Chapter One
Hatter
“Cheshire, I said no strippers.” I glared at him, my eyes narrowing into slits as I emphasized each word.
“Come on, Hatter. It’s just a bit of fun,” Cheshire retorted, his trademark grin never faltering. He leaned back against the worn chair across from my desk, seemingly unfazed by the intensity of our discussion.
“Cheshire, this event isn’t about fun. We’re raising funds for the local kids’ hospital. A bunch of naked girls shaking their asses doesn’t fit in that picture.” My voice was hard and unyielding, leaving no room for compromise.
“Fine, fine.” Cheshire held up his hands in mock surrender. “No strippers. But we need some kind of entertainment. How about a live band?”
“Band’s fine,” I conceded, rubbing my temples as I felt the beginnings of a headache forming. These club events always gave me migraines, but it was my job to make sure they went smoothly. While we mostly kept to ourselves, at least twice a year we tried to do something for the community.
“All right then.” Cheshire stood and leaned over the desk, bracing his hands on top. “I’ll organize the band and take care of all the other arrangements.”
“Make sure you do.” I stared at him, ensuring my message sank in. “We can’t afford any screwups with this one.”
“Trust me, boss.” Cheshire winked. “Everything will be perfect.”
“See to it.” My tone brooked no argument. As the president of the Underland MC, it was my responsibility to make sure my club stayed out of trouble and maintained a good image in Warren. The town had been good to us, and it was important to give back. All right, so it hadn’t been all sunshine and roses. Not at first. When we’d built this place and moved in, everyone had thought we were criminals and treated us accordingly. We’d worked hard to prove we were trustworthy and wouldn’t destroy Warren.
When we’d first decided to start this club, it had taken weeks to narrow down where we might want to live. It just so happened, the small town of Warren, Tennessee, had the perfect plot of land for sale. Far enough from big cities, we still felt like we were relaxing in the country, but close enough to anything we’d need, like a grocery store or pharmacy.
Absolem had used his inheritance to buy the land, put up a fence, and build a clubhouse. With the exception of times we wanted to make sure we didn’t have people popping up, we’d leave the gates open. It wasn’t like we had anything to hide. Each of us had a room here, and a few more to spare. In addition to the men who’d created this place with me, we’d gathered a few other lost souls along the way, each one floundering after being discharged from the military, just like us. Tweedle had been the first. He’d come home so badly broken I hadn’t known if he’d make it. More than once, I’d worried he might decide to put a bullet in his brain. Thankfully, being around the club had helped him heal, even if he still had a long way to go. Knave and Mock had been next, joining almost at the same time. And Carpenter had been the last.
“All right.” Cheshire clapped his hands together, finally taking things seriously. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
“Damn right.” I nodded. “And let’s remember why we’re doing this. It’s not just a party. It’s for those kids.”
“Understood.” Cheshire saluted me, his grin returned to his face as he turned to leave. “I won’t let you down.”
“See that you don’t,” I warned, watching him stride out of the room. “Or you’ll be scrubbing toilets with a toothbrush for a month.”
“Promises, promises.” Cheshire laughed from the doorway. “I’ll get on it, Hatter. You can count on me.”
“Good,” I called after him, “because if this event goes south, it isn’t just the club that’ll suffer. The whole damn town will feel it too.”
The event might be adults only, but we’d charge a fee to enter the compound for the night. Everyone would kick back with drinks, food, and music. By the time we closed it down, I hoped we’d have a decent chunk of change to help those kids.
“Understood.” Cheshire nodded once more before disappearing into the hallway. I could only hope he’d take my words to heart.
“All right.” I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “Let’s get this done.”
The door slammed open, and in walked March, his eyes blazing with urgency. He was all muscle and grit, an imposing figure who had seen more than his fair share of shit. For that matter, we all had.
“Boss,” he said, getting straight to the point. “We’ve got trouble.”
