She could understand his decision about Raci—Winter was still pretty mad about it herself.

“Have you touched Sasha?” She stopped tiptoeing around the subject and went right to what concerned her the most. “Why we’re you hugging Sasha in the kitchen the night she left?

“No, I’ve never touched Sasha. How do you know I hugged her?”

Winter didn’t want to tell Viper how she knew, but four people were in the kitchen when it happened: Viper, Moon, Sasha and Jewell. The first three wouldn’t have mentioned it to her, that only left Jewell. She wasn’t going to be happy that Winter had told Viper they had been gossiping behind his back.

“Jewell.”

Viper was clearly unhappy about being the topic of between the two women. “Sasha was upset about going back to Ohio. I hugged her, she was confused thinking that we didn’t want her in the club there either. Which wasn’t the case, and I told her that she was welcome there.” Viper’s stern expression left no doubt that Sasha was going to remain with the Last Riders. He may not have voted her in but she would be allowed to remain as a hanger on.

“Sasha is no different than any other woman in the club. You don’t get jealous or possessive when you see Rider fucking Jewel, or Crash fucking Stori. Hell, Ember I’ve seen in positions that even Sasha wouldn’t attempt, and it’s never bothered you before.”

Winter wiggled away from Viper’s touch. She walked to the picnic table and sat down on the bench to support her trembling body. Men were not known to tell the truth about other women, but she had seen the truth in his eyes. The relief she felt showed how afraid of his answer she had been.

“Why can’t Sasha just stay in Ohio?”

“Moon made an enemy of the mayor. He has the cops watching the club, the only reason I let him take Sasha back is because he wants to talk to the Mayor’s daughter. He’s trying to find a way to get the heat off the club.

She looked up at him in confusion. “Why does that matter?”

“Sasha has been in trouble with the law a couple of times. Every time she goes out, the police give her a hard time.”

“Oh.”

“She’s had a rough life. She’s clean now and plans to stay that way, so she doesn’t need to be reminded of it every time she wants to go out for a hamburger or get her nails done.”

Winter felt like a bitch. She worked with troubled teenagers; some even already had police records. She offered each student a second chance, so she couldn’t do any less for Sasha.

“I’ll give her another chance when she comes back, but since we’re being honest, I really don’t like her.” She didn’t put her foot down often, but this time, she knew what she could handle and what she couldn’t.

“When she comes back, if you can’t learn to have her in the club, I’ll send her back. That’ll give the other members time to get over Raci, and maybe she can come back with a fresh start.”

“That’s reassuring,” she said sarcastically, as she started to get off the picnic table.

Viper’s hands pressed her back down. “You’re the only woman I want in my bed.”

“A bed doesn’t make a difference to the Last Riders.” Winter rolled her eyes. The text Sasha had sent proved that fact.

She stared down at the grass. She wanted to ask about the texts, but she didn’t want to admit she had been snooping in his phone. The other thing she wanted to know if Viper had been lying about was going on vacation with her.

He laughed. “You’re the only woman I want to be with, in a bed or out.”

She looked away. “I know I’m being a bitch. I let Train touch me, but I can’t even bear Sasha to be in the room with you. It makes me sick the way her eyes watch you.”

Viper brought his hand to her cheek, turning her to face him. “It was fucking hot watching him lick your pussy. I wasn’t jealous of Knox or Train touching you, because of how they are with women. It was about your pleasure. Knox and Train would fucking die for you if you ever needed them to. Now, if Rider or Moon came near your pussy, I’d have a problem with that.”

Winter gurgled with laughter. “Why not Rider or Moon?”

“Because, if those two assholes tasted your pussy, they would try to steal you away from me.”

She looked down to see he was serious. Viper honestly believed that Rider or Moon could steal her away from him.

She leaned down, placing her forehead against his. “What are we going to do?”

“Right now, we’re going inside to spend alone time together, just me and you.”

“That sounds really nice.” She laughed, getting off the picnic table. He had answered questions, yet Winter felt like she was on the same slippery slope she had been during the two years she had dated him before she’d found out he was the president of the Last Riders. She had believed every word out of his mouth then too.

He took her hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“Viper…” Winter was just about to ask about the texts, but her husband opened the door right when Rider and Ember were about to open it.

“Hey, Winter, Viper. Mick called and said you weren’t answering your phone. Ton is at Rosie’s, and he’s trying to pick a fight with Greer.”

“Dammit.” Viper brushed his hair away from his face. “Sorry, pretty girl, I’ll go get him and be right back.”

“Do you want me to go with you?” Viper’s father could be a mean drunk.

“No. If he acts like an ass in front of you, he’ll be getting his ass whipped from me instead of Greer. Go on upstairs. Keep my side of the bed warm until I get back.”

“All right.”

Winter watched her husband walk down to the parking lot before going inside where the members were just sitting around, playing cards or pool. She went upstairs to shower before climbing naked into bed.

She started to watch a television show, expecting Viper to come in any minute, but when the show went off, she picked up her phone, getting worried. Rosie’s was only a few minutes away from the clubhouse, and Ton’s house was close to town.

She pressed Viper’s number, and her call rang and rang before it went to voicemail. She left a message then lay back down, waiting for Viper to call back. When half an hour had passed and she hadn’t heard from him, she called again. Once more, her call went to voicemail.

Getting out of bed, she pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. Then she went downstairs and saw someone had turned the lights down low. Several of the members were dancing.

Seeing Rider standing at the bar, she tapped on his shoulder. “I’m worried about Viper. Has he not come back from picking Ton up?”

Rider gave her a puzzled frown. “He came in around twenty minutes ago. Have you checked the kitchen?”

“No, but thanks. I’ll check now.”

Turning, she went inside the kitchen, not seeing him there or in the family room. When she didn’t see him in the dining room, either, she decided to check the backyard. Frustrated from not seeing him out there, she wondered where he had gone and why he hadn’t returned her calls.

The kitchen door swung open, and Rider came in with a red face. “My bad. Viper was here, but he took off again when he found out Jo had called him. She said Ton drove off again as soon as Viper left.”