💘( Mending the King! )✨

EIGHTEEN

[ Turas ]

( 🤴🔨👸💋💑🏍 )

" You've got a bounty on your head that's too good to ignore. Vinny's got his eyes on you, and trust me, he wants you bad, Black Widow. And I'm here to cash in on the six-figure payday that comes with bringing you in. "

~ JIMMY O'PHELAN to ALU ORTIZ

☆《》¤

ALU'S OUTFIT 

SAMBEL'S CLUBHOUSE BUZZED WITH TENSION, the stale air heavy with cigarette smoke and unease. All of SAMCRO gathered, their faces etched with the weight of the situation. At the bar, Alu sat between Juice and Half-Sack, nursing a whiskey as the meeting kicked off.

Gemma, standing near the table, sneered with disdain as her eyes locked on Alu, "What is she doing here?" she spat, motioning toward Alu. "It's a club meeting. When the hell did we start letting sweet butts sit in?"

Alu simply rolled her eyes as she took a sip of whiskey. 

Jax's frustration bubbled to the surface, his voice sharp, "Ma, this is about Abel. And I haven't met anyone better at tracking people down than her. Unless you know someone who can do it better?" He paused for emphasis. "No? Then do me a favour and shut your damn mouth."

Clay exhaled heavily, leaning forward, "So, what do we know?"

Jax ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening, "Kellan says he moved Abel out of Belfast to protect him...from Jimmy."

Gemma frowned, her tone sceptical, "Why? What does Jimmy want with Abel?"

"Leverage," Jax replied, his voice flat. "Against what Kellan wants from us...Jimmy dead. Apparently, he's become a problem for the Army."

Alu swirled her drink casually, her tone cutting through the room, "Then why don't you kill Jimmy?"

Gemma crossed her arms, glaring at the younger woman, "It's not that simple, little girl."

Alu's smirk was razor-sharp, "Sounds pretty simple to me. Get a gun, aim it at his head, and pull the trigger."

Chibs slammed his hands down on the bar, nodding in agreement, "Aye! She's got a point."

Jax sighed, leaning back, "Look, everything they're saying...it's smoky truth. I don't trust them. I don't trust their priest. The only thing we know for sure is he wants Jimmy."

Alu raised an eyebrow, "So, then I track down this Jimmy guy...and you trade him for Abel."

Gemma's gaze hardened, but there was a flicker of reluctant respect, "I don't think it'll be that easy, sweetheart. Jimmy's big fish. He ain't no Cameron."

Alu met her smirk with one of her own, dripping with sarcasm, "Oh, honey, never underestimate me. I could find Jesus Christ if you asked me to."

A tense silence hung in the air, the two women exchanging sarcastic smirks, a grudging acknowledgment of each other's grit.

Jax broke the moment, "I think that's the only thing that makes sense. Alu finds O'Phelan. We bring him in."

Juice stood, his tone cautious, "Should we bring SAMBEL up to speed on this?" He asked, motioning between himself and Half-Sack, who nodded his head in agreement as he pushed himself to his feet. 

Jax shook his head, "No. As far as they know, we want Jimmy to grill him about Abel. Let's just leave it at that."

Clay stood, stretching his shoulders, "We all better crash for a few hours. It's gonna be another fun-filled day in the six counties."

The group began dispersing, tired but determined. Juice leaned in to kiss Alu on the cheek, "Night, sis," he murmured, before heading to his room.

But as the others filtered out, Jax made his way over to Alu at the bar, taking a seat beside her. 

Jax grabbed a bottle of whiskey, pouring himself a glass, before turning to Alu,
"I'm sorry, darlin'," he said quietly, his voice laced with guilt. "I had no idea what I was walking you into. Shit going on down here..."

Alu shook her head, brushing it off, "It's okay. I can handle myself."

Jax smiled, a hint of admiration in his eyes, "I know." A brief pause passed between them, before Jax leaned closer, "Look, I need you to do me another favour."

"You want me to dig into the priest?" Alu asked, already reading his mind.

