💘( Healing the King! )✨

FOUR

[ Booster ]

( 🤴🔨👸💋💑🏍 )

" Oscar was a monster, but Vinny? He makes the Viper look like fucking Santa Claus. "

~ ALU ORTIZ to JAX TELLER

☆《》¤ 

GUEST STARRING 

Vanessa Lengies as Sophie Marlowe 

☆《》¤ 

ALU'S OUTFIT 

THE TOW TRUCK RUMBLED TO A STOP in the middle of an empty lot. Jax Teller's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white against the black leather. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, though he kept his face neutral. The beat-up car's tires they were towing slid loudly across the gravel. 

Clay Morrow sat in the passenger seat, calm and collected as ever. His face betrayed none of the tension that Jax felt radiating through his body. Clay adjusted his kutte and glanced at Jax, giving him a brief nod, as if to say, 'Hold it together, kid.' 

A figure emerged from the shadows—a young man, lean and wiry, his expression sharp as he approached the driver's side window, "They're waiting inside," the man said simply, his voice clipped and professional.

Clay leaned out the window slightly, his tone calm but firm, "Keep the crusher running. It may get a little noisy."

The man nodded, "I got it."

Jax cut the engine, his jaw tightening as he climbed out of the truck. Clay followed, his boots crunching against the gravel as they approached the figures standing in the distance. Jax adjusted his kutte, but the knot of anxiety in his stomach only tightened. He wasn't worried for himself—his nerves were for someone else entirely.

Marcus Alvarez stood near the edge of the lot, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked up as they approached, a faint smile tugging at his lips, "Clay," he greeted, extending his hand.

"Marcus," Clay said, shaking it firmly.

Alvarez turned to Jax, offering his hand with the same easy confidence, "Jax. How you doing?"

Jax forced a tight smile, "All right, bro." His voice was steady, but his insides churned with unease.

The sound of approaching footsteps drew Jax's attention, and his heart sank. The man who had been at the centre of his anxiety strode toward them, his smirk smug and self-assured, flanked by three of his men, moving with the kind of arrogance that came from knowing he controlled the room.

"Clay, Jax—Vincenzo Moretti," Alvarez introduced, stepping aside to let them all get acquainted. 

Vinny extended his hand, his smile almost predatory, "But my friends call me Vinny."

Clay stepped forward, shaking the man's hand firmly, "Good to finally meet you, man. Heard a lot about you." 

Jax, however, made no move to accept the handshake. He stared at Vinny's hand for a moment, before flashing him a cocky smirk and crossing his arms over his chest, "We're not friends yet, Moretti," he sneered. 

Clay shot him a sharp glare, but Vinny simply arched an eyebrow, lowering his hand without a word.

"Romero, Santos, Luis," Vinny introduced, gesturing to the men standing behind him. He turned back to Clay, his smirk returning. "Heard Viktor Putlova never made it home from SAMCRO's wedding."

Clay's expression didn't change, "Yeah, we, uh...had to put 'em down. Whole North Cali crew."

"Must have been a wild party," Vinny said, his tone mocking. "Sorry I missed it."

"Yeah, your invite must've got lost in the mail," Jax quipped, his smirk widening.

Vinny's eyes narrowed slightly, but he let the comment slide. Instead, he turned back to Clay, "The word's out: no one is to interfere with our new friendship," Vinny said, his voice smooth and confident.

"Thank you," Clay said with a nod.

"Yeah, thanks," Jax added sarcastically.

The subtle jab didn't go unnoticed. Vinny's demeanour darkened, his easygoing smirk was replaced by a steely glare. He took a step toward Jax, his voice low and threatening, "We got a problem here, cabron?" 

Jax didn't flinch. He stepped forward, meeting Vinny's challenge head-on, but before things could escalate, Clay shoved a hand against Jax's chest, pushing him back.

"No. No problem at all," Clay said quickly, his tone firm.

Vinny's smirk returned as he stepped back, his gaze lingering on Jax for a moment longer, before he turned to Clay, "Good. Now, let's see the merchandise," he said, rubbing his hands together. 

