💘( Mending the King! )✨

SIX

[ Caregiver ]

( 🤴🔨👸💋💑🏍 )

" Look at you. You still know how to make a man weak at the knees. "

~ OSCAR DUNCAN to ALU ORTIZ 

☆《》¤

"DID YOU MISS ME, DARLING?" 

Alu's heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline surging as her eyes locked on the man in the chair. The smirk on his face only sharpened as she spun around and bolted for the door. But before she could reach it, he was up, moving with a speed that defied his composed exterior. He blocked her path effortlessly, towering over her with an unsettling calmness.

"Going somewhere, love?" His voice was low, dangerous.

Alu's eyes darted to the side, catching sight of her phone on the counter. She lunged for it, fingers trembling as she hastily typed a message to Juice: S.O.S. She barely hit send before his hand lashed out, smacking the phone out of her grasp. The device skittering across the floor and shattered as he stomped on it, a menacing grin spreading across his face. Alu only hoped that the message managed to send before the android was destroyed. 

Oscar then pushed her down with a force that knocked the wind out of her, "Oh, don't look so surprised, sweetheart," he drawled, his voice smooth yet venomous. "You knew I'd come back one day."

Her heart pounded, as she tried hard to keep the tears that threatened to fall at bay—trapped in her predator's gaze.

"Awe, what's the matter, baby?" he taunted, taking slow steps toward her. His movements were calculated, deliberate as he leaned down and lifted her chin with his finger, making her look up at him. A smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he noticed the tears welling in her eyes, "Did you think you could run away from me forever, start a new life? I gave you everything, Ana Lucia. And this is how you repay me? By pretending I'm dead? Running around town with that blonde biker of yours?" Oscar's lips curled upward into a sinister smirk at the shocked expression that crossed Alu's face, "Thinking you were free from me. But deep down, you know better, don't you? There's no running from me, darling. I own every part of you—mind, body and soul." 

Her hands clenched into fists, but her voice didn't waver, "I don't belong to you. I never did. You manipulated me, controlled me, used me, beat me—raped me!" 

The slap came faster than she could process. Her head snapped to the side, pain blossoming across her cheek. She gasped, her hand flying up to cradle the throbbing skin.

"There's that word again!" Oscar snapped, his calm veneer shattering. He began pacing, overturning furniture and knocking over a lamp, sending it crashing to the floor. His fury filled the small apartment, but Alu took advantage of his outburst and pushed herself to her feet. 

"I never forced myself on you!" he shouted.

"You didn't have to," she shot back. "I was fifteen. I was a child!"

Alu and Oscar met when Alu was just shy of fifteen, a vulnerable teenager desperately seeking connection and belonging. Oscar, at 27, saw her naivety as an opportunity and moved in with calculated precision. He was charming, attentive, and protective, offering her the things she had always craved but never received—a sense of safety, unconditional affection, and the illusion of a family.

Alu, starved of love and blinded by her inexperience, fell for him completely. He told her she was special, that he saw her in a way no one else did, and she clung to those words like a lifeline. Oscar became her whole world, filling the void left by her absentee father and her emotionally distant mother. For the first time in her life, she felt seen, loved, and wanted.

But that love came at a cost. Oscar preyed on her need for validation, using it to mold her into the person he wanted. He convinced her that the only way to protect their love—their family, was to do whatever he asked. At first, it was small, seemingly innocent acts, but they escalated quickly. Alu found herself doing things she'd never dreamed of—dark, unspeakable things that haunted her every waking moment.

Whenever guilt or doubt crept in, Oscar would pull her back in with his smooth words and feigned tenderness. He'd tell her she was his everything, that he couldn't survive without her, and that their love was worth any sacrifice. And Alu believed him because she wanted to believe him. She couldn't bear the thought of losing the only semblance of love and stability she'd ever known.

Over time, Oscar's true nature began to show. The man who had once promised to keep her safe became the source of her deepest fears. He was controlling, volatile, and manipulative, keeping her tethered to him through a toxic blend of fear and dependency. Even as she started to see the cracks in his façade, her loyalty to him kept her trapped. She told herself that he loved her, that she loved him, and that this was what love was supposed to feel like—painful, all-consuming, and suffocating.

