💘( Healing the King! )✨

SEVEN

[ Dorylus ]

( 🤴🔨👸💋💑🏍 )

" You think you're so damn smart, don't you? While you're busy playing chess, he's out there plotting how to take Moss away from Alu. How to hurt her more than he already has. "

~ JUICE ORTIZ to JAX TELLER

☆《》¤ 

ALU'S OUTFIT

ALU STIRRED AWAKE, the warm morning light filtering through the thin curtains. She blinked groggily, realising the weight draped over her waist wasn't her blanket but an arm. Her eyes darted down, her heart skipping a beat as she saw Jax lying beside her, his face inches from hers, his features softened in sleep.

Oh, God.

Her movement must have woken him because his eyes fluttered open, blue and bright against the morning sun. For a moment, he looked disoriented, then his lips curved into a lazy smile.

"Morning, baby girl," he said, his voice husky with sleep.

"Morning," Alu replied, trying to ignore the way her heart fluttered hearing the familiar nickname leave his lips. 

"Guess I didn't make it to the couch," he teased, his smirk widening.

Alu rolled her eyes, though her cheeks betrayed her with a blush, "No, you didn't. You fell asleep after I cried all over you, remember?" she chuckled nervously, fiddling with the zip on his hoodie, unable to meet his gaze. 

Jax propped himself up on one elbow, his hair mussed in a way that was annoyingly attractive, "I don't mind. It was kinda nice...you know, not being screamed at for once."

Alu gave him a half-hearted glare, "Don't push it, Teller."

Before he could respond, the door to the bedroom swung open, and Kimchee stepped in, holding two cups of coffee. His cheerful demeanour froze the moment he saw them in bed together, their proximity far too cosy to ignore.

"Uh..." Kimchee's eyes darted between them, suspicion plastered across his face. "What the hell did I just walk into?"

Alu shot upright, shoving Jax's arm off her, "It's not what it looks like!" she blurted out, her face flushed. 

Kimchee raised an eyebrow, setting the coffees down on the dresser, "Really? Because it looks like my best friend and her ex-boyfriend had a sleepover. In the same bed." 

Jax sat up, throwing his hands up in mock surrender, "Relax, man. Nothing happened. I was just here for moral support."

"Moral support?" Kimchee asked, his tone dripping with scepticism. "Is that what we're calling spooning now?"

"We were not spooning!" Alu snapped, burying her face in her hands.

Kimchee crossed his arms, his smirk growing, "Sure looked like spooning from where I'm standing."

Jax, ever the charmer, leaned back against the headboard with a cocky grin, "If we were spooning, you'd know it, Kimchee. I'm an excellent big spoon."

Alu groaned, throwing a pillow at Jax, which he caught effortlessly, "You're not helping!"

"Alright, alright," Kimchee said, holding up his hands as if to calm the room. "I'll drop it. For now." His tone made it clear he didn't believe a word they said, but he let it go.

Alu sighed in relief, "What did you want anyway?"

Kimchee's expression shifted, his teasing replaced with seriousness, "Juice. He got released this morning."

The air in the room grew tense, the humour evaporating. And in an instant, Alu shot out of bed and hurried to put on her leather jacket and boots she collected from one of the many unpacked boxes she didn't get to yesterday, "He's out?" 

Kimchee nodded, his expression softening, "Yeah. Just wanted you to know, before you did something stupid. But it appears, I was too late," he took another dig, arching his eyebrows, earning a glare from his best friend, while Jax chuckled in amusement, still finding the situation amusing as he sat up to placed on his shoes. 

"Yeah...thanks for telling me." 

"Alright, I'll leave you to it," Kimchee said, then casted one last glance at Jax. "Just...keep your hands to yourself, Teller. I don't need to walk in on this again."

Jax smirked, throwing an arm casually around Alu's shoulders just to rile him up, "No promises."

"Get off me!" Alu shouted, shoving him onto the bad as Kimchee shook his head and walked out, muttering under his breath about needing a stiff drink to deal with these two.

As the door closed, Jax looked up at Alu from where he landed on  the mattress, grinning like an idiot. 

Alu blushed, hiding her face, "What? What are you staring at?" 

"I missed this. I missed you." 

Alu opened her mouth to scold him, but nothing came out, as a small smile tugged at her lips and she softly confessed, "I missed you too." 

***

Alu's car screeched to a halt in the clubhouse compound. She barely registered the stares of a few hang-arounds as she threw the door open and jumped out. Her eyes darted around the lot, searching frantically until she spotted him.