“Spit it out,” I demanded, my pulse racing as worry gnawed at me. This was the last thing the club needed right now. We kept our noses clean, paid taxes, and did our best to not draw attention to ourselves. So what the hell could have happened?
“Rumblings from North Carolina.” March’s voice was low, serious. “A rival MC’s been sniffing around our territory. Looks like they’re planning something. And these assholes aren’t like us. They’re into some nasty shit. If they get their hooks in Warren, this place won’t be the same.”
“Fuck,” I muttered, my mind racing. “How close are they?”
“Too damn close.” March growled. “They’ve been spotted just outside town, and it isn’t a coincidence they picked here.”
“All right,” I said, my brain shifting into high gear. “We need a plan. We can’t let them jeopardize what we got going on here, especially not now.”
“Agreed.” March nodded. “I’ve already put our boys on alert, but we need to be ready for anything.”
“Good,” I said, my thoughts swirling like a tornado. “I want you to gather intel, find out everything you can about their movements, intentions, whatever. The more we know, the better prepared we’ll be.”
“Roger that.” March saluted, his face set like stone. Some old habits were harder to get rid of than others. “I won’t let them get the drop on us.”
“See that you don’t,” I warned. “We’ve worked too hard to let some wannabe tough guys tear us down.”
“Understood.” March gave a mock salute and turned to leave. “I’ll report back as soon as I have something solid.”
“Good,” I called after him. “And keep Cheshire in the loop too. We need to stay united on this one.”
“Will do,” March replied, his steps echoing in the hall as he left.
“Shit,” I muttered under my breath. “Just when things were starting to look up.”
I knew we had our work cut out for us. Our enemies were relentless, and any sign of weakness would be like blood in the water. The club was my family, and there was no way in hell I’d let anyone threaten what we’d built together.
We’d faced opposition from the town when we’d first settled here. It hadn’t taken them long to realize we weren’t going to hurt anyone. But then word had spread about our place here, and other clubs had started poking around. At least once a year, we had to run them off. I refused to let them turn Warren into a war zone. We’d worked hard to help the people in this town and earn their trust.
Bad enough the mayor, sheriff, and other higher-ups were as corrupt as fuck. Someone had to be the voice of reason. There were times I and my brothers were the only things protecting the people here.
When things were too quiet for the next half hour, I decided to take action. Leaving my office, I went in search of the others.
Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Which pissed me off. They all had jobs to do, and playing games wasn’t on the list. I knew March would have followed my orders and told everyone what he’d discovered.
“Cheshire,” I barked, turning my attention to our club’s Vice President. “I need you to get the word out to all our brothers, both inside and outside of Warren. Tell them to keep their eyes and ears open for any suspicious activity. We can’t let these bastards catch us off guard.”
“Got it, Hatter,” Cheshire responded coolly, his mischievous grin replaced by a determined scowl. “I’ll make sure everyone’s on high alert. Those fuckers won’t know what hit them.”
“Good.” I nodded, clapping him firmly on the shoulder. “Now get to it.”
As Cheshire and March set about their assigned tasks, I stepped into the dimly lit hallway, my mind racing with contingency plans and potential outcomes. Our enemies were cunning, but we had something they’d never stand a chance against -- the unbreakable bond of brotherhood. All clubs called each other brother, but none were forged the way ours had been. Our trust and loyalty had been branded in us by the US government. These men had been the ones who had my back, helped keep me alive, and they would be family until the day we died.
“Hey, Hatter,” Rabbit’s shaky voice pulled me from my thoughts. The anxious Secretary appeared before me, visibly distressed, wringing his hands as he struggled to maintain eye contact.
Shit. I’d thought he’d been doing better. Every time I thought he’d calmed down and had his shit together, something else would set him off.
“Rabbit, what the fuck’s going on?” My tone was harsh, but concern laced every word. This wasn’t like him. Something was up, and it didn’t sit well with me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Uh, well…” Rabbit stammered, his gaze darting around the hallway. “I got a call from home. My mom, she’s… she’s real sick, Hatter. The doctors say --” His voice cracked, and I could see the fear in his eyes.
