💘( Mending the King! )✨

FOURTEEN

[ Lochan Mor ]

( 🤴🔨👸💋💑🏍 )

" What? No one hurts my family and lives. "

~ ALU ORTIZ

☆《》¤

THE ROAR OF THE PLANE'S ENGINE FADED as Juice and Alu stepped onto the tarmac, the cold Belfast air biting at their skin. The SAMBEL crew was waiting near a line of parked bikes, their kuttes gleaming under the dim airport lights. Among them, Tammy stood out—her blonde hair, tousled in soft waves, framed her face perfectly, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to catch every detail around her. Her fair skin, touched by a faint flush from the cool Belfast air, only emphasised her high cheekbones and full lips, painted with just a hint of rose. She wore a leather jacket over a fitted top and jeans, effortlessly blending elegance with edge. Though her smile seemed warm, there was a guarded intensity in her gaze that hinted at the fire beneath her polished exterior. Beside her stood her fiancé, Freddie, SAMBEL's VP, his broad shoulders and stoic expression giving off an air of authority.

Alu adjusted her bag, her posture stiff as she approached. Juice, ever the peacemaker, forced a smile, though even he couldn't hide the unease tugging at his chest. 

"Juice," Tammy said, her voice warmer than Alu expected. She stepped forward, pulling Juice into a tight embrace. Her smile softened as she pulled back to look at him, "It's been too long."

"Yeah, it has," Juice replied, his voice steady but tinged with something heavier. He glanced at Freddie, who nodded and extended a hand. Juice shook it firmly, exchanging a brief, man-to-man acknowledgment.

Then Tammy's eyes shifted to Alu, and the warmth faded instantly, replaced by something unreadable, "Ana," she said formally. "It's been a while." 

"Tamsin," Alu replied, her chin lifting slightly as if bracing herself for the inevitable fallout. 

Freddie stepped forward, diffusing the tension with a casual grin, "Welcome to Belfast. We've got things ready for you two back at the clubhouse. You'll have what you need there. Would of had you at our home, but with a newborn, we didn't want to put you through that," he said with a light chuckle, his eyes tinted with exhaustion. 

"Thanks," Juice said, his hand brushing Alu's back lightly in a silent attempt to calm her.

Tammy's gaze lingered on Alu, her eyes narrowing, "You look...different," she said, her voice laced with subtle accusation.

"And you look the same," Alu shot back, her tone polite but pointed.

The moment hung awkwardly, the old wounds threatening to crack open. But Juice spoke once more, breaking the tension, "We appreciate you guys taking us in. Means a lot, Tammy."

Tammy's expression softened at that, her attention shifting back to Juice, "Of course. Tabby always talked about you, you know. Loved you more than anything." Her voice caught slightly, but she quickly cleared her throat. "She'd want us to take care of you."

Alu looked away, her jaw tightening as Tammy's words hung in the air like an unspoken blame. Freddie placed a hand on Tammy's shoulder, grounding her.

At that moment, Gemma stepped off the plane, her eyes narrowing as she spotted Juice and Alu in a tense conversation with two unfamiliar figures to her on the tarmac. 

Gemma's sharp eyes focused on the man. His face striking in a way that caught her attention immediately. High cheekbones, a chiselled jawline, and pale blue eyes that seemed to be watching more than speaking, calculating every move. His hair was dark, tousled just enough to make him look like he didn't care. But there was a coldness to him, something calculating in the way he stood there, leaning in slightly, his body language exuding quiet power.

He didn't look like the type of man to jump into a conversation without knowing exactly what he was doing, and Gemma didn't miss the way Juice and Alu were reacting—neither of them were intimidated, but they both seemed aware that this man commanded respect. He wore his black leather cut with the ease of someone who'd been wearing it for years, and his movements were deliberate, almost elegant. There was something about him—an edge that Gemma didn't quite trust, though she had to admit, he had the kind of presence that made you pay attention.