Jax nodded, "Yeah. He's a shot-caller for the Army. I need to know everything about him."

"Consider it done," she said with a confident nod.

Jax leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her head, "Thank you," he murmured, before standing. "I'm going to bed. Any chance of you joining me? I could really use the company," he finished off with his classic Teller smirk. 

Alu rolled her eyes, her lips curling into a smirk, "In your dreams, Teller."

Jax chuckled, shaking his head as he sauntered off, "Can't wait, baby girl." 

Alu's laughter followed him as she took another sip of her drink. Her phone buzzed on the bar, and she picked it up, frowning at the name on the screen. Kimchee. She answered, barely getting a word in before his frantic voice filled her ear.

"Alu, you're not gonna believe this," he rambled. "Gemma escaped police custody! My case is completely fucked now!"

"Shit..." she muttered, already bracing herself for the storm that was about to come. "I forgot to give you the heads up on that. My bad," she chuckled nervously. 

A heavy sigh came through the phone, and Alu could imagine him pinching the bridge of his nose, "She's in Belfast, isn't she?" 

Alu tried for an innocent smile even though she knew Kimchee couldn't see her, "Little bit."

***

ALU'S OUTFIT 

The O'Shea family diner was alive with activity during the lunch rush, the clatter of plates and hum of conversation filling the small space. Alu sat in a booth near the back, sipping her coffee, while exchanging quips with Trinity, who was far more interested in chatting with her newfound friend than keeping up with the mounting demands of customers.

"Trinity!" Tammy's sharp voice cut through the din as she approached, a scowl on her face. "Service is slow because you're too busy gossiping. Honestly, you're worse than Cherry and her smoke breaks. Customers are waiting!"

Trinity rolled her eyes, but flashed Alu an apologetic grin, "Later?"

"Count on it," Alu replied, lifting her coffee in a mock toast. The girls had already exchanged numbers, vowing to keep in touch once Alu returned to Charming.

At a booth in the corner, Gemma sat with Maureen and Fiona, their conversation low and tense. The air between them was heavy, the weight of their shared history and the present crisis nearly palpable. Near the counter, Kerrianne fussed over baby Harrison, cooing softly as the infant slept in his pram. Across the diner, one of Kellan's men ate his lunch, his eyes scanning the room, never straying far from Kerrianne and Fiona.

Then the door burst open.

Jimmy O'Phelan stormed in, his trusted right hand flanking him, guns drawn and aimed. The diner erupted into chaos as customers screamed and scrambled to escape.

"Everyone out!" Jimmy roared, firing a shot into the ceiling. Plates shattered, chairs clattered, and within seconds, the diner emptied, except for the people Jimmy ordered to stay. 

Gemma, Fiona, Maureen, Tammy, Trinity, Kerrianne, Alu, Kellan's man, and baby Harrison remained. 

Fiona was the first to step forward, her voice sharp, "What the hell are you doing, Jimmy?"

But Jimmy didn't utter a single word as he lifted his gun and without hesitation, he pulled the trigger, killing Kellan's man with a single shot. Blood pooled onto the floor, making Kerrianne scream, throwing herself into her mother's arms, while Tammy instinctively moved Harrison's pram behind her, shielding him with her body.

Maureen glared at Jimmy, her voice dripping with venom, "You've burned it now, Jimmy. Kellan practically raised those brothers. They're like sons to him."

Jimmy smirked, unfazed, "Well, now he can bury one of them, yeah?"

"Enough!" Fiona's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "No more blood. We'll go with you."

Jimmy's laugh was cold and cruel, "Oh, I'm not here for you, love." He turned his gaze to Alu, a sinister glint in his eye, "I'm here for her." 

Confusion rippled through the room as he pointed his gun at the Ortiz woman, "You've got a bounty on your head too good to ignore. Vinny's got his eyes on you, and trust me, he wants you bad, Black Widow. And I'm here to cash in on the six-figure payday that comes with bringing you in."

Before anyone could react, Jimmy grabbed Alu by the arm and began dragging her toward the door.

