Chapter Three
Hatter
My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins -- this was the life we’d chosen, the brotherhood we’d forged in the fires of war. And now we had a rat? Fury burned in my veins.
“Keep your eyes peeled, boys,” I called out over the rumbling engines. “We’re getting close.”
“Roger that, Hatter,” Cheshire grunted, his voice strained with tension.
As we rounded a corner, a flash of movement caught my attention. A woman stepped out into the street, her eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. Her face was bruised, swollen, yet her gaze remained unflinching, determined.
“Christ,” March muttered.
“You’ve got some nerve stopping us like this,” Absolem said.
“Yes,” she said, her voice coming out raspy. “And I’ve got nowhere else to go.”
I shared a look with my brothers. We might do some questionable things from time to time but none of us could abandon a woman in need. I could see the pain hidden beneath her steely facade, the quiet desperation that lurked behind her eyes. This woman had been through hell, just like us, and I immediately felt a connection to her -- an unspoken understanding born from shared suffering.
“Who did this to you?” I asked.
“Eddie… Edward Lewis,” she said softly.
Motherfucker! I glanced at my brothers and knew they were thinking the same thing. We couldn’t leave her here. If we did and that bastard came for her, she’d be good as dead.
“Get on,” I said, motioning toward my bike. I saw a flash of fear in her eyes, but she complied.
Our plans had changed. We still had a rat to flush out. However, this woman needed protection, and I was damn well going to give it to her. The rat would still be lurking in the shadows for us to trap another day.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Jo,” she said simply, her voice trembling ever so slightly.
Something told me she wouldn’t last much longer on her own.
“All right, Jo,” I said softly, my voice a low rumble of reassurance. “You’ve got us. Whatever you need, we’ll see it done.”
I felt the weight of Cheshire’s gaze and knew what he was thinking. This woman was an unknown factor. Having her around could cause more trouble than we wanted. Regardless, she was going to the clubhouse.
I glanced over my shoulder, once I was seated on the bike again. Jo had a mix of relief and fear etched on her face. And I couldn’t blame her. She had no idea who we were and had taken a gamble on us being less evil than that asshole, Eddie Lewis.
“Trust me,” I murmured, offering her a small, reassured smile. “You’ll be safe with us.”
Her expression softened, and she nodded hesitantly. Her bruised body pressed against mine, and I could feel the tremors running through her as if they were my own.
“All right, let’s go,” I said. The roar of the motorcycle echoed off the empty streets surrounding us.
Tension radiated from Jo as we raced through the streets, her grip tightening around my waist with every turn. With each mile closer to the clubhouse, I knew I was putting her in more danger. But there was a fire in her eyes, a fierce determination that told me she would do whatever it took to survive. And I was willing to risk everything to help her.
The safety of the Underland clubhouse was just within reach. We just had to hold on a little longer.
“Are you okay?” I shouted over the roar of the engine, my voice barely audible against the howling wind.
“Y-yeah,” she stammered back, her grip on my waist tightening as we rounded a sharp bend. “Just… keep going.”
I could feel the weight of her trust bearing down on me, the need to protect her gnawing at my insides. It was who I’d always been. Even after I’d failed the last woman I vowed to keep safe, I still couldn’t walk away from this one.
The darkness seemed to stretch on forever, the lights of the clubhouse a distant beacon in the night.
Finally, the gates loomed ahead of us, the iron bars etched with the Underland MC emblem standing sentinel against the encroaching darkness. I reached into my pocket and pushed the button on the remote. The gates swung open, revealing the path to our sanctuary.
We parked our bikes under the covered parking area off to the side, then walked up the steps of the clubhouse. For now, this was home. We had everything we needed here.
“Welcome home,” I murmured as we entered, the heavy door creaking closed behind us. The dim glow of the interior washed over us, casting long shadows against the walls.
“Home?” Jo echoed, her eyes wide with wonder and uncertainty. “Is this where you all live?”
“More than just live,” I replied, guiding her toward a nearby table. I pulled out a chair for her and claimed the one beside her. “This is our haven. Our fortress.”
“Your family,” she whispered, her gaze scanning the room as if searching for a glimpse of what that word truly meant.
“Exactly.” I nodded. “You’re safe now. We’ll protect you.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, her hand finding mine in the darkness. It felt like a spark zapped my fingers and shot up my arm. I couldn’t remember ever reacting to someone like this. Figured it was the one woman I should avoid as much as possible. If she belonged to Eddie Lewis, then she probably wasn’t as sweet as she appeared. I’d need to be on guard just in case.
