Chapter Ten
Hatter
The stench of blood and sweat filled the air as March’s boots cracked against broken glass, his stride all business. I watched him go, my gut telling me he was on the hunt for the rat. Good. One less thing to worry about right now.
“Shake, I appreciate you and your boys stepping in,” I said, my voice rough. Shake nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. Trust wasn’t something we handed out easily, but he’d earned it tonight.
His crew exchanged glances, their faces hard and unyielding. They knew what was coming next, and they were ready for it. This might be a job they’d be paid for, but first and foremost, they understood having a brotherhood you’d live and die for.
I scanned the rest of the men, my gaze settling on each one as I weighed their loyalties. My hand tightened around the grip of my gun, the cold metal reassuring against my palm.
“We’ve got a traitor in our midst. March is bringing him back here, and when he does, we’re going to make sure he regrets ever crossing us.” Murmurs of agreement rippled through the group, their expressions darkening with determination.
“Never thought I’d see the day when one of our own would sell us out,” Knave muttered, his voice laced with disgust. He rubbed the stubble on his chin, his eyes clouded with anger.
“When we find them, I want first dibs,” Cheshire said.
“Fair enough,” I agreed, my own fury simmering just below the surface. Betrayal cut deep, especially when it came from someone you’d let walk through your front door. I had to keep my head clear, though, if there was any hope of untangling this mess and saving Jo. And God help anyone who stood in my way.
“Think we could use Teddy somehow? I mean, to get to Eddie or find his current location?” Tweedle asked.
“If he knows, I doubt he’d say anything. But I won’t stop anyone from trying to pull it out of him by whatever means are necessary,” I said.
Nearly an hour later, the door to the clubhouse slammed open, March’s massive frame looming in the entryway as he dragged Teddy behind him like a rag doll. The atmosphere thickened with tension and unease, the other members of Underland MC glaring at Teddy with barely concealed disgust and anger. Fucking traitor.
“Got him,” March said, tossing Teddy onto the floor before us. The bastard didn’t even try to fight back, his eyes wide and panicked, sweat pouring down his face.
“Good job,” I told March, clapping him on the back. “Now let’s get this shit sorted out.”
The other club members murmured their agreement, their gazes never leaving Teddy. He looked like a cornered animal, desperate and terrified. Served him right.
“Wait here,” I said to the group, my gaze sweeping over them before I turned and headed down the hall. I had to make sure Jo was asleep before we dealt with Teddy. I still couldn’t believe the fucker had been spying on all of us.
Pushing open the door to Jo’s room, I found her curled up under the covers, fast asleep. For a moment, her peaceful expression made me forget the chaos outside. I felt a fierce protectiveness surge through me, knowing that she was counting on us to keep her safe.
“Mock,” I called softly, gesturing for him to join me. His wild hair and unkempt beard created an unsettling contrast to Jo’s fragile form, but I now knew his loyalty to the club was unwavering. I’d never admit to him I’d considered the fact he or Knave could have been the rat. “Stay here, guard the door. Don’t let her come out until we’ve dealt with Teddy.”
“Got it, Hatter,” Mock replied. His haunted eyes met mine, understanding the importance of his task. Good. She needed someone watching her back, and Mock wouldn’t let her down. I’d noticed the way she’d seemed at ease with him.
I stepped back out into the hallway, closing Jo’s door behind me. It was time to deal with Teddy and make sure he’d never pose a threat to my family again.
I walked back into the main room, the air thick with tension and the stench of betrayal. Cheshire stood in the center, his cold eyes locked onto Teddy, who was tied to a chair. March had done a quick job of securing him, and now it was time for answers. Although, I did wonder how we’d still had a chair. The rest of the furniture lay in debris around the clubhouse.
“Start talking, you piece of shit,” Cheshire spat, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. I could see the fury boiling beneath his calm exterior, and I knew Teddy’s fate was sealed. All that remained to be seen was how much he’d suffer before the end came.
“Please… I didn’t want to do it!” Teddy stammered. His face was twisted with fear, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for a way out. But there was no escape.
“Who put you up to this?” Cheshire demanded, gripping Teddy’s jaw and forcing him to meet his gaze. It was like watching a predator sizing up its prey, and I couldn’t help but feel a grim satisfaction at the fear in Teddy’s eyes.
“It was Eddie Lewis,” Teddy confessed, his voice trembling. “He found me when I was desperate for cash, said he’d pay me well if I helped him take down the club from the inside. Even before you took Jo, he wanted you gone. Then he found out she was here, he wanted her back.”