She couldn't quite place who he was, but she could tell he wasn't just another face in the crowd. No, this one had a deeper story, one Gemma intended to get to the bottom of. 

"Who the hell are they?" Gemma asked, turning to Clay, her tone sharp as she motioned to the two strangers. 

Clay lit a cigarette and exhaled slowly, his gaze following hers, "Ah, that's the O'Shea family. The O'Sheas run deep in the MC world. Freddie's SAMBEL'S V.P. And Tammy? She's been with him long enough to know the ropes. They've got a kid now—little Harrison, or Harry, as they call him. Everything they do—every decision they make—It's very much a family affair. But they never forget where they came from—where they started—how far they've come. The O'Sheas have always played their cards close to their chest. You don't cross 'em without making sure you're ready for the fallout." 

Gemma absorbed her old man's words as her eyebrows furrowed in both confusion and concentrations as all her focus was now on Tammy, "The girl? Tammy? She looks familiar, I just can't put my finger on it." 

Clay nodded in understanding, blowing a cloud of smoke up into the cool Belfast air, "She's Tabitha Monet's older sister." 

Gemma's eyebrows shot up, "Tabitha? As in Juice's Tabitha?"

Over the years, the guys in the club had heard Juice talk about Tabitha more times than they could count, especially when he'd had too much to drink. He wasn't one to open up easily, but after a few too many shots, the usually quiet, guarded side of him would slip away, and he'd get lost in the past, his words thick with emotion. Every time the club gathered around after a night of heavy drinking, Juice would let slip about the only woman who'd ever truly captured his heart.

They all knew her name—Tabitha Monet. The girl Juice had loved for as long as he could remember, even when they were just kids. He'd told them stories about her when they were younger, about how they had grown up together, side by side in the Big Apple, how their families were close, and how he had fallen for her before he even knew what it meant to love someone. Juice's voice would get tight whenever he spoke of her, the pain of a love lost still raw. There was a three year age gap that became awkward when Juice was turning nineteen and she was only sixteen, but they both didn't care, because it felt like they had been destined for each other from the start. He would describe how she had been a firecracker—beautiful, full of life, with a laugh that could light up a room.

It was clear to the club that Tabitha wasn't just some fling or a one-nighter. No, she was the on—the girl who had gotten under Juice's skin in a way that no one else ever could. He would talk about their dreams of escaping, of running away together, but those dreams had shattered, like everything else in Juice's life, when she died. The other members had heard the sorrow in Juice's voice every time he'd told the story, and they all understood that Tabitha wasn't just a memory for him—she was the ghost that haunted his every decision, the what-could-have-been that kept him from fully letting anyone else in.

Even Gemma, with her sharp instincts, could tell how deeply this woman had affected Juice. She could see it in the way his eyes would gloss over when he'd mention her, how his mood would shift whenever her name was brought up. Juice didn't just love her—he idolised her, and everyone in the club could see the impact that had on him. The whole club knew the story well, whether they liked it or not. 

Clay nodded, "Yeah. Tammy's got history with the kid. More with Alu, though, from what I hear—Don't expect it to be all smiles for long."

Gemma crossed her arms, watching the interaction. Tammy placed a gentle hand on Juice's arm, her eyes filled with affection whenever she interacted with him, but whenever her gaze flicked to Alu, the affection was replaced with a hint of rage and something else—something unspoken, "This trip just keeps getting more interesting," she muttered, a smirk tugging at the corners of the Queen's lips. 

"Right," Freddie said, his voice firm but friendly. "Let's get moving. Long ride back to the clubhouse."

As the group moved toward the bikes, Tammy walked ahead with Freddie, their fingers intertwined, leaving Juice and Alu trailing behind. 

Juice leaned close to his sister, his voice low, "You okay?" he asked in concern. 

Alu shrugged, her eyes fixed on the road ahead, "Yeah," she muttered. "Same old shit."

Juice didn't push. Instead, he gave her a reassuring nudge as they reached the van, Juice helping his sister inside, before turning and walking over to the bike Freddie had brought over for him to ride. 