It wasn't until she fell pregnant with Moss when the weight of the things she'd done and the person she'd become under Oscar's influence became unbearable—she didn't want this life for her son. And so, she ran. But even then, his shadow lingered, a constant reminder of the girl she used to be and the man who had stolen her innocence under the guise of love.

Oscar's lips curled into a predatory smile, "Age is just a number, darling. I loved you from the moment I saw you. I still do." He reached out, his fingers aiming for her cheek, but she slapped his hand away, her eyes blazing. 

"You're insane!" 

Oscar chuckled, low and dark, as if her defiance amused him, "Oh, you haven't changed a bit, have you? Still so brave, so sure of yourself. You act tough, but deep down you remember what it felt like when I had control. How many times did you get on your knees and beg me for mercy, hmm...? I think you've forgotten who I am—who my family is? I could take everything from you, Ana Lucia. Your life, your brother's life—her precious Kimchee." His voice turned cold as he sneered, "Or do I have to remind you what happened to Tabitha?" 

"Don't you dare mention her name!" At the mention of her best friend's name, Alu's rage boiled over. She grabbed the lamp from the ground and hurled it at him, but Oscar easily ducked out of the way.

In an instant, he closed the distance between them, his hand wrapping around her throat. He slammed her back against the wall, pinning her there. Her skin crawled as his dark eyes roamed over her, a twisted smile playing on his lips as he took in the revealing outfit she still wore from the party. The red lace clung to her curves, leaving little to the imagination, and she cursed herself for not changing before coming home.

"Look at you," he taunted with a sultry edge, letting out a moan as he bit into his bottom lip, while he caressed her breast with his free hand, giving it a firm squeeze.

Alu flinched, making his grip on her neck tighten. 

"You still know how to make a man weak at the knees, don't you, my gorgeous girl? I always liked when you dressed up for me—gave me those private dances. What do you say, love? One last dance for old times' sake? Maybe I'll even let you choose the song." 

"Get your hands off me," she hissed, her voice dripping with disgust, as she clawed at his hand, her nails raking against his skin, but he didn't flinch. His eyes were dark, dangerous, and filled with cruel amusement as he leaned closer, his breath hot against her ear, sending a chill down her spine. 

"Still so stubborn," he murmured, his voice low and mocking.

Before she could muster a retort, he yanked her away from the wall only to spin her around and slam her face-first into it. The impact made her vision blur momentarily, a sharp pain radiating through her forehead. She coiled in disgust when She felt his hardened boner press up against her as he pinned her in place, while his hand slid down to trap her wrists behind her back. 

Oscar's tone shifted, almost soft, as his fingers traced the edges of the tattoo inked across her back—a coiled snake wrapped around a jagged dagger. The snake's eyes were shaded in a way that gave them a menacing, almost hypnotic look, while the dagger's hilt had an iron chain wrapped around it. He chuckled darkly, his voice dripping with condescension, "I guess there are some things you can't change," he muttered, his touch lingering like poison.  

Alu swallowed the lump of fear in her throat and forced her voice to steady, "I leave it there to remind me," she said through clenched teeth. "That that shit's behind me now." 

His fingers stilled for a moment, before digging his nails into her skin, making her hiss in pain as blood dripped down to the floor, staining the rug beneath her feet, "Behind you?" he sneered. "Don't fool yourself, Ana Lucia. It's a part of you—I'm a part of you. No matter how far you run, you'll never escape me. You are and always will be my Serpant." 

Alu gritted her teeth, refusing to let him see her break, "You're wrong. You have no control over me anymore." 

His laugh was low and menacing, "Oh, sweetheart," he said, leaning closer until his lips brushed against hers. "We'll see about that." 

He gripped her arm roughly and began to pull her toward her bedroom. Alu's heartbeat pounded in her ears as he tossed her onto her bed, pinning her down with his body weight, as she struggled against his iron-tight grip on her wrists.

Pulling out his gun from his holster once more. The weapon gleamed under the dim light, his eyes cold and calculating. He trailed the barrel of the gun along her jawline, eyes darkening with possessive intensity, "I've always wondered what would break first—your spirit or your body," he mused, a sadistic smile playing on his lips. 

