Page 31 of Cheshire

Eliza’s hand shook as she gripped the photograph, her knuckles turning white. “I can’t… I can’t believe he could do something so awful.” Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper. “These girls, they were just kids. How could he…”

She trailed off, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. The anguish on her face hit me like a punch to the gut. I wanted to pull her close, shield her from all this shit. But I knew she was stronger than that. Stronger than she realized.

I leaned forward, my voice low and intense. “Your old man is a real piece of work, no doubt about that. But we’ll take him down, Eliza. Him and every other scumbag involved in this.”

I spread out the documents on the table, jabbing my finger at the damning evidence. “It went deep. The sheriff has his hooks in everywhere -- deputies, politicians, businessmen. A whole Goddamn network of corruption, all working together to line their pockets with blood money. It starts in Warren, then fans out not only in this state, but also into North Carolina and Virginia.”

Anger simmered in my veins as I laid it all out. The web of lies, the betrayals, the shattered lives left in their wake. It was a fucking tragedy, and it ended now.

“We have solid leads on their operation from locations and shipment schedules to key players. It’s time to plan our final move. But when the sheriff goes down, we need to handle the mayor and Robert Lewis as well.”

Jo snorted. “Of course, Eddie’s father would be into this sick shit. Like father like son, I guess.”

Hatter hugged her tight. “We’ll get them all, sweetheart.”

Eliza set the photograph down, her jaw clenched with determination. “Whatever it takes, I want in. I can’t let my father destroy any more lives.”

Pride swelled in my chest at her strength, her resilience. She had been through hell, but she was still fighting. And with the Underland MC at her back, she would come out on top. I’d make damn sure of it.

I nodded, my trademark grin spreading across my face. At this point, it was like a mask I wore, one I seldom took off. “Damn right, darlin’. We’ll burn this whole fucking thing to the ground and dance on the ashes.”

The room crackled with energy, a sense of purpose settling over us all. Sheriff Holmes and his cronies had no idea what was coming for them. But they’d find out just how far the Underland MC would go to protect the innocent and seek justice.

Watch out, you sick fucks. Because we’re coming for you!

As the others filed out of the room, their voices fading down the hallway, I turned to Eliza. She was still sitting at the table, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. I could see the tension in her shoulders, the weight of everything she had learned bearing down on her.

I pulled out the chair next to her and sat, our knees almost touching. “Hey,” I said, ducking my head to catch her eye. “You okay?”

She took a shaky breath, her gaze meeting mine. There was pain there, and anger, but also a fierce determination that sent a thrill through me.

“I will be,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm I knew was raging inside her. “When this is over, when my father and his monsters are dead and buried, I’ll be okay.”

I reached out, covering her hands with my own. Her skin was soft and warm. I couldn’t deny the pull between us, the connection that had been growing since the moment we met.

“I’m going to make you a promise, Eliza,” I said, my voice low and intense. “I will protect you, no matter what. I’ll stand by your side and fight like hell to bring these bastards down. You’re not alone in this. You’ve got me, and you’ve got the Underland MC. We take care of our own, and like it or not, you’re one of us now.”

Eliza’s breath caught, her eyes widening as she stared at me. For a moment, the world fell away, and it was just the two of us, lost in each other’s gaze. I saw the trust there, the faith she had in me, and it humbled me even as it filled me with a fierce protectiveness.

“Thank you, Cheshire,” she whispered. “I know you’ll keep your word.”

I squeezed her hands, a silent promise, before releasing her and standing up. “Damn right, darlin’. I’m going to kick some ass, and make sure the monsters in this world will never touch you again.”

As I reached the doorway, I felt the weight of Eliza’s gaze on my back. It was like a physical thing, a tingle between my shoulder blades that made me pause and glance back at her over my shoulder. She was still sitting there, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her eyes fixed on me with an intensity that took my breath away.

For a moment, our eyes locked, and I felt the electric spark that seemed to ignite whenever we were together. It was dangerous, I knew. I should have given her a wide berth. Let her have a relationship with someone far better than me. But I couldn’t. I’d known from the beginning she was mine, and I couldn’t let her go. I wondered what it would be like to lose myself in her, to forget about the rest of the world and just be two people, coming together in a moment of passion and need.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away. Now wasn’t the time for distractions, no matter how tempting she might be. I had a job to do, and I’d be damned if I let anything get in the way… even my feelings for Eliza.

Giving her a final nod, I stepped out of the room, letting the door swing shut behind me. Regardless of my own turbulent emotions, I had a mission. For Eliza, for the girls in the photograph, for the club I had sworn loyalty to. I moved through the dimly lit hallway with purpose, my boots echoing on the concrete floor.

I found Hatter in his office, pouring over maps and notes scattered across his desk. The room was filled with the scent of old paper and whiskey.

“You got a minute?” I asked.

“What’s up?” He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking.

“I think we both know that this battle we have coming up could be the last one for any of us. There’s never a guarantee we’ll make it out alive.”

---