“Son of a bitch,” I muttered under my breath, my fists clenching at the mention of Eddie’s name. It made sense. He’d see us as a threat to what he was building in Warren.
Cheshire pulled out a knife and held it to Teddy’s throat. “What else? I doubt you played a small part in all this. We didn’t talk around you enough for you to give them as many details as I think you did.”
Teddy audibly swallowed. “Listening devices. Although, I did hear some stuff myself.”
“Where did you plant the listening devices?” Cheshire asked, his voice cold and unyielding.
“In the bedrooms, behind the dressers,” Teddy replied, tears streaming down his face. “Another under the bar, and one in the kitchen. I’m sorry, I never meant for anyone to get hurt. I just needed the money, and Eddie said he’d take care of me.”
“Take care of you?” Cheshire sneered, releasing Teddy’s jaw with a vicious shove. “Looks like he did a real great job of that. He fucking ran like a coward. Didn’t care if any of his men lived or died, you included.”
As much as I wanted to beat the hell out of Teddy for the part he’d played in bringing Eddie into this clubhouse, I could tell Cheshire needed an outlet for his fury right now. But I did have another question for him…
“What about the rival club we heard was heading here from North Carolina? You have a part in that too?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yeah, but it was on Eddie’s orders. He’s done business with them before and wanted them to take over this town, chase Underland out.”
“Anything else that asshole is responsible for?” I asked.
Teddy glanced at Jo. “He sent thugs after her, but they got distracted. I heard she stood up to them, though. Eddie didn’t like that. Said she’d need to learn her place again.”
I had a feeling we’d gleaned all the information we could from Teddy. He’d now outlived his usefulness. He might talk a bit, but I could tell the man was too scared of Eddie to take us to his hideout, or tell us how to find him.
“Time’s up, Teddy,” Cheshire snarled, his smile morphing into something twisted and sinister. As he drew back his fist, his cold blue eyes locked onto mine for just a moment. It was like the devil himself had taken over my brother, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Cheshire’s fist collided with Teddy’s face, releasing a sickening crunch.
“Please,” Teddy whimpered through broken teeth, blood streaming from his nose. “I’ll do anything.”
“Too late for that,” Cheshire said. His fists moved like pistons, each punch landing with brutal precision. Every time Teddy tried to cry out, another blow silenced him. The room filled with the sounds of pained grunts and flesh meeting flesh.
“Fucking traitor,” Cheshire spat, his breath ragged as he continued his assault. My stomach churned at the sight, but I couldn’t look away. This needed to be done. Teddy had betrayed us, and he needed to pay for it.
“Cheshire.” He paused, his fist still raised, and looked over at me. The malicious grin on his face sent a chill through my bones. “Finish it.”
Cheshire nodded and reached down to draw his knife from his boot. “Any last words, Teddy?”
“Please… mercy,” Teddy choked out, his eyes wide with terror. Cheshire pressed the blade against Teddy’s throat.
“Mercy?” Cheshire laughed, the sound devoid of any warmth. “You should have thought about that before you fucked with the Underland MC.”
With a swift, brutal motion, Cheshire’s knife sliced across Teddy’s neck. Blood sprayed across Cheshire and the room. Teddy gurgled as his life drained away, and soon, he slumped forward. I’d never wanted to desecrate our clubhouse like this, but sometimes, you had to do what was necessary even if you didn’t want to. The fight earlier had been one thing. We didn’t bring that shit here. Eddie had. We’d simply defended ourselves. But Cheshire killing a captive Teddy was another matter entirely.
“May God have mercy on your soul,” Cheshire whispered, wiping his blade clean on Teddy’s shirt. But deep down, I knew that neither of us believed in mercy anymore.
Shake’s crew moved with practiced efficiency. Without a word, they wrapped Teddy’s lifeless form in a tarp, hands steady despite the gruesome task before them.
“Thanks for stepping up,” I muttered to Shake as I watched his men work. He just nodded, understanding that there was no joy in this moment.
The heavy silence in the clubhouse seemed to press down on us all, suffocating any chance of conversation. We’d done what was necessary, but the weight of our actions settled on our shoulders like a leaden shroud.
“Fuck,” March said, breaking the quiet. His eyes met mine, and we shared a silent understanding. This was the cost of loyalty, the sacrifices we made to protect our brothers in the Underland MC.