"Go to hell," Alu hissed, spitting in the man's face. 

Oscar's eyes shone with murderous intent in an instant, as he wiped away the saliva from his face, "Come on, baby," he said, voice lowering to a vile whisper. "You know you missed it. I know I have. Now, I'm gonna fuck that perfect pussy of yours and you're gonna take it—all of it—just like you used to." 

Her heart pounded, and her first instinct was to bolt, but she couldn't move. She was frozen—trapped in his strong hold. 

Her breath hitched, desperately trying to hide the fear that caused through her veins at the click of his belt and the sound of his zipper, "Please, just kill me," she begged for mercy, tears brimming in her eyes.

Oscar leaned in closer, his tone mockingly gentle, "As you wish, darling." 

The cold barrel of the gun pressed against her chin. Her heart stopped, her mind racing for a way out, when the door burst open with a bang.

Juice stormed in, his presence like a lightning strike. His eyes blazed with fury as they locked onto the scene—Oscar pinning Alu to the mattress, his pants half-way down his ass, while his gun was placed under her chin. 

"Get off my sister!" Juice bellowed.

Oscar barely had time to react, before Juice ripped him away from Alu and slammed him against the wall. The gun in Juice's hand pressed firmly into Oscar's temple.

Oscar, far from intimidated, let out a sinister laugh, "Juan Carlos, mate. Always the knight in shining armour. Or is it leather?" He tilted his head, pretending to think about it. "How is the lovely Tabitha, by the way? Oh, wait..." He feigned realisation. "I almost forgot...It's sad really, she was so young." 

"I should put you in the ground for what you did to her," Juice growled, his voice low and deadly, his grip tightening on the gun, his finger hovering over the trigger.

Oscar feigned confusion, "Me? What did I do?" Realisation flooded across his features as he looked over at a guilty looking Alu, "Oh, dear, darling, have you been telling fibs again?"

Juice glanced back at Alu, her head bowed in guilt. The distraction was all Oscar needed. He shoved Juice back, his knee connecting with Juice's ribs, and bolted for the door.

By the time Juice regained his footing, Oscar was gone.

The door clicked shut, and the room fell into an eerie silence. Alu sank to the floor, her body trembling as all her pent up emotion crashed down on her. Juice was at her side in an instant, his hands cupping her face, his eyes scanning for any injuries.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice softer now.

Her hands shook as she brushed her hair back from her face, "You got my message," she whispered, her voice hollow.

"Always," Juice replied, pulling her into a fierce embrace. 

She clung to him as the tears finally came, her sobs muffled against his chest.

***

Juice paced the room like a caged animal, his boots thudding heavily against the floorboards. His hands flexed into fists and then relaxed, over and over again. He couldn't stop the flood of thoughts racing through his mind, the image of Oscar's hand around Alu's throat haunting him.

"We have to get you out of the country," he said finally, his voice firm. "Set you up with a bunch of new IDs, send you somewhere off the radar. Somewhere he'll never find you."

Alu sat on her bed, her knees pulled up to her chest, nervously gnawing at her fingernails. She had hardly spoken since Oscar escaped, but her response came swift and sharp, "No!" 

Juice froze mid-step and whipped his head toward her, disbelief written all over his face, "No? What do you mean, no? Do you have any idea what could've happened tonight if I didn't show up?"

"I'm well aware," Alu snapped, her voice trembling. She dropped her hands and met his gaze, fire blazing behind her dark eyes, "I know exactly what he was planning to do to me, Juan. I'm just...I'm sick of being scared of this guy. I'm done running."

Juice stared at her, the tension in his shoulders unrelenting, "Ana, he's dangerous—"

"This is my home," she interrupted, her voice steady now. "My son is here. You're here. Kimchee's here. I'm finally happy for the first time in six years, and I'm not gonna let him take that away from me. Not again."

"I'm trying to protect you," Juice said, his voice cracking with emotion.

"I know," Alu said softly, her tone gentler now. She shuffled forward on the bed, rising onto her knees to cup his face in her hands. Her thumbs brushed against the single tear trailing down his cheek, and she smiled faintly, though her own eyes shone with unshed tears, "And I love you for it. But I won't let Oscar Duncan destroy my life again. I'm done being his bitch. I'm done being afraid." 

