Chapter Six
Eliza
The room swam into focus as I opened my eyes, a dull ache pounding at the back of my skull. I blinked, trying to clear the haze from my vision. Where the hell was I?
“Easy,” a voice murmured nearby. Cheshire. The one who’d pulled me out of that hellhole.
My heart jackhammered in my chest as I realized I was lying on a bed in a strange room. What happened to me? I remembered the Underland MC taking me with them. Vaguely recalled going to their clubhouse, and then… I’d been shown to a room. But what else had happened? Why was everything so fuzzy?
“Where…” My voice cracked, barely a whisper.
“Underland MC clubhouse,” Cheshire answered, his grin not quite reaching his eyes. “You’re safe here. Do you remember anything from last night? You walked to this room on your own two feet.”
“A little,” I said. “I remember you bringing me to the clubhouse on your motorcycle, but everything after that is foggy. It’s like the memories are there but not, if that makes any sense.”
“Don’t look so terrified,” Cheshire said. “And yes, it makes sense. You were under a lot of stress. Maybe more than your mind could handle or process.”
I winced. Wasn’t that the type of thing someone said in a horror movie right before you died? “I think you need to work on your bedside manner. Or at least the delivery. That phrase is…”
He snorted. “I’m not some psycho killer. Well, I guess technically I’m a killer. I was active duty in a war zone after all. My hands aren’t clean, but I’d never hurt an innocent person.”
I struggled to sit up in the bed and he held out his hand for me. I grabbed hold and swung my legs over the side, managing to stand.
“Um, where’s…”
“Bathroom?” he asked. I nodded. “The closed door over there.”
I looked in the direction he’d pointed and saw a door in the darkened corner of the room. Hurrying over, I locked myself inside to relieve my aching bladder and splash some water on my face. I winced with every move I made, the bruises and cuts reminding me of what I’d been through.
When I came out, I felt slightly more settled. I’d escaped my father, even if I didn’t know how long I’d be able to stay hidden from him. Sooner or later, someone would tell him they saw me with the Underland MC. There was no way we’d made it from my house to here without anyone noticing.
Cheshire gave me a warm smile, one completely different from the sarcastic one he seemed to wear most of the time. I moved closer to him, until I could feel the heat of his body. Whatever scent he wore teased my nose, and I nearly closed my eyes and breathed him in.
With Cheshire’s hand on my back, I found myself being guided from the room and into the main part of the clubhouse. The buzz of conversation died down as the bikers watched me with curiosity. We reached a table where Hatter sat, his presence demanding attention even when he wasn’t speaking. My hands shook a little as I sank into a seat next to Cheshire, feeling the weight of everyone’s gazes on me.
“Eliza,” Hatter said, his eyes locked onto mine, almost as if he were digging into my soul and searching for something. I wondered what he’d find. Most likely a scared girl, still trying to make sense of it all.
“Welcome,” he continued, leaning back in his chair, a hint of a smile in his voice. “The room you woke up in is yours for however long you need or want it. I’m sure Cheshire will give you the tour later.”
“And my father?”
“We’ll do everything we can to protect you.”
“Thanks,” I muttered. I noticed he hadn’t guaranteed I’d make it out of this alive. He was smart. Doing his best was one thing. Promising I’d be fine was another. My father had probably discovered I was missing. It wouldn’t be long before he started hunting me like an animal.
“Try to relax, sweetheart,” Cheshire murmured, his thumb rubbing gently against my hand. It was a small gesture, but it meant a hell of a lot, coming from him. “You’re one of us now.”
I glanced around the room, seeing everyone in a new light. Could I really call these people my… what? Friends? Would they even want me to? We were strangers. It made me wonder why Cheshire would make such a statement after only meeting me last night.
“Welcome to Underland, Eliza,” Hatter said again, his voice steady and calming. “We’ll make sure you don’t regret it.”
“Thanks,” I whispered, finally meeting his gaze again. There was something hypnotizing about those eyes, like they were casting a spell over me. And for the first time since waking up in this strange new world, I felt a glimmer of hope.
Maybe, just maybe, I could survive this.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my nerves as Cheshire began introducing me to the others. “This here’s Eliza,” he said, his voice casual but confident. “She’s going to be staying with us for a while.”
“Eliza, meet Knave.” Cheshire gestured to a burly man, ink covering every inch of his arms. Knave nodded at me. The man looked a bit scary, but I knew better than to judge a book by its cover.
Carpenter was next, then Rabbit, who was a wiry man with a nervous smile. He gave me a quick nod, his gaze lingering on me just a bit too long for comfort. It made me feel like he saw far more than I wanted him to.
“And finally, we have Tweedle,” Cheshire said, motioning to a man leaning against the wall with a beer in his hand. “You’ll have to meet the others later.”
“Nice to meet y’all,” I mumbled.
“Likewise,” Knave drawled.
Just then, a woman approached the table, her fragile frame belying the strength in her eyes. She offered me reassuring smile that made my heart slow just a touch. “Hey, Eliza,” she said gently. “My name’s Jo. Welcome to Underland.”
“Thanks,” I replied, finding some comfort in her presence. She looked like she knew what it was like to be afraid, to feel hunted. Although, the fact she was perfectly at ease around these men spoke volumes. If she felt safe here, then I could too.
“Can I get you something to eat?” Jo asked, her voice quiet but strong. I could tell she was trying to make me feel welcome, and it meant a lot.
“Sure,” I said, smiling weakly back at her. “That’d be nice.”
As Jo went to get me some food, I watched the others, their reactions to me still a mix of curiosity and concern.
Jo returned to the table, a steaming bowl of something that smelled like heaven in her hands. She set it down in front of me, along with a bottle of water.
