“Good night, Mag.”

Rider stood outside the bedroom door, listening to Jo and Mag after he had excused himself to go back to Cash’s truck for her wheelchair.

“You sure you don’t want me to sit in the living room until Rider leaves?”

“No, I want you safe and snug in your bed while I drive him home. I’m going to take him as soon as I walk out of your door, so you don’t have to worry.”

Rider could hear her sarcastic snort from the other side of the door.

“That bastard only needs a second to get in your panties. How do you think Cash caught Rachel? It’s how my husband caught me, God rest his soul. Don’t underestimate that no-good son of a bitch.”

Rider almost reached for the doorknob, wanting to strangle the bitch. She was calling him names after rolling over his toes with her wheelchair numerous times when he was dancing with her, and he suspected he felt a hernia growing inside him from carrying her most of the night. The least Mag could do was put in a good word for him.

“Is Rider related to Cash and your husband?”

“No.”

“Then I’m good.”

Rider heard the sounds of the bed creaking and Jo moving around the room. When he saw the doorknob turning, he hurried into the living room, managing to sink down on the couch as the bedroom door opened.

“I’m coming. I’m just putting the wheelchair where Mag can reach it,” Jo called out.

“Take your time,” Rider called back. “I’m not in any hurry.” He knew that would set the old witch off again.

When the door snapped closed again, he knew he was right. Tempted to go eavesdrop again, Rider controlled himself, too afraid he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself from giving Mag the answers to her prayers.

“I’m sorry it took so long. I’ll drive you home.”

Rider rose from the couch, seeing the subtle hint of fear lurking in her eyes.

Giving her space so he wouldn’t brush against her, Rider turned to the other side of the couch. It had been a long time since he had been a gentleman, but he did remember how.

Going to the door, he opened it, politely waiting until she went through it before going outside. He also opened the driver door for her before going to the other side and getting inside.

“It’s cold tonight.” He started the conversation to relax her. With Mag and Mick so near her at the bar, she had loosened up, laughing and joking as he had whirled Mag’s wheelchair around the dance floor. Now, unless he could get her to relax around him while alone, he wouldn’t have a chance with her.

Jo might have blown off Mag’s comments, but deep down, it had only strengthened her reservations about him.

“If you ever need company on nights when you have to work, text me. I get insomnia at night, and it would give me someone to talk to instead of talking to myself.” He leaned comfortably back on the seat, turning to the side where he could study her.

Jo sent him a searching look as she made the turn onto the road that led to The Last Riders. “You have insomnia?”

Rider knew from experience that, to get other another person’s guard down, you had to reveal something about yourself while withholding the whole truth.

“Many servicemen and women do.”

“Rachel said you and Cash served in the Navy together.”

“I served with all the original members of The Last Riders.”

“The original members?”

“You know them all. Viper, Cash, Razer, Knox, Lucky, and Train.” He didn’t mention Gavin. So far, he hadn’t been seen in town.

Rider didn’t know how much Rachel had told Jo about The Last Riders, so he took the middle ground. It would keep him out of trouble with Viper while giving insights into the club that would correlate with anything Rachel had told her.

“Of course, Knox is no longer a member.”

“Of course,” Jo mimicked his answer, but Rider could tell she didn’t believe the gossip The Last Riders had spread around Treepoint.

“How does Monday sound for our second date?” he asked as the truck rounded the curve to the clubhouse.

“Wednesday sounds better. You have a date with Aly tomorrow night, and you always go out with Carly on Monday nights. Tuesdays are reserved for Claire. I wouldn’t want to step on her toes. She’s the only cashier at the gas station I like. She lets me fill my thermos for free.”

“You don’t mind stepping on Kelly’s toes?”

“No, I don’t go to the jewelry store enough to worry about it. I’ll have to take the heat when I see her at church, but she’ll get over it by the next week.”

“Living in Treepoint does have its disadvantage.” He didn’t make a move to get out of the truck when Jo brought it to a stop at the bottom of the steps that led to the clubhouse.

“Sometimes, but I love how close everyone is. My mother’s and father’s family lived here their whole lives. I’m the only one left now. It makes me sad that, when I die, there won’t be any Turners left.

“You’re still young enough not to have that worry.”

Rider could see her sadness as she stared out the windshield.

“Not only is my family not very prolific, they usually married at a young age.”

“It’s too cold and dark to have that depressing thought.” Rider wanted to reach out and touch her cheek, but he knew it would be rebuffed.

Jo gave a shaky laugh. “You’re right; it is. Thank you for dancing with Mag. She didn’t say anything, but I know she appreciated it.”

