“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.