Viper's Run by Jamie Begley Read Free Book Online Page A

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.  
    Winter learned eventually to wake slowly with as little movement as possible until the pain medication could take effect.  Lying still was a torture in itself to someone as active as she had been.  Completely at the mercy of various nurses, they cared for all her basic needs, taking away what little pride she had left.  Her mind would drift away when they would impersonally clean her, changing the pads and sheets underneath her broken body.    
    The worst was when the doctor considered her lucid enough to give her details of her condition.  The medical terms were hard to understand with the pain medication clouding her mind.  The nurse, understanding her confusion, waited until the doctor left to explain that she had a vertebral fracture, which they had to operate on in order to stabilize.  The brace she was in would be on for several weeks and she was going to require therapy to return to normal.  The concussion must have come from having her head slammed into the car window that had left a large gash across her forehead, requiring sutures that would undoubtedly leave a scar.  Her jaw had been fractured, and two of her ribs were cracked. When she was finished answering Winter’s questions she reassured her that she would heal, given time.                                                          
    The gossipmongers that came by to see her were never given admittance to her room. The first words Winter spoke was to keep visitors out.  She had no family left and the few friends she