💘( Blood in the Water! )✨

TWENTY THREE

[ Balm ]

( 🏍️💀💘👪💒🔫 )

" She made me realise blood doesn't always make you family. What you and Lett got - the way you fight for each other - got each other's backs no matter what - that's family. Not everyone has that, and you're just willing to walk away from it? "

~ JUICE ORTIZ to JAX TELLER

☆《》¤

TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️: Mentions of rape and detailed sex scenes will appear in this chapter. 

☆《》¤

LETTY'S OUTFIT

LETTY MORROW'S MUSTANG ROARED INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF HER BROTHER'S HOUSE, anger and determination etched on the lines of her face. She parked the car with a screech and stormed towards the front door, the heels of her brand new leather boots echoed with each purposeful step.

Letty would usually frame from wearing heels, but these boots were just too sexy she knew she had to have them. So, she used her father's credit card to buy them, calling it a early Christmas present, even though it was months away. 

Not even bothering to knock, Letty pushed the front door open, her frustration boiling over as she stormed into the house calling her brother's name at the top of her lungs with a fierce look in her eyes. 

"Letty, what are you doing here?" Jax asked, taken aback by her sudden appearance.

"I'm here to talk to you about this nomad bullshit," Letty replied tersely, storming past him and further into the house. 

Jax sighed, following after her, "I'm going through with it, Letty," he stated firmly. "And you can't talk me out of it."

Letty whirled around to face him, her expression a mix of frustration and concern, "You realise what this means, right? You'll have no brothers, no family - no one to watch your back. The amount of enemies this family has, you'll be dead in a week. And I don't want to get the call that tells me where I can pick up your mutilated body. Probably gonna have something shoved up your asshole too. I don't want to see that shit," she said, her face contorting with disgust. 

Jax chuckled, shaking his head, "Nice try, sis. But I'm still going nomad. The way me and Clay are going, Lett, I'm going to end up killing him."

Letty's eyes narrowed at the mention of Clay, "Then kill him, I'll help you," she offered, her tone cold and determined. 

"He's your father, Letty," Jax interjected. "Your protective instinct will kick in, and you won't be able to go through with it. It's your nature. No matter how much you think you hate him for what he did to Ope, to Donna..." Jax paused to shake his head "...You still love him."

Letty's gaze softened momentarily at her brother's words, a flicker of sadness crossing her features, "And you do too," she added, sending Jax a knowing look. 

Jax shook his head, his expression hardening with pure hatred for the man who had caused them all so much pain. 

But Letty pressed on, her voice firm, "You do. I know you do. He's been there for you since you were fifteen. That kind of bond never truly dies."

As the weight of Letty's words settled over him, the tension in the room thickened, leaving an unspoken truth hanging in the air as Letty walked out of the house. 

***

The clubhouse was alive with the usual banter, a cacophony of voices blending with the clinking of glasses and the background hum of the jukebox. The atmosphere was relaxed, with the members of Samcro gathered around the open space, enjoying the peaceful morning. 

Letty sat at the bar, leaning back against it with a half-empty glass of whiskey in her hand. Beside her, Half-Sack was rolling a joint with practiced ease, his fingers skilfully working the paper and weed into a tight cylinder. The two friends sat in a comfortable silence, occasionally exchanging amused glances as they watched the chaos around them.

"You ever wonder why we put up with this madness?" Letty asked, her tone light but laced with genuine curiosity. She took a sip of her drink, her eyes following Opie and Tig as they argued good-naturedly over a game of pool. 

Half-Sack chuckled, licking the edge of the joint to seal it, before answering, "All the time," he admitted, lighting the joint and taking a long drag. He exhaled a cloud of smoke, passing the joint to Letty, "But then I remember that these crazy bastards are my family. And you don't turn your back on family."

Letty smiled, taking the joint and inhaling deeply. She held the smoke in her lungs for a moment, before exhaling slowly, feeling the familiar, calming effects wash over her, "You're right," she said, handing the joint back to him. "It's a wild ride, but I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Half-Sack nodded in agreement, his gaze drifting to the crowd, "How are you holding up, by the way?" he asked, his voice dropping slightly as he glanced at Letty. "I know things have been... rough."

Letty shrugged, her smile fading a little, "It's been tough," she admitted. "But Juice has been amazing. I don't know what I'd do without him." She looked down at her glass, swirling the amber liquid thoughtfully. "And having friends like you helps, too."

Half-Sack grinned, his usual playful demeanour returning, "Well, I'm always here if you need me," he said, bumping her shoulder lightly with his. "You know that."

Letty laughed, the sound genuine and light, "Thanks, sweet cheeks," she beamed, making Half-Sack roll his eyes at her use of that nickname, but chuckled nevertheless. "I appreciate it."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence again, passing the joint back and forth and watching the scene around them. Bobby sat nearby, nursing a beer, while Clay was pacing back and forth inside the Chapel, his phone pressed against his ear as he discussed Jax's transfer with the nomad president. 

"You think we'll ever get a drama free morning around here?" Half-Sack asked, his voice laced with humour.

Letty snorted, shaking her head, "Not a chance in hell," she said, a smile tugging at her lips. "But that's what makes it interesting, right?"

Half-Sack laughed, nodding in agreement, "Yeah, I guess you're right."

They continued to drink and smoke, sharing stories and jokes, the bond between them strengthened by the chaos and camaraderie of the clubhouse. For a few moments, at least, all their worries and troubles faded away, replaced by the warmth and comfort of friendship and family.

But their peace was cut short when Clay entered the room, his phone still gripped in his hand tightly, lost in thought as he moved towards the bar to pour himself a drink. 

"Quinn accepted Jax," Clay informed them all. "He's waiting on our answer." 

Half-Sack's eye widened in disbelief as he turned to the girl beside him, "Is he really going through with this?" 

"Apparently," Letty muttered, downing her drink as she met her father's gaze with a look that said it all. 

"I didn't strike the goddamn match!" Clay snapped, his eyes narrowing at his daughter. 

"Maybe that's the case you make to Jax," she suggested, taking another puff from the joint, before passing it back to Half-Sack. 

"If he really believes that I would burn down Cara Cara, I got no reason to keep him around," Clay declared, his disdain for his stepson evident in his tone. 

"Argh!" Letty groaned in frustration, running a hand down her face. "God, you're both as arrogant and stubborn as each other! If you two just talked to one another every once and awhile and worked out your shit out, it wouldn't have gotten this bad." 

Bobby chuckled, taking a sip from his beer as he nodded in agreement. 

"Well, isn't that the pot calling the kettle black," Clay muttered, shooting her a look. 

Letty sighed, knowing there was no way she was going to get through to him, "I don't have time for this. I gotta get ready for work, I'm on call," she said, pushing herself to her feet. 

Half-Sack's eyes widened once more, grabbing the girl's arm, stopping her from leaving, "You just had a joint!" 

Letty scoffed in amusement, pulling her arm out of his grip, "I had three puffs," she said, waving a dismissive hand. "I'll be fine." 

"And three rounds!" Half-Sack added, his disbelief still etched on his face. 

"Shit," Letty hissed under her breath, face palming herself. "I forgot about that," she said, before thinking about it for a moment, then shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly. "I feel fine. You worry too much, sweet cheeks," she said, walking out the door, before the Prospect could protest further. 

"She's right," Bobby nodded in agreement. "Letty knows how to hold her booze." 

The Sons shared a round of amused chuckles. 

Tig nodded, "Yeah, drank me under the table more than once." 

"Did she go and attend to patients afterward?" Half-Sack questioned, waiting for someone to see the concern. 