As the Sons of Anarchy mounted their Harleys and the engines roared to life, Alu couldn't shake the weight of Tammy's sharp gaze behind her or the ghosts that seemed to follow her wherever she went. 

***

The journey back to the clubhouse had been tense but uneventful up until now. Alu sat in the van with Gemma, Freddie, and Tammy, their eyes fixed on the road ahead. The trip had started as a simple drive back to the clubhouse, following the guys on their bikes, but now they were facing an unforeseen roadblock.

"What the hell is that?" Gemma muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing at the flashing lights up ahead. The road ahead was filled with the blue-and-white of local police cars, blocking their path.

"Police Services, Northern Ireland." Freddie's voice broke the tension in the van, calm yet careful. "As long as they've got IDs, they should be okay. Out here, they ain't gonna bother running through Interpol."

Tammy, leaning back in her seat, muttered, "Lazy twats," drawing a brief chuckle from her husband.

The engine of the motorcycles hummed as the members of SAMCRO dismounted. Their helmets came off, revealing their battle-worn faces. It was business as usual—except it wasn't.

"Hey, McGee," Jax called, his voice tight as he watched the line of officers approach. "What do we do here?"

McGee shrugged as he adjusted his grip on his handlebars, preparing to dismount, "Random stop. Just keep it light. Smile and show them your passport."

A hard-faced Lieutenant stepped forward, flanked by a pair of officers, rifles in hand. "Identification," he barked.

McGee dismounted his bike, "Hey, we're just showing our American brothers the beautiful Irish countryside, Officer."

"Identification," the man's features hardened as he repeated his order more sternly now. "You. You. You. You. You," he said, pointing at each member of SAMCRO in turn. "Come on!" He urged, not mucking around. 

One by one, the SAMCRO members pulled out their passports, presenting them to the waiting officers. 

Alu's hands clenched the armrests of the van. She could feel the tension building, the gnawing fear in her gut. Something wasn't right. She locked eyes with her brother, Juice, standing among the group.

"This is bad," Alu muttered to herself, her voice barely audible.

The tension in the air thickened as the officers began running the IDs through their system. Alu's gut twisted harder. She could tell that something was off, that they weren't just dealing with a standard checkpoint. Then the phone rang.

The Lieutenant's demeanor shifted as he listened, his face growing darker. Alu's eyes went wide as the officer's voice rose.

"Goddamn it," Jax muttered under his breath.

The next moment, the Lieutenant and his officers drew their rifles and aimed them at the guys, "Down! Down on the ground! Now!" the Lieutenant shouted.

McGee raised his hands, a nervous smile flashing across his face, "Hey, hey, hey, what's the worry here, lads?" His voice was too light for the heavy moment.

"Yank brothers fled jurisdiction from California," the Lieutenant snarled. "We'll be detaining them. You here, on the ground now! Get down! Down! Down! Down! Down!" He gestured for the officers to push the men to the ground, waving their guns with force.

Freddie cursed under his breath, "Doesn't make sense..." He was clearly confused. "They wouldn't be able to get the intel...not that quick." His voice trailed off as he glanced at the van's window, seeing the officers force one of the SAMCRO members to the ground.

The Lieutenant walked over to Chibs, who was still standing, defiant. Grabbing him by the collar, the officer shoved the barrel of his rifle in Chibs' face, "On your knees," he ordered.

"Dirty Loyalist bastard," Chibs hissed, spitting in the man's face. 

The Lieutenant responded by slamming the butt of his gun into Chibs' face, knocking him to the ground. The sound of the impact reverberated through the silence, and the club members snapped.

"Oh, shit!" Gemma hissed, her hand instinctively reaching for her side.

Tammy shook her head in disbelief, "Men," she muttered. 

Chaos erupted. SAMCRO members lunged toward the officers, fighting back with every ounce of their strength. The sounds of fists hitting bodies, boots crashing against the pavement, and shouts filled the air as the men of SAMCRO fought to defend one of their own.