“Cheshire, March, go secure the perimeter. And keep an eye out for any unwanted visitors.”
“Got it, boss.” Cheshire’s grin never faltered, but his eyes narrowed as he glanced at Jo one last time before leaving with March.
“Wh-where are they going?” Jo stammered, her grip tightening on my arm.
“Keeping us safe,” I said, meeting her fearful gaze. “Now, sit down. You need to rest.”
“Are they… like you?” she asked hesitantly. I took her hand and led her over to a worn leather couch, thinking it might be more comfortable for her. “Part of this… family? Is it anyone who is part of your club?”
“Yup,” I replied, watching her warily. “We’ve all got each other’s backs no matter what. If you see our club colors, then you can be assured you’re safe.”
“Guess that’s something,” she murmured, her eyes distant. “Better than what I had before.”
“Jo, listen to me,” I said, gripping her shoulders. “You’re part of this family now too. We’ll protect you.”
I didn’t know why I’d just made such a claim. I could see Tweedle from the corner of my eye, looking at me like I’d lost my damn mind. Maybe I had.
“Even from him?” Her voice trembled, but there was a fierce determination burning in her eyes.
“Especially from him,” I said, my anger rising at the thought of the bastard who’d hurt her. “He won’t lay another finger on you, I promise.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, leaning against me. And as I held her close, I knew that the Underland MC would do anything to keep our newest member safe.
Shit. You’re so fucked, Hatter. You already consider her one of your own . I needed to kick my own ass for not following my own rules. But for now, I’d do what I could to help her settle in.
“Hey, Hatter,” Mock called out, leaning against the wall with a lazy grin. “You sure know how to pick them, don’t you? Never thought I’d see the day you went soft for a woman.”
“Shut up, Mock.” I felt my muscles tense even more. But deep down, I appreciated his attempt to lighten the mood.
“Aw, come on, brother!” Mock chuckled, winking at Jo. “Just messing with you. We all know there’s more to this woman. Has to be for you to bring her here. Maybe she’s exactly what this club needs.”
I rolled my shoulders, trying to force the tension from my body, and shot him a warning glare. He shrugged, hands raised in surrender, but his smirk never left his face.
“All right, all right,” he said, backing off. “Just trying to help.”
“Help by keeping your mouth shut,” I muttered, turning my attention back to Jo. She looked so small and fragile, her battered body huddled close to mine. The protective instincts that had driven me my entire life kicked into overdrive, and I knew I couldn’t let anything happen to her while she was under our roof.
I could feel every tremor that ran through her body, the tangible evidence of the hell she’d been through. It made my blood boil, and I promised myself again that I’d keep her safe, no matter what. As she relaxed, I knew I’d made the right decision in bringing her here. She needed us just as much as we needed her fire.
“Rest now,” I murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “You’re safe here. With us.”
And as she closed her eyes and leaned into my embrace, I knew the decision I’d made tonight was one that would change the rest of my life. Even if I wasn’t certain to what extent.
I’d heard of people having this sense of knowing when they met the person meant to be theirs. I didn’t have any idea if that’s what was going on, or if I just felt drawn to her because of her situation. But we had plenty of time to figure it out.
The club members’ gazes darted between Jo and me, their faces set with concern. Rabbit shifted his weight, his boots scuffing the floor. Mock cracked his knuckles, while Absolem bit down on a cigar. Their unspoken worry hung heavy in the air.
“All right, boys,” I said, my voice steady as I tried to keep my own unease in check. “We need a plan.”
“Plan for what?” Absolem asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.
“Protecting Jo,” I replied, standing up. I didn’t take my gaze off her. She looked so vulnerable curled in the corner of the worn-out couch -- like a wounded bird surrounded by wolves.
“From whom, exactly?” Mock questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“Her ex,” I answered, my mind racing as I thought of ways to keep her safe from harm. “And whoever else wants to hurt her.”
“Damn it, Hatter,” Rabbit muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Why do you always have to be the hero?”
“Because someone has to,” I shot back, glaring at him. “And right now, she needs us.”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Watch the perimeter, double-check security, and make sure no one gets near her without our say-so,” I ordered, my voice firm. “We’ll take turns keeping watch too. Can’t risk any surprises.”
“Got it.” Mock nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. “You can count on us, brother.”
