Page 6 of Cheshire

Striding into the kitchen, I saw Rabbit already at work, his notes spread out on the table in front of him. His concentration broke only for a moment as he looked up, giving me a small nod before going back to his work. His constant state of worry was part of what made him so damn good at his job.

I found Carpenter next, his hulking frame leaned over the weight bench in our makeshift gym. Sweat rolled down his face as he grunted, pushing up another heavy rep. His commitment to strength and protection never ceased to amaze me.

Stepping outside into the yard, I found March standing there with his arms crossed over his chest, foot tapping against the gravel. The cool morning breeze brushed against us as March’s stern gaze bored into me. Although he didn’t say much, his eyes said everything -- he was ready for battle.

Lastly, I found Hatter in his office, hunched over maps and blueprints scattered across the desk. He looked up as I walked in and gave me a firm nod. As president of Underland MC, Hatter carried our trust on his shoulders every day. Today was no different.

I left all of them to their tasks and guzzled a few cups of coffee. I hadn’t seen Jo this morning, and I wondered if she was sleeping in. The fact I’d pulled Hatter from his bed so early probably irked her, but if she knew why, she’d understand.

An hour later, we all gathered in the kitchen. “Got everything you need?”

Everyone nodded in response while they busied themselves preparing for what lay ahead -- checking weapons, gathering equipment, going through checklists Rabbit had meticulously prepared.

There was a certain electricity in the air as we moved around each other in practiced silence -- each man knowing exactly what needed to be done. As I watched my brothers prepare for our fight against Holmes and his corrupt system, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.

We all knew the risks. We understood that our actions might lead to severe consequences. But we also knew that we had a shot at changing Warren, at ridding it of its poisoned roots, and no amount of danger would keep us from trying.

“Remember,” I said, breaking the silence as we prepared to head out. “This isn’t just about taking down Holmes. This is about making a difference to our town. To our home.”

The room filled with a tense silence as my words hung in the air before March broke it, his voice gruff and determined, “Let’s get to work, then.”

Riding out toward the day of reckoning ahead, I could feel the determination radiating from each member of Underland MC. We were more than just a motorcycle club. We were brothers united by a common cause. Our loyalty had been forged in battle long before there had ever been an Underland MC.

As the roar of our bikes echoed through Warren’s early morning stillness, I knew this was only the beginning. As long as Holmes and his kind threatened what we held dear, we’d stand against them.

We weren’t just defending ourselves. We were defending Warren and its people. Because when you’re part of Underland MC -- when you’re part of this family -- you don’t back down. You fight for what’s right. And if today was any indication, we were ready for one hell of a fight.

We wouldn’t bring Sheriff Holmes to his knees today, but we’d start laying the foundation. Soon, he’d pay the price for all he’d done.

Chapter Three

Eliza

I winced, pain shooting through my face as my fingers brushed against the bruises. Damn, he really let loose on me this time. Dad’s fists were no joke. I could feel the anger bubbling inside me, but I knew it was pointless. He was the sheriff, untouchable. Who was I going to report him to? Everyone in this town thought the man was perfect. The ones who knew of the darker side of him wouldn’t help me escape.

“Fuck,” I whispered to myself, standing in the dimly lit room that was supposed to be my sanctuary.

My eyes surveyed the aftermath of my father’s wrath, taking in the shattered pieces of what were once my things. It wasn’t much, but every broken trinket and ripped photo was a reminder of how messed up my life was. I was trapped in this hellhole, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.

“God, I hate him,” I muttered under my breath, picking up a shard of glass from my favorite picture frame. The image of Mom and me when I was just a kid, her smiling face all crumpled and torn, made my heart ache.

Keep it together. There has to be a way out of here. But how? How could I escape the monster who had all the power and control?

“Think, Eliza, think,” I mumbled to myself, trying to focus on anything other than the pain and fear that were eating me alive. “You’re smarter than him. You’re stronger than you know.”

Except… was I really? If I’d been so smart, why was I still here? It wasn’t like I was a child anymore. I could have run. Left town and never looked back. And yet, there’d always been this fear that he’d track me down, drag me back here, and my life would be even worse than it was now.

“Maybe,” I admitted to the empty room, glancing around at the wreckage one last time before I curled up on my bed, defeated. “But maybe not today.”

For now, I would bide my time, wait for my chance to break free from this nightmare. And when that day came, I swore on Mom’s grave, I’d never look back.

The rumble of engines broke through the silence, making me jump. I scrambled to my feet, wincing as my battered body protested. The sound grew louder, and something inside me urged me to take a look.

“Who’s out there?” I whispered, inching closer to the window. My heart raced with a mixture of fear and anticipation. Was it the Underland MC, or the same bikers I’d seen before? The ones who weren’t part of a club. I had no way of knowing if those other men were just a friendly group who enjoyed riding, or if they were something more.

As I peered through the glass, I saw them -- the Underland MC, riding past in a tight formation. Their leather vests made them look like some sort of army. Each one of them was a towering figure, muscles bulging under their vests. They were nothing like the weak, beaten girl I’d become.

“Damn,” I breathed out, my eyes glued to the sight. Hatter, the leader of the pack, caught my eye. He looked like a man who knew pain but somehow had survived it all. If I could beg them for help, would it do me any good?

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