"Not so much, no," Tig murmured, sharing worried glanced with the others, before shrugging nonchalantly. "I'm sure she's fine." 

"I'm not worried about her!" Half-Sack's tone raised from his disbelief, but everyone simply ignored him, falling back into conversation, while Half-Sack down the rest of his drink, slamming the glass down on the bar, his concern evident on his face. 

***

LETTY'S OUTFIT 

The sterile scent of the hospital hung in the air as Letty stood with Bobby, Jax, and Happy, all waiting impatiently for Chibs to be released. The tension between them was quite clear as each of them lost in their own thoughts - recent events had left Samcro shaken. 

Happy shifted nervously, glancing at Jax, before finally speaking up, "I got Quinn's letter of acceptance," he said, pulling out said letter from his kutte and holding it out for Jax to take. 

Letty, noticing Chibs being wheeled towards them by Half-Sack, snatched the letter from Happy, pocketing it, and giving Jax a sharp whack on the back of the head, making him wince in response.

"Not now, idiots," Letty scolded, her eyes never leaving Chibs, who she was hoping she could keep this nomad bullshit from, and fix it, before he even had a chance to find out. 

Happy lowered his head, muttering, "Sorry."

Chibs' voice rang out down the hallway, filled with joy and relief, "I'm free!" he cheered, wheeling himself down the corridor wildly in the wheelchair. The sight of him brought a smile to Letty's face, her earlier irritation melting away.

He pulled himself to his feet, a wide grin stretching across his face as he spotted Letty, "Ah! My guardian angel," he beamed, picking her up and spinning her around. 

Letty squealed with a mix of surprise and delight, before he set her back down and cupped her face, looking at her in awe.

"Excuse me, what are we, chopped liver?" Jax interjected, a hint of jealousy in his voice. 

"Clearly, there's been some brain damage," Bobby added with a chuckle.

Chibs turned to them, his expression serious, "I'm sorry, were you two idiots at my bedside every single day?"

"I was working," Jax protested.

"I had work too," Letty retorted, flashing him a smug smirk. 

"Oh, please! You haven't done a full day's work in months," Jax shot back.

"Shut up," Letty snapped. 

Chibs, sensing the tension, turned to Bobby, "These twe still beefin'?" 

"They're always beefing," Bobby said with amused etched on his face. 

"We are not!" the siblings shot back in unison, their anger and frustration now aimed at Bobby, which elicited chuckles around the corridor. 

"What's going on with Zobelle?" Chibs questioned, turning to his V.P, his features darkening. 

"It's complicated, man," sighed Jax. "Got the feds in town. Us going to county..." he trailed off. 

"He's gotta go away," Chibs insisted.

"That's what I've been saying for weeks," Letty chimed in, sending Jax a knowing look. 

"And I said we'll settle the score," Jax replied, his voice firm as his eyes narrowed at his pushy sister. 

Letty sighed, "Here," she said to Chibs, holding up his kutte for him to put on, easily, he slid his arms in as Letty pushed the leather up and over his shoulders, before he wrapped an arm around her as they all started to make their way out of the hospital; the weight of their situation temporarily lifted by the joy of Chibs's release.

Half-Sack, who had been quiet until now, cleared his throat, "Need a hand, Chibs?"

Chibs shook his head, "I'm good, Prospect. Just happy to be out."

Letty glanced over at Half-Sack, offering him a reassuring smile, "Thanks, Sack. But I got him."

Chibs smiled down at the girl with gratitude as they moved through the hospital corridors, the outside world beckoning with its promise of freedom. As they exited the building, the sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the parking lot.

Chibs took a deep breath, savouring the fresh air, "Never thought I'd be so happy to smell exhaust fumes," he joked, eliciting laughter from the group.

Letty tightened her grip around Chibs' waist, "Let's get you home and settled. You've got a lot of catching up to do."

Jax and Bobby exchanged a glance, while Happy, who had been silently observing, nodded in agreement.

***

Letty's Mustang roared down the streets of Charming, flanked by the rumble of motorcycles as Jax, Bobby, and Happy followed closely on their Harleys. Chibs sat in the passenger seat, while Half-Sack winced in discomfort from the back, his hand clutching his groin.

Chibs noticed Half-Sack's discomfort and raised an eyebrow, "Trouble down below?"

Half-Sack groaned as he readjusted himself in his pants, "I think the swellings getting worse." 

Letty glanced over her shoulder and sighed, frustration evident in her voice, "I told you to go to the damn ER, Sack! It's clearly infected!" 

"Nah, don't need no hospital, lass," Chibs waved a dismissive hand. "I got a perfect cure for that. Let's go to Caracara, get ourselves a couple of lovelies each."

Letty suddenly facepalmed herself, "Shit! I forgot to tell you. The warehouse burned down, again."

"When? How?" Chibs's tone was filled with concern.

"We don't know yet," Half-Sack interjected from the back.

"Yeah, but my dear old brother thinks it was the old man," Letty explained, frustration evident in her voice. "Reckons he did it to kill the porn biz."

"Why the hell would Clay try to kill porn?" Chibs asked incredulously.

"He wants Samcro back on guns," Letty replied bitterly.

"Jesus Christ," Chibs muttered under his breath.

"Yeah, that's why Jax is talking nomad," Half-Sack added.

"Nomad?!" Chibs's eyes widened in shock. "Did you forget to tell me that too, lass?!"

"No! That one I was avoiding. But I guess thanks to sweet cheeks over here," Letty shot a glare at Half-Sack. "The cat's out of the bag."

"He would've found out anyway. The votes tonight," Half-Sack pointed out. "Has to be unanimous." 

"What?!" Letty's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Well, fuck. That doesn't give me much time, now does it?"

Half-Sack furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "Time for what?"

"To talk him out of it, you numbnut," Letty said, rolling her eyes at the cluelessness that was her friend.  

Chibs reached into Letty's glove box and pulled out one of her spare guns, his movements swift and purposeful.

"What are you doing?" Letty's voice was laced with concern.

"Make a left," Chibs instructed, unclipping the safety of the gun with ease.

"What? Why?" 

Realisation dawned on Letty's face as she realised what was in that direction. 

"Shit, Chibs--" she started.

"Make a left," Chibs repeated, his tone firm as he forcefully turned the wheel, making the tires screech as Letty just managed to make the turn without hitting anything.

"Easy! You know how many hours I had to put in at the garage to get this car back to pristine condition," Letty grumbled as she navigated the streets.

"Jax!" Bobby called out, noticing Letty's wrong turn.

"Where the hell is my sister going?!" Jax exclaimed, realising flooding his features. "Shit. Crazy bitch. I got this. Meet you back at the clubhouse," Jax said, before speeding off after Letty's Mustang. 

***

"Letty, what are we doing here?" Half-Sack panicked as they both quickly moved in step with Chibs, storming into the military shop that was run by Cameron Hayes and his son Edmond. 

"What do you think we are doing here," Letty replied with a mischievous glint in her eye as a smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. 

Chibs ignored the both of them as he lifted his gun and shot at the back wall, centimetres away from Edmond's head, who immediately dropped to the floor behind the counter, which caused Letty to burst into a fit of laughter, curling over as she clutched her stomach. 

"Shit! He went down like a bitch!" she said, pointing and laughing. 

"Letty, shouldn't we stop him?" Half-Sack panicked, looking over his shoulder nervously out into the street to see if their was any possible witnesses. But what they didn't know, was the whole shot was wired by the ATF. 