Clay nodded and led Vinny and his men to the back of the battered car. He popped the trunk, revealing a cache of weapons neatly arranged inside, "Got AR-15s, SIG 551s, AKs, KG-9s, Glocks, FN-57s," he said, gesturing to the arsenal. "Two dozen of each, except the 57s—only got 15 of those. Just like we discussed: 20% off the street tag."

Vinny's men stepped forward, inspecting the weapons. They tested the clips, checked the sights, and even shot a few rounds bullets into the car, before they nodded in approval, "What about ammo?" Santos asked. 

"The Wahewa press everything we need," Jax said, his tone clipped.

Romero held up one of the rifles, examining it closely, "These are excellent, boss."

Vinny nodded, "We'll take all you have in stock. Set a shipment for every two weeks—three dozen of everything except the Glocks."

"We can make that work," Clay said, extending his hand again.

As they turned to leave, Vinny's voice stopped them, "There's one more thing before the deal's done."

Clay frowned, turning back, "What's that?"

Vinny's smirk widened, "I need you to set up a meeting with a mutual friend of ours."

"What friend?" Clay asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.

Vinny's gaze shifted to Jax, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction, "Come on, you know who I'm talking about...Ana Lucía Ortiz."

Jax's heart stopped. His fists clenched at his sides as he forced himself to stay calm, "That's not gonna happen," he said, his voice tight.

"Relax," Vinny said, raising his hands. "I just want to have a conversation with her."

Jax stepped forward, his anger boiling over, "You've got a six-million-dollar bounty on her head! You don't want to talk—you want her dead!"

Clay grabbed Jax by the arm, yanking him back, before he could do anything reckless.

A sinister smirk danced on Vinny's lips, "You really think I'm gonna hand over that kind of money without seeing her, huh?" he drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. "Alu's good for a lot of things, Jax. Trust me, I know. Tightest little piece I've ever had, and that mouth? Dangerous in more ways than one."

Vinny's smirk grew colder, his tone hardening, "But even that doesn't compare to what I'm willing to pay you boys. You walk away without delivering her, and the deal's off—every penny of it. And I promise you, no pussy, no matter how sweet, is worth losing the kind of cash I'm throwing on the table."

His eyes narrowed as his voice dropped to a menacing whisper, "So, you either bring her to me, or you walk outta here broke and with a target on your back. Your choice."

Jax's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening with fury as his eyes blazed with anger, and his voice shook with barely contained rage, "You think you can talk about her like that?" he spat, taking a step forward, the heat of his anger radiating off him. "You don't know shit about her. You've never knew her. She's not some toy you can throw around for your pleasure, and if you think for one second I'm gonna let you disrespect her like that, you're fucking wrong."

He took another step toward Vinny, but Clay quickly intervened, his hand on Jax's shoulder, pulling him back, "Jax, that's enough," he said, his tone sharp, though there was a hint of weariness. He looked at Vinny, his eyes narrowing. "We'll deliver her. You get your meeting. But let's make one thing clear—you treat her like a woman, not a fucking object. Got it?" 

Vinny's smirk only deepened, "Excellent."

As Vinny turned back to his men, Jax shot Clay a look of pure betrayal. The older man didn't meet his gaze, but Jax's mind was already racing, desperate to figure out how to keep Alu out of Vinny's grasp.

***

The clubhouse was quiet, the usual din of laughter, shouting, and music replaced by an uneasy stillness. Jax paced back and forth in the chapel, his boots thudding against the worn floor. His mind raced as he replayed the conversation with Vinny. His blood boiled at the thought of Alu being dragged into their mess. He turned sharply as Clay entered the room, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.

"You promised me," Jax began, his voice low and sharp. "You promised me if I backed you on trafficking blow, you'd keep Alu out of it."

Clay leaned back against the door, crossing his arms. His expression was calm, almost indifferent, but Jax could see the flicker of irritation in his eyes. 

