Chapter Sixteen
Jo
Hatter’s blood, dark and warm, painted my fingers as I pressed the cloth against his arm. His eyes held mine, never flinching from the pain, but something deeper flickered in them. I couldn’t tell if it was trust or a warning. But all I knew was that I had to help him.
“Keep this on,” I said, trying to sound sure of myself. “It’ll stop the bleeding.” Hatter nodded, but he didn’t let go of my gaze.
“Thank you,” he murmured, his voice like gravel. “You’re good at this.” I tried not to blush, but damn, when the Mad Hatter compliments you, it’s hard to stay cool.
“Learned how to take care of myself,” I confessed, my words tumbling out. “I had to.”
His hand, rough and scarred, brushed mine for a moment before he pulled away. “You shouldn’t have had to,” he said, his voice heavy with a sadness I recognized. It was the same one that echoed inside me when I thought about my past.
“Same goes for you,” I retorted, my tone sharper than intended. Hatter didn’t seem offended. Instead, he chuckled, that enigmatic smile on his face.
“Fair enough,” he responded, quiet and somber. He watched me as I gathered supplies to tend to the others. The whole room felt too small, too hot, with Hatter’s gaze on me. But I couldn’t let that distract me. I had work to do.
“Let me see your hands,” I ordered, turning to Cheshire, who was nursing a nasty cut across his knuckles. He complied without hesitation, his eyes filled with gratitude.
“Thanks,” he mumbled, his cheeks reddening. It was strange, really, seeing these hardened bikers let me take care of them. But it felt right, like I belonged here with them, in this small mountain town.
“Keep your fists to yourself next time,” I teased as I wrapped the bandage around his hand.
He chuckled, a sheepish grin on his face. “I’ll try.”
“All right, who’s next?” I called out, scanning the room for the wounded. One by one, they came to me, each with their own war wounds, but they were alive. We had won today. And that was what mattered.
“Thank you, Jo,” they said, their voices gruff and sincere. And I couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride inside me. I had found my place here, with these rough-and-tumble men who had been through hell and back. They trusted me. And that meant something.
Once I had them all patched up, everyone went to their rooms to clean up. I guided Hatter to his and helped him shower. I felt heat pool low in my belly, and I’d have loved nothing more than to have his hands on me, but he seemed to be holding himself back.
“Are you sure Eddie is gone?” I asked, still finding it difficult to believe.
“Yeah. He won’t be bothering you anymore, and Absolem made sure no one would tie his disappearance to us. We’re all safe for now.”
“For now?” I wasn’t sure I liked that phrasing.
He shrugged then winced as it pulled on his cut. “Yeah, well. I can’t promise what the future holds. Eddie has apparently been the cause of a lot of our issues. Ones we hadn’t even realized were thanks to him, like other clubs nosing around and acting like they were going to take over Warren. Just because we got rid of one snake doesn’t mean another won’t pop up. But we’ll handle it like we do everything else -- together.”
“All right. Just remember, you promised me you’ll always come back to me,” I reminded him. If I’d lost Hatter today, or any of them really, I wasn’t sure what I’d have done. I’d come to care about these men more than I’d ever thought possible. Especially the one in front of me. I went up on my tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek. I wondered if he knew how much he meant to me.
By the time we’d finished and gathered in the main room again, it seemed the beginnings of a party had started. Music poured from speakers in the corner of the room, and Mock stood behind the bar, handing out cold beers. A few of the club members went outside, and I heard more than one bike roar to life.
I couldn’t imagine where they’d go when they had everything they needed right here. Or maybe not. I was the only woman in this place, and from what I’d gathered, none of them were dating anyone. Maybe some of them wanted a different kind of party to celebrate being alive. I couldn’t blame them.
As the night wore on, and the time slowly slipped beyond midnight and into the next day, the music seemed to get louder, and so did the laughter. I grabbed a shot of whiskey, letting it slide down my throat and leave a warmth in its wake. The world spun a little faster.
“Jo!” Knave called out excitedly by the door where Mock stood grinning wildly beside him. It seemed they’d been the ones to leave and had come back with friends. Or dates. Both women had on tight dresses and sky-high heels looking like they belonged on a fancy catwalk instead of in our rustic clubhouse.