Tammy moved in an instant, pulling a gun from behind the counter. With deadly precision, she fired, hitting Jimmy's right hand square between the eyes. Blood sprayed as the man dropped, shocking Jimmy, who whipped around to face her.

Tammy now had her gun trained on him, "I can't let you do that."

Jimmy's momentary distraction was all Alu needed. She grabbed a steak knife from a nearby table and lunged, slashing Jimmy's arm and disarming him. Grabbing his fallen gun, she turned it on him. Tammy and Alu now both had him at gunpoint.

Jimmy stared at them in disbelief, before letting out a low, dark laugh, "Mother of Christ. You're crazy bitches, the lot of you."

Tammy wasn't stupid enough to pull the trigger, even as the temptation burned hot in her veins. She could feel the weight of the gun in her hand, her finger itching against the trigger, but she didn't give in. Killing Jimmy O'Phelan would be satisfying—he deserved it—but she knew better.

Tammy understood the consequences of a single bullet, especially one aimed at someone like Jimmy. He wasn't just a thug or some lone wolf; he was a high-ranking player with connections that ran deep. His death wouldn't just end with him—it would unleash a war, a bloody vendetta that would crash down on what was left of her family.

His men were loyal and ruthless. They wouldn't stop until every member of the O'Shea family was wiped off the face of the earth. Tammy had already lost too much to risk losing her husband—her son. Not to mention the people that had become family to her—Maureen, Fiona, Kellan, Trinity, Kerrianne, even Cherry. And there was no way in hell, she was about to gamble their lives for the satisfaction of putting Jimmy in the ground.

No, Tammy was smart enough to know that in this world, survival wasn't about being the strongest or the fastest—it was about knowing when to fight and when to let the enemy walk away. Letting Jimmy go wouldn't be a sign of weakness; it would be a calculated move. A temporary retreat to keep her family breathing another day. And Tammy would do whatever it took to protect them, even if it meant biting her tongue and holstering her gun when every instinct screamed otherwise.  

Tammy's voice was ice cold, her aim unwavering, "Shut up! Get out. You come to my home, threaten my family again, and I swear on my Catholic God, I'll fill your thick Irish skull with bullets. Go!" 

Jimmy, realising he was outmaneuvered, smirked, "Gemma, always a pleasure," he said mockingly, turning his gaze to Alu. "I'll see you real soon, love."

He turned to leave, but Gemma panicked, "Alu, we need him!"

Alu moved to stop Jimmy from leaving, but Tammy's stern look stopped her in her tracks, silently telling her to stand down.

As Jimmy disappeared, the tension hung thick in the air. Alu turned to Tammy, shock evident on her face, "Why did you do that?"

Tammy smirked, her voice dry, "Because if anyone's going to kill you, it's going to be me."

For a moment, the absurdity of the situation broke through, and the two women shared a laugh.

But the laughter died quickly when Gemma stormed toward Alu, rage burning in her eyes, "He was my ticket to my grandson, and you just let him walk out of here!" She lunged, but Alu was faster, landing a sharp punch to Gemma's face and sending her sprawling to the floor.

The room went silent, everyone staring in shock. 

Alu glared down at her, "Don't you ever lay your hand on me again. I don't give a shit who you are. I'm getting real tired of this constant disrespect."

Gemma stared up at her, rubbing her jaw, stunned but with a glint of grudging respect in her eyes. She wiped the blood from her lip but said nothing.

In the silence, baby Harrison stirred, his soft cries breaking the tension. Alu sent Tammy a nod of thanks, exchanging a look that spoke volumes.

***

The air inside the shed was thick with the acrid smell of gun oil and gasoline. SAMCRO and SAMBEL had gathered, finalising plans for the upcoming gun run. The usual banter and gruff camaraderie filled the space, but Freddie caught everyone's attention as he hung up his phone, his expression serious. He walked over to the group, his tone grave, "That was T. Jimmy's in Belfast. Went after Alu."

Juice, who had been leaning against the workbench, straightened instantly, his eyes wide with concern, "What?! Is she okay?"