“Thanks,” I murmured. Even if I didn’t know for certain if anyone here had betrayed our club, these men had been at my back for a lot of years. I’d felt nothing but gratitude for them. They were family. They might be rough around the edges, but they had hearts of gold -- something Jo would soon learn. Despite the doubts starting to creep in from this latest fiasco, I had to believe these were good men.
With a final look at Jo, I turned to face my brothers. “Let’s get to work.”
For one, I’d need to figure out where she was staying. The only rooms with beds were all taken. Something told me she wouldn’t like sharing with any of us.
“What’s first?” Tweedle asked.
“She needs a place to stay. A room of her own.”
He snorted. “She isn’t just going to stay in yours? You seem attached.”
“I want her to be comfortable. Any way we can get a bed set up tonight?” I asked.
Rabbit raised a hand. “I’ve been storing odds and ends in the shed out back. Think there’s a bed frame and mattress in there. Nothing fancy.”
“Get it and find some clean bedding for her. That will do for now, unless there’s anything else out there she can use in her room.” I pointed to Rabbit. “I’m trusting you with this job, and it’s important, so don’t go fucking it up.”
“What about me?” Absolem asked.
“Get me everything you can on Edward Lewis. I know we already have some intel, but we need more, and we need it five minutes ago.”
He nodded. “Done.”
The brothers scattered, each focused on the task at hand. The clubhouse buzzed with activity, the normally laid-back atmosphere replaced by one of urgency.
I returned to Jo’s side, settling on the couch next to her. Her eyes fluttered open, and I wondered if she’d been awake for everything I’d said.
“They’re going to get you set up,” I reassured her, trying to keep my voice steady. There was hope in her eyes -- a glimmer that hadn’t been there before.
“Thank you,” she whispered, giving me a small smile.
I gave her hand a light squeeze and swallowed hard, not sure what to say. This girl -- this broken, beautiful creature -- had turned my world upside down. And I hadn’t even known her for an hour. What the hell was going to happen to me after she’d been here for a while? My brothers were going to give me shit, but I wasn’t sure I cared right now.
As I looked around at the guys hustling and bustling around, I couldn’t help but feel a strange contrast between our rugged existence and her fragile appearance.
Seeing the familiar sights, smells, and sounds through her eyes made me realize just how different our worlds were. But perhaps that’s what we needed -- someone to shake things up a bit. Even if Eddie had been abusive, she’d probably lived someplace luxurious. I wasn’t sure what she’d think of our clubhouse, or the meager things we could offer her.
“Is everything okay?” Her soft voice broke through my thoughts causing me to look at her again.
“Yeah,” I replied, giving her a small reassuring nod. “Just thinking.”
Turning toward me, she seemed to search my face for something before letting out a sigh of relief. “You’re going to keep me safe?”
“I promise,” I assured her without hesitation.
“Just like that?” Her eyes wide with disbelief.
“Just like that,” I echoed back confidently.
There was no other way it could be. She was Underland’s responsibility now -- our charge, our sister… and in some strange way, I thought she might be our salvation.
I looked around and found the room empty except for Jo and me. She was watching me intently. Her dark, swollen eyes were uncertain but unwavering -- a testament to her resilient spirit.
The door to the clubhouse swung open, and March strode in, his face grim. He’d been our rock since we’d formed Underland MC, always keeping a cool head and an even keel no matter what chaos erupted around us. Now his eyes held a storm I hadn’t seen before.
“Hatter,” he said. “I’ve scouted the area. No sign of trouble yet, but I’ve beefed up security just in case. Had a few things in place I hadn’t switched on yet, but everything is up and running now.”
“Good work,” I replied, watching as Jo’s gaze flickered between us. “We’re setting up a room for Jo.”
March gave a curt nod. “I’ll check on the progress.” He moved toward the back rooms with purposeful strides.
It felt surreal, all of us rallying around this small girl who’d thrust herself into our lives. But Underland MC was a family -- fierce and loyal. We’d protect Jo with everything we had.
And me? Well, I was beginning to suspect that Jo meant more to me than simply being a charge under my protection. But that wasn’t something I was ready to dig into. I’d place that idea on the back burner for now.
At the moment, all that mattered was keeping Jo safe. And finding out who was the rat, but that last part could wait a day or two. As for the club we’d heard was coming this way, all I could do was hope we were wrong. I didn’t have nearly enough men to tackle too many things at once.