Juice closed his eyes for a moment, leaning into her touch, before letting out a resigned sigh, "Alu—"

The ding of her laptop from the dresser cut him off. Alu's head snapped toward the sound, her eyebrows furrowed. Sliding off the bed, she approached the laptop and clicked on the notification.

The email was blank, except for a single attachment. As the image loaded, her breath hitched, "Holy shit." 

Juice stepped closer, his own eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "What? What is it?"

Alu's hand flew to her mouth as she stared at the screen, her eyes wide with disbelief. She sprang into action, grabbing her jacket and laptop, slamming it shut, before resting it under her arm. 

"I gotta talk to Jax," she said hurriedly, her movements frantic as she quickly swiped her keys from the hook by the door. 

"Wait—what? Why?" Juice asked, stepping in her path.

"I'll explain later." She dodged around him, throwing her jacket on as she headed for the door.

"Alu, we have to talk about this!"

"We will," she called over her shoulder, already halfway out the door. "Stay here. Warn Kimchee, in case he comes back." 

"Hermana!" Juice's voice rose in desperation, but the door slammed shut behind her, cutting him off.

He stood frozen for a moment, before running a hand over his mohawk in frustration, "Shit," he muttered under his breath.

***

Alu's finger hovered over the doorbell for a moment, before pressing it firmly. She waited, nerves twisting her stomach into knots. The porch light illuminated her dishevelled appearance—her hair wild, her clothes rumpled, her red-swollen cheek, and the faint but unmistakable bruise circling her neck. The door swung open, and Tara appeared, her expression shifting from surprise to suspicion in a heartbeat.

"Alu?" Tara asked, her voice low and clipped. Her hand tightened on the doorframe.

"I need to see Jax," Alu said quickly, her tone urgent.

Tara's brow furrowed as she crossed her arms, "It's late. Hs's asleep. Whatever it is can wait until morning." 

"It can't," Alu insisted, stepping forward slightly, her voice tinged with desperation.

Tara's stance didn't waver, her eyes narrowing, "I said it can wait. Come back in the morning."

She began to push the door closed, but Alu shot her hand out, catching it before it could shut. Tara looked at her in surprise as Alu's gaze hardened.

"It's about Abel," she said coldly, her words sharp as a blade.

Tara froze, her grip on the door slackening just enough for Alu to push her way inside.

"Hey!" Tara protested, her voice rising.

The commotion was enough to stir Jax from his sleep. He appeared at the end of the hall, rubbing his eyes and frowning in confusion, "What the hell's going on out here?" His gaze landed on Alu, "What about Abel?"

Alu turned toward him, her resolve faltering slightly under his concerned scrutiny. Before she could answer, Jax's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing as he took in her appearance. His gaze lingered on the dark bruise around her neck and her swollen cheek, his jaw tightening. 

"What the fuck happened to you?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"It's nothing," Alu muttered, waving it off as she looked away.

"Bullshit," Jax snapped, descending the hall with quick strides. "That is not nothing, darlin'." He stepped closer, his voice softening slightly, "Tell me what happened. Now." 

Alu let out a long, weary sigh, running a hand through her hair, "Fine. I'll tell you. But it's not a short story." 

"Then sit," Jax said firmly. 

Alu hesitated, her arms crossed defensively, but eventually followed him into the kitchen.

They settled on the table, Tara reluctantly fetching cups of tea, while Jax sat across from Alu, his intense gaze never leaving her.

Alu took a deep breath, wringing her fingers together under the table as her knee nervously bounced, "It's about my past. About why I came here." She glanced at Tara, who was leaning against the counter, and then back at Jax, "It's about a man named Oscar Duncan. Or, as he's known in the world of the MC, Viper." 

Jax's expression darkened at the mention of the name, as Alu continued. 

"Years ago, I was...I was with him. I was fifteen—stupid and naive. I thought I was in love. He controlled me—beat me, used me. I barely got out alive." Her voice cracked, but she forced herself to keep going.