"You promised Juice his sister wouldn't get hurt," Jax continued, his voice rising. "He warned us about getting into bed with the mafia, Clay!"

Clay sighed, rubbing a hand across his face, before pushing off the door and stepping closer, "The Russians needed to die for what they did to you inside. Right?" His voice was steady, but there was a weight behind his words. "Vinny is the only player deep enough to keep the Russians off our backs."

"I ain't gonna put the woman I love's life in danger, so you can cash out!" Jax shot back, his fists clenching at his sides.

Clay's gaze hardened, and he took another step forward, "It's not about me!" he snapped. "It's about your mother."

Jax froze, his brow furrowing as Clay continued, "These last two years—brutal. Your mum and me—no savings, no medical, no retirement cushion. I got, what, a year, maybe two? You're really gonna choose some washed-up stripper, a gangbanger's whore, over your own mother?" he sneered with disdain. "That girl's been passed around more than a bottle of cheap whiskey, and now you're standing here like she's worth risking everything for?! Get your head outta your ass, son. Blood comes first—not some hired pussy with a sob story."

Jax didn't even hesitate. His fist connected with Clay's face, the force of the punch sending the older man staggering to the floor. 

Jax shook out his hand, his jaw clenched tight with barely contained fury as he took a step closer to Clay, towering over him. His voice was low, but it carried a deadly edge, "Don't you ever talk about her like that again," he growled, his eyes blazing. "Alu isn't just the woman I love, she's Juice's sister. That makes her family, Clay. Or has all that greed rotted your damn brain?!" 

He took another step forward, pointing a finger in Clay's face. "She's done more to protect this club than most of us have. She's bled for it, fought for it, and she's still standing. Do her part. So, you don't get to stand there and act like you're better than her. You don't get to call her trash."

Clay glared back, his hand wiping at the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but Jax didn't back down. His voice dropped even lower, filled with cold finality, "You wanna pull that kind of shit again? Fine. But next time, it won't just knock you on your ass. I'll kill you. And don't forget, Clay—you're the one who taught me how." 

Jax simply stared at him for a long moment, before finally turning away, his jaw tight. 

***

The knock at the door came sharp and unyielding, breaking the silence that filled the large home. Alu froze where she stood, her heart sinking. She didn't need to look through the peephole to know who it was, having received multiple texts and missed calls from the blonde in the last half-hour. 

"Go away, Jackson," she called, her voice steady, though her pulse quickened.

"Alu, come on," his familiar drawl replied from the other side of the door. "I just need five minutes of your time." 

"I thought I made it clear at the wedding that this wasn't gonna become a thing," she shot back. "I meant it when I said, 'I don't want to see you.'" 

"Look, I know I screwed up, okay? But this isn't about that. It's about the club," he said, his tone softer now, almost pleading. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't important."

Silence stretched between them, and for a moment, Jax thought she wouldn't answer. But then the lock clicked, and the door creaked open just enough for her to glare at him through the gap.

"You've got two minutes," she said coldly.

"Can I come in?" he asked, his voice almost gentle. "This isn't the kind of shit we should talk about out here in the open." 

She hesitated, her eyes narrowing. Against her better judgment, she sighed and stepped aside, "Fine. But if this turns into another one of your charming bullshit speeches, I'm throwing you out."

Once inside, Jax took a breath, glancing around the modest space as if looking for the right words. Alu folded her arms and leaned against the counter, her expression guarded.

"SAMCRO made a deal," he began.

Her eyebrows furrowed, "What kind of deal?"

"To sell guns to the New York mafia," he admitted, watching her closely for a reaction.

Her jaw dropped, disbelief and anger flashing across her face, "Are you all out of your goddamn minds?!" she snapped, standing upright.

"Let me explain," he said quickly, holding up his hands. "It was the only way to keep the Russians off our backs. But there's a complication."

Alu's arms dropped to her sides as she stared at him, her stomach twisting, "What kind of complication?"

"Vinny wants to meet with you to finalise the deal," Jax said hesitantly, his words like a bomb detonating in the room.