“Get some rest,” I told the others, my voice raw. “We’ll deal with the fallout tomorrow.”
“Rest?” Cheshire scoffed, his grin gone, replaced by a hollow expression. “After this shitshow? You really think any of us are going to sleep tonight? Not to mention, have you seen this place? We’re sitting ducks.”
“For tonight, board up the windows and do your best with the door. Then try to sleep,” I insisted, clapping him on the shoulder. “We all need it.”
As they dispersed, I found myself alone in the bloody room. The coppery smell filled my nostrils, a constant reminder of the violence we’d wrought. It was a necessary evil, but it didn’t make the burden any lighter.
My thoughts turned to Jo, asleep in her room, blissfully unaware of the carnage just down the hall. She deserves better than this. Instead of escaping the violence she’d experienced living with Eddie… Well, look at this mess . I wasn’t sure she was much safer. Sure, none of us would beat her, but it didn’t mean her life wouldn’t be in danger.
She’d been in the middle of the gunfight with Eddie’s men earlier. Now we’d brought a traitor here and murdered him while she slept. This wasn’t the way I’d wanted to live my life after leaving the military. I’d just wanted to settle in a quiet town, maintain the brotherhood I’d discovered while serving, and find a way to carve out a new life for all of us. But I’d thought my days of fighting were over.
“Shake,” I called out as he passed by the door. “Make sure she doesn’t find out about this, all right?”
“Of course, Hatter,” he replied, his voice solemn. “You have my word.”
“Thanks.” I nodded.
As I walked away from the room, I couldn’t help but feel like we’d crossed a line that could never be uncrossed. The Underland MC had always been a family, bound together by our shared past and unbreakable loyalty. We’d also been killers, but this was different.
“God help us,” I whispered into the darkness, knowing full well that there would be no divine intervention to save us from ourselves. We’d essentially murdered Teddy. Attacking people who threatened us was one thing, but Teddy had been helpless against us. I’d met plenty of clubs who wouldn’t have batted an eye over all this. All tough as nails, take-no-shit types of men. Technically that was us too, but we’d all seen enough bloodshed to last a lifetime. I’d thought being a civilian would be different.
Much like my brothers, I couldn’t sleep. Instead, I found myself wandering through the woods behind the clubhouse. It wasn’t long before I came to the cliff overlooking a stream.
I stood on the edge, staring down at the inky blackness below. The wind whispered through the trees. A cold feeling settled in my gut.
“Didn’t think I’d see the day,” Cheshire muttered, his voice barely audible above the howling wind.
I tried not to show the fact he’d startled me. I hadn’t even heard the fucker walk up behind me. “None of us did,” I replied, my tone bitter. “But we’re here now, and there’s no going back.”
“Damn right.” He clenched his fists, anger pulsing through him like a live wire. “Eddie will pay for what he’s done to Jo, and for turning one of our own against us. Not to mention, the asshat destroyed our clubhouse. Absolem is fucking pissed.”
“Be careful, Cheshire,” I warned, my eyes still fixed on the abyss. “Don’t let your thirst for revenge lead you down a path you can’t return from.”
“Teddy made his choice,” Cheshire spat, venom dripping from his words. “I don’t regret taking out the trash. And I’m just getting started. Eddie won’t walk away from this unscathed.”
“None of us will,” I said quietly, the weight of our actions pressing down upon me like a crushing burden. In that moment, I knew that even if we brought Eddie down, the cost would be irreparable. The Underland MC would never be the same again, and neither would any of us.
We’d done unspeakable things, all at the orders from our commanding officers. But that was different. We’d been trained to fight for freedom, and yet, we’d now spilled blood on our own soil, and not as a means of self-defense.
“Let’s go,” I finally said, turning away from the darkness and striding back toward the clubhouse. “There’s work to be done.”
“Right behind you, Hatter,” Cheshire replied, his determination unwavering.
As we walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Eddie was waiting, biding his time until he could strike back with brutal force. We’d dealt him a significant blow by exposing and executing Teddy, as well as killing quite a few of his men, but I knew that wouldn’t be enough to stop him. If anything, it would only serve to fuel his rage.
“Whatever’s coming our way,” I murmured, more to myself than to Cheshire, “we’ll face it head on.”
“Damn straight,” he agreed, his voice hard as steel. “The Underland MC stands united.”
I nodded, but deep down, my gut was telling me the storm was only just beginning. And when it hit, there’d be no telling who would still be standing.