"Girls are fine. She's got more fight in her than Jimmy anticipated, I'd say."

Jax frowned, his eyebrows furrowing as he lit a cigarette, "Why the hell would Jimmy go after Alu? That makes no sense."

"Apparently, she's got a pretty sizable bounty on her head."

The revelation hit like a hammer. Clay turned his gaze to Juice, his voice sharp, "Juice, you know anything about this?"

Juice shook his head vehemently, "No, man. Not a clue."

Jax exhaled a long stream of smoke, his eyes narrowing in thought,"Who the hell would put a bounty on her head?"

Juice froze, his expression darkening as realisation dawned. He muttered under his breath, almost to himself, "Vinny Moretti."

Half-Sack, leaning against the wall, pushed off and stepped closer, his face twisting in confusion, "Who?"

Happy, who had been sharpening his knife in the corner, looked up, his tone matter-of-fact, "Mafia king."

The room went still.

"I heard about him back when I was doing some gun-for-hire gigs. Big-time boss. Runs New York, maybe more. Dangerous bastard."

Chibs cursed under his breath, running a hand over his face, "Jesus Christ. What has yer wee sister gotten herself into, Juicy?" 

The weight of the situation settled heavily over the group. Juice looked between the guys, his jaw clenched, worry etched into his features, "If Moretti's involved, this isn't just Jimmy screwing around. This is bad. Real bad."

"The question is, does Moretti want her alive or dead?" 

Freddie hesitated, "Alive, but I'm guessing dead works just as well if he doesn't get what he wants."

Jax stubbed out his cigarette, his mind already racing, "Alright, first thing's first—we need to get her out of Belfast and back to Charming. If Moretti's after her, she's not safe anywhere, but at least Tig and Piney can protect her better on our own turf."

Chibs nodded grimly, his hand flexing as if already gripping a weapon, "We'll need to move fast. Jimmy won't give up easy, and if he's got Moretti's backing, he'll come harder next time."

Juice's voice cut through the tension, quieter but no less intense, "I'm not letting them take her. I don't care who's behind it." The resolve in his voice was clear, and for a moment, no one spoke. 

Then Clay clapped a hand on Juice's shoulder, "Good. Because this is gonna get messy, and we're all in it now."

The brothers exchanged grim looks, knowing this was only the beginning of the storm headed their way.

***

SAMBEL's clubhouse was buzzing with its usual chaos when Juice walked in, his heart still pounding from the conversation in the shed. He scanned the room, his eyes darting past members and sweet butts until they landed on her.

Alu was sitting on the couch with her boots propped up on the coffee table, sipping a beer like it was the most normal day in the world. She was engulfed in a murder mystery book, utterly unaware of the storm raging in her brother's head.

Without thinking, Juice made a beeline for his sister, "Alu!" he called out, his voice louder than he intended.

She looked up, raising an eyebrow, "What's with the yelling, Ju? Trying to scare me into spilling my beer?"

But before she could say another word, Juice grabbed her by the arm and yanked her up, wrapping her into a tight hug.

"What the hell, man?" she squeaked, her arms awkwardly pinned to her sides.

"You're okay," Juice muttered, his voice muffled against her hair. "You're okay."

Alu stood there stiff for a moment, then sighed, patting him on the back like he was a scared puppy, "Uh, yeah. I'm fine. Thanks for checking in, I guess?"

Juice finally let go, holding her at arm's length to inspect her like a parent checking their kid after a fall, "Jimmy went after you, Alu! Do you have any idea how dangerous that guy is? And now I hear there's a bounty on your head?!" 

Alu blinked, then rolled her eyes, "Oh, for God's sake. Is that what this is about? Juice, I'm fine. Jimmy didn't get me. Tammy and I handled it."

"Handled it?!" Juice's voice rose in disbelief. "You were held up at gun point by Jimmy O'Phelan, and you think that's no big deal?!" 

Alu shrugged, smirking, "We made him leave, didn't we?"