“Hey, Jo,” Mock said grinning wildly as always. “Thought we’d liven things up a bit.”
Sure looked lively, I thought, taking another swig from my glass as my eyes strayed toward the contrast between these women and myself. While they were wearing make-up, had clearly styled their hair, and probably taken hours to get ready, I simply had on jeans and shirt, and had only run a brush through my hair. Thankfully, Hatter seemed to like me just as I was. After the things Eddie put me through, and the way he’d dress me up to show me off to his friends and associates, I wasn’t eager to get dolled up anytime soon. Although, a date night with Hatter at a restaurant somewhere did sound rather nice.
Now that Eddie was gone, and Hatter thought things would be quiet, I wondered how things would change between us. We had finally had the time to do fun stuff and not constantly look over our shoulders. In fact, I hadn’t even left the compound since he’d brought me here. Knowing I was free to go into town was both thrilling and a little scary. Despite knowing Eddie wouldn’t be coming for me anymore, I wasn’t sure how long it would take for the nervousness to go away completely. What if one of his thugs recognized me? Would they try to hurt me?
It was something I’d have to discuss with Hatter -- on another day. Right now, everyone needed to relax and have some fun. Myself included, and I knew Hatter definitely needed to.
As the night wore on, I lost myself in laughter and camaraderie with my newfound family, watching as Knave and Mock danced with their female friends, full of life and joy.
The music pulsed through me like a living thing urging me to move and forget the darkness that settled in my bones. A hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me to the dance floor. I glanced up, meeting Hatter’s piercing eyes. A small smile played on his lips, and I couldn’t help but return it.
“Care for a dance, Jo?” he asked, his voice low and soothing.
“All right,” I said, my heart pounding in my chest as our bodies began to move together.
We swayed to the rhythm of the music, our limbs in sync like we’d been doing this forever. As we danced, I stole glances at him, finding comfort in his strong presence. His hands were firm yet gentle on my body, making me feel protected and cherished.
Hatter leaned in so close that I could feel his warm breath on my skin. “You’ve got a strength in you that I haven’t seen in a long time.”
I looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there, and my throat tightened with emotion. “Thank you,” I whispered, barely able to find my voice. It was probably the nicest thing anyone could have said to me. I’d much prefer to be considered strong than beautiful. After all, looking nice is what had gotten me into the mess with Eddie to begin with.
“Listen up!” Hatter suddenly shouted, stepping away from me and raising a beer bottle high in the air. The room quieted down, all eyes on him. “I wanted to thank each and every one of you for your loyalty and bravery when we faced off against our enemy. We took a hit, but we came out stronger. Here’s to the Underland MC! To our victory, and the ones who fought by our side!”
“Cheers!” everyone echoed, raising their glasses or bottles and clinking them together. The room erupted in whistles, whoops, and applause, but all I could focus on was the man standing before me.
As Hatter’s gaze met mine, I saw the fierce determination in his eyes -- the same fire that burned within me. And though the road ahead may have been uncertain, I knew that together, we could face whatever lay waiting in the shadows.
I stood beside Hatter, the air electric with triumph and camaraderie. Raising my glass, I joined in the toast, feeling like I belonged here, with these rough men who’d become family to me. My heart swelled, pride pumping through my veins.
“Let’s eat!” someone shouted, and the room burst into action.
The aroma of food flooded the air -- savory meats, spicy sides, and that sweet tang of barbecue sauce. My stomach rumbled, as if it knew what was coming. I slipped into the kitchen, pitching in to help, serving plates piled high with grub to the hungry club members and their guests. I didn’t know who’d called in catering from the local barbeque place, but I was grateful.
“Thanks, Jo.” Knave grinned, grabbing his plate with a wink. “Looks amazing.”
“Enjoy it,” I told him, smiling back. It felt good to be part of something, to be appreciated.
“Damn, girl,” Mock said, eyeing his plate like he hadn’t ever seen food before. “You sure know how to serve up a feast.”
“Can’t take all the credit,” I said, shrugging. “I didn’t cook it. I’m only serving it. No idea who ordered it.”
“Your part means a lot,” Hatter said, coming up behind me. His hand rested on my shoulder, gentle but firm, sending shivers down my spine. “And for the record, Cheshire probably ordered the food.”
I leaned back against Hatter, enjoying his touch and taking comfort in his presence.
“Come on, let’s get you some food,” he urged, guiding me to the table. He piled a plate for me, his fingers brushing mine as he handed it over. I could feel the heat of his touch.
“Thanks,” I murmured, our eyes locking for a moment before the noise of the celebration pulled us back.
As I sat down, surrounded by laughter and conversation, I knew that I’d found something special here. The Underland MC wasn’t just a club -- it was family. And I’d be damned if I let anything tear us apart.
The room swirled with laughter and smoky voices, rough men sharing stories like they were passing around a bottle of whiskey. Something warm spread through my chest as I listened, trying to soak up the life that filled this place.
“Jo.” Cheshire grinned and leaned in closer. “Did I ever tell you about the time we stole a military truck and drove it straight into town to a bar?”
“Can’t say you had.” I chuckled, curious. “How’d that go?”
“Like a dream,” he boasted, pride in his voice. “At least, until our superiors caught us. But the punishment wasn’t so bad, especially considering the lovely ladies who kept me company until I had to return to my unit.”
I nodded and tried not to laugh.
“Hey, Jo,” Rabbit said, pulling up a chair beside me. “You ever ride a bike before? I mean, on your own.”
“Can’t say that I have,” I admitted, feeling a bit sheepish. “Sounds exciting though.”
“Once everyone heals up, I’ll teach you. As long as Hatter permits it,” he promised. His eyes sparkled with mischief. “There’s nothing like the feel of the wind on your face when you’re tearing down the open road.”
“Sounds thrilling,” I said, my heart beating a little faster at the thought. Never had anyone offer to teach me anything before. At least, not something like this.
“Thrilling doesn’t even begin to cover it.” He grinned, clapping me on the back.
“All right, everyone,” Hatter’s voice boomed over the din, and the room fell silent. “I’ve got something important to discuss. But first, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure, Hatter.” I nodded, following him as he led me away from the noise and chaos of the celebration. We found a quiet corner, the shadows clinging to the walls like old friends.
“Jo,” he said, his voice low and serious. “I just wanted to check in with you, see how you’re holding up. This is a lot to take in.”
“I’m doing all right,” I told him honestly. “It’s… nice, actually. Feels good to be part of something. And despite everything that happened, everyone is so relaxed and happy.”
“Good.” He nodded, his eyes softening. “You deserve this. You deserve to feel safe and cared for.”
“Thank you, Hatter,” I whispered, my throat tight with emotion. “For everything.”
“Anytime,” he replied, his gaze never leaving mine. In that moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world, and all the darkness and pain that had come before faded away, swallowed up by the warmth of this place, these people, and this man who’d become my safe harbor in a sea of nightmares.
“Since you came into our lives, you’ve made this place feel more like home than it ever has. And I… I never thought I’d find someone who could make me feel whole again. But you do.” He cupped my cheek, staring down at me tenderly.
“Same for me, Hatter,” I whispered, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. “You’ve given me something I never knew I needed.”
He leaned in, closing the gap between us, and our lips met in a desperate, aching kiss that sent shivers down my spine. Our emotions swirled together, the pain of the past and the hope of the present colliding with all the force of a hurricane. I placed my hands on the back of his neck, fingers tangled in his hair, while his grip on my waist pulled me closer, as if we could meld into one.
“Jo,” he breathed against my lips, breaking apart just enough to speak. “I’m terrified of losing you.”
“Me too, Hatter,” I admitted, not caring about the vulnerability in my words. “But I’m not going anywhere.”
“Promise?” he asked, his eyes searching mine for any hint of doubt.
“Promise,” I confirmed, sealing it with another tender kiss.
“Let’s go back,” he said after a moment, his voice steady and sure. “Our family’s waiting.”
I nodded, taking his outstretched hand as we walked back to the celebration, our fingers intertwined. The noise and laughter washed over us like waves, but I hardly noticed it now. All that mattered was Hatter by my side, and the Underland MC standing strong around us, ready to face whatever storms may come.
I sat at the table and listened to his speech about what he hoped the future of Underland MC would look like, and he was counting on everything to help make the town of Warren a vibrant and happy place for everyone.
As the night wore on, I saw new sides to Hatter, and fell even deeper in love with him.