“Take a breather, brother,” I told him, trying to keep my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “We’ll figure this out, all right? You’re not alone in this.”
“Thanks, Hatter,” Rabbit sniffled, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “I just… I don’t know what to do right now. She’s my mom, you know?”
“Focus on the club and your brothers,” I advised him. “We’ll handle this together. You’ve got my word. Whatever your mom needs, we’ll see she gets it.”
“Thank you,” Rabbit managed a weak smile through his tears. “I appreciate it more than you know.”
“Get your head together, Rabbit. We’ll handle this as a family,” I reassured him. Rabbit nodded, wiping away the last of his tears before getting back to work. I needed to keep my mind focused on the club and the threat we were facing as well as the event we’d been planning.
I walked down the dimly lit hallway, my boots echoing with each step. The smell of grease and gasoline grew stronger as I approached the garage, a place where my brothers and I found solace in working on our bikes. The roar of an engine revving greeted me as I stepped inside, and there he was -- Absolem, hunched over a motorcycle, meticulously working on it.
“Hey, Absolem,” I said, making my presence known. “How’s that beauty coming along?”
“Almost done, Hatter,” Absolem replied without looking up, his hands steady as he adjusted the carburetor. “She’s going to be purring like a kitten when I’m through with her. Should be ready for the event.”
“Good. We need her looking perfect.” I flicked the ash from my smoke and studied Absolem’s face, searching for any sign of tension. He’d bought this bike as a fixer-upper, and we’d thought about auctioning it off at the party. One hundred bucks per ticket. While it wasn’t cheap, I knew there would be plenty of people willing to pay at least that, if not nearly a grand, in the hopes of winning a motorcycle. Not to mention, they knew the proceeds would go to the children’s hospital. “You heard about the potential threat, right?”
“Cheshire mentioned something,” he replied, focusing back on his work. “Didn’t give me details, though.”
“Seems we’ve got ourselves some unwanted attention,” I said, keeping my tone casual. “Could be nothing, could be something. Just have to keep our eyes open.”
“Always do,” Absolem muttered.
I took another long drag, feeling the nicotine calm my nerves. My mind raced with plans and contingencies, but I couldn’t let it show. The club needed me steady, unshakable. If I started acting like Rabbit, these men would fall the fuck apart.
“Any new faces hanging around?” I asked, crushing the spent cigarette under my boot. “Or anyone asking too many questions?”
Absolem paused again, considering. “Not that I’ve noticed,” he finally said. “But I’ll keep an eye out.”
“Appreciate it.” I nodded, crossing my arms over my chest. “We can’t afford to let our guard down. Not now.”
“Agreed,” he replied, resuming his work.
I let my gaze drift to the rows of gleaming bikes that filled the garage. Each one was a testament to our brotherhood, a symbol of our unity and strength.
We’d faced threats before, and we’d face them again. No matter what came our way, we’d stand together.
“Stay sharp,” I told Absolem, clapping him on the shoulder before heading out into the night. “And keep me posted on anything unusual.”
“Will do, Hatter,” he called after me.
As I walked away, my mind churned with possibilities and plans, each one more dangerous than the last. But no matter how dark the road ahead, I knew I could count on my brothers to see us through. Together, we’d emerge stronger than ever.
I walked over to my current ride and threw my leg over the seat. Once I had her started, I eased out of the lot and pulled through the compound gates. A ride would help clear my head. I prowled the streets of town, then hit the highway.
Nothing quite like the sound of a bike’s engine purring beneath you. Made me feel alive. But that peace didn’t last long -- not when the vibration of my phone pulled me back to reality.
“Talk to me, Cheshire,” I said, after I pulled over and answered the call, holding the phone to my ear.
“Got some developments on our situation, Hatter,” Cheshire’s voice crackled through the line, sharp as ever. “March managed to get his hands on some intel. Seems we got ourselves a mole, feeding info to our enemies.”