"Now, why would you want to do that?" Letty asked with furrowed eyebrows. "This is entertaining as fuck!" Her grin widened as she watched Chibs stormed over to Edmond, pulling him up to his feet by his shirt and pushing his face down on the counter as he pressed the gun he found in Letty's glove box against his temple. 

"What the hell's the matter with you?!" Edmond shouted, but the fear was evident in his eyes as he felt the barrel of the gun pressed hard against his temple, while Letty just looked like a kid on Christmas Day, beaming with excitement. 

"Explain to me," Chibs hissed through gritted teeth, pressing his gun harder into the man's head. 

"Explain what?" Edmond said with a shaky breath. 

"Why you mick bastards are selling guns to the piece of shite that blew me up!" Chibs anger was escalating. 

"Christ, man! The feds were all over you guys!" Edmond desperately tried to protest, trying to make the Scotsman see reason. "What was I supposed to do?!"

"That's not the answer I'm looking for," Chibs said in cold and monotone voice with a solemn expression on his face, causing Letty's smirk to widen even more. 

But at the sound of a gun's safety being released, Letty whipped around to see Cameron holding up a shot gun directly at Chibs' head, "Let him go, Chibs." 

Letty wasted no time, pulling out her own gun that sat in the waist band of her scrubs and pointed it directly at Cameron's head, "Why don't you put the gun down there, Boldy," she said, offering the man whose live she had saved a innocent smile as she tilted her head tauntingly. 

But Cameron didn't waver, his finger hovering over the trigger, while the long barrel was still pointed directly at Chibs' head, "You don't scare me, princess." 

"Only people I like get to call me that," Letty hissed, her resolve not faltering. "Now, like I said, put the gun down!" he demanded, her voice determined and threatening at the same time. "I said, put it down!" she yelled once more, her voice booming through the shop when Cameron refused to do so, but just when Letty was about to pull the trigger, Jimmy O made his way into the shop from around the bar, two of his guys by his side. 

"Easy, everyone," he said, making his way over to Cameron and placing his hand on the man's gun, lowering it, before turning to Chibs with a stern look. "Come on, brother. Put the gun down. You don't want to pop your sutures now, do you?" 

Chibs sighed, lowering his own gun and releasing Edmond. 

Letty's eyes simply narrowed at Jimmy as he turned his attention to her, but she refused to lower her gun, the barrel now aimed at the man that she hated with a passion. 

"Letty, put the gun down," Chibs simply said, his voice hoarse as he cleared his dry throat. 

Letty let out a deep sigh as she finally lowered her gun, but kept a tight grip on it as she sat it by her side, ready to use it if need be. 

"Letitia," Jimmy finally greeted the girl with a wide smile. "Looking as beautiful as ever." At those words, his eyes travelled down her body as he shamelessly checked her out, sending a disgusted shiver down Letty's spine. "How are you, love?" 

"I was fine until I saw your face," she sneered, her usual smirk returning to her face. 

Jimmy let out a loud laugh, "Still a piece of work, I see." 

"Still an arrogant bastard, I see," Letty shot back, making Chibs snort in amusement. 

But all amused dropped from Jimmy's face, his eyes darkening as they narrowed at Letty for a moment, before turning his attention back to the man of the hour, "You got every right to blow his head off. Things went sideways when McKeavy died. I should've been stateside to handle that transition."

Chibs adjusted his sunglass on his head, clearing his airways before speaking, "It's too late. Sons have got a new pipeline." 

"No," Jimmy shook his head. "They don't." 

Jimmy and Chibs stood their silently for a moment, staring each other down, before the sound of the shop bell ringing caught everyone's attention. Jax Teller strode in with purpose easy, radiating confidence and determination. 

Immediately, Cameron lifted his rifle and cocked his gun, pointing it in Jax's direction. And then, with no time wasted, the siblings, simultaneously rose their own guns and pointed them directly at Cameron. 

"What are you gonna do now, bitch," Letty mocked, a wide amused smirk plastered on her face. 

"Enough!" Jimmy scolded, and everyone slowly lowered their guns, feeling like they had just been scolded by their Primary school teacher. 

"How are you, Jackson?" Jimmy asked casually, leaning against the counter.

"Been better, Jimmy. Chibs, come on. Let's get out of here."

Chibs stormed over to Jax, his expression stern and eyes narrowed, "You are not my V.P. anymore, Nomad," he sneered, getting right into the blonde's face. "Letty, let's go," he ordered, looking over his shoulder at the girl, who gasped in offence. 

"Don't shoot orders at me, I'm not a dog!" she scolded. "Although, I do need to get back to work, so...Prospect, let's go," she ordered the boy as she followed Chibs out the door. 

Half-Sack slightly hesitated, looking back at Jax over his shoulder, before stepping out the door. 

***

Gemma stormed into St. Thomas, her eyes ablaze with urgency. She spotted Letty amidst the hustle and bustle, and without hesitation, made her way over to her daughter, "Letty!" she called out, her voice cutting through the din of the hospital.

Letty's eyes widened in surprise as she turned to see her mother approaching, "Mum?" she exclaimed, quickly scanning the area for prying eyes, before leading Gemma to a quieter corner.

"What's going on?" Letty asked, her tone laced with concern.

Gemma wasted no time, "Jax is going nomad," she blurted out. 

"R-Really? S-Shit," she stammered, letting out a nervous chuckle as she tried her best to play dumb. 

Gemma's expression hardened, "Don't give me that shit! Were you even going to tell me?" she questioned, her gaze searching Letty's face for answers.

Letty sighed, feeling the weight of guilt settle upon her shoulders, "I'm sorry, Ma," she admitted, her voice laced with regret. "I just thought with everything you were going through with Aunty Lu...I didn't want to bother you with it. And besides, I'm handling it."

Gemma shook her head, her frustration evident, "He's going through with this, Letty," she insisted. "That's not handling it."

Letty shrugged helplessly, "I don't know if you realise this, but your son's a stubborn bastard," she remarked, a hint of exasperation creeping into her tone.

Gemma shot her daughter a pointed look, "Yeah, like someone else I know," she retorted, her gaze piercing.

Letty frowned, "Why does everyone keep saying that today?" she muttered under her breath.

Gemma's expression softened slightly, her maternal instinct kicking in as she let out a sigh, "I'm going to talk some sense into your brother," she declared, determination in her eyes. "But if you dare keep anything else from me relating to this family, I will slap you senseless, girl."

Letty couldn't help but chuckle at her mother's threat, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips, "Sure thing, Mum," she replied, her voice laced with affection.

***

The old bar was dimly lit, filled with the stench of stale beer and tobacco as Chibs pushed through the heavy wooden doors, his eyes scanned the room until they landed on a familiar face.

Fiona leaned on the bar with a wide smile across her face at the sight of her husband, "Hi, love," she greeted, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thanks for coming. I was worried 'bout ya." 

"Well, what is it, Fi?" Came his curt response as he removed his sunglasses and placed them in the pocket of his kutte. 

Fiona simply turned and led him further into the bar, a guilty expression etched across her face as they reached Jimmy sitting at a booth in the corner. 

"Filip," he greeted. 

Chibs turned to his wife with a look of hurt and anger at her betrayal. 

"Sorry, love," she apologised, remorse laced in her tone. 

Jimmy then motioned with his head for one of his men to lead Fiona out of the room, before he turned back to his guest, "Sit down," he ordered, motioning to the seat across from him. 

Chibs slightly hesitated, before complying, his face contorted with anger at the sight of the one man he hated most in the world sitting across from him. 

"Want a drink?" Jimmy asked, motioning to the half-empty bottle of whisky on the table. 