Rider doubted it. It certainly didn’t keep the witch from bad-mouthing him.

“I didn’t do it for Mag. I did it for you. You’re beautiful when you smile.”

He expected her to laugh off his compliment. Instead, she did something entirely different that tugged at his heartstrings.

“Rachel and Cash told me that you were joking around about losing your chance to buy Willa’s candy during the auction because you spent all your money on the date with me.” She opened the glove compartment and took out a small container, handing it to him. “I had Willa make me some this morning.”

Rider took the container, shocked at the simple gift. “I hope you didn’t have to pay the same price for it as Moon did.”

“No, she took it out in trade. I’ll be plowing the church’s parking lot the next snowstorm.”

“Like you wouldn’t have done it anyway. You have a soft heart, Jo.” To keep himself from losing the ground he had gained with her, he got out of the truck, taking his candy. “I’ll see you Monday. I don’t see Carly anymore.”

The light from the interior of the truck highlighted her surprised reaction. “Why not?”

“A couple of reasons.”

“Any of them to do with the way she talked to Jewell during the auction?”

“Jewell doesn’t carry tales.”

“She must not carry messages either. Night, Rider.”

Rider wanted to swear rather than close the door, but he didn’t. Stepping away from the truck, he cursed under his breath as he watched Jo drive away.

Getting close to Jo was like getting near a lava pit; you never knew when a spark would scorch you.

Her barb reminded him he needed to talk to Jewell, but he had someone else he needed to talk to first.

Seeing Viper’s lights were still on, Rider walked across the parking lot. He then went up Viper and Winter’s steps and knocked on the door. It took a couple minutes before the door was opened and Viper let him enter.

“You have a second to talk?” He kept his voice lowered, not wanting to disturb Winter and their daughter.

“It can’t wait until morning?”

“I’d rather get it over with tonight.”

Viper nodded, shutting the door behind them and leading him into the family room .

“What’s up?”

“I fired Curt tonight.”

“Why?”

“He disrespected the woman I was with.”

Viper’s face hardened at Rider’s brief explanation. “That woman being Jo?”

“It doesn’t matter who it was. She was with me. Curt went too far. I’m fucking tired of waiting to find shit out on him. I’ll take care of him myself.”

“One of the reasons we’ve had to wait is because Jo would want to know what happened to him if he suddenly disappeared.”

“She’ll be glad he’s gone. Why haven’t you or Knox told me and the other brothers that he broke into her house?”

“We have. You must have had your mind on something else and weren’t paying attention.”

“Well, I am now. That shit’s going to stop.”

“Why?”

“Doesn’t matter. If I deal with Curt, it gets him out of your hair and Jo’s.”

Viper planted his feet in a firm stance, crossing his arms. “And how are you going to accomplish that? We can’t have any more disappearances connected to us with us taking out Crash and Candi.”

“The Last Riders weren’t responsible for Candi’s disappearance.”

“Anyone searching for her will find the connection between The Last Riders and the Destructors.”

Rider shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. “I’ve never used my position as one of the owners to exert my influence. I’ve been content to let you and Shade runs things, but Curt’s made his last dime working for us.”

Viper stiffened. “Anything else you want to change?”

“No. I’m pretty cool about everything else.” The fire crackling in the fireplace had him seeking the warmth. Staring down into the glowing embers of the wood, he thought of home.

“You’ve never had a problem leaving me to take the lead. Why now?”

“It’s going nowhere waiting for Curt to slip up. He isn’t going to spill any secrets about any of his affairs with underage girls. None of his family or friends will either. They’re too afraid of him.” His gaze stayed on the embers, his mind far away in another state and place.

“You’re going home next month for the holidays, and we’ll be the ones stuck with the repercussions of firing Curt. He’s not going to take it without retaliation.”

“I hope there is. I won’t be taking my vacation. If there is retaliation, I’ll be ready for it.”

“You’re not going home?”

“No. What we’ve been doing hasn’t been working. Maybe this will shake Curt enough that he will make a mistake.”

“I wouldn’t build any castles on hopes and prayers. And for fucking sure I wouldn’t pin any hopes that Curt will give Knox something to charge him with.”

“Maybe so.” His leather jacket tightened as he shrugged. “But I’m the only hope Jo has of getting any justice.”

“We all want to see Curt pay. He’s turned his wife into a walking zombie with the medications she’s been given. None of the students who have graduated are saying a word, despite Winter’s pleas. Curt thinks he’s untouchable, and his family’s connections are proving him right.”

“The thing about people who think they are invincible is that they always have one fatal flaw. You want to know what it is?”

Rider could hear the smile in Viper’s voice as he answered, “You.”