“Son of a bitch.” My grip tightened around the phone, knuckles whitening. A traitor? In our ranks? That wasn’t something I’d tolerate. Not in my club.
“Any idea who it is?” I kept my tone level and steady, even as my insides boiled with rage.
“Still working on that. But we’ve got a lead. March tracked down the enemy’s hideout. They’re holed up in an abandoned warehouse.”
“Good work,” I said, feigning calm while my mind raced. Couldn’t let this threat go unchecked. “Get March and Absolem together. We’ll hit them tonight, hard and fast. No mercy for traitors or those who’d conspire against us.”
“Understood, boss,” Cheshire replied, the grin in his voice unmistakable. He relished the thought of bringing the hammer down on our enemies just as much as I did. “We’ll be ready.”
“Make sure everyone’s armed to the teeth. And see if Rabbit can dig up any more dirt on the mole. Time’s running out.”
“Got it, Hatter. See you at the clubhouse.”
The call ended, and I was left with nothing but the hum of my engine and the weight of my thoughts. It was a heavy burden to bear, knowing one of our own could be working against us. But I wouldn’t let that betrayal stand. I knew it wasn’t any of my officers. Those men had been through hell with me. Which left the newer recruits -- Knave, Carpenter, or Mock.
I revved the throttle, my bike roaring down the road as I headed back to the clubhouse. We’d root out the traitor and snuff out the threat, or die trying. Because that’s what it meant to be part of Underland MC -- we were family, and we didn’t leave any stone unturned when it came to protecting our own.
* * *
The sun hung low on the horizon, painting the sky a bloody red. It was as if nature itself knew what was coming. Standing in front of the clubhouse, I cracked my knuckles and rolled my neck, feeling the tension coiling in my muscles. A storm was brewing, and we were about to ride straight into it.
“Boss?” Cheshire approached me, his eyes narrowed and focused. “Everything’s ready. March and Absolem are geared up, and Rabbit’s dug up some more info.”
“Good,” I muttered, clenching my fists at my sides. “We aren’t going to let them know what hit them.”
“Damn right,” he agreed, cracking his own knuckles in anticipation.
March and Absolem joined us, both wearing that same determined expression. We were brothers, bound by blood and loyalty, and nothing could shake our resolve. The air around us felt charged with the energy of an unbreakable bond.
“Listen up,” I said, my voice firm and steady. “This isn’t going to be easy, but we’ve faced worse. We’re going to find this rat, and we’re going to make them pay. No mercy.”
“Underland till we die,” March said, pounding his fist against his chest.
“Damn straight,” Absolem added, his voice cold as ice. “Let’s do this.”
I nodded, strapping on my helmet and mounting my bike. My brothers followed suit, the sound of engines revving filling the air like thunder. Part of me really hoped it wasn’t one of our brothers. While we didn’t have prospects, there were a few men in town who would come to hang out from time to time. The betrayal would hurt a lot less if it wasn’t an official member of the club.
“Remember,” I said, my voice just loud enough to be heard over the roar of our bikes. “We stick together, no matter what. We got each other’s backs. We may not be on foreign soil, but this is still war.”
“Always,” Cheshire replied, his eyes gleaming with that fierce loyalty I’ve come to rely on.
“Ride or die,” March echoed, grinning like a man possessed.
“Let’s roll,” Absolem said, flicking the safety off his pistol and tucking it into his waistband.
With one last deep breath, I twisted the throttle and led my brothers out of the Underland MC compound. We rode as one, a united front against the darkness that threatened us. The sun sank lower in the sky, casting elongated shadows across the road as we sped toward the unknown.
Tonight, we’d face the threat head-on, ready to fight for our family, our club, and our very lives. And we wouldn’t back down until the job was done.
The thought we’d be short one brother by the end of the night weighed on me. I hoped like fuck March and Rabbit were wrong. But if they weren’t, I’d make the bastard pay.