The Lieutenant, realising the situation was getting out of hand, fired his weapon into the air. The sound echoed sharply, freezing everyone in place.

"Get them in the van now! Move! Move! Move them out! Move it! Get in there! In the van now!" the Lieutenant barked, his voice shaking with fury. The officers immediately began forcing the SAMCRO members into a waiting police van.

Alu's heart raced as she watched her brother, Juice, be shoved into the van. The sight made her stomach drop. Fear and panic clawed at her chest. She turned to Freddie, desperation clear in her eyes, "Where are they going to take them?"

Freddie's voice was tight with disbelief, "Jesus, after that ruckus, these assholes will probably just shoot them and dump them. Blame it on the life."

Alu felt like she was suffocating, watching as the officers shoved her brother into the van and drove off, the screech of tires cutting through the air.

"Step on the gas!" she screamed at Freddie, her voice full of urgency.

"What?"

"Step on the gas!" she shouted, her voice breaking. She didn't have time to argue.

Tammy, always supportive, gripped Freddie's arm, "You heard her, baby," she said with a firm nod.

Freddie turned to his wife in disbelief, "Are you mad? I ain't going to broadside no police—"

But Alu wasn't waiting. not with her brother's life at stake. Shoving Freddie to the side, she pressed the pedal to the metal, the van rocketing forward, tires squealing as she aimed the vehicle at the police van, "Run 'em off the road!" she screamed, her hands gripping the wheel tightly. 

Freddie's eyes snapped wide, "Jesus! Mother of God! You out of your bloody mind, woman?! Holy shite!"

Before he could finish, the van collided with the police vehicle with a loud crash. The impact sent the police van careening off the road, giving the SAMBEL members the opening they needed. The officers in the other vehicle, realising they were now under fire, began retreating.

Freddie and Alu wasted no time. They jumped out of the van. Freddie threw Alu a rifle, keeping one for himself. 

"Stay in the car!" Freddie shouted at Tammy, though his voice was drowned out by the gunfire.

They both fired shots at the retreating officers as they stormed over to the police van. Alu reached the driver's side first, her elbow slamming into the Lieutenant's face, knocking him out cold. She quickly grabbed the keys from his pocket, tossing them in the air and catching them effortlessly.

She moved to the back of the van, her breath steady as she unlocked the cage. One by one, the SAMCRO members stumbled out of the van, disoriented but unharmed.

"Juice!" Alu's voice broke as she rushed forward, wrapping her arms around her brother in a fierce hug.

"I'm okay," Juice reassured her, his arms wrapping around her in return. "Look, in one piece." He motioned to his body, showing no visible injuries after Freddie had cut him free from his binds. 

Tears welled in Alu's eyes, "I thought I lost you...I was so scared," she croaked, hugging him tighter.

Juice cupped her face, wiping away her tears with a gentle hand, "I'm not going anywhere, hermana," he whispered, his voice warm with reassurance.

"What the hell was that?!" Gemma's voice was sharp as she stormed toward Alu, grabbing her by the arms and slamming her against the van. "You could of killed us!" 

Alu shot her a venomous look, shoving Gemma off her, "I just saved your son and husband's asses. A simple thank you would suffice."

Jax stepped in, a rare chuckle escaping his lips, "Thanks, darlin'." He leaned in and kissed Alu on the cheek, a sign of gratitude mixed with a smirk.

Alu's eyes softened as she looked up at the gorgeous man in front of her. Her heart still raced, but now it was with relief. The fight wasn't over, but for now, they were alive—and that was all that mattered.

***

The makeshift interrogation site was eerily quiet, except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. The tied-up officers glared defiantly at their captors, their fear masked by a facade of bravado. Clay stood near the front, his arms crossed, while Jax paced back and forth like a lion stalking its prey. The other Sons of Anarchy members lingered nearby, their expressions grim and tense.

Clay broke the silence first, "Where'd you get the intel on us?" he demanded, his voice cold and unrelenting.