Chibs simply shook his head, his eyes drifting to the man who came to lean on the bar nearby, before his gaze turned back to Jimmy, his eyes instantly narrowing. 

"I'm not stateside for the Sons," Jimmy began. "Came to close a distribution deal. I had no idea how muddled things had become."

Edmond and Cameron wouldn't take a piss without your permission," Chibs retorted with disdain. 

"You see what happens when you give men some rope. Shit only works when I handle it myself. And that's my lesson here." 

Chibs internally rolled his eyes, turning away from Jimmy momentarily. 

"I want a sit-down with Clay. Get us back together." 

Chibs turned back to him with a raised eyebrow as a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, clearly amused by the man's request, "You expect me to recommend?"

"Our bond with the Sons runs deep. Belfast charter has been our right hand since '87. Not gonna jeopardise that."

"I'm not your errand boy, Jimmy," Chibs sneered, putting emphasis on the man's name. 

"Aye, Filip, you are," Jimmy said oh-so-causally, almost looking tired of the constant to and fro. "I banished you, took what's yours. These are the facts. You do as I say." 

Chibs leaned over the table, his eyes piercing through Jimmy's head like daggers, "Go to hell, Jimmy," he sneered, before pushing himself to his feet, but Jimmy's next words stopped him dead in his tracks. 

"It was lovely to see Letitia again. Haven't seen her since she was...thirteen? Right? Had just started to hit puberty. I got to say, she's all Loraine. Gorgeous," he said, biting into his bottom lip and humming slightly in delight.

Chibs' eyes darkened, his whole expression turning murderous as he lowered himself back down into the booth across from Jimmy. 

"Becoming quite the woman; tight little curves, breasts popping. Timely, actually," he said as a small frown curved over his lips. "Fiona's looks are fading. Can hardly catch an edge anymore," he said, sighing deeply. "But Letitia..." A sinister smirk crossed Jimmy's face. "How do you get any work done with her around. The thoughts that must enter your brain...Impure, I bet. You must feel awful about yourself." Pure amusement crossed Jimmy's face as Chibs' clutched his hands into fist, trying so hard to control the anger raging inside him. "Hey, hey, it's okay, though, Filip. Because she's not really your daughter. So, what's the sin? Am I right? It's not like she calls you 'Daddy'." 

Chibs face contorted in disgust at the man's words. 

"You're right," Jimmy nodded his head in agreement. "It's way too weird," he said, his whole body shivering in disgust. "Me on the other hand," and the sinister smirk was back. "Maybe it's time for an upgrade. Huh? Get myself a younger model. And what's yours is mine, right, brother?" 

"You lay a finger on Letty Morrow, and I'll kill you, you piece of shite," Chibs growled, launching forward and grabbing Jimmy by the shirt, desperately trying to yank him over the table, so he could get his hands on him. 

"Whoa! Whoa! Easy! Put it away!" Jimmy shouted, waving off his body guard, who had his gun aimed at Chibs' head. "My fault. I hit a nerve." 

The man lowered the gun, while Jimmy easily unclasped Chibs' hand from his shirt, shoving him back down, showing in no way was he afraid of the Scotsman, "Wow!" he chuckled, shaking his head in pure amusement. "You didn't even react like that when I took your wife," he said, laughing hysterically. "But then again, you were never really in love with Fiona, were you?" 

Chibs' eyes narrowed once more, clenching his fist together on the table. 

"Sorry," Jimmy raised his hands in mock-surrender. "That's another nerve I won't press. You know what they say, you should never speak ill of the dead, or they might come back and haunt you." Jimmy paused, glancing over at his body guard, a amused smirk tugging at the corners of both their lips, "Luckily, I don't have that problem," he added, laughing alongside his right hand. 

"You bastard," Chibs hissed, hating the sound of Loraine's name slipping from the man's lips. 

"Watch it," Jimmy warned. "My patience are running real thin, so if you want to keep your precious Letty safe, you're going to setup a meeting with Clay," he said, pointing a stern finger at Chibs. "And we'll work out our misunderstanding," he said, before standing up, fixing up his suit and walking out of the pub, his body guard right behind him, leaving a defeated Chibs behind.  

***

Letty and Tara walked briskly down the corridor of St. Thomas Hospital, the usual clamour surrounding them. The scent of antiseptic hung in the air, mingling with the sterile atmosphere of the hospital. They were engrossed in their own conversation when Rey hurried over to them, her face a mask of concern.

"Hey, guys, heads up, you two are both in deep shit--" Rey's voice trailed off as she noticed Margaret appearing behind her friends. "Hey, Margaret," she added awkwardly.

Margaret's stern gaze didn't soften as she replied, "I suggest you get back to work, Audrey, before you too find yourself in...'deep shit'."

Rey shot Letty an apologetic smile, "Sorry, babe, I tried."

"It's all good, thanks, Rey," Letty replied, nodding as Rey walked off.

Margaret turned her attention to Letty and Tara, "Do you two have a minute?"

"I have to scrub in. Umbilical hernia repair."

"And I'm needed in the E.R.," Letty added.

Margaret's expression remained stern, "Dr. Barclay is taking the surgery," she said to Tara, then turned to Letty. "And I'm sure Rey has it handled. After all, she's been covering your shifts for weeks now."

Tara's frowned in confusion, "I'm sorry, why is Dr. Barclay taking my surgery?"

Margaret's eyes narrowed, "Because of the ruse you two played with Filip Telford."

Letty's eyes flashed with anger, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Faking symptoms to extend his critical status," Margaret continued. "It was unethical, dangerous, and a breach of insurance law."

"He said he had severe head pain," Tara defended.

Margaret scoffed, "Come on, doctor, the biker's not that clever."

"Screw you," Letty hissed.

"Letty," Tara warned, trying to keep her calm.

Margaret's eyes turned icy, "Excuse me. I suggest you watch your tongue, Miss Morrow. He was coached by the both of you."

"I was taking care of a vulnerable patient," Tara insisted.

"By breaking the law?" Margaret countered.

"No. By doing her job, sweetheart," Letty retorted, her voice dripping with disdain. 

Margaret's lips thinned into a hard line, "You'll both get an opportunity to explain yourselves to the board. Until then, you are both hereby suspended."

Letty hissed under her breath, "Fucking cunt."

"What did you just call me?" Margaret demanded, her voice rising.

"You heard me, you cunt-sniffing little whore," Letty snapped back, her anger boiling over as she lunged for the woman. 

Tara quickly intervened, holding Letty back, "She's kidding," she said with a nervous chuckle, trying to diffuse the situation.

As they walked away, Tara hissed, "Letty, you need to stop doing stuff like that, or you are gonna get yourself fired."

"No! I can't lose this job, Tara! Despite what you may think, I do care about my job. This job is everything to me. It's my safety net," Letty said, her voice filled with desperation.

"Safety net?" Tara asked, confused.

"Yeah, it saves me from myself. So I don't fall back into old patterns. Fall back into the club," Letty explained, her eyes revealing the fear she had been hiding for so long. 

Before Tara could respond, Dr. Arrogance, someone Letty couldn't stand, as he was known for screwing all the nurses on the roster and anything that moved for that matter, squeezed past them in the narrow corridor, his hand grabbing Letty's ass on the way. 

Immediately, Letty's eyes flared with fury, "Did you just touch my ass?!" she shouted, shoving the man hard.

"Letty!" Tara exclaimed, her eyes widened in pure shock. 

The man was on the ground, crawling back and insisting he didn't, but Letty didn't believe him, storming over, yelling, "I felt you grip my ass!" She grabbed him by the shirt and threw a punch to his face, ignoring Tara's frantic protests. 

