Page 46 of Cheshire

The image of Cheshire’s mischievous grin, those piercing blue eyes that saw through all my defenses, haunted me. If I had known our first time would be our last, I would have savored every second, let the day stretch into infinity.

A sudden crash jolted me from my thoughts. My pulse spiked, and I strained to hear over the thump of my own blood. Boots thundered outside, voices raised. The unmistakable clash of a fight.

“Cheshire?” The word was barely a breath, hope a fragile thing blooming in my chest.

Another bang, closer now. Shouts morphed into roars, feral and raw. Underland MC -- they had to be here. They had to be. My fingers curled into fists, knuckles scraping the cold floor as I willed the club to win, to be my salvation.

“Come on, come on,” I murmured.

Fear warred with hope. Each punch thrown outside might bring rescue or seal my fate. But the thought of Cheshire storming through the door kept the darkness at bay.

“Please be him,” I begged, desperate for the sight of that grin and the safety it promised. “Please, let this not be the end.”

The noise swelled, and with it, a chance. My chance. If not for rescue, then at least for revenge. I steadied my breath, ready to fight, to claw my way back to him, back to us. I was starting to wish I’d had a chance to actually learn something from Carpenter. He’d been tasked with teaching me and Jo self-defense, but I’d been so battered, I hadn’t been able to do much without hurting myself. Now I wished I’d pushed through the pain.

“Damnit!” One of the men stood, his chair scraping against the floor. “Come on. I think we need to get out there.”

“What about her?” another one asked.

The first one snorted. “Does it look like she’s fucking going anywhere? As long as we take down anyone trying to get into this room, she won’t be leaving anytime soon.”

All of them filed out, and I hoped the club managed to fight their way through them. I believed in Cheshire and the others. I had to. If they lost, then… it would all be over. I’d no longer have a reason to keep living, and I wasn’t sure I’d want to. Not considering my father’s plans for me.

* * *

Cheshire

A Few Hours Earlier

The moment we rolled up to the clubhouse, something felt off. The clubhouse door hung crooked on its hinges like a busted jaw. I killed the engine, my heart slamming in my chest.

“Shit,” Knave muttered.

We were off our bikes in seconds, boots hitting the pavement hard. Mock and Rabbit flanked me, eyes wide. What the hell happened while we were gone?

Inside, the place was trashed. Chairs overturned, glass shattered. My gaze locked on Jo, curled up by Hatter’s feet, her sobs breaking my damn heart.

“Eliza?” My voice was sharp, a blade cutting the air. I scanned the area, searching for her.

Hatter looked up. Jesus. What the hell happened to him? His eye was already turning black, and someone had busted his lip. As I looked around, I realized he wasn’t the only one looking like they’d lost a fight.

“Holmes came here. Took Eliza.”

“Fuck.” My heart felt like it might break through my damn chest. I thought I’d been smart. Gone off to face Holmes and keep Eliza safe. Instead, I’d given him the opening he’d been waiting for. Had he lured us there on purpose?

“Used Jo as leverage.” Hatter’s hand was on Jo’s shoulder, steady despite the quake in his voice.

“That explains your face. I’m guessing you didn’t just stand back and let it happen.”

Hatter shrugged. “Fighting didn’t seem to do any good. Eliza went with him. To keep Jo safe. Damn sorry, Cheshire.”

“Sorry doesn’t cut it.” My words were like ice. “We’re getting her back.”

“Whatever it takes,” Hatter vowed. “We owe her a lot.”

I stared at the mess in the clubhouse and felt the lack of warmth now that Eliza was gone. Rage erupted like a beast clawing out of my chest. I roared, the sound tearing from my throat as my fist shot out, coming down on the nearest table. Wood splintered under the force, a crack echoing through the clubhouse. My hand throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the fear gnawing at my gut.

Holmes could kill her. That thought hammered in my skull with each ragged breath. Eliza was caught in his twisted game. My fists clenched.

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