“Talk to her that way again and I will—”

“What are you going to do? Rachel is none of your business. She’s the only woman in this town of ours you haven’t fucked.”

“Wanna bet?” Cash grinned. “I fucked her under your own roof,” Cash bragged.

Rachel thought she would pass out at Cash’s gloating. The horrified looks on her brothers’ faces as they turned to her had Rachel taking a step back. When she was unable to deny his statement, all hell broke loose.

“You son of a bitch!” Greer threw himself at Cash, nearly knocking him into the pool, but Rider managed to grab his arm and steady him. Greer’s fists flew out, one nailing Cash in the stomach. A free-for-all almost started as her other brothers moved forward, but The Last Riders managed to surround Cash.

Rachel stood with her hand to her mouth as her brothers screamed obscenities at the bikers.

“This is how you repay us for saving Lily’s life? You motherfuckers can go to Hell!” Tate tried to go for Shade, who went stiff at his damning insult.

“We are paying you back. We’re not beating the shit out of you right now! Back off.” Shade’s brusque order was ignored.

Rachel made an attempt to stop her brothers one more time, grabbing Tate by his arm when he moved toward Shade. “Tate! Stop. Please!”

“Don’t fuckin touch me.” Tate shoved her from him, jerking his arm away. Rachel stumbled, but Tate caught her, pulling her to his side, his furious eyes glaring down at her in disgust.

“Get Logan and Holly, Dustin. We’re leaving.” Tate jerked her toward the patio doors as Dustin and Greer followed.

Rachel started crying, humiliated. Mrs. Langley and half the town had gathered to cut the cake and were now staring at her as her brothers dragged her from the party. They had all heard what Cash had said, and Rachel could read their filthy thoughts as Tate pushed her inside the house where Holly and Logan were inside the kitchen.

“We’re leaving,” Dustin said, picking Logan up in his arms.

“But we have to help clean up,” Holly protested.

“She has plenty of help. Let’s go.” Tate’s harsh expression had Holly hastily closing her mouth.

She didn’t say another word, following closely behind the angry group. Rachel tried to break away, but Tate picked her up, tossing her in his truck.

“Greer, bring her car,” Tate ordered.

“Where are your keys?” Tate asked her, getting in the truck behind the wheel.

Rachel just wanted to go home. She reached into the pocket of her dress then, angrily rolling the window down, she threw the keys at Greer. As soon as the keys were in Greer’s hands, Tate pulled out of the driveway. Rachel expected angry yells all the way home; instead, the freezing silence had her shivering.

As soon as he pulled in front of the house, she jumped out, but she had to stop at the door, realizing her house key was on the key ring she had given Greer.

Tate opened the door and Rachel ran inside, determined to go to her room.

“Is it true?” His harsh voice broke her heart. He had sometimes been stern with her since their parents’ deaths, but he had never before used that tone of voice with her.

Rachel stopped, turning back to her brother. The expression on his face froze her in place.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Did he rape you?”

“No.” Rachel’s back stiffened as she admitted the truth. “I wanted him, Tate.”

“Just like the rest of his bitches. Mom and Dad would be ashamed at what happened tonight. You’ve shamed our whole family. You could have done anyone in town, but you had to do him, knowing how bad we hate him and his family!” Disgust was written plainly on his face.

“I didn’t mean for it to happen.”

“You said he didn’t rape you; that means you could have said no, Rachel. Go to your room and get out of my face.” The door opened and Greer, Holly, and Dustin entered, carrying Logan.

Rachel blinked back hurt tears. “Tate—”

“Now, Rachel. So help me God, I can’t look at you right now,” he growled through gritted teeth. Greer’s and Dustin’s expressions weren’t any more forgiving; their faces were just as condemning.

Rachel turned away to her room.

“Maybe she should go stay with The Last Riders since they’ve had her now.” Greer threw her car keys against her bedroom door.

Rachel bent to pick them up before going into her bedroom and closing the door. She didn’t bother to turn on the light as she went to sit on the side of the bed.

Burying her face in her hands, she let her humiliation free. Silent sobs shook her shoulders as she heard her brothers’ angry voices from the other side of the door.

Not only her brothers, but the whole town would know by morning she had given herself to Cash. Everywhere she went, she would be met with the same stares. Her reputation in town was ruined; the townspeople would gossip about her for the next year.

Rachel sat quietly until the house finally settled down. She then silently got to her feet. Kneeling beside her bed, she pulled out her suitcase. It was time she executed the decision she had been putting off. She loved her home and her brothers, but it was past time she stood on her own two feet.

She moved around her room, making sure she made no noise. If they caught her packing, they would lock her in. She chose the few items she didn’t want to leave behind. Surprisingly, it didn’t take long to pack her lifetime into one suitcase.

Rachel waited another hour to make sure everyone was asleep before she sneaked out of the house. Her hand was shaking as she put the keys in the ignition. Turning on her car without using her headlights, she then drove out of the parking lot, heading down the mountain. She only turned the beams on after the car was away from the house.

She had been trying to gain more freedom from her brothers, but she hadn’t really wanted to leave; she loved Treepoint and the mountains. It was like her heart was being ripped out the farther she drove away from home. She had never realized her freedom would come at the cost of losing her family.

* * *

“What have you done?” Winter asked, her stricken gaze watching Rachel and her brothers leave.

Cash ran his hand through his hair. “I lost my temper,” he admitted, remorse making his voice come out thick. Clearing his throat, he saw the angry glares of all the women. “I know I fucked up.”

“You more than fucked up,” Beth said, stepping forward, her voice low and controlled. “You humiliated her in front of the church congregation. The whole town will be gossiping about her, and they won’t be kind. You of all people know what kind of damage you just did.

“Now, this is Mrs. Langley’s party, and I suggest we get through the next thirty minutes until we can leave.” Beth stormed away with the rest of the women following her.

Cash was angry at himself for losing his temper and running his mouth. When Tate had jerked Rachel’s arm, Viper had been forced to hold him back, or he would have beaten the shit out of him. Her brothers had confirmed tonight what he already had been saying to himself.

Any relationship between Rachel and him was impossible because of her brothers’ hatred of him. He had tried to protect her from him; instead, he had let them goad him into losing his temper.