Page 36 of Hatter

“We’ve got your back, Jo. Always.” He reached out to lightly touch my cheek. “Besides, we found out Eddie already had it in for us. He’d have done his best to either buy us or run us out of town, and I’m thinking he was opting for the second one. You aren’t the only reason we’re fighting.”

The air between us seemed charged, heavy with the weight of unspoken words. Hatter’s gaze held mine as he moved closer. We stood there, just a breath apart, like two opposing forces drawn together by an invisible pull.

The warmth of his hand on my cheek sent shivers down my spine. I leaned into the touch, a quiet sob escaping my lips. His thumb wiped away the tears that had begun to spill over, and the intensity in his eyes seemed to absorb all my fears, leaving nothing but a deep-rooted sense of safety.

“Promise me,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Promise me you won’t let him hurt anyone else.”

“Cross my heart.” The words were wrapped in steel, the conviction behind them undeniable. “We’ll keep you safe, no matter what it takes.”

“I don’t just mean me.”

He leaned in closer. “I know.”

I watched as his eyes flickered from mine to my lips, and back again, a silent question hanging in the balance. My heart pounded, my chest ached with the need for reassurance, for connection. And so, I nodded, giving him permission to bridge the gap between us, to seal the promise with something more tangible than words.

“Thank you,” I breathed, feeling the ghost of his lips brush against mine before they finally pressed together, tender yet unyielding. Each caress spoke volumes, conveying protection, devotion, and the unbreakable bond we now shared.

My relationship with Hatter felt almost as if it were destined. I knew a lot of people wouldn’t be able to understand. To some, this would be too fast. But we didn’t exactly have a conventional start, and the man had nearly died for my sake. He’d saved me twice when Eddie’s men came here, and I knew if he had the chance, he’d do it again.

I found solace in the unwavering determination etched across Hatter’s face. If Eddie dared to set foot near us, I knew with absolute certainty that he’d be met with a force to be reckoned with. And for the first time in my life, I felt like I truly belonged -- surrounded by people who would protect me, fight for me, and never let me down.

As Hatter pulled me into his embrace again, I held on with all my might, ready to face whatever the future may bring.

“Jo,” Hatter said softly, his voice a soothing balm against the chaos inside me. “I need you to know how much you matter to me. I care about you more than I ever thought possible.”

His words stirred something deep within me, a warmth that spread through my chest. But alongside it, fear gnawed at my insides, threatening to tear me apart. I looked away, unable to face him as I struggled with the conflicting emotions.

“Hatter, I -- I want to be with you too,” I whispered, my voice wavering. “But I’m scared. I already don’t want to lose you. If we get even closer, it would literally kill me if something happened to you.”

“Listen to me.” Hatter tipped my chin up. “Tomorrow is never promised. Even if Eddie wasn’t here, if corrupt politicians didn’t exist and the most heinous crime was ruining someone’s flower bed, bad things could still happen. What if you went out tomorrow and got hit by a car? What if I swallowed a piece of steak wrong and choked to death? We can’t run away from life because we’re too scared to live it.”

A tremor ran through me, desire and fear warring within. My heart ached to trust him completely, but the shadows of my past clung to me like a second skin. Could I risk everything for this connection, this chance at happiness?

“Tell me what you need,” Hatter urged, his breath warm against my cheek. “Anything. I’ll do it.”

“Stay with me,” I murmured, my eyes searching his, pleading for the stability I craved. “Just… stay.”

“Always,” he vowed, pulling me into his embrace, my body pressed against the safety of his chest. And for a moment, I wanted him more than I’d ever wanted anything.

I felt Hatter’s heart beating against my own, our chests rising and falling together as we clung to each other. The world outside this moment didn’t matter. Nothing did but the feel of him holding me.

“Jo,” he whispered, his breath ghosting over my ear. “I’m not letting you go. Not now. Not ever.”

“Even if I’m a danger to you? To the club?” My voice wavered, weak and shaky.

“Especially then,” he murmured, tightening his grip on me. “I didn’t want to push the issue before in case I scared you off, but… I’ve known you were mine since the night I brought you here, Jo. When I talked to you about being my old lady, it wasn’t a spur of the moment decision. And maybe I wasn’t clear when we became an official couple. I probably could have done things differently, or better. But us being together isn’t new.”

His words sank into my skin, seeping into my bones. We stood there, wrapped up in each other, and I let myself get lost in the warmth of his body. I inhaled the scent of his cologne -- something earthy -- and it filled my lungs, making me dizzy with need.

“Can’t promise everything will be okay,” he admitted, his lips brushing the curve of my neck. “But I promise to fight like hell for us.”

“Us…” I breathed out the word, almost too afraid to give it life. But it hung there between us, heavy and real, chasing away the shadows that lurked in the corners of my mind.

“Us,” he confirmed, pulling back just enough to look me in the eye. “You and me, Jo. Together, whatever comes.”

I stared at Hatter, seeing the truth in his eyes, and something inside me shifted. Maybe it was hope. Or maybe it was trust. But whatever it was, it made me feel alive for the first time in so damn long. “All right,” I whispered, pressing my lips to his in a tender, desperate kiss.

The world faded away, leaving nothing but me and Hatter in its place. His hands found my waist, fingers digging into my skin like he was afraid I’d disappear. I gripped the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer.

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