Her face paled, and her eyes widened, "No," she said flatly.

"Alu—"

"No!" she repeated, her voice rising. "I killed his son, Jax. And—he doesn't just hold grudges—he carves them into your skin! That man sold me in a card game, like I was nothing. And now you want me to sit across from him? He'll kill me before I even get a word out. Oscar was a monster, but Vinny? He makes the Viper look like fucking Santa Claus. No way, Teller. Absolutely not." Her breath caught in her chest as she turned away, her hands gripping the edge of the counter.

Jax hesitated before speaking again, "I need you to tell me the whole truth. What happened with Vinny? Why does he want you so bad?"

She laughed bitterly, shaking her head, "Apart from the fact that I killed his only son?"

"Yes," he said, his voice steady.

She turned, crossing her arms tightly over her chest, "After he sold me in that poker game, I wanted to hurt him. Really hurt him. So, I went to his little empire and stole a duffel bag of coke. Millions, Jax. Then I killed a few of his men while I was at it."

Jax's eyes widened slightly, but he said nothing.

She took a deep breath, "That counterfeit money I gave you to buy Jimmy? That came from one of Oscar's operations. Took everything I could to destroy their empire. I made sure Vinny lost his biggest income streams. That's why he wants me dead. I didn't just take his son. I took everything from him." 

Jax ran a hand down his face, his jaw tightening, "You could've told me. Told us."

"And what would that have done?" she asked, her voice rising. "You don't go to war with Vinny Moretti unless you're ready to lose everything. I had nothing to lose back then...but now, I have everything to lose," she said, sucking in a shaky breath as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. 

Jax stepped closer, his voice softening, "I'm not gonna let anything happen to you, Alu. I promise. No one's gonna hurt you. Not Vinny. Not anyone. Not on my watch."

For a moment, his words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken emotion. Alu searched his face, her defenses wavering.

"I mean it," Jax said, his voice barelt a whisper as he reached out, his hand brushing against her cheek. "I'm gonna keep you safe, baby." 

For a fleeting moment, their gazes locked, and Jax leaned in slightly, his breath warm against her skin. She felt herself leaning too, drawn to the sincerity in his eyes. But then reality slammed back into her like a freight train.

She stepped back abruptly, breaking the moment, "I can't, Jax," she said, her voice tight. "I can't hurt him again." 

Jax's jaw tensed, but he nodded, stepping back, "I'm sorry." 

Silence stretched between them, heavy and unresolved.

"I'll do the meet," she said finally, her voice quiet. "But if this goes sideways, Jax, I'm not going down without a fight. I don't give a shit about your deal." 

"Fair enough." 

As he left, the promise he'd made lingered in her mind. But in her heart, Alu wasn't sure if anyone could truly protect her from the storm that was coming.

FIVE YEARS EARLIER 

The loud, urgent knock on the door shattered the quiet of the night, reverberating through the walls of the small house. The rain poured outside, beating against the windows in relentlessly, the darkness outside making everything feel too close, too suffocating. Juice groaned as he stirred, his hand lazily reaching out to the naked form beside him. 

The girl, tangled in a mess of sheets, mumbled a groggy complaint, "Who the hell's knocking at this hour? What the fuck...?"

Juice turned his head toward her, offering a reassuring smile, before leaning down and pressing a kiss to her forehead, "Just go back to sleep, baby. It's probably just some drunk idiot." 

But even as he said it, something didn't feel right. The knock had been too forceful, too insistent. Juice slid out of bed, feeling the chill of the room on his bare skin. He grabbed the waistband of his pants off the floor and yanked them on quickly, his mind already calculating what might be waiting for him at the door.

He grabbed his gun from the dresser, the familiar weight grounding him, and padded silently toward the stairs, his senses heightened. The dark hallway felt too long, the shadows surrounded him. He didn't know who or what was on the other side of that door, but as a prospect for the Sons of Anarchy, he'd been taught to trust his instincts.

