Page 38 of Hatter

My heart thumped in anticipation. Jo, the woman who’d somehow found her way into our lives, and into my soul, deserved this. Deserved to feel like she belonged. I wanted to see her face when I gave her the charm bracelet. Would she understand its significance?

“Hey, Hatter!” called a voice from outside the garage. “We got work to do, man!”

“Coming, Shake,” I replied, tucking the bracelet into my pocket. This surprise had to wait. We had bigger fish to fry. But soon, I’d give it to her. Soon, she’d know how much she meant to me, and to the Underland MC.

I followed Shake through the clubhouse and toward the kitchen. It smelled like heaven. Jo’s handiwork no doubt. I pushed through the door, my heart hammering in my chest. The bracelet, heavy with meaning, weighed down my pocket as I approached her. I’d thought I’d have to wait to give it to her, but here she was…

“Hey,” I said, trying to sound casual. “What are you cooking?”

“Spaghetti Bolognese,” she replied, stirring the sauce with a wooden spoon. “I hope it’s okay.”

“Everything you make is great,” I assured her. My nerves were getting the best of me; I wasn’t used to this feeling. It was like going into battle for the first time all over again. Steadying myself, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the charm bracelet.

“I got something for you.” I held out my hand, the silver charms glinting in the warm light of the kitchen.

Her eyes widened as she took in the delicate symbols that adorned the chain. “Hatter… what is this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Each charm represents a brother in the club,” I explained, pointing to each one in turn. “Cheshire, Rabbit, Tweedle, Knave, Mock, Absolem, Carpenter, March… and this one’s me.” I tapped the skull with the hat. “It’s a symbol of our bond, our loyalty. And I wanted you to have it.”

Her fingers traced the charms with reverence, tears welling up in her eyes. “This means so much to me,” she said, her voice trembling. “Thank you, Hatter.”

“You deserve it, Jo. You’re part of us now,” I murmured, watching as she fastened the bracelet around her wrist.

As it settled there, a perfect fit, I knew I’d never seen anything more right in my life. Might not be a ring, but I thought this was better.

The way Jo’s eyes shimmered with tears as she looked at the charm bracelet warmed my heart. Knowing she was mine filled me with a fierce protectiveness. “I want you to know how much you mean to me, how much you mean to all of us,” I said, my voice rough and low.

She looked up at me, her eyes shining even brighter, and I could see that she got it. She understood. And that meant everything to me. I leaned in, pressing my lips softly against hers, letting all the love and loyalty I felt for her pour into that one kiss.

“Thank you, Hatter,” she whispered when we broke apart, a smile dancing on her lips.

“Every time you wear it, just remember, you’re one of us now.”

With that, I turned away from her and walked over to the table where the mercenaries and my brothers gathered, their voices low and determined. They were talking about how we were going to take Eddie down, and I needed to be part of the conversation.

“Any new ideas?” I asked as I sat down, my eyes locked on the map spread out before us.

“Still working on it, brother,” Cheshire replied, tapping his fingers on the table.

“Let’s brainstorm some more. We’ll find a way,” March said, his focus unwavering.

As they kept discussing it, my gaze drifted back to Jo, who was still standing by the stove, the charm bracelet glinting on her wrist. It was a reminder of the love and trust that bound us together, and I knew that whatever we faced in our fight against Eddie, we’d do it as a family. That was the only way we knew how to do things in the Underland MC.

The tension in the room wrapped around me like a damn noose, thick and suffocating. Cheshire, Shake, and March hunched over the table, brows furrowed, working out how we were going to deal with Eddie. My thoughts were so consumed with the woman standing nearby, and the moment we’d shared earlier, that I had trouble focusing.

“Hit them hard and fast. Take out their guards first,” Shake suggested, his voice low and steady.

“Too risky,” March countered. “We need a more calculated approach. And we need to discuss every possible variable. We may not survive another surprise.”

“Damn it, we can’t wait around forever!” Cheshire slammed his fist on the table, making the map shake.

“Keep it together, brother,” I warned, my eyes fixed on his.

“Surveillance,” March said suddenly, his gaze locked on mine. “Gather intel, find their weak spots, then strike when they least expect it.”

“Sounds good to me.” I nodded. “Except we’ve been trying that and look where it got us before. I have a feeling time is of the essence.”

“Let’s get to work then.” Shake slapped the table and stood up, ready for action. “My men and I will figure out where Eddie has holed up and gather as much info as we can.”

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