Viper's Run(12)
“Can you manage?”
“Yes. Get out.”
“You have two minutes.” She hurriedly used it then flushed the toilet and adjusted her gown with barely a second to spare before he was back lifting her again. Winter was beginning to feel like a sack of potatoes. He lay her back down on the bed making sure her back was up against the pillows before he stepped back, folding his arms across his chest.
“Evie will be here in a few minutes and I want us to get a few things settled before she arrives.”
Winter opened her mouth to speak.
“Be quiet. I am going to talk, something that you have given me no opportunity to do the last two months. When we were dating I was very careful to maintain a platonic relationship with you. I, at no time, led you to believe that we were more than friends, whether you want to accept it or not. I was going to find my brother’s killer regardless of who got hurt. I owed that to Gavin and Ton. I was determined to bring my brother home, to do that I had to use you. I am not happy or proud about my behavior but I did try to limit our relationship so that it wouldn’t be as hurtful to you. I did not succeed. You were hurt and I am sorry. I can’t turn back time and do things differently. I sincerely doubt I would if I could. I was finally able, after three years, to bury my brother and give Ton, as well as myself, closure.”
“I am glad everything is wrapped up in a tiny pink bow of happiness for you Viper.” Winter glared at him.
“Actually you conned me too, Winter. The sweet woman with no temper and a smart mouth, where was she all the time we were together?” Winter’s lips tightened, she folded her arms over her chest and turned her head away from him.
“It’s ok, I always liked a woman able to speak for herself.”
“Go to hell.”
Viper burst out laughing. “I’ve gotten off track. Despite my best intentions, I began to care about you and was very attracted to you.”
At that Winter rolled her eyes but refused to speak.
“I was, whether you believe me or not. That night after the football game I almost went home with you but one thing held me back. I knew you wouldn’t be able to handle my life. You had worked hard to achieve your professional goals and succeeded in becoming a principal at a young age. Any association with a motorcycle club, I was worried, would cause negative reactions towards your career. And would you want to get to know me when you found out I was president of the Last Riders?”
“I was going to come clean after Bedford was arrested, but you found out before I was able to do so and have refused to listen to me since. You need to get stronger before you will able to care for yourself. The best place for you to do so is here. I have told the Sheriff that this is where you will be staying and he also agrees.”
“Why would he care where I stay?”
“He thinks that Jake’s family won’t be happy you’re back in town.”
“Jake is in prison.”
Viper nodded his head. “His family wants him out, and they are mistakenly blaming everything on you. They refuse to admit Jake is violent.”
“Surely Carmen has admitted to him hurting her?”
“No. She still refuses to believe it’s him.”
“But what about the fire? He would still be in jail for that and there was a witness to him running from the house.”
“A witness that is refusing to testify.” Viper informed her.
Winter knew Jake had an older brother that was almost as violent as him. Perhaps it would be safer to find another place until after the trial but this wasn’t it.
“I don’t want to stay here.”
“I know that, but you really have no option. Let me do this for you, if nothing else we were friends Winter.”
“How could we be friends? I don’t even know who you are.”
He turned his back to her, his face stark. Winter pushed down the regret within her at speaking so harshly to Viper but she didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t stay here close to him, forget that he had deceived her. All she had to protect her against the hurt he had inflicted was the barrier she had put up against him.
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” Viper answered, moving away from the bed.
Evie came in easily tuning into the tense vibe in the room and sought to lighten it.
“We need to get you dressed and downstairs for breakfast. Your therapist will be here in an hour.”
“Call me when you need me to help get her downstairs.” Viper left the room abruptly.
It was evident that Evie was a trained professional; she had Winter dressed and sitting in her wheelchair twenty minutes later. She took out her cell phone to call Viper, telling him they were ready. Winter was self-conscious, wearing a pair of small shorts with a t-shirt worn over her sports bra.