Reaching the door, he pressed his ear against it for a moment, listening for anything unusual. The rain drowned out most of the sound, but there was an eerie stillness outside. Juice's grip tightened on the gun, and with a quiet exhale, he slowly turned the handle.

And what he saw made his heart stop.

Standing on his doorstep, soaked to the bone, was Alu. Her hair was plastered to her face, and her clothes were drenched, but it was the blood that made Juice's breath hitch. Her hand was pressed against her side, blood oozing between her fingers as it seeped down her shirt. She was swaying slightly, her eyes glassy and unfocused, but she was alive.

"Shit, Alu!" Juice shouted, his voice cracking with panic. He placed the gun a nearby buffet, stepping forward to catch her before she collapsed.

She let out a pained laugh, "Nice to see you too, bro," she said weakly, but the words didn't match the intensity in her eyes. She winced in pain, clutching the large duffel bag tightly, her face pale and twisted in agony.

"Shit," Juice breathed, panic rising in his chest as he pulled her inside, checking to make sure no one was following her. "Who did this?" he demanded, shutting and locking the door behind them as he helped her into the living room.

Alu managed a weak shrug, her breath shallow and uneven, "I'm fine, just help me get this thing out," she muttered, her voice hoarse.

"Hold on," Juice said, his heart hammering as he rushed into the kitchen, grabbing whiskey, bandages, and anything he could find to stop the bleeding. He returned to her, kneeling down in front of her as she winced, trying to avoid looking at the wound on her side.

"Alu, talk to me. What the hell happened?" Juice asked, his voice desperate as he uncapped the whiskey and poured it onto the wound, making her hiss in pain.

"That...that asshole Vinny," Alu started, her eyes glassy with both pain and exhaustion as she glanced up at her brother. "He sold me in a poker game, like I was some piece of meat, like I meant nothing to him. So, I took his money...took it all," she said with a bitter chuckle. 

Juice frowned, trying to make sense of her words as he worked to patch her up, "What do you mean, you took it all?" He reached for the tweezers to dig the bullet out of her side, his hands steady despite the situation. But before Alu answered, her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she passed out from the pain. 

Juice spent the next few hours watching over her, not allowing himself to fall asleep. His mind raced with questions. What the hell had happened? Why was she in this state? He wouldn't have been able to forgive himself if something happened to her.

***

The morning came, gray and overcast, and Juice finally allowed himself to relax, thinking Alu was out of the woods. When she groggily came to, Juice didn't wait for her to speak before he asked, "What the hell happened, Alu? You show up at my door, shot to hell, and bleeding all over my floor. What the fuck?!" 

Alu stirred, blinking as she pushed herself into a sitting position. Her face was pale, and her eyes were distant. She opened her mouth to speak but paused, looking around for any sign of Slutty Sophie. Sophie, Juice's girlfriend after Tabitha, embodies everything Alu despises in a partner for her brother: she's shallow, untrustworthy, and selfish. Sophie often uses her flirtatious charm and good looks to manipulate men, including Juice, who keeps taking her back despite her repeated infidelities.

From the moment they met, Alu saw through Sophie's fake smiles and sugary sweetness, recognising her as someone who would only hurt her brother. Sophie, on the other hand, views Alu as a meddling, overprotective sister who doesn't know how to mind her own business. Their interactions are often laced with sharp sarcasm, passive-aggressive comments, and open hostility.

Alu resents how Sophie treats Juice like a toy she can pick up and discard at her convenience. She has confronted Sophie multiple times, warning her to stay away from her brother, but Juice's refusal to cut ties only fuels Alu's frustration. Sophie seems to enjoy pushing Alu's buttons, flaunting her connection with Juice and dismissing Alu's opinions with smug arrogance.

Despite their mutual disdain, both women care about Juice in their own ways—though Sophie's version of 'care' is selfish and self-serving. Alu remains fiercely protective, determined to shield her brother from Sophie's toxicity.

"She's at work," Juice muttered. He wanted to end that particular conversation before it even started—the last thing he needed was a fight about Sophie in the middle of all this.

"They serve breakfast at Hooters now?" Alu said with a cheeky grin, earning her a glare from her brother. 

