The Last Riders - First Four Votes (40 page)

W
inter slid
her feet into the sandals she had purchased to match her outfit. She was dressed in a simple blue dress that paired with the flashy sandals which gave her a casual appearance. Brushing her hair, she decided to leave it loose since it had grown over the last two months and she was now able to pull it back.

The noises coming from downstairs were getting more vocal; Beth’s bachelorette party had been looked forward to for the last week, building the women’s enthusiasm to a fever pitch.

Several of the women had gone to town for a new outfit, herself included. The apparel varied, from simple to the biker bitch. She had chosen simple, knowing Lily would be there and she would be nervous about sticking out among the women.

“Let’s go!” Natasha’s yell from downstairs had doors from the upstairs banging open as the women rushed to answer her summons. Winter grabbed her purse, making sure her license was inside. She planned to be the designated driver, although she didn’t have high hopes of keeping the rowdy women’s drinking under control.

The women were all waiting at the bottom of the stairs while the men slung back beers at the bar, unhappily watching the women all decked out to party without them.

Razer on the other hand, had his arm around Beth’s shoulders, who was wearing a pink ‘Bride to be’ t-shirt and a modest blue jean skirt. She was a knockout in her outfit and the happiness shining from her eyes caught Winter in the throat.

“What are you thinking about?” Viper asked, coming to her side.

“They are perfect together.” Winter nodded toward the engaged couple.

Viper smiled at her, pulling her to his side. “You look pretty tonight.”

“You’re not disappointed?”

Viper frowned at her answer. “Why would I be disappointed in the way you’re dressed?”

““I am not dressed like the others.” She stared enviously at Evie’s high-heeled biker bitch boots. She couldn’t even wear high heels because of her back.

“Winter, you look beautiful. I don’t care what you’re wearing, but if you want to borrow those boots for later, I’m all for it. There won’t be much walking involved, though.” She laughed at his reply.

She had learned over the last two months that he had a fetish for high heels. She couldn’t walk in them for more than a few minutes, the few minutes she tried, before Viper would drag her into his arms and show her his appreciation.

“Let’s go or Bliss is going to miss the party.” Evie nudged everyone out the door. As Winter took a step forward, Viper swept her up into his arms.

“There is no way you’re going down those steps in the dark.” Winter circled his neck with her arms and let him carry her to the vehicle. They had decided to take Beth’s SUV because it would hold almost everyone. Evie would drive her car with the rest, but if she planned to drink, Mick would drive them home and the men would pick up the car tomorrow.

The women broke into a chorus of raunchy songs on the way to Rosie’s. Winter couldn’t help laughing at their antics, enjoying camaraderie among the friends. Lily was already at the bar, waiting for them to arrive.

Beth had dropped her off there before going to the clubhouse to get dressed. Winter had been surprised, but Beth had explained that Lily had wanted to decorate the tables. Mick had promised to keep the doors locked until they returned; so she had felt safe leaving her with the burly bartender. Lily had gone to church with Mick for years and was not frightened or intimidated by his huge frame.

The women arrived at the bar and at their knock, Mick unlocked the doors and the group of women entered, ready to party.

Lily had done a good job decorating. There were balloons everywhere and bride to be banners. Winter couldn’t help smiling as Lily anxiously waited for her sister’s reaction. Beth caught her close for a hug, pulling her into the large group at the table. Lily had pushed several tables together so they could all sit together.

Mick brought a huge tray of drinks and Winter watched as everyone grabbed a glass.

“What did you fix for us this time?” Evie asked. Mick liked to pride himself on the drinks he made. He could serve beer and whiskey all day, but he liked to surprise the women with the girly girl drinks they liked occasionally.

“Pixie-Stix martinis.”

“Whoop, Whoop!” The women yelled.

“Damn, Mick, you outdid yourself this time,” Evie complimented him after taking a drink. Winter could have sworn the hard ass bartender blushed bright red. He set a drink in front of Lily and Winter with a wink. “Fixed you two girls some Designated-Tinis.”