"Rey!" Tara called out, spotting their friend down the hall. "Help me!"

Rey hurried over, and the two women moved to pull Letty off the man. Letty landed several more punches to his face before they managed to restrain her.

Margaret emerged from around the corner, having seen enough, "Oh, you are so fired," she declared.

"Oh, eat me, Margaret!" Letty sneered back, motioning down below as she backed off down the hall, her anger and frustration completely boiled over. 

"Damn! That escalated quickly," Rey muttered, a hint of amusement in her tone as she fought off the smirk that threatened to tug at the corners of her lips. 

***

Juice was sitting up on his hospital bed, flipping through a motorcycle magazine, when the door to his hospital room burst open. Letty stormed in, her face flushed with anger. Juice immediately put the magazine down, concerned.

"Baby, what's wrong?" he asked, his eyes scanning her for any signs of injury.

Letty threw her bag onto the chair and began pacing back and forth, her words tumbling out in a furious rant, "That fucking Margaret! She suspended me and Tara. And then this asshole doctor grabbed my ass! I decked him, and now I'm probably fired!" 

Juice's eyes widened, "What?! Are you okay?"  

"I'm fine," Letty sighed, her tone and features softening when she saw the worry in his eyes. "I can't believe Margaret had the audacity to fire me! Like I'm supposed to just take that kind of harassment lying down," her anger flared once more as she continued to pace the room. 

Juice moved to the edge of the bed, reaching out to take her hand, "Hey, baby, you need to calm down," he soothed, noticing her chest starting to heave. 

"I just..." Letty's voice broke as she brought in a shaky breath, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm having a pretty shitty day." 

Juice sighed, patting the space next to him on the bed, "Come here."

Letty immediately sat down beside him, allowing him to wrap his arms around her, as she snuggled into him, resting her head on his chest, breathing in his familiar scent, "Sounds awful, baby, I'm sorry," he cooed.  

And then, almost like a switch was turned on, a mischievous glint shone in Letty's eyes, "You know what? Screw this hospital. Screw Margaret. That bitch wants to fire me? Fine. Let's give them all something to really talk about." 

Before Juice could respond, Letty straddled him on the bed, her hands already working to unbutton his hospital gown. Juice's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly got over it, his hands moving to help her. 

"You're crazy," he said, his voice low and husky.

"Crazy about you," she replied, biting into her bottom lip, before, leaning down to kiss him deeply.

Juice's hands roamed over her body, his touch igniting her skin, "God, I missed you," he murmured against her lips.

Letty moaned softly, her hips grinding against him, "I missed you too, JuJu. So much."

Juice's gripped her hips as he shifted beneath her, adjusting their positions, "That feels so good, baby."

"Show me how much you missed my pussy," Letty said as she pulled her shirt up and over her head. 

Juice groaned, his hands sliding up to cup her breasts under her bra as she moved to unhook it, before tossing it aside, "Oh, look at you, baby. So fucking sexy. Mm...I can't get enough of those perfect tits," he said, as he devoured them with his tongue. 

Letty's breath hitched, her body trembling with anticipation as she momentarily hopped off him and quickly pulled down her pants and underwear, before climbing back on top of him, "I need you, Juice. Right now," she murmured onto his lips as she brought him into a hungry kiss. 

With one swift movement, Juice pulled down his boxer briefs and positioned himself at her entrance, his eyes locking onto hers, "You want this, baby?"

"Yes," she breathed, her nails digging into his shoulders. "Fuck me, Juice."

Juice entered her slowly, savouring the feeling of being inside her again after months, "You okay?" 

Letty gasped, rapidly nodding her head as her body arched into his touch, "Oh, God, Ju," she moaned. "You feel so good."

"So fucking tight for me, baby," Juice groaned, his movements slow and deliberate. "I missed this. I missed my pussy."

Letty's head fell back, her moans growing louder, "Harder, Juice. Please."

Juice complied, his thrusts becoming more forceful, "Is this what you want, baby?"

"Yes!" she cried out, her hands clutching at his chest. "Just like that--!"  

The door to the room suddenly swung open again. Bobby and Jax walked in, mid-conversation, only to stop dead in their tracks at the sight before them. And without hesitation, and one quick motion, Juice pulled the sheet over Letty, making sure to cover her naked form.

"Jesus Christ!" Bobby and Jax both exclaimed, Bobby's eyes were wide, while Jax's hands shot up to cover his eyes, wishing he was blind in that moment. 

Bobby chuckling said, "You guys just do it anywhere, huh?"

"That's what I said," Jax added, shaking his head in disbelief. 

Letty, still straddling Juice, with him very much still inside her, glared at them, "Ever heard of knocking?!" 

Jax raised an eyebrow, "Ever heard of locking the door?!" he shot back. 

Juice chuckled, trying to diffuse the tension, "Guys, can we have a moment here?"

Bobby held up his hands in mock-surrender, "We'll leave you two lovebirds to it. But seriously, get a room next time." 

"This is a room!" Letty shouted, throwing a nearby Jell-O tub from the side table at Bobby, making him quickly duck as he burst with laughter. 

Jax smirked, shaking his head in amusement, "We'll just be outside. Let you guys finish up whatever...this is." 

Jax and Bobby exchanged amused looks, before finally backing out of the room, closing the door behind them.

Letty sighed in exasperation, "Well, that was awkward as fuck."

Juice laughed, caressing her cheek, "You think?"

Letty grinned, her anger and frustration melting away, "Now, where were we?" she asked, her eyes darkening with desire. "Oh, that's right, we were right about...here," she said, position herself back into position.

Juice's eyes widened, "Baby, we can't. They're just outside." 

Letty's smile faltered, "So? Juice, we haven't had sex--"

"Rain check," Juice interrupted gently. "I'll be released tomorrow morning, then you can ride me all you want, baby."

Letty's frustration bubbled over, "Or so they say. What if they extend it again?!"

"I won't let them," Juice said firmly, trying to reassure her. "Nothing's gonna stop me from coming home to you." 

"Whatever," Letty grumbled, hopping off him and hastily getting dressed.

"Letty--"

"Oh, go fuck yourself, Juice!" she snapped, storming out of the room.

As she passed Jax and Bobby, she spat, "He's all yours."

Jax and Bobby exchanged a confused glance, before walking back into the room just as Juice had pulled his hospital gown and underwear back on. 

"What's her deal?" Bobby asked Juice, motioning over his shoulder at the door. 

Juice sighed, running a hand through his hair, "She's just a little frustrated."

Bobby chuckled, "You could've taken care of that. We don't mind waiting."

"It's fine. What's up?" Juice asked, trying to focus on the conversation, even though his mind was still on his fuming girlfriend - he was probably not gonna get laid for another couple of months now - he should of fucked her. 

"You're going to need to proxy a vote," Jax spoke up, tension looming in the air between him and Bobby, confusing Juice. 

"For...?" he furrowed his eyebrows, looking between his two brothers. 

"I'm asking for transfer. Nomad." 

Juice nodded in understanding, while tears welled in his eyes, "Guess it's been coming." 

Jax nodded, turning to leave, but Juice's next words stopped him dead in his tracks, "Hey, you remember what you said to me when I told you that I wanted to prospect?" 

Jax slowly turned back around to meet Juice's gaze. 

"My blood family, my home town, all that shit moves back a row. Once you're patched, the members are your family. This charter is your home. I never understood that until I met Letty. Well, I never really had a family - a home...until I met her, you know?" A wistful smile crossed the young man's face as he continued. "There's nothing she wouldn't do for family. That kind of loyalty is rare. There is nothing I wouldn't do for her. For the club. She made me realise blood doesn't always make you family. What you and Lett got - the way you fight for each other - got each other's backs no matter what - that's family. Not everyone has that, and you're just willing to walk away from it?"