Juice threw his hands in the air, pacing in front of her like an exasperated parent, "Made him leave—? Alu, he's not some drunk biker picking a fight at a bar! He's Jimmy freakin' O'Phelan!"

Alu plopped back down on the couch, taking another sip of her beer, "You're overreacting."

Juice stopped, staring at her incredulously, "Overreacting—? You're walking around with a six-figure bounty on your head like it's pocket change. If you ask me, you're underreacting." 

She gave him a casual shrug, "Look, if someone wants to pay that much for me, it's there own fault. Because if you ask me, they're getting ripped off—big time," she said with a snicker. 

Juice groaned, rubbing his temples, "This isn't funny, Alu."

Alu looked to her brother with a raised eyebrow and a tilt of her head, "Come on, it's a little funny."

He shot her a glare but couldn't help the small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, "You're impossible, you know that?" 

Alu leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, "Juice, I get it. You're worried, and that's sweet and all. But I'm not some damsel in distress. I can handle myself."

Juice crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes, "Oh, you mean like the time you 'handled' that guy at the bar and ended up with a busted lip?"

Alu's smirk faltered, pointing an accusing finger at her brother, "Hey! That was one time, and he sucker-punched me!"

"Or the time you 'handled' that car chase and crashed into a ditch?"

She gasped offended, throwing a pillow at him, "Okay, first of all, that ditch came out of nowhere. And secondly, I got away, didn't I?" she retorted with a smug smirk. 

Juice caught the pillow and laughed, shaking his head, "You're gonna give me a heart attack one of these days."

Alu grinned, leaning back against the couch, "You're too young to die, bro. Besides, if anyone's gonna take me out, it's gonna be you when you nag me to death. Seriously, you're almost as bad as Ma." 

Juice sighed, sitting down beside her and pulling her into a one-armed hug, "Just...be careful, alright? I can't lose you."

Her teasing demeanour softened, as she rested her head on his shoulder, "I'll be careful, Juice. Promise. We made a pact, remember?" 

Juice chuckled, shaking his head in amusement, thinking back to the day they made the pact. 

6 Years Earlier 

After Tabitha's funeral, Juice and Alu sat together on the hood of his car one late night, a half-empty bottle of cheap whiskey between them. Grief hung heavy in the air, but Juice was desperate to lighten the mood, to pull Alu out of the dark cloud she seemed to be drowning in. Because even if he was drowning himself, it was still his duty to be the raft that kept his sister afloat.

"You know what we need?" Juice said, breaking the silence. "A pact. Something stupid but, like, serious too."

Alu raised an eyebrow, sceptically but intrigued, "A pact? Like what?"

Juice grinned, trying to think of something on the fly, "Neither of us is allowed to die before we're thirty. Not in a shootout, not from a car crash, not even choking on a pretzel. And definitely not from some dramatic, self-sacrificial bullshit, like trying to save a puppy from a burning building."

Alu chuckled despite her grief, taking another swig of the whiskey, "Okay, fine. But what if one of us breaks the pact? What happens then? How do we get back at them?" 

Juice leaned in, his expression deadly serious, "Then the one left behind gets to tell everyone at their funeral that they died because they tried to join a cult...of clowns."

"A cult of clowns?" Alu snorted. "Why clowns?"

"Because no one's gonna respect a death like that," Juice said, smirking. "Think about it—your legacy would be forever ruined. It's the ultimate revenge."

Alu shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips, "Alright, fine. We don't die before thirty, or we get clowns at our funeral. Deal?"

Juice held out his pinky, and Alu linked hers with his, sealing the ridiculous pact. And for the first time in days, they both laughed—a sound that felt foreign and comforting all at once.

They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment, before Alu broke it with a grin, "So, about that six-figure bounty...you think I could collect it on myself?"

Juice groaned again, but this time, he was laughing, "You're the worst."

"But you love me," she quipped, holding up her beer in a mock toast.

Juice clinked his imaginary bottle against hers, "Yeah, I do. God help me."

He only laughed harder when his sister pouted in offence and punched him on the arm. 