Alu didn't answer immediately, instead throwing the large duffel bag onto the coffee table. She unzipped it, revealing stacks upon stacks of cocaine, each brick wrapped tightly in plastic. Juice's eyes widened in shock.

"I took a trip last night to Vinny's little kingdom and I stole his coke. Killed a few of his men on my way out," she said, looking at Juice's shocked face.

Juice could barely comprehend what he was hearing, "You did what?!" 

"And that's not all," she added, gesturing for him to follow.

Juice helped her to her feet as she struggle to push herself up, his arm around her waist to support her as she limped toward the door. She winced with every step, but the determination in her eyes never wavered.

Outside, she led him to a truck parked on the street. Juice's stomach sank as she opened the back of it. Inside were several crates of counterfeit money, along with all the equipment needed to print more.

"You went after both of them?" Juice whispered in realisation. "Alu, you're insane. You're starting a goddamn war with these people. You can't just...just steal from Vinny!"

"Fuck Vinny!" Alu snapped, spinning around to face him, the anger in her eyes cutting through the fear. "You don't understand! He's the reason she's dead! Him and Oscar." Her voice cracked. 

Juice's breath caught in his throat as he processed her words. His anger boiled over, but it was mixed with confusion, "What the fuck are you talking about?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mix of rage and disbelief.

She looked him in the eye, and Juice saw something in her that he hadn't seen before: a hard edge, a resolve to do whatever it took to get justice, "Tabitha," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The cops that gunned her down in the street? They worked for Vinny. But they were doing it under Oscar's orders."

Juice stared at her as realisation hit him hard, "Because Tabitha was a rat."

Alu's face paled, and for the first time in a long time, her vulnerability shown through, "You knew?" she asked quietly, and Juice nodded, the realisation hitting both of them like a punch to the gut.

Alu's eyes softened, a touch of pain flickering across her face, but she said nothing, turning away to hide it from him.

The air was thick with tension as Alu stepped into the abandoned warehouse. Jax flanked her on one side, Clay on the other, both walking with the grim determination of men who knew they were stepping into a lion's den. But despite their presence, Alu's confidence wavered the moment her eyes landed on Vincenzo Moretti.

Vinny sat casually at a large table surrounded by his men, a cigar in one hand and a drink in the other. When he saw her, his face broke into a sinister grin that made her stomach churn. His arms spread wide, as if welcoming an old friend.

"Well, well, well," Vinny said, standing and tossing his cigar into an ashtray. His voice was smooth but dripping with menace, "If it isn't the Black Widow herself."

Alu's breath hitched. At the sound of that nickname, all her self-assuredness crumbled, dragging her back to a time when she'd been a naive teenager, desperate for approval in a world of wolves.

Vinny turned to his men, gesturing toward her with an almost theatrical flourish, "Did you know, boys, that she used to be my best lieutenant?" 

Alu clenched her fists and forced herself to stand tall, though her voice was sharp when she finally spoke, "Yeah, before you sold me in a game of poker," she shot back.

Vinny's smirk deepened, his dark eyes glinting with amusement, "Do you really want to talk about indiscretions, amor?"

The room fell into an uneasy silence as their gazes locked. Alu felt herself shrinking under the weight of his stare, every ounce of courage fleeing from her body. But then, without warning, Vinny threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing off the warehouse walls.

"I'm only kidding, querida," he said with a wave of his hand. "Consider your debt to me paid."

Alu blinked, completely stunned, "I killed your son," she said flatly, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Vinny's laughter died instantly, his face darkening as he pushed himself to his feet and stalked toward her. Instinctively, she stepped back, but he was faster. He reached up and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his touch ice cold against her skin.

"Yes," he whispered, his voice low and dangerous. "You did, didn't you? Caved in his skull with an goddamn axe." He paused, letting the moment stretch unbearably, his lips curling into a cruel smirk. "But you know what? Thank you."

Alu's heart raced as she stared at him, utterly shocked. Even Clay and Jax exchanged bewildered glances.

