Winter had not seen Carman since the picnic a month ago and was hoping things had improved.

“Has she ended her relationship with Jake?”

“Unfortunately not. They feel that we are trying to keep them apart, which truthfully we are. Carmen snuck out of the house last week and did not return until the next day. She had a black eye, yet refuses to admit he is responsible. He frightens her father and me. After we told Carmen she was no longer allowed to see him, our tires were slashed and someone set our shed on fire. We called the Sheriff but there is little he can do until he can find proof or Carmen admits he hit her. My sister lives in New Jersey and doesn’t work so she can keep a eye on her until we can join her.”

“Usually I would hate to lose a student of Carmen’s caliber but in this case, I wholeheartedly agree with your decision.” She wasn’t about to talk her parents out of taking their daughter to another school when her safety was in question. Winter pushed the button for the intercom requesting copies of Carmen’s records.

“I think it’s best if I just give you notarized copies of her records, that way there will be no trail for Jake to follow unless Carmen tells him.”

“We haven’t told her yet, we’re going to pack her things when I get home. We aren’t going to let her have a phone so she won’t have the opportunity to call him.”

Emily entered carrying the requested records. Taking the papers, Winter looked through them making sure all the correct forms for entering a new school system were there, and then stamped them with her notary stamp. Placing the paperwork in a large envelope, she handed it to Mrs. Jones.

“I wish you all the best. Please keep me informed on how Carmen does in her new school,” Winter requested, truly concerned for Carmen’s safety.

“I will, and thank you, Ms. Simmons. If you hadn’t brought Carmen home after the picnic it might have been too late for my daughter.”

Winter smiled, escorting the woman outside to her car. She was walking back towards the school when she saw Jake sitting in his black mustang on the lot watching her. The hatred on his face was plain to see even from a distance. She pulled the phone from her pocket and called school security.

“Tom, this is Ms. Simmons. There is a black mustang on the south lot. The young man inside is no longer a student. Will you see that he leaves the school property?”

“Yes, Ms. Simmons. I will be right there.”

“Make sure you bring someone with you. I don’t want you confronting him on your own. Notify the Sheriff’s office also that you will be asking a trespasser to leave the property.

“Yes Ma’am.”

She entered the school standing there until Tom and another male security guard approached the car. When they were within a few feet he spun out of the lot. Relieved he had left without a confrontation, Winter went to her office to call for the assembly to greet the new students and give encouragement for the year ahead.

***

The parking lot was dark as she locked the doors to the front of the school. Winter was angry with herself for staying so late. She knew better but the paperwork had been piled up with it being the end of the first week. She had wanted to sort what needed to be done and take the rest home to work on leisurely over the weekend. Thankfully her car was parked nearby. Placing her briefcase on the hood of the car, she bent to unlock the door.

A rough hand grabbed her hair pulling her backwards, almost off her feet before slinging her forward, smashing her face into the driver’s side window. Winter didn’t know how she didn’t lose consciousness. The pain was that horrendous; she crumbled to the asphalt by her car, crying softly. She knew there was no one around to hear if she screamed since the school property was isolated on the edge of town. Pain and fear filled her body as a boot kicked her in the ribs as she lay helpless on the ground. Winter had never known real terror in her lifetime but she felt it when she realized he was not done with her.

Forcing herself to move, she tried to get to her feet. The agonizing pain in her ribs stopped her upward movement. A fist to her jaw flung her backwards; blood from the cuts on her forehead ran into her eyes, blurring her vision. The parking lot light above her head obscured any vision she had left. Winter rolled onto her belly trying to crawl away from the person attacking her. Her nails that she had polished and buffed just that morning, broke as she used them to claw herself from the source of her agony. She knew whoever was hurting her was intent on killing her but she had to try. The final agony came when the booted foot slammed down on her spine releasing her from consciousness.

***

The cell phone ringing on the table next to the bed woke Cash from a deep sleep. Rolling over, he snagged the phone and raised it to his ear.

Viper came out of the bathroom leaving Evie to finish her shower alone and saw that Cash was sitting on his bed talking on his cell phone with Bliss laying naked by his side. The club’s usual Friday night gathering had ended up with the four of them in his room. Now he just wanted them all to leave so that he could get dressed and go downstairs for breakfast. Ignoring the others in the room, he went to his chest and pulled out his jeans and shirt. By the look on Cash’s face whatever news he was receiving was bad.

Evie waved on her way out the door giving Bliss a look that couldn’t be mistaken. Taking the hint Bliss climbed out of his bed. Coming to stand in front of him she reached up to place a kiss on his lips. He wanted to turn away but didn’t, letting her have her moment.

“Thanks Viper.”

“Thank you, Bliss.” Giving a cheeky grin, the woman left. He was sure to gather the women together to make a run to town to get the tattoo proclaiming her a full fledged member.

“Viper.”

Viper sat down on the bed, putting his boots on. He turned to see Cash getting dressed.

“What’s up?”

“Don’t know how to tell you this so I am just going to tell you like it is. That was the sheriff’s office. They need me to track a suspect into the mountains that almost beat a woman to death last night. They didn’t find her until this morning when security got there to open the school for a basketball practice.”

Viper sat there in the chair and knew whom Cash was talking about. He had warned Winter a hundred times about staying at school so late.

“How bad?” Cash tugged on his boots, while grabbing his bike keys off the nightstand. He hurried to the bedroom door pausing just long enough to tell him what information he had been given.

“Bad. He almost beat her to death, and then she lay in the parking lot exposed to the elements all fucking night. The Sheriff doesn’t think she is going to make it. Sorry man, but I have to go. They are waiting for me.”

“Go.” Cash didn’t have to be told twice.

As Viper was walking out, he could hear the sound of Cash’s bike as he throttled it down the mountain road. His hand reached out to grab the handlebar of his bike but he couldn’t climb on. He was too busy vomiting.

***

Pain. That was all she knew for the longest time. At first when she would try to wake up, the pain would drive her back into unconsciousness. When she was able, after the longest time, to open her swollen eyes, her screams of pain could be heard down the hallways and the nurses would rush to inject her with more pain medication.