The whole table laughed, including Lily. Mick turned on the sound system and several of the women began to dance together on the dance floor. There was a metal pole in the middle and several took turns dancing around it erotically. Winter’s eyes narrowed, remembering the pole in the basement of the clubhouse, which had seemed out of place. The women were just too good for not having much practice.

Bliss smilingly took her turn, wrapping a leg around the pole, giving a performance that had the women members yelling their encouragement, while Winter, Beth and Lily sat with their mouths open.

Viper was fucking never going into the basement again!
Winter thought, watching Bliss finish sliding down the pole with one leg from the top to the bottom. Everyone clapped, with Ember moving forward to take her turn. Winter moved her chair so that she didn’t have a view of them exhibiting a skill she had been unaware they possessed.

“How’s school going?” Winter asked Lily whose eyes were glued to the pole dancing.

“Good,” Lily answered.

“How was spring break?” That pulled her attention away from the pole dancing.

They talked about going to the racetrack, moaning about how much money they lost before going on to tell her about Beth’s wedding dress. Beth had her second fitting, enabling her to pick it up while in Lexington.

“Did you try on your bridesmaid dress?” Beth questioned Winter.

“Yes.” The women had purchased their dresses from a local shop in town. “They’re gorgeous, you made a great choice.”

Beth smiled happily. “I can’t wait to see everyone in their dress.”

“You’re not getting nervous?” Winter questioned the calm bride to be. Beth certainly couldn’t be called a bridezilla.

“Not at all,” Beth answered. “I want everything to go according to plan, but if it doesn’t, we’ll adjust. I’m counting on you to keep everyone on schedule.”

“That, I can do,” Winter promised.

Evie and Natasha came up behind Beth, tugging her away from the table to the dance floor. It didn’t take long for her to relax, dancing from woman to woman. It was easy to see Beth had developed a close relationship with them.

Lily watched the interaction of her sister with her friends with a face filled with happiness. It was obvious Lily wasn’t jealous of the other women; she was happy her sister was fitting into her new life.

“Want to join them?” Winter asked.

“Yes.” This was the Lily that Winter loved. The mischievous, spunky woman that, when she let her guard down, was stunning to witness. Winter couldn’t believe that while they were dancing, Stori and Dawn started taunting Lily to pole dance. At first, Lily ignored them, making comical remarks about their own dancing.

“Bet you can’t get that skinny leg to hold you up on the pole,” Jewell taunted her, staggering forward after she had twirled around the pole several times in succession.

A look came into Lily’s eyes that Winter had seen a couple of times during her high school days. Lily didn’t like anyone to bet her she wouldn’t do something.

She danced toward the pole, grasping it with one hand, winding one long, shapely leg around the shiny metal before gracefully lifting herself up, performing a series of maneuvers that showed the women how to really pole dance. Every single one of them stopped dancing to watch. Beth cheered her on as she finished in a maneuver that had her sliding down the pole in a circling ball, stopping herself from hitting the floor hard with just an inch to spare.

Silence filled the room as she rose to her feet, her face red from her exertions. Then the clapping began.

Winter had to ask Beth, “Did you know she could do that?”

Beth shook her head, going to her sister.

“Where did you learn that?” Beth asked.

“The gym that I go to has classes. That was the only exercise class that fit into my schedule,” Lily told Beth who was begging her to teach her some of her moves. Winter went to the bar for bottled water.

She had gone for her second bottled water later when she noticed the time. Finding Bliss, they went to Beth who was sitting at the table with Lily and Evie.

“I’m going to take Bliss back to the clubhouse. Can I borrow your keys?” Winter asked holding out her hand.

Beth dug inside her purse to find the keys before handing them to Winter.

“I’m ready to go, too. Do you mind giving me a ride?” Lily stood up from the table, giving her sister a smile. Winter was well aware of why Lily was ready to leave. Several of the women were becoming intoxicated. Beth didn’t try to talk Lily out of going, having given her the option earlier in the evening.

“I wish you didn’t have to leave, Bliss. I’m sure Crazy Bitch and Sex Piston will behave.” Beth tried to excuse her friends’ anger at Bliss. Winter herself didn’t know why the biker women wanted Bliss so bad. Everyone refused to tell her. When she had brought the subject up to Beth, the hurt look in her eyes had her quickly dropping the subject.