Vinny stepped back, spreading his arms again, "Oscar was a pain in my ass. He was going behind my back, trying to take my crown. You did me a favour, Ana Lucía—helping me take out the trash." 

Alu narrowed her eyes, her instincts screaming that this was too good to be true. "You expect me to believe my debt's paid just like that?"

Vinny chuckled, shaking his head, "You're right. There is one more thing I want."

Jax immediately stepped forward, his jaw tight, "What do you want?" he demanded.

Vinny grinned, his teeth gleaming, "Tell pretty boy to simmer down. I just want to meet my grandson." 

Alu's blood ran cold, "No way in hell," she spat, turning to leave.

Before she could take another step, Vinny's hand shot out, grabbing her arm and slamming her down on the table as he pulled out his knife from its holster and pressed the blade to her throat.

Jax reached for his gun, but Clay's hand gripped his arm, holding him back, "Don't," Clay said quietly, his voice strained.

Vinny's smirk returned, now laced with malice, "You think you're something now, huh? Don't forget who made you. Before I found you, you were just a scared little kid, doing whatever the hell you were told. I made you into a woman. I made people fear you, respect you. You owe everything you are to me. And don't think for a second I can't take it all away. I could make you disappear, Ana Lucía. Just a whisper in the wind. So maybe, you should start showing me a little respect."

Alu hissed in pain as Vinny pressed the blade deeper into her skin, drawing a small amount of blood. 

"You see, I've got a few of my most trusted associates on a conference call," Vinny said smugly, motioning for one of his men to connect the line.

"Santos," Vinny called out as the line was connected. "How's our lawyer friend doing?"

A taunting voice answered, the phone was placed on loud speaker, so everyone could hear, "Oh, he's working on his pro bono case, boss."

Alu's breath hitched, fear flashing across her face.

Vinny smirked mockingly, "Awe, how sweet," he cooed. "Luis!" he called next. "What about our little biker?"

Another voice responded, its tone just as taunting, "Six inches deep in some high-end pussy at the moment."

Vinny's smirk grew as Alu's fear deepened, "Man, Juicy has been spending a lot of time at that porn studio lately. How does it feel, Alu, knowing one of your best friends is screwing your brother behind your back?" 

Alu's chest tightened, her mind racing.

Vinny turned to the last associate on the line, "Romero, you got a target on the reverend?"

"Yes, boss," Romero replied casually. "She's absorbed in her soap operas, completely unaware."

Vinny laughed, "Thought she'd be praying." Turning back to Alu, he lowered the knife slightly but didn't release her, "Here's the deal, bebe. You organise the meet, or mummy, brother dearest, and boy toy get it between the eyes." 

Tears streamed down Alu's face as she nodded rapidly, defeated, "Okay! Alright. Just don't hurt them," she choked out.

Satisfied, Vinny released her and stepped back, his grin never faltering, "You always were a smart girl," he said, gently caressing her cheek, making the blonde visibly tense as she turned her head to avoid his touch, which only made his smirk widen. 

As he and his men left, Jax rushed to Alu's side, reaching out to comfort her, "Alu—"

She pushed him away, her voice trembling with anger and despair, "You couldn't just leave me alone, could you?!" she snapped, before storming out of the warehouse, leaving Jax standing there, guilt etched across his features.

Clay stepped up beside him, attempting to place a comforting hand on his step son's shoulder, but Jax simply brushed it off and turned to shoot him a sharp glare. 

"This is on you," Jax hissed bitterly. 

***

The air was thick with anticipation as Alu stood at the center of an empty park, surrounded by the unwavering presence of SAMCRO. The men were on high alert, their eyes constantly scanning for any signs of danger. The Ortiz family's safety was their number one priority—the members ready to defend them at a moment's notice. Standing beside her were Moss, Juice, and Elliot, each equally tense, but all sharing the same determination to protect what was theirs.

Alu couldn't shake the feeling of impending dread that had settled over her, gnawing at her insides. The fact that they were standing here, waiting for him, made her stomach twist. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and pulled it out, seeing her mother's name on the screen.

