Page 19 of Cheshire

“I’ll hold off as long as I can, but if he walks by and asks what I’m doing…”

“No worries, March.”

I ended the call and got on my bike. I’d picked up some essentials for Eliza, but there was only so much I could fit in my saddlebags. Jo had tried to lend her some clothes, but they weren’t close enough to the same size for that to work. I’d told her to order some stuff, and it was being delivered later today, but I wanted to give her some things to make her feel at home right now.

Stopping at a corner market, I ran in and found the magazine section. I had no idea what Eliza liked, so I grabbed a few different types of magazines, then picked up a romance novel. I knew Jo liked them, so I hoped Eliza would too. If nothing else, maybe it would give the two women something to bond over.

Once I’d checked out, I headed back to the clubhouse. I wasn’t sure why I felt so drawn to Eliza. Although, anyone could see she was beautiful under the bruises and cuts. It was more than that. Beauty could fade over time. What Eliza had was something else… a magnetic pull I didn’t understand, but I wasn’t going to question it.

The moment I cleared the doorway, I saw her at a table with Jo. The other woman gave me a wink and hurried off, leaving me alone with Eliza. I set the bags down in front of her.

“I wasn’t sure what you liked, but…” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I, um, just wanted you to feel more like this was your home and less like a temporary resting place.”

She gave me a soft smile. “Thanks, Cheshire. No one’s ever done something like this for me before. It was sweet of you to think of me.”

Not really. I’d done it because I wanted to get closer to her. Hatter was the only one of us with a woman, and after watching him with Jo, I’d started to think that’s what was missing in my life. Eliza had dropped into my lap, and it had almost seemed like fate.

“Why don’t you put your things away, then meet me back here for a drink? I’d like to learn more about you.”

Her cheeks flushed and she gave me a quick nod before hurrying off. She seemed innocent and sweet, the exact opposite of the women I’d dated in the past. Maybe it’s why I found her to be so damn cute.

Before Eliza had a chance to return, the doors to the clubhouse slammed open. Mayor Davis, his face a mask of fury, stood with a group of men at his side. They looked like muscle for hire.

“Since you won’t listen to reason, Cheshire,” he snarled, “I’ll have to deal with you and your misguided club another way.”

What the absolute fuck? The man had clearly lost his mind. When I’d left him and Lewis on the sidewalk, it never crossed my mind one of them might show up here. Honestly, I hadn’t thought they had the balls for it. Seemed like the mayor did.

With a wave of his hand, Mayor Davis signaled for his men to attack, and chaos erupted around us. My brothers and I sprang into action, fists flying and bodies colliding as we fought to defend ourselves and our home.

“Stay focused,” I shouted over the din, my knuckles connecting with an attacker’s jaw. “We’ve got each other’s backs!”

Despite the intensity of the battle, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride at how well we were working together. We were united in our cause -- and no amount of threats or violence would ever change that. Besides, after being in combat, this was nothing. If the mayor thought this would scare us off, he was delusional.

Adrenaline surged through my veins, making me feel unstoppable.

“Cheshire, behind you!” Absolem’s warning reached my ears just in time, and I ducked, feeling the wind from a punch that would’ve connected with my face. I countered with a swift uppercut, watching in satisfaction as the bastard dropped.

“Thanks,” I grunted, not breaking my focus from the battle. I could hear Eliza’s terrified screams in the background, but there was no time to comfort her now. We had to win this fight first. I could only hope she was out of the way.

“Keep it together, boys!” Hatter yelled as I drove my knee into an assailant’s gut. The man doubled over in pain, and I finished him off with a powerful right hook. I glanced toward the Pres and saw he was more than handling the men attacking him. Two were already on the floor at his feet.

Why the hell were there so many? It seemed like for every three we took out, more came inside the clubhouse. I’d thought he only had the guys standing with him, but it seemed reinforcements had been outside. The next man I dropped look familiar, and I realized he was a deputy.

“Eliza, stay down!” Knave barked. I turned to find her, and saw Knave kick a man in the head before he could reach Eliza. She pressed tight to the wall, her eyes wide.

“Cheshire, incoming!” Absolem shouted again, and I turned just in time to see a burly man charging toward me, fists clenched. I sidestepped his attack, grabbing his arm and using his momentum to slam him into a nearby wall. His head hit the floor with a sickening thud.

“Is that all you got?” I taunted, my breathing ragged but my grin firmly in place. Smiling while beating someone senseless often left them feeling disoriented. But inside, I knew we couldn’t keep this up forever. I needed to find a way to end this insanity before any of us sustained serious injuries -- or worse. Then the mayor did me the biggest favor ever.

“Retreat!” Mayor Davis finally yelled. “Get out of here, you worthless cowards!”

His men fled, leaving behind a scene of carnage and destruction. Our clubhouse was in shambles, with broken furniture and shattered glass littering the floor. We were battered and bruised, but we’d won.

“Everyone okay?” Hatter asked, his voice hoarse from shouting and exertion. My brothers nodded, their eyes filled with a mixture of relief and anger.

“Eliza,” I said, turning to her as she stared at me, tears streaming down her face. “You’re safe now.”

I hurried to her side and pulled her into my arms. She crumpled against me, and I felt her tears soaking my shirt. She might have lived with a brute of a man, but this type of fight was probably not what she was used to.

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