“I don’t mind. I get to go back to the clubhouse with no other women around but me.” Giving a hug to Beth, they turned to leave the bar. Everyone missed the worried look Lily gave her sister before she turned to follow them out the door.

Winter decided to drop Bliss off first, as her incessant talk about the men was making both Winter and Lily uncomfortable. By the time they were at the clubhouse, she wanted to shove a rag in her mouth to shut her up.

After they watched Bliss enter the house, Winter reversed the car, pulling back out onto the road. The silence was deafening.

“The club members are pretty tight, aren’t they?” Lily questioned.

“Yes,” Winter said cautiously.

“Bliss has had several relationships with the men, hasn’t she?” This time her question was more probing.

“I try not to involve myself in that aspect of the club,” Winter evaded a direct answer.

“I think she had one with Razer. Beth won’t tell me, but they broke up for a while and the way her biker friends react, I think it was Bliss,” Lily said, trying to draw an answer out of her. Winter was surprised Lily was asking her about the break up between Beth and Razer.

“I don’t know. Truthfully, Lily, that was before I had moved into the clubhouse.”

Lily went silent, staring out the window. They had passed the club and were beginning to go down the mountain road when blue lights flashed in her rearview mirror.

“Damn,” Winter said, pulling over to the barely existent shoulder of the road. Coming to a stop, she pushed a button, sliding her window down as the deputy approached.

“Driver’s license and registration,” the deputy requested.

Winter pulled out her driver’s license from her wallet, giving Lily a reassuring smile. She held out the license to the deputy standing on the dark road.

“I have to look for the registration; this is my friend’s vehicle.” Winter moved to reach inside the glove box.

“Keep your hands where I can see them.” The deputy moved his flashlight until it shown onto her license in his hand. Winter stared up into the deputy’s face, his unpleasant voice ringing a bell in her memory.

“I’ve met you before when I lived in town. You were the deputy who came to my house with the sheriff.” Winter didn’t miss the ugly expression that passed over the deputy’s face.

“I remember you, too. You’re the slut who likes to get her kicks playing hard-to-get,” he said snidely.

Winter couldn’t believe the deputy was talking to her in such a hateful manner. Lily’s indrawn breath showed her own surprise.

“Get out of the car, both of you.” The deputy took a step back from Winter’s door, motioning for them to get out of the SUV with the flashlight in his hand. Winter tried not to become frightened. He was an officer of the law, but the threatening vibes emanating from him were sending chills across her neck in warning.

Lily climbed out, walking around the front of the SUV. Coming to stand next to Winter. She took Lily’s hand in hers, trying, without words, to reassure the young girl. The fear was obvious in her eyes as the deputy moved closer to Winter.

“You been drinking tonight?” he questioned obnoxiously.

“I haven’t been drinking,” Winter answered him truthfully. He stared arrogantly down at her before his eyes slid towards Lily. His change in appearance was sickening; he made no attempt to keep his lustful expression from showing.

“You had any drinks tonight?”

Lily simply shook her head no.

“If that’s all, we’d like to go, Deputy.” Winter desperately tried to end the encounter.

“You’ll go when I tell you to go.” The deputy turned back to face her. As he did, the hand holding her license brushed up against her, knocking it out of his hand. When it landed at her feet, she automatically bent down into a squat to pick it up. As she did, her eyes glanced at his boots. They were very distinctive with a buckle and star on the side. Winter had seen them before.

Trembling now in terror, she stood up, trying to keep her terror from showing, however she was unsuccessful.

His eyes bore into hers and she knew he had figured out that Winter was aware of he was. Before she could react, he backhanded her, throwing her into the side of Beth’s vehicle. Lily screamed, moving toward Winter until the deputy grabbed a handful of Lily’s hair, stopping her.

“Now, there isn’t any need for you to be scared. I’ll take care of you right after I finish with this cunt.” Winter’s hand grabbed the door to right herself, slowly moving away from the deputy.

“You remembered me, didn’t you? I was hoping you would.” He shrugged. “A man likes to know he’s made an impression,” he said, dragging Lily by her hair as he stepped in front of Winter, preventing her retreat.