"Ma," she muttered under her breath before answering, the familiar feeling of frustration rising in her chest. "What took you so long? I've been trying to reach you for the last hour."

Adela's voice crackled through the phone, calm as ever, "I'm sorry, mija. Days of Our Lives was on, and you know I can't miss it." 

Alu's eyes narrowed, her voice cutting through the conversation with urgency, "I don't give a shit about Days of Our Lives. Look, you need to listen to me. Lock all the doors. Stay away from the windows. Don't ask questions, just do it. Now, Ma!" 

There was a long pause on the other end, before her mother finally spoke, confusion clear in her tone, "Ana Lucía, what's going on? Why—?" 

"I said, just do it!" Alu snapped, her tone final. Without waiting for a response, she hung up the phone, already scanning the park for any sign of movement.

As soon as she ended the call, her eyes caught a familiar silhouette in the distance. Vinny. And his men, approaching, ready to close in. The dread in her gut twisted tighter, but she couldn't afford to lose focus. She couldn't let them see how afraid she was.

Without a word, she knelt down in front of her son, who was quietly standing next to her. He was trying to look brave, his tiny fists clenched, but she could see the fear in his eyes, and it broke her heart.

"Are you sure you want to do this, baby?" Alu asked softly, cupping her son's face in her hands.

Moss looked up at her, a smile spreading across his face that didn't quite mask the fear. He turned his head to look up at Juice and Elliot, who were standing nearby, ready for anything, "I want to help keep you safe, Mami," he said, his voice strong despite the tremor. "I want to help keep everyone safe."

Alu smiled proudly, her heart swelling with admiration for the little boy she had tried so hard to protect from this world. She kissed the top of his head, her voice soft but laced with regret, "I'm so sorry for getting you into this. I never wanted you to be in danger."

He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing tightly, "It's not your fault, Mami. None of it is." 

Tears stung the corners of Alu's eyes as she pulled him into a tight hug, holding him close, "I love you so much, Carlos," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She felt his small arms around her, his presence giving her the strength to hold it together. 

But before she could say anything else, the moment was shattered.

"Well, well, well. Looks like we've got a little family reunion going on here."

Alu's head snapped up at the familiar voice, and she immediately knew it was Vinny. He strode into view, flanked by his men. The grin on his face was cold, predatory, as he took in the scene before him.

"Vinny," Alu said, standing slowly, her body tense. She stood protectively in front of her son as the men of SAMCRO surrounded them.

Vinny didn't even acknowledge the protective stance of the men around her. Instead, he waved a hand as if brushing them aside, his eyes fixed on Moss, "You must be Moss. I'm—" 

Moss narrowed his eyes but stood his ground, not backing down, "I don't care who you are! You've got no business here." 

"Ah, Moss, I see you've got yourself a little bit of fire." Vinny chuckled darkly, his men behind him echoing his amusement. "I like fire." He turned his gaze back to Alu, his smile never faltering, "You've got quite the crew these days, haven't you, Ana Lucía?" 

Alu clenched her fists, her jaw tightening as she met his gaze, "Cut the small talk, Vinny. You're here for a reason, so let's just get on with it then," she said, her voice laced with barely contained fury.

Vinny's grin widened, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he surveyed the group, "Ah, there's that tone again. Careful, querida. You keep that up, and I just might come up with a little something extra you owe me. You wouldn't want to add to your tab, now, would you?"

Elliot took a step forward, his posture protective and defiant, "If you think you're going to take another damn thing from her, you're going to have to go through me first."

Vinny laughed, his voice low and menacing, "Oh, I don't think it'll come to that, Elliot. But I like your spirit. I'll give you that."

The tension in the air was palpable, but Alu remained focused on her son, her hand resting gently on his shoulder, "I'm not scared of you, Vinny. Not anymore." 

Vinny's expression hardened for a brief moment, before his smirk returned, "We'll see about that, mi amore. We'll see."

***

Words: 6324