The lieutenant, a wiry man with a crooked nose and steely eyes, sneered, "I'm a police officer."

Jax stepped forward, his tone sharper, "Yeah? Then how come your buddies took off? What happened to backup?"

Opie chimed in with a dry chuckle, "They got scared 'cause shit went south."

Jax ignored his best friend's joke and leaned in closer, "Who paid you off?"

The lieutenant shrugged nonchalantly, refusing to answer. The dismissal only fanned the flames of tension.

Alu, who had been standing off to the side with her arms crossed, groaned loudly, "This is getting us nowhere," she snapped, storming over. Without hesitation, she grabbed the lieutenant by the collar, slammed him against the side of the van, and pinned him there with a hand to his throat. Her other hand swiftly produced a knife from the holster on her thigh, the blade glinting in the dim light as she pressed it against his neck.

"You're going to spill every dirty little secret you're hiding," she hissed, her voice like venom. "Or we'll find out if humans react the same way chickens do when you cut off their heads. Spoiler alert: it doesn't end well for you."

The lieutenant, unfazed, let out a mocking laugh, "What are you gonna do, little girl?"

Alu's eyes darkened, and she stepped back, a dangerous smile spreading across her face. She turned to Jax and pointed at the man, "Point your gun to his head." 

Jax raised an eyebrow but complied, his curiosity piqued.

Without another word, Alu began unbuttoning her shirt. The movement made every man's eyes widen in disbelief, and Gemma smacked Clay on the back of his head, "Eyes up, morons," she snapped. 

Alu ignored them, slipping her sleeves off her shoulders to reveal her bra, before turning around. The intricate tattoo on her back—a coiled serpent with piercing eyes—was now visible to everyone. The lieutenant's smirk faltered, replaced by wide-eyed recognition.

"Do you know what this means?" Alu asked, her voice calm but laced with menace.

McGee, standing off to the side, cursed, "Jesus Christ. You brought a Serpent here?!" 

"Relax," Clay said gruffly. "She's not with them anymore."

"That mark says otherwise," O'Neill muttered, shifting uneasily.

The lieutenant stammered, his bravado crumbling, "Vinny Moretti," he whispered, his face pale.

Alu smirked smugly, creeping closer to him, "That's right," she purred. "I've got that man wrapped around my little finger. All I have to do..." she paused, reaching down and ripping the I.D. badge from his neck. "...is make one phone call, Charles, and your family is as good as dead."

The lieutenant's bravado evaporated, his chest rising and falling rapidly as panic set in, "Okay! Alright," he stammered. "We were paid...We were paid to detain them, send them back to the States."

Jax's jaw clenched, "By Jimmy O'Phelan?"

"I don't know who," the lieutenant swore, his voice cracking. "I swear on my mother's eyes we didn't get a name, only money and the task."

Chibs spat on the ground, "It's that bastard O'Phelan."

"Yeah," Jax agreed, his fists curling at his sides. "I guess he knows we're here."

Bobby exhaled heavily, "Well, we've got to do something about all this. I don't think we're getting them through duty-free."

Alu's eyes hardened as she stepped back, grabbing Jax's gun from his hand, "I agree," she said simply.

Before anyone could react, she fired. The lieutenant's head snapped back as he crumpled to the ground. One by one, she shot the other officers without hesitation, the sharp cracks of her gun echoing through the back roads of Ireland. Her movements were swift, precise, and emotionless, leaving the rest of the group stunned.

"Jesus Christ, lass," Chibs muttered.

Alu glanced at him, unfazed, "What? No one hurts my family and lives," she replied coolly, giving Jax his gun back, before turning and walking back toward the van.

Clay watched her go, shaking his head in disbelief, "Say what you want about her methods," he muttered. "But at least she gets results."

***

A/N: 

03/12/2024

I would love it if you all go check out my new Jax Teller story if you haven't already. Titled Blackbird. I also have a few other SOA stories on my profile if any of you are interested. The support would mean a lot. 

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