"For six years, I stayed ahead of him. I thought I was safe here, but he found me again." She gestured to her neck, "That was his way of reminding me he hasn't forgotten." 

Tara's frown deepened, though her hostility began to soften into concern.

Jax's brow furrowed, his jaw tightening as Alu mentioned the name, "Wait," he said, holding up a hand to stop her. "Viper? The Iron Serpents?" He knew he heard that name before. 

Alu nodded, her expression grim, "Yeah, that's him." 

Jax leaned back in his seat, the tension in his shoulders palpable as he ran a hand over his face, "Jesus Christ," he muttered. "I've heard of the Serpents. They're bad news, Alu. Real bad. Heavy ties with the New York Mafia. Arms dealing, drug trafficking, contract hits—you name it. These guys don't just play dirty; they are dirty."

Alu swallowed hard, but her eyes stayed fixed on Jax, "You think I don't know that? I lived it. I saw it firsthand." 

Jax shook his head in disbelief, his hand gripping the back of his neck as if trying to process it all, "I've dealt with a lot of dangerous people, Alu, but the Serpents? They're on another level. If this Viper's got a personal vendetta against you..." He trailed off, his gaze shifting to the bruise on her neck. "It's not just you that's in danger. He could come after Juice, after SAMCRO." 

"I know," Alu said, her voice steady despite the fear flashing in her eyes. "That's why I'm not running anymore. I won't let him hurt the people I care about."

Jax let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head, "Damn it, Alu, you've been sitting on this and didn't think to bring it up sooner? This guy's got connections everywhere. If he's set on finding you, there's no hiding."

"I wasn't hiding," she snapped, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "I was trying to live. For once in my goddamn life, I was happy. But now he's back, and I'm not letting him rip that away from me again." 

Jax stared at her, his mind racing through the implications. The Iron Serpents were more than a threat—they were the kind of group that could turn a vendetta into a bloodbath.

"You don't get it," Jax said, his tone low and serious. "This isn't just about you anymore, Alu. If he's after you, and he knows you're connected to Juice, to the club—we're all targets. The Serpents don't fight fair. They'll use anyone and anything to get what they want."

Alu's hands clenched into fists, "Then shut up and help me stop him. But don't you dare tell me to run—don't tell me to hide. I've been doing that for six years, and it's gotten me nowhere. I need to face him. I need to end that bastard once and for all." 

Jax studied her for a long moment, before nodding slowly, "Alright. But we do this my way. You don't take a step without letting me know. I'll talk to the guys. We'll figure out a way to deal with Viper and the Serpents." 

"And the Mafia ties?" Tara interjected, her voice sharp. "You're going to go up against them too? Do you have any idea how dangerous this is, Jax?" 

Jax shot her a look, his resolve unshaken, "I know exactly how dangerous it is. But this is about family. Alu's Juice's sister—she's one of us now. And if this Viper bastard thinks he can waltz into our lives and make threats, he's got another thing coming."

Alu exhaled slowly, a small sense of relief washing over her, "Thank you, Jax." 

"Don't thank me yet," he said grimly. "This is going to get messy before it gets better." 

***

All three of them now sat at the table. Alu reached into her bag and pulled out her laptop, opening the email she'd received earlier, "A friend in Belfast sent me this..." She turned the screen toward Jax, showing him the photo of Cameron Hayes—dead.

Jax leaned forward, his eyes scanning the image, "What the hell is this?"

"It's Cameron Hayes," Alu said. "He's dead. Killed by the True IRA in Belfast." 

Jax's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing, "Jimmy told me there was no way Cameron was in Belfast." 

"Then Jimmy's been lying to you," Alu said, her voice firm. "If Cameron's dead and in Belfast, then your son could be there too." 

Jax stared at the photo, his mind racing. His grip on the laptop tightened as he muttered, "That son of a bitch."

Tara's hand rested on his arm, her expression a mixture of worry and resolve, "What does this mean, Jax?" 

"It means I'm going to Belfast," he said, his voice cold and determined. He looked back at Alu. "Thank you for bringing this to me. I'll help you with Duncan, I promise. But first, I need to get my son back. And you're gonna help me." 

***

Words: 4115