Page 17 of Hatter

“Jo, this is Knave.” He stood, towering over Jo. He gave her a brief nod. His tight jaw and the hardness in his eyes told me plenty. The man had been badly scarred during his years of service, and he’d often had people call him a monster. Now he put up a wall when he met new people.

“Like the Knave of Hearts?” she asked.

“Exactly like that.” I smiled.

“Welcome,” he said, keeping it simple. Idiot probably thought he was going to scare her.

“Thanks,” she murmured, her gaze darted away, and I felt a tremor run through her. Maybe he’d been right. It seemed she was scared of him.

“Mock’s around here somewhere…” My words trailed off as I scanned the room. “I think you met him earlier. Not sure if he introduced himself, though.”

“As in the Mock Turtle?” She gazed up at me. “You really do all have names that fit with the story.”

“Yes, we do. And you’re correct about Mock Turtle.”

I found him across the room. He caught my gaze and approached, knocking a beer bottle off the bar along the way. It shattered, making Jo jump beside me. What the hell was his problem? I eyed him, trying to figure out why he seemed off. Then I realized he was either drunk off his ass or high.

“If it isn’t the new girl…” His tone had a darkness to it that I’d only heard when he’d been in a fight. Instead of jumping to her rescue, I waited to see what Jo would do. If she needed me to hold her hand every step of the way, she’d never be able to stand on her own two feet.

“Jo,” she corrected. She lifted her chin, trying to appear brave, even though I could feel the terror running through her. I had a feeling she’d told him her name already, and Mock either didn’t remember because he’d had too much to drink, or he was being a dick on purpose. If it was the latter of the two, I’d kick his ass.

“Right.” Mock’s laughter came out harsh, but I’d never questioned his loyalty. At least, not until I’d found out we had a rat. As much as I hoped it wasn’t him, or Knave for that matter, I couldn’t rule out either one. Even though Carpenter was technically the newest, he’d come highly recommended from people I trusted. No fucking way he’d become a rat.

I guided Jo through the clubhouse, letting her take it all in now that she’d had time to calm down. She perused the walls, which we’d decorated with old license plates and pieces of motorcycles. She paused when she came to a framed picture -- me and the other club officers, in our military days.

“You’ve known each other a long time,” she murmured.

“Yeah. They’re my brothers, and they will have your back just the same as they have mine.”

“Good to know,” she said. Her expression said she didn’t understand why our loyalty would extend to her. But she would soon enough. Telling her she was family and showing her what it meant were two different things. Not everyone had the support of people who cared. For all I knew, she’d had a shitty home life.

“Make yourself at home,” I said, gesturing to the worn couches and the pool table where some members were racking up balls for a new game. “I know this isn’t much for some people, but it’s the perfect place for us. We each have our own room and bathroom. There’s a kitchen with a large dining area, and this is where we kick back and relax.”

“Who does the cooking?” she asked.

“We take turns for the most part. Except Rabbit. He’s not allowed to work in the kitchen anymore, not after he had a little mishap with a knife and nearly lost a finger.”

“I can help. It isn’t right for me to not pitch in,” she said.

“Anything you need, you let us know. This is your sanctuary now, just like it’s ours. As for helping, give yourself at least a few more days.”

“But…”

I shook my head. “No. Focus on getting better. You were on the run from a monster. You don’t just bounce right back from that. Also, I know you don’t have anything. Clothes, bathroom stuff… None of us have a damn clue what to get for a woman, so…”

I handed her my phone, with a shopping app open for the nearest twenty-four-hour store. It should have anything she’d need. Might not be high end items, but at least she’d have the basics.

“Order what you need. I’ll come back in a bit and finish off the order. Someone can go pick it up and you’ll have the things you need by this afternoon.” I took a step back. “I have to go discuss something with my brothers. If you want something to drink, the kitchen is through the door to the left of the bar.”

I could feel her watching me as I walked away. I sat at the table where Cheshire and March were waiting.

“Any updates on who the rat might be?” I asked, jumping right into it.

Cheshire leaned against the back of his chair, arms crossed, his usual grin wiped clean off. “No. I haven’t found anything more on the situation.”

“Someone’s leaking info. It’s gotta stop,” I said. “Can’t have that around Jo. Hell, we don’t need that kind of trouble period.”

March nodded, silent as the grave, his face hard as stone. “I scouted that warehouse. Whoever had been there, they were gone. Couldn’t find so much as a scrap of trash that would tell us who they were or what they were up to.”

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