Bobby turned to Jax with a raised eyebrow, agreeing with every word that came out of Juice's mouth. 

"I'll let you give your vote to Bobby," was all Jax said in response as he turned on his heel and walked out the door, making Juice and Bobby sigh. 

***

Gemma sat alone in her dimly lit living room, a single lamp casting a warm glow over the worn pages of an old leather-bound journal. She held the book delicately, as if it were a fragile treasure, her fingers tracing the faded gold letters that spelled out 'Loraine's Diary'. 

With a heavy heart, Gemma flipped through the pages, each one filled with the intimate thoughts and fears of her late friend. Memories flooded her mind as she read Loraine's words, her voice echoing in Gemma's ears as if she was speaking to her from beyond the grave.

But it was the entry dated September 21st, 1987, that caught Gemma's attention. The frantic words, the desperate plea for protection - it sent a chill down her spine.

I can feel her moving inside me. My precious Letty. So close to coming into this world. My heart races with both joy and terror. Every kick, every flutter, a reminder of how soon she'll be here, how soon I need to make everything right.

I must keep her safe. I MUST keep her safe. No matter what it takes, no matter what it costs me. He's out there, watching, waiting. I can feel his eyes, cold and calculating, always just out of sight but never out of mind. He knows. He knows I'm vulnerable. That I'm carrying a piece of my heart that I'd die to protect.

God, I'm losing my mind. I can't think straight. I see shadows where there shouldn't be any, hear whispers that make my skin crawl. But I have to stay strong. For Letty. For my baby girl. She deserves a chance, a life free from his darkness.

I keep imagining his hands, those awful hands, reaching for her, trying to take her from me. I can't let that happen. I WON'T let that happen. Even if it means breaking my own heart, shattering it into a million pieces. She has to be safe, away from him, away from his twisted grasp.

He's always been there, a dark cloud hanging over me. His promises, his threats, they haunt me. I thought I could escape, that running would save me from him. But there's no escaping someone like him. He's everywhere and nowhere all at once. A ghost, a nightmare that won't fade at morning light.

I've made arrangements, plans that should keep Letty safe, even if it means I won't be there to hold her, to see her grow. My heart breaks at the thought, but what choice do I have? What kind of mother would I be if I let her fall into his hands? I'd rather die than let that happen.

The nights are the worst. I lie here, clutching my belly, whispering to Letty that it's going to be okay, that Mama will protect her. But can I? Am I strong enough? Every fibre of my being screams YES. But doubt creeps in, like a poison, making me question everything.

I'm running out of time. He's getting closer, I can feel it. The walls are closing in, the noose tightening around my neck. But I won't let him win. I can't. For Letty. For my beautiful, innocent Letty.

If anything happens to me, if this is my last entry, let it be known that I loved her with every ounce of my soul. That I fought with every breath to keep her safe. That I'd rather be broken and forgotten than see her in his clutches.

Letty, my sweet girl, if you ever read this, know that you were my light in my darkest times. That every decision, every action, was made out of my love for you. And that no matter what, you were worth it. You are my everything. And I pray that you grow up free from the shadows that haunted me. Be strong, my love. Be free.

I must go. There's so much to do, so many preparations to make. I won't let him take you. Not now, not ever.

Forever yours,

Mam

As Gemma read, her heart ached for the young mother who had penned those words so many years ago. Loraine's love for her unborn daughter, Letty, was clear in every line, her determination to keep her safe shining through the pages.

Tears welled in Gemma's eyes as she reached the end of the entry, her gaze lingering on the final words: 'Forever yours, Ma'. 

Closing the journal with a heavy sigh, Gemma wiped away her tears. And in that moment, she vowed to do everything in her power to protect Letty, to honour the memory of her dear friend, even if it meant facing the darkness herself. 

For Gemma knew that some secrets were meant to be uncovered, some battles meant to be fought. And with Loraine's words as her guide, she would stop at nothing to keep Letty safe from the shadows that lurked in her mother's past.

***

CLEO'S OUTFIT 

Opie walked through his front door, the familiar creak announcing his arrival. The house was eerily quiet. Cleo was in the kitchen, going through her usual routine; doing dishes and preparing dinner. 

He stood there for a moment, watching her, taking in the peaceful domestic scene. It had been a while since he'd felt this sense of normalcy, and it hit him hard. He cleared his throat softly, and Cleo turned around, a look of surprise lighting up her face.

"Opie, you're home!" she exclaimed, setting down the tea towel she was using to dry the dishes and moving towards him.

He smiled, opening his arms as she walked into his embrace, "Yeah, but not for long. I have to head back out soon."

Cleo's face fell slightly, but she nodded, understanding the demands of his life, "I have to go pick up the kids in a bit anyway."

Opie cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing over her cheek, "I want you," he whispered, causing Cleo's eyes to widen, but before she could speak, Opie captured her lips with his. The kiss was passionate and filled with a strong need to be close to this amazing woman. 

Cleo pulled back slightly, searching his eyes, "Opie, are you sure? I know it's been hard for you...if you're not ready, I can wait. I'll wait as long as you need me too."

Opie took a deep breath, the sincerity in her words touching him deeply, "I'm ready," he said firmly. "I don't want to wait anymore. I need this...I need you. I want to feel close to you."

Cleo nodded, her heart swelling with deep affection for the man in front of her. She led him upstairs to his bedroom, the air thick with anticipation. Once inside, Opie closed the door behind them, his eyes never leaving hers.

He stepped forward, pulling her close again, their lips meeting in a searing kiss. His hands roamed over her body, memorising every curve and contour. Cleo responded in kind, her fingers working to remove his shirt and push it off his shoulders.

They undressed each other slowly, the air crackling with electricity. When they were both vulnerable and bare, Opie gently guided Cleo onto the bed, his eyes filled with a mix of a strong affection and desire.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion.

Cleo smiled, "So are you."

Opie leaned down, capturing her lips in another kiss as he slowly entered her. Cleo gasped at the sensation, her nails digging into his back as he began to move. They found a rhythm together, their bodies moving in perfect harmony.

As they made love, the outside world faded away, leaving only the two of them and the intensity of their connection.

"God, I've been thinking about this for awhile," Opie murmured against her lips, his breath hot on her skin.

"Me too," Cleo whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "You have no idea how much."

Opie looked into her eyes, his own filled with a mixture of love and pain, "I'm sorry it's been so hard. I wish I could be here more."

Cleo shook her head, her hands caressing his face, "Don't apologise. I understand. Just being with you now is enough."

Opie groaned softly as he thrusted deeper inside her, his movements growing more urgent, "You feel so good, Cle. So perfect."

Cleo's breath hitched, her body arching beneath him, "You too, Ope. You and the kids have made me the happiest I've ever been," she confessed, chuckling nervously. 

He replied by kissing her lips passionately, before they trailed down her neck and across her collarbone, "You're incredible," he whispered against her skin, his voice breaking.

"So are you," Cleo replied, her fingers tangling in his hair.

They moved together, their bodies slick with sweat, their breaths mingling in the quiet room. The intensity of their connection was almost overwhelming, each touch, each kiss, deepening their bond.

As they neared their climax, Cleo gasped, her nails digging into Opie's shoulders, "Opie, I'm so close..."

"Me too, baby," he groaned, his pace quickening. "Just hold on a little longer. Wait for me."