“Are you okay, Eliza?” she asked, sitting down next to me. “You need anything for the pain?”
“Uh, no, I’m all right,” I replied, trying to sound braver than I felt. I glanced at Cheshire, who looked like he was listening to every word even though his gaze was on Hatter. Over the counter meds didn’t do much for me anymore. They’d barely take the edge off for thirty minutes.
“Good,” Jo said, still speaking quietly. “Just let me know if there’s anything you need, okay? We’re here to help you.”
“Thanks,” I whispered, taking a bite of the warm, slightly salty food and letting it soothe me from the inside out. It wasn’t much, but it was something, and right now that meant everything.
As I ate, I couldn’t help but notice the silent communication between Cheshire and Hatter. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and then Cheshire leaned in close, his breath tickling my ear.
“Listen, Eliza,” he said, his voice low and steady. “I know you’re scared, and you’ve got every right to be. But we’re going to make sure your dad can’t get his hands on you again. You aren’t alone anymore.”
Something deep within me unclenched, just a little bit. I barely knew these people, but they seemed to genuinely care, and that was enough for now. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak without crying.
“Thank you,” I managed eventually, my voice trembling only slightly. Cheshire just squeezed my shoulder and looked away. It only took me a moment to realize he was doing it for my benefit. With so many eyes locked on me, I felt like a bug under a microscope.
As I finished my meal, I tried to focus on the conversation around me, on the laughter and the camaraderie of these strangers who were offering me protection. It was an odd mix of comfort and fear, but it was better than being alone, better than feeling like a hunted animal with nowhere to turn.
I felt like I could learn to trust them -- especially Cheshire, with his piercing blue eyes and that damn grin that made my heart race every time I looked at him.
Watching these rough men laugh and bust each other’s balls, I could feel something shift inside me. It was like a tiny spark of hope flickering to life, and even though I knew it might be snuffed out any second, I clung to it. It was the first time I’d felt relieved in so very long.
“Eliza,” Jo whispered, leaning closer so we wouldn’t be overheard. “I know this all seems crazy, but you can trust these guys. They saved my life when I thought there was no way out.”
“Really?” I asked, my voice shaking just a bit less now.
“Swear on my life.” She nodded, her eyes sincere. “Hatter and the others, they’re good men. They want Warren to be safe. They’ll help you, just like they helped me.”
“Thank you,” I whispered back, feeling that little spark grow stronger. If they’d done it for Jo, maybe they could do it for me too. It seemed like Maria had been right about the Underland MC.
“Hey, Jo, tell Eliza about that time Hatter kicked Tweedle’s ass in pool,” Cheshire chimed in, his grin wide as ever.
“Ah, that was classic.” Jo laughed, and the story spilled out, painting a picture of a night filled with laughter, competition, and camaraderie.
As they talked, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of protectiveness surrounding me. These people, these bikers who looked like they could snap me in half without breaking a sweat, were offering me shelter and safety -- and not just because they felt sorry for me or something.
No, they wanted to make things right. To fix what was broken in this town, one piece at a time. And I knew my father was a huge piece they’d need to deal with. If they could take him off the board, then it would be a game changer for them.
“Eliza, remember this,” Jo said, her hand covering mine. “You’re not alone anymore.”
As the room buzzed with conversation and laughter, I knew she was right. I had these people at my back, and together, we were going to face whatever came our way.
And for the first time in a long while, that tiny spark of hope inside me burned bright and strong.
At some point, Cheshire had gotten up. I watched as he moved around the room, chatting and joking with the others. There was a magnetic pull to him, like he was the center of gravity in this place. My cheeks burned something fierce, and I prayed no one noticed.
“Hey, Eliza,” said Jo, snapping me out of my thoughts. “You good?”
“Y-yeah, I’m fine,” I stammered, feeling like an idiot for staring at Cheshire like that.
“Good. You’ll fit in here just fine,” she reassured me with a gentle smile.
“Thanks, Jo.” I gave her a weak smile, hoping I looked more confident than I felt.
“Come on, let’s grab a drink,” she suggested, leading me over to the bar. The cold bottle felt good in my hand, helping to steady my nerves.
“Here’s to new beginnings,” Jo toasted, clinking her Coke against mine.
“New beginnings,” I echoed, taking a swig. It was bitter but refreshing, and it helped banish some of the heat from my cheeks.
“Eliza, come over here,” Cheshire called out, waving me over to where he stood with Hatter and a couple of the others. My heart did a little dance in my chest, and I swallowed hard, trying to keep my cool.
“All right,” I said, steeling myself as I walked over to them. Up close, Cheshire was even more magnetic, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. I could feel his gaze linger on me, and it made my insides quiver.
Cheshire put his arm around my shoulders when I stopped beside him. I tensed for a brief moment before leaning into him. Maybe my few sips of alcohol had already given me courage. Otherwise, I’d have never been bold enough to do something like this.
“Welcome to the club, Eliza,” Rabbit said warmly. “We’re glad to have you here.”
“Thanks,” I replied, trying to sound more at ease than I felt. But with Cheshire standing so close, it was damn near impossible. And why did everyone keep welcoming me to the club? They made it seem like I’d be here forever instead of just temporarily. These people didn’t even know me, but they were willing to risk everything for me. Maybe staying longer wouldn’t be a bad thing.
As I watched Cheshire laugh and joke with his brothers, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sort of yearning. This man, who had barely known me a day, had shown me kindness and protection when I needed it most.
My cheeks flushed again as I realized I was falling for him -- hard. And I was terrified that everyone could see it plain as day. Love at first sight didn’t really exist. Did it?
I had a feeling I was in more trouble than I realized.