viper get’s mad it takes him a while to get over it.”

“I didn’t know,” Winter said, regretting her question.

“He’s right. I let my anger get the better of me and I put their women in danger because I couldn’t control my temper,” Ton admitted.

Winter felt sorry for the man. It couldn’t be easy for a man who had lived an active life in the military to suddenly find himself with nothing but time on his hands. Losing a son and declining in health would only exacerbate the problem. The man needed something to keep him occupied but Winter didn’t know what to suggest. She would have to give it some thought.

“Perhaps I could talk to him?” She suggested.

“It won’t help, he’ll gradually come around.” Ton shrugged. Winter guessed it wasn’t the first time the father and son had butted heads and it wouldn’t be the last. Not only did they share the same genes, but obviously the same temper.

Winter rose to go. She had made an appointment and didn’t want to be late.

“Beth won’t be back until Monday. If you need anything, just call.” Winter saw a paper and pencil by the phone and wrote her number down.

“I have been taking care of myself for a long time,” Ton grouched.

“I am sure you have,” Winter smiled. “But I am at a loose end right now so it would give me something to do.”

Ton’s face turned red. “Those stuck up townspeople take your job?”

“They are going to try,” Winter responded.

Ton nodded. “Don’t let them push you around. Stand up for yourself.”

“I plan to,” Winter said with determination.

Winter left Ton inside; she was about to get in her car when she noticed the garage door was partially ajar. Ton had forgotten to turn out the light after storing some of the supplies that Beth had sent. Winter walked to turn off the lights for him. Opening the door wider to find the light switch, she curiously glanced around the large garage. A large blue tarp that was covering a large mound had slipped to the side revealing a motorcycle wheel. It had obviously laid there for a while with dust and spider webs.

Winter quietly walked over to the tarp and lifted a corner to reveal what was left of a motorcycle, or at least that was what she thought it was. It looked like it had been in a crash; the frame was bent and it was torn to pieces. Winter swallowed, imagining anyone on this bike when the damage occurred surely hadn’t been able to walk away alive, it was that bad.

“I thought you were leaving.”

“I saw that you had left on the light,” she answered.

She didn’t take her eyes off the bike. “What happened?”

Ton didn’t answer and Winter turned to face him. “Who’s bike is it, Ton?

“Viper’s.”

“He crashed his bike? When?” Winter swallowed tightly.

“He didn’t crash. He did that himself.”

“But why?” Winter said shocked.

“Don’t know, you’ll have to ask him. He just brought it here and told me to leave it alone. I offered to help him rebuild it, but he said no. He loved that bike, him and Gavin picked it out together when they got out of the service.” Winter saw another bike covered in the corner.

“That one Gavin’s?” Winter pointed to the bike.

“Yes.”

Winter brought her attention back to the mess in front of her.

“When?” Winter asked again.

“The best I can figure is the day after your attack,” Ton sighed.

Winter turned white. Turning on her heel, she didn’t say another word. Getting in her car she pulled out and drove into town. Impulsively, she drove to her home. Going inside, the quiet struck her. At the clubhouse there was always someone moving around, music playing, talking, or fucking. Winter walked from room to room. Going back to the living room she took out her phone and called to reschedule her appointment, not even paying attention to when it was rescheduled.

Winter buried her face in her hands. The image of Viper’s bike wouldn’t leave, all the implications flowing through her mind. Her phone rang next to her, she didn’t answer. Twice more within the hour the phone rang. Finally coming to a decision, she picked up her phone. It had been Beth who had called, and when she couldn’t reach Winter, she had become concerned and called Viper. The last two calls had been from him.

She couldn’t talk to him yet. Winter sent a text saying what she couldn’t bring herself to say face to face.

“We’re over.”

Chapter 16

Winter hadn’t moved since she had sent the text. The chair faced the window and she could see the sun going down. The party would be getting started and Viper would be there alone, angry at her text. She knew without a doubt in her mind how he would react. The only question in her mind was which woman would he pick first.

She wasn’t aware of when she started to cry, hadn’t even noticed the wetness on her cheeks. Winter was too focused on the pain coming from her chest, afraid she couldn’t catch her next breath. The hiccupping cry that left her throat was her first realization that she had been sitting there for a length of time quietly sobbing. Her hands smoothed away the tears from her cheeks; she was about to get up to go to her bedroom when inside the quietness of the house she heard the loud motors coming down the street. It sounded loud in the quietness of the neighborhood filled mainly with elderly homeowners.

Winter sat still, unsure what to do. She hadn’t turned on the lights when it had become dark, preferring to sit in the darkness. Now the whole room was being flooded with lights from the outside. A knock on the door had her rising, reluctantly accepting the inevitable. She was going to have to face Viper. Opening the door, she took a step back as he walked angrily into the room.

“Why are all the lights off?” He came to a sudden stop. Without waiting for her reply, he found the switch and flipped the lights. The room flooded with light, showing the devastation on her face the crying had caused. Viper stared at her quietly, taking in her puffy pain bruised eyes.

“What’s going on, Winter? Why did you send me that text?” Viper asked gently.

Winter turned her back, moving towards the living room further away from his intimidating presence.

Viper followed her, concerned.

“I think it should be self-explanatory. We’re over. I am moving back into my home, something I should have done long ago.”

“You could have moved back anytime Winter, why now? You were fine when you left the clubhouse this morning. What changed between then and now?”

“I went to Ton’s this morning.”