"Always!" Cleo moaned at the top of her lungs. 

When they finally reached their climax, it was like a wave crashing over them, leaving them both breathless and trembling. Opie collapsed onto the bed beside Cleo, pulling her into his arms and holding her close.

For a long time, they simply laid there in silence, their hearts beating in sync. Opie stroked Cleo's hair, his mind racing with thoughts of their future. He knew that this moment had changed everything, and he was ready to face whatever came next as long as she was by his side.

"Cleo, I--," he whispered, his voice barely audible. 

Cleo looked up at him, her eyes filled with emotion, "You don't have to say anything," she said with a soft smile. "I know."

They stayed like that for a while longer, wrapped up in each other's arms, before the reality of their responsibilities pulled them back to the present. Cleo sighed and began to get dressed, knowing she had to pick up Opie's kids from school.

Opie watched her, a small smile on his lips, "I'll--" he stopped himself, his smile widening as he said... "I'll catch you on the flip side." 

Cleo giggled, leaning down to kiss him one last time, before heading out the door, "Only if you promise to catch me," she said softly, her heart filled with hope for their future together.

***

LETTY'S OUTFIT 

The garage buzzed with activity, the clinks and clatters of tools filling the air as mechanics worked on various projects. Amidst the hustle, Jax found himself standing before Clay, a weight heavy on his shoulders.

"Can I talk to you?" Jax's voice cut through the noise, drawing Clay's attention.

Clay nodded, gesturing for the others to give them space. As they left, the atmosphere in the garage shifted, tension settling between the two men.

"What's on your mind?" Clay's voice was measured, his gaze steady as he regarded Jax.

Jax hesitated for a moment, the words caught in his throat, "I think maybe I was wrong about Cara Cara. I'm sorry I put it on you. The way we've been going, it made sense at the time."

Clay's expression remained impassive, but his eyes betrayed a hint of understanding, "Yeah."

"Me going nomad...what's your hit on that?" Jax's voice was tinged with uncertainty, a vulnerability beneath the surface.

Clay paused, considering his response carefully, "The way we've been going, makes sense."

Jax's eyebrows furrowed, searching for clarity in Clay's words, "You want me gone?"

Clay shook his head in disbelief, "This ain't gonna be my call," he sneered, his eyes narrowing at his stepson. "You put this transfer in motion." 

"I'm not putting it on you," Jax's voice raised in frustration. "I'm asking you a simple question. Do you want me gone?" 

Clay met his gaze evenly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes, "Yes."

Inside the office overlooking the garage, Letty and Gemma watched the exchange. Instantly, Gemma's composure cracked, tears welling in her eyes as she struggled to contain her emotions.

Letty's resolve hardened as she witnessed her mother's distress, "Don't worry, ma. I'm gonna fix this. I'm gonna make it right."

Gemma's scepticism was evident, her voice laced with doubt, "What, you got some magical solution I don't know about?"

Letty offered a cryptic smile, her determination shining through, "Yeah, something like that."

With a purposeful stride, Letty stepped outside the office, the cool breeze offering a moment of respite from the intensity within. Her eyes fell upon Unser, who stood nearby, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Pops," Letty called out, her voice cutting through the quiet evening air.

Unser turned to face her, his eyebrows furrowing in response to the seriousness etched on her features, "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

Letty took a deep breath, preparing herself for the conversation ahead, "Unser, I need you to promise me something," she began, her tone firm. "No matter what happens, you'll protect my boys. Protect my family. Because what I'm about to ignite a goddamn war."

Unser's expression shifted, a look of apprehension crossing his features, "What are you talking about, Letty?"

Letty met his gaze squarely, "It's time I told the truth, Pops. But when the time comes, I need to know that you'll have our backs."

Unser nodded solemnly, his gaze steady, placing a firm hand on her shoulder, "You have my word, Letty. I'll do whatever it takes to keep your family safe."

Letty offered him a grateful smile, a sense of relief washing over her as cupped the side of his face, leaning over to place a gentle kiss on his cheek, "Thank you. We're going to need all the help we can get."

As they stood in the fading light, the weight of their conversation hanging heavy in the air, Letty couldn't shake the feeling that their lives were about to change in ways they couldn't yet comprehend. But with Unser's promise, she felt a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty that lay ahead.

***

Letty's fingers trembled as she dialled Tara's number, her heart pounding in her chest as she paced back and forth inside her bedroom at the clubhouse. She knew what she was about to do would change everything, but she couldn't keep living with the weight of her secrets anymore. 

"Tara," Letty's voice was urgent, breathless with anxiety as the call connected. "It's time."

Tara's voice on the other end was filled with confusion and concern, "Letty? What are you talking about? Time for what?"

"The truth," Letty confirmed. "I can't do it alone. I need you."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, filled with the weight of unspoken understanding. Tara knew what Letty was referring to, the secret they had both been carrying for far too long.

"I'll be there," Tara replied firmly. "Where do you want to meet?"

Letty let out a shaky breath, feeling a small measure of relief wash over her, "I'll pick you up in half an hour."

"Okay," Tara agreed. "I'll be ready."

As Letty hung up the phone, she felt a mixture of fear and determination coursing through her veins. She knew that telling the truth would come with consequences, but she couldn't keep hiding the truth any longer. But with Tara by her side, she felt like she could finally face whatever was to come.

***

Letty and Tara pulled into the clubhouse parking lot, the sun now long set. The familiar rumble of motorcycles and the hum of distant conversations filled the air. As they approached the entrance, raised voices caught their attention.

Inside, Jax and Gemma stood in the middle of the room, locked in a heated argument. The intensity of their exchange was evident, drawing the eyes of nearby club members who kept their distance, not daring to intervene.

"You can't do this, Jax!" Gemma's voice was sharp with frustration. "This isn't what your father wanted!"

"Maybe not, but it's what has to be done," Jax shot back, his tone equally fierce. "The vote's in. I'm going Nomad."

Letty, with Tara close behind, stepped into the room, her presence commanding immediate attention. Jax's eyes met hers, and a flicker of pain crossed his face, hurt that his sister didn't even show up for the vote. 

"Jax," Letty began, her voice steady despite the turmoil around her. "I need to talk to you."

"It's done, sis," Jax responded, shaking his head.

Tara stepped forward, her hand gently resting on Jax's arm, "You're gonna want to hear this, baby."

Jax sighed heavily, the weight of the day evident in his eyes. After a moment, he nodded, signalling for Letty to continue.

"Meet me at the hospital. Juice's room," Letty instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument. She then turned to her mother, locking eyes with Gemma. "Both of you. Dad too." 

At the last part, Jax simply rolled his eyes - what was this an intervention?

Gemma, still fuming from the argument with her son, stared at Letty, her frustration momentarily overridden by curiosity and concern.

With a final, determined look, Letty turned and walked out, Tara by her side. The gravity of the situation hung in the air as the two women left the clubhouse, leaving Jax and Gemma to follow in their wake, the tension and uncertainty of what lay ahead pressing down on them all.

***

Letty found herself sitting on a hospital chair, her head low as she bounced her knee anxiously, while Tara kneeled before her, her hands placed on her knees in a gesture of comfort as she whisper reassuring words to her friend, sensing a panic attack was on the verge. 

A very tired Juice sat on his hospital bed, watching the two girls in confusion. Letty had arrived not long ago, waking him up from his slumber. He didn't mind at all, but the only words she said to explain her presence was, "I need to talk to you. My family will be here soon." 

So, here they were, waiting. And once the door swung open, everyone's heads whipped around to see Clay, Gemma and soon Jax enter the small room. 