***

The tension in the air was thick when Juice walked in. The guys were still gathered around the table in the chapel, murmuring quietly. The conversation died the second Juice stepped through the doors. 

Jax leaned against the table, arms crossed, his sharp blue eyes locking onto Juice, "How's Alu?"

Juice sighed, running a hand over his shaved head, "She's fine. Her same old self. Stubborn as hell."

Half-Sack let out a relieved chuckle, "Yep, sounds about right." 

Clay looked up, his features stern, "Good. Then we need to move on this. We can't risk Jimmy getting another shot at her. We get her out of Belfast and back to Charming. You and Sack will go with her." 

The room murmured in agreement, but Juice shook his head, the motion sharp and immediate, "She ain't leaving," he said firmly.

The group fell silent, surprised by the conviction in his voice.

"What do you mean, she ain't leaving?" Jax asked, his tone edged with confusion mixed with deep concern for the girl he believed he was starting to fall for—hard. 

Juice sighed again, stepping closer to the table, "I mean, I talked to her. She says it doesn't matter where she goes—the bounty's gonna follow her. Whether it's here or Charming, it's the same. At least in Belfast, she can be useful. That's how she put it." 

Half-Sack brow furrowed, "Useful? Useful how? Getting herself killed?"

"She doesn't think she's any safer in Charming," Juice replied, his voice heavy. "And honestly...she's got a point. Vinny Moretti doesn't care where she is. If he wants her bad enough, he'll find her no matter where we take her. Not to mention the problem back home." 

Clay slammed his fist on the table, making everyone flinch, "Goddammit, Juice! Your sister really is starting to become a liability. Maybe Gemma was right. Jimmy's already sniffing around, and if Vinny sends more guys, she's as good as dead. So are we." 

"She's not a liability!" Juice shot back, his voice rising. "She's my sister! And she can handle herself. You already seen her in action, Clay. And let me tell you this, that wasn't even the tip of the iceberg. Alu doesn't just sit back and wait for someone to save her—she saves herself." 

"Yeah, well, being brave doesn't make you bulletproof," Bobby muttered, lighting a cigarette.

"Aye!" Chibs nodded, taking a puff of his own cigarette, the smoke curdling around his head. "He's right, Juicy." 

Jax pushed off the table, stepping closer to Juice, "Look, man, I get it. She's your sister, and you don't wanna force her to do anything she doesn't want to do. But this isn't just about her anymore. If Jimmy or Vinny comes after her again, they're not gonna stop at her. They'll come for anyone standing in their way. That puts all of us, and SAMBEL, in the line of fire."

Juice clenched his jaw, his fists tightening at his sides, "You think I don't know that? You think I'm not scared out of my mind? But she's right. Moving her doesn't solve the problem. It just shifts it."

"So what? We just leave her here to be a target?" Half-Sack asked, throwing his hands up in frustration. 

Juice met his gaze, unflinching, "She's not a target. She's a fighter. And she's already made up her mind."

Chibs ran a hand over his face, muttering something under his breath in Gaelic, "Stubborn wee lass, isn't she?" he said, shaking his head.

"Runs in the family," Bobby quipped, earning a glare from Juice.

Jax let out a slow breath, his hands on his hips as he processed the news, "Alright," he said finally. "If she's staying, we make sure she's protected. That means someone's with her at all times. Sack, you got first watch. She doesn't go anywhere alone. Understand?" 

Half-Sack gave him a firm nod  "You got it," before rushing out of the chapter to do just that. 

Juice nodded, relief washing over him, "That works. She'll fight me on it, but I'll make her understand."

Clay's face was still hard, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Juice, "If this blows up in our faces, it's on you."

Juice nodded again, the weight of the responsibility settling on his shoulders, "I know."

Jax clapped him on the shoulder, "We'll figure this out. But she's family, Juice. That means we won't let anything happen to her. No matter what."

Juice's throat tightened, as he nodded, grateful for the unspoken promise in Jax's words, "Thanks, Jax," he said quietly.

And Juice was going to make damn sure Alu stayed safe. Even if that meant breaking their pact. 

***

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