Juice pulled in on his Harley, the familiar rumble of the bike vibrating through her chest. Relief flooded over her as she sprinted toward him, her boots pounding against the concrete. 

"Juice!" she called out, her voice tight with worry.

He looked up, surprised, as he killed the engine and swung his leg over the bike. Before he could even straighten up, Alu was in front of him, grabbing his arm.

"What happened? Are you okay?" The words spilled out in a rush, her wide eyes scanning him for any sign of injury.

Juice gave her a small, reassuring smile and waved her off, "Nothing happened. Just the new sheriff waving his dick around again, trying to feel important."

Alu's brow furrowed, her suspicion immediate. She stepped closer, her tone sharp, "You know I can always tell when you're lying to me, right?" 

"I'm not lying, Lu," Juice said firmly, though the way he avoided her gaze made her stomach churn. He placed a hand on her arm, his voice softening, "I promise you, sis, everything's gonna be okay."

Alu wanted to believe him—needed to believe him—but the pit in her stomach deepened when she caught sight of movement behind him. The rest of the guys were filing into the clubhouse, their faces grim and resolute. They were heading for the chapel for the vote, "No, it's not," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. 

Juice sighed, running a hand over the back of his head. He placed both hands on her shoulders, grounding her, his voice low but steady, "Hey. It ain't gonna pass, all right? Trust me on this." 

"Juice—"

"Trust me," he repeated, cutting her off. Before she could argue, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, his touch lingering for a moment longer than usual. He pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her tightly.

For a brief second, she let herself melt into his embrace, inhaling the familiar scent of leather and cologne. But the tension in her chest didn't ease.

"I gotta go. Just hang tight, okay?" he murmured into her hair, before stepping back, his hands lingering on her arms as if reluctant to let go.

She watched helplessly as he turned and walked toward the clubhouse, joining the others as they disappeared behind the heavy doors of the chapel.

The pit in her stomach felt like it might swallow her whole. Juice had promised her it wouldn't pass, but she knew better than to trust the club's politics.

As the doors closed with a definitive thud, Alu stood there, frozen, her hands balled into fists. The feeling of dread gnawed at her, and she could only hope that, Juice's promise would hold true.

***

The air in the chapel was thick with tension, the weight of the decision hanging over the room like a storm cloud. The members of SAMCRO sat around the table, their faces a mix of determination, doubt, and unease. Clay sat at the head, his hands resting on the gavel as he scanned the room.

"You've all had time to think on this," Clay began, his gravelly voice commanding attention. "Yay or nay: we get in business with Vinny Moretti and the New York Mafia." 

Clay raised his hand first, his vote clear and unwavering, "Yay."

Tig nodded without hesitation, "Yay."

All eyes turned to Chibs, who shook his head slowly, his jaw clenched tight. His fists rested on the table, trembling with barely contained anger as he remembered what Alu had confided in him the other, that confession being the main reason for him changing his vote, "I don't trust that bastard as far as I can throw him," he said, his voice sharp with resolve. "No."

Juice cast Chibs a grateful glance, a small nod of appreciation passing between them.

Opie sighed, leaning back in his chair, "Yay," he said, his tone reluctant but decisive.

Miles followed suit without much thought, "I'm a yay."

Piney's glare cut through the tension like a knife as he fixed his eyes on Clay, "Nay," he growled, his disdain for this deal clear.

Juice leaned forward, his voice firm as he declared, "Nay." He glanced at Jax with a knowing smirk, silently daring him to say otherwise. 

Bobby shook his head, his vote clear, "No."

Happy's brow furrowed as he crossed his arms, but his answer was steady, "I'm sorry. I'm a no."

Kozik was next, "Backing my Prez and VP. Yay."

Half-Sack hesitated, his eyes darting around the room before he spoke, "Nay. I can't do it, man. Not after the shit he's put Alu through. Guy's a complete loon." 

Chuckie, nervously wringing his mechanical hands together, finally chimed in, "As long as we keep Alu and Moss safe...It's a yay from me." 

Now, all eyes turned to Jax, the room silent except for the faint hum of tension. He sat back in his chair, running a hand over his face. He knew the stakes, knew what it would take to bring down someone like Vinny Moretti. There was only one way to kill a man like him...

Jax straightened, his expression calm, "Yay."

...Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. 

The sound of Juice scoffing broke the silence, his disbelief written across his face, "You're kidding me, right?" Juice muttered, shaking his head. Without another word, he shoved his chair back and stood abruptly, his movements sharp and fuming. 

"Juice—" Jax started, but Juice was already storming toward the door.

The heavy chapel doors slammed shut behind him, the sound echoing through the room.

Clay didn't even flinch, "Seven to six. It passes." He brought the gavel down with a decisive thud, signalling the end of church. 

The room was still as the members processed the result. Jax stared at the table in front of him, his jaw tightening. 

***

Juice's dorm room was dimly lit, the blinds pulled down as he paced back and forth, running a hand through his buzzed hair. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, his anger boiling over as he replayed what just happened in the chapel in his head over and over again. The door creaked open, and he whipped around to see Jax stepping inside.

Juice's face twisted with fury, "Get out."

Jax didn't budge. He closed the door behind him with deliberate calm, leaning against it as he crossed his arms, "You need to listen to me."

"I don't need to hear a damn thing you have to say, brother!" Juice barked, his voice rising. "You sold us out, Jax! You sold her out!"

Jax stepped forward, his tone steady, "I want him dead as much as you do."

Juice stopped pacing, his eyes narrowing, "Then why the hell did you vote yes?!"

"Because killing a guy like Vinny Moretti isn't that easy," Jax snapped back. "You think we can just put a bullet in his head and walk away? He's not just some thug. He's connected. He's got power, resources, people who'll come after us if we don't play this right."

Juice let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head, "You think you're so damn smart, don't you? While you're busy playing chess, he's out there plotting how to take Moss away from Alu. How to hurt her more than he already has."

Jax stepped closer, his voice lowering, "You think I don't know that? You think I'm okay with what he's done to her?" His jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "I voted yes because it's the only way to get close enough to take him out for good."

Juice stared at him, his anger warring with confusion, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about a plan," Jax said firmly. "We play along, make him think we're all in. We gain his trust, learn how he moves, where he's vulnerable. And when the time is right, we put a bullet between his eyes and bury him six feet under."

Juice blinked, his fury dimming slightly as the weight of Jax's words sank in, "You're serious?"

"Dead serious," Jax replied. "But we can't do it if we're acting on impulse. This isn't about you or me—it's about Alu, about making sure she and Moss are safe. We need to be smart about this, Juice. You with me, bro?"

Juice's shoulders sagged, his anger giving way to reluctant understanding, "You promise me," he said, his voice low but insistent. "You promise me that bastard dies."

Jax stepped forward, placing a hand on Juice's shoulder, "I swear to you, Juice. By the end of this deal, Vinny Moretti is a dead man. But we do it my way."

Juice stared at him for a long moment before finally nodding, "Okay. Your way."

Jax gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, "Good. Now get your head straight. We've got work to do."

As Jax turned to leave, Juice called after him, "Jax...if you screw this up..."

Jax looked back, his features resembled determination, "I won't."

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Juice alone in the room, his mind racing...

Eight Years Earlier 

The sound of sirens was deafening as Juice's caddy came to a screeching halt on the side of the road. His heart was pounding so hard he thought it might burst out of his chest. He barely registered the sea of flashing lights and the crowd of onlookers gathered behind the yellow tape.

But then he saw her.

Tabitha.

Her lifeless body lay sprawled in the middle of the road, a crimson halo pooling beneath her head. Her beautiful face, once full of life and love, was pale and motionless.

"Tabitha!" Juice's voice cracked as he bolted from the car, sprinting toward her.

"Sir, you can't—" A uniformed officer stepped in his path, but Juice shoved past him with a force he didn't know he had.

"That's my girl! She's my girl!" he shouted, his voice raw with anguish. Another officer tried to stop him, but he fought them off until he finally reached her.

Dropping to his knees, Juice's breath hitched as his hands trembled, reaching out to touch her face, "No...no, no, no," he whispered, his voice breaking as he cradled her body in his arms.

Tears streamed down his face, and his sobs tore through the night like a knife, "Tabi, baby, wake up...please," he begged, rocking her gently. His fingers brushed over her hair, sticky with blood, as he pressed his forehead to hers. "I'm so sorry...I'm so fucking sorry." 

The world around him disappeared. The flashing lights, the murmurs of the crowd, the officers trying to intervene—all of it blurred into nothing. All that mattered was Tabitha.

Minutes felt like hours as he clung to her, refusing to let go. He was lost in his grief when a gentle but firm hand landed on his shoulder, "Juice..."

He looked up, his vision blurred by tears, and saw Tammy standing there. Her face was pale, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

"No..." Juice choked out, shaking his head as if denying the reality of the situation would somehow change it.

Tammy dropped down beside him, her own sobs breaking through as she wrapped her arms around Juice. Together, they cradled Tabitha's body, holding onto each other as the weight of their shared loss crushed them.

"I'm so sorry," Juice whispered, his voice cracking as he buried his face in Tammy's shoulder.

"She loved you," Tammy managed to say between sobs, her voice trembling. "She really loved you."

Juice held her tighter, his body shaking with the force of his grief. The two of them stayed there, kneeling in the middle of the road, surrounded by chaos but united in their pain, until the officers gently coaxed them to let go.

Even then, Juice resisted, his hands lingering on Tabitha's lifeless form until the last possible second.

And as they pulled her away, a piece of him went with her.  

***

The ambulance's siren wailed ahead of them, its red and blue lights piercing the night. Juice gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white, the car veering slightly as his shaking hands betrayed him. Beside him, Tammy sat in the passenger seat, her face streaked with tears, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to keep herself from falling apart.

Neither of them spoke for a long while. The weight of what had just happened hung in the air, suffocating.

"I don't understand..." Tammy's voice was barely above a whisper, her words trembling. "How did this even happen? She was supposed to be hanging out with you tonight."

Juice's throat tightened, "She was," he croaked, his voice raw, "But then she said she had to meet Alu for lunch. Said she'd be back in a couple hours."

Tammy turned to him, her bloodshot eyes filled with confusion and anger, "Lunch? What kind of lunch ends with her lying in the middle of the goddamn road, Juice?"

"I don't know!" he snapped, his voice breaking under the strain. He immediately regretted it, running a hand over his face, "I don't know," he repeated, softer this time. "She didn't tell me much, just that she and Alu were planning to hit up the gas station. It wasn't supposed to be a big deal."

"A gas station?" Tammy's brow furrowed, her voice rising. "You mean she was trying to rob it?"

Juice winced at her words, hating how sharp they sounded, "Yeah...but, Tammy, it's not like what you're thinking. It's...it's just what kids do. Stupid shit to get by, y'know? Bats, masks, maybe some yelling to scare the clerk. It's never...this."

Tammy shook her head, her hands trembling as they gripped her thighs, "The police said she had a gun, Juice."

"What?" His head snapped toward her, his wide eyes meeting hers for a split second, before returning to the road.

"They said...she pulled a gun on them. That's why they..." Tammy said, her voice breaking again. "...they shot her." 

Juice's stomach twisted, bile rising in his throat, "No. No, that's not—she wouldn't—"

"Well, she did!" Tammy's voice cracked as she shouted, tears streaming down her face. "And now she's dead, Juice! She's gone, and I don't know why the hell she thought she needed a goddamn gun!"

Juice's grip on the wheel faltered, and he had to swerve slightly to stay in the lane. His mind raced, replaying every conversation he'd had with Tabitha over the past week, every hint or clue he might've missed. But nothing made sense, "Kids around here...don't use guns. Hell, half of them don't even know where to get their hands on that kind of hardware," he muttered, more to himself than to Tammy. "It's bats. Maybe a knife if someone's feeling bold. But guns? No."

Tammy let out a bitter laugh, her voice laced with despair, "Well, apparently, she did. And now we're following her body to the hospital to...to figure out what the hell we're supposed to do next."

Juice's chest tightened, guilt and grief warring within him. He wanted to scream, to cry, to punch something—anything to release the torrent of emotions threatening to consume him, "I should've stopped her," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I should've gone with her, or told her to stay. I should've done something."

Tammy's anger seemed to deflate at his words, replaced by a shared grief that hung heavy between them. She reached out, placing a trembling hand on his arm, "We both should've done something. But we didn't. And now..." She choked on a sob, unable to finish the sentence. She stared at Juice, her tear-streaked face pale as she realised something, "Alu...if Alu was with Tabitha," she said, her voice trembling. "Then where the hell is she now, Juice?"

Juice's stomach dropped. He looked at Tammy, his face stricken, as he shook his head slowly, "I...I don't know."

Tammy's hand flew to her mouth as a fresh wave of tears escaped, "Oh, my God."

Juice turned back to the road, his mind spinning. Where was Alu? Why hadn't she been there when he found Tabitha? And more importantly, what the hell had really happened tonight?

***

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