"Sit down," Letty ordered. "All of you," she said, motioning to a couple of chairs they had set up in the room as Tara moved to take a seat beside the Morrow girl, her fingers linking with hers as a show of support. 

But then as the door suddenly opened once again, everyone turned to see a confused and somewhat shocked Rey standing in the doorway, "Shit. I'm sorry," she apologised. "I was just doing my rounds. I didn't realise you were all in here. I can just come back," she said as she turned to leave, but Letty called out, stopping her. 

"No. Stay. You can hear this too," she informed her friend, whose eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she hesitantly walked further into the room. 

"Okay..."

"Here," Tara said, pulling out a chair for the nurse beside her, offering her a tight smile. 

"Thanks," Rey returned the smile, taking a seat. 

"What is this?" Gemma questioned her daughter, noticing the heavy tears that welled in her eyes, making Tara squeeze her hands a little firmer. 

"The night of bobby's party..." Letty started slowly, swallowing hard as she squeezed Tara's hands tightly that rested on her lap, her head low unable to meet anyone's gaze as she spoke. "You were right, baby," she said, looking up momentarily at her boyfriend. "I didn't get into an accident driving home. I was attacked." 

Juice's eyes widened in realisation. He didn't want to be right, but appears that he was. 

***

Sheriff Wayne Unser sat alone in his office, the soft hum of the overhead light casting a dim glow over the room. His mind was a storm of thoughts, each one crashing against the next. Letty's words echoed in his head, a reminder of the heavy responsibility he now carried.

"I need you to promise me something. No matter what happens, you'll protect my boys. Protect my family. Because I'm about to ignite a goddamn war."

He sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair. On his desk, amidst the clutter of paperwork and files, lay an old, weathered photograph. He picked it up, his eyes softening as he gazed at the image of Loraine and him at one of the many charity events they threw together. The photo had been taken years ago, before everything went to shit. Her smile was radiant, full of life and promise, a stark contrast to the heavy burden he now carried.

"Am I doing the right thing, Loraine?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "How can I protect her when I've already let her down?"

Next to the photograph was a letter, its edges worn from being read and reread countless times. He unfolded it carefully, the familiar handwriting bringing a bittersweet pang to his heart.

Wayne,

If you're reading this, it means I'm not there to help guide you. I know you'll do everything in your power to protect Letty. Don't let her walk the same dark paths we did. You have to be her light.

Always, Loraine

He closed his eyes, clutching the letter tightly, "I need your wisdom now more than ever," he said softly, a tear slipping down his cheek. "But you're not here."

Unser knew that the promise he had made to Loraine all those years ago was now intertwined with the promise he had just made to Letty. The weight of both commitments threatened to crush him, but he couldn't falter. He wouldn't falter. He had to find a way to protect Letty. 

Taking a deep breath, Unser wiped the tear from his face and folded the letter back up, placing it gently beside the photograph. He looked at the image of Loraine one last time, drawing strength from her memory.

"I won't let you down," he vowed, his voice filled with determination. "I'll protect her, no matter what it takes."

With that, he stood up, a newfound resolve coursing through him. There was work to be done, and he wouldn't rest until he had ensured Letty's safety. For Loraine, for Letty, and for the promises he had made.

***

"Minivan pulls up behind me. A girl jumps out in a panic," Letty's voice shook as she continued to tell her story, her hands still linked with Tara's. "Zobelle's daughter." 

Everyone's eyes widen at this information.

"She says her baby's choking. Bitch was very convincing," she said, swallowing hard as she met her father and mother's eyes as they sat in silence, simply listening to the words leaving their daughter's mouth. 

"Win a fucking Oscar for that performance. It was a goddamn doll in the car seat," she confessed, a single tear sliding down her cheek as her lips quivered. "She hit me over the back of the head with, a blackjack, something." 

Letty took in a sharp breath, the tears spilling out, her head lowering. By this point Juice's own tears were escaping his eyes as he watched his girlfriend completely break down. 

Rey sat there listening, knowing exactly where this was going, feeling heart broken for her friend that had been through this traumatic experience. 

"I can't do this, Tara," Letty whimpered. 

"Hey," Tara grabbed hold of her face, tilting her head up, so she met her gaze. "Look at me," she said sternly, resting her forehead on hers. "You can do this. I'm right her with you. I'm not going anywhere." 

Letty nodded, squeezing her eyes shut as she found the courage to continue, "I came to handcuffed to the chain-link of a utility house out by the access road." Pausing, Letty met Rey's gaze, who sent her a tight smile and gave her an encouraging nod, while Tara continued to squeeze her hands reassuringly. "They wore masks. There were three of them." 

Jax listened intently, tears blurring his vision, each word coming out of his sister's mouth shattered his heart into a million pieces. 

"The one who spoke, I knew his voice. The tat on his throat," she said, looking up at he parents, who could no longer keep his tears at bay, their fingers linked on the table.  "Zobelle's right hand...Weston." 

At the sound of the familiar name, Jax's face contorted into an angry expression as a single tear escaped his eye, but just as quickly, he wiped it away. 

***

 Opie pulled into the parking lot of the movie theatre. The neon lights flickered to life, illuminating the marquee with the title of tonight's feature film. Opie turned off the engine and glanced in the rear-view mirror at his kids, Kenny and Ellie, who were buzzing with excitement in the back seat.

"You guys ready for this?" Opie asked, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Kenny nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, Dad! I can't wait!"

Ellie, always the more composed of the two, grinned, "It's been a while since we've done this. Thanks for taking us, Daddy."

Opie's smile widened as he turned to Cleo, who was sitting beside him in the passenger seat. Her presence had brought a sense of peace and normalcy to his life that he hadn't felt in a long time. She looked back at him with a warm smile, her hand finding his and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Alright, let's go then," Opie said, opening his door and stepping out. Cleo followed suit, and the kids scrambled out of the back seat, chattering excitedly about the movie.

As they approached the theater entrance, Cleo slipped her arm through Opie's, leaning in close, "You know, I can't remember the last time I went to a movie theater. This is nice."

Opie looked down at her, his expression softening, "Yeah, it is. I'm glad you're here with us."

Inside the theater, the smell of popcorn filled the air, and the sounds of laughter and conversation echoed around them. Opie bought tickets and handed them out, then led the way to the concession stand. The kids eagerly picked out their snacks, and Opie couldn't help but chuckle at their excitement.

"Alright, everyone got what they want?" he asked, looking over the assortment of candy, popcorn, and drinks they were now carrying.

Kenny nodded, struggling to hold onto his large soda and a bucket of popcorn, "Yep! Let's go find our seats!"

They made their way into the dimly lit theatre, finding a row of seats near the middle. As they settled in, Opie glanced around, feeling a rare sense of contentment. This was what he had been fighting for - moments like this, where he could be with his family and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

The movie started, and the theatre fell into a hushed silence, except for the occasional rustle of popcorn bags and whispers between the kids. Opie felt Cleo's head rest on his shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer.

Halfway through the film, Opie glanced down at Kenny and Ellie. Kenny was leaning forward in his seat, completely absorbed in the action on screen, while Ellie had a contented smile on her face, her hand in the popcorn bucket. He looked over at Cleo, who was watching the movie with a serene expression, her hand still resting on his chest.

For the first time in a long time, Opie felt a sense of peace wash over him. Despite the chaos and violence that so often defined his world, this moment was untouched by it. Here, in the darkened theatre, surrounded by the people he loved, he could forget about the club, the danger, and the constant struggle, if only for a little while.

As the credits rolled and the lights came up, Kenny and