Page 13 of Hatter

“Rest,” he replied, as if reading my mind. His gaze lingered, dissecting my silence.

Alone with Absolem, the room felt colder, the space between us thick with unspoken questions.

“Observant,” I noted, watching him watch me. His posture relaxed, but his eyes never wavered. “You’ve been watching my every move and assessing me.”

“Part of the job,” he said, pulling up a chair. “You’re safe here, Jo. Remember that.”

Safe was a relative term. But lying here, under Absolem’s calculated vigil, it felt almost true. I wondered where the other man had gone -- Hatter. The one who’d given me a ride here.

“Sure,” I murmured, the word hollow but hopeful.

The chair creaked as Absolem settled into it, his body language open yet precise.

“Talk to me, Jo,” he began, the timbre of his voice steady. “How’d you get tangled up with the kind of trouble that landed you here?”

I shifted in the bed, pain lancing through my ribs. “Started with a guy,” I said, wincing. “Thought he was the world. Turned out, he was hell wrapped in charm.”

Absolem nodded, just listening.

“Got out, but he…” I trailed off, the memories sharp. “He didn’t like losing possessions.”

“Is that what brought you to Warren?” His question was direct, the words like bullets. “Your accent doesn’t sound like you’re from here.”

“I had to go where Eddie went. Not that I have a home to return to.”

“Are you questioning your decision to ask us for help?”

“Can you blame me?” My laugh was bitter. “Jumping from one lion’s den to another. With Eddie, he was the devil I knew. I may have heard a few whispers about the Underland MC and seen you around town, but I know nothing about any of you.”

“Underland’s no lion’s den,” Absolem said, leaning forward slightly. “We’re more… a protective pack, if you’re going to stick with animals. We look after our own.”

“And I’m ‘your own’ now?” Skepticism laced my tone.

“Since the moment you stepped out in front of us and Hatter decided to bring you here, you’ve been part of this family. He already told you that, didn’t he? We don’t turn our backs on people in need.”

“Even if it brings trouble?” I searched his face for any sign of hesitation.

“Especially then.” There was steel in his voice, a resolve that seemed unbreakable. “We stand together. That’s how we survive, and it’s how we’ll keep you safe.”

“Family, huh?” The concept felt foreign, like a language I’d forgotten how to speak. Even before Eddie, I hadn’t really had one of those. Although, my home life had been better than anything I experienced after meeting him. I just hadn’t realized it wasn’t as awful as I’d thought.

“Family,” he confirmed, a hint of warmth breaking through the cold facade. “You might not trust us yet but give it time. You’ll see.”

“Time…” I echoed, pondering the word. It was about all I had right now. On the street, every passing minute had felt like an eternity, just waiting for Eddie to catch me. Here, I could hide from the world and heal.

The silence stretched between us. I drew a shallow breath, my ribs protesting with a sharp twinge. Absolem’s words lingered in my mind. Whether I liked it or not, I didn’t have a choice but to put my faith in these men.

I glanced around the sparse room, its walls echoing stories they’d never tell. The Underland MC’s world was raw, unpolished steel and leather, miles away from anything I’d known. Yet here I was, nursing wounds both fresh and old, under their watchful eyes.

The men outside, despite their loud laughter, bore scars of their own -- each mark a testament to battles fought, some won, others lost. March’s stern gaze, Cheshire’s sly smile, Rabbit’s nervous energy -- they were all layers of armor. Then there was Absolem, quietly watching me.

A knot twisted in my gut, a tangle of gratitude and dread. They offered safety, a haven from the storm that was my past. But did I dare trust them?

“Jo?” Absolem’s voice broke through my reverie, his tone gentle. “You’ve gone quiet.”

“Sorry.” My reply was little more than a whisper. “Just thinking.”

“Thinking can be dangerous,” he said, the hint of a smirk on his face. It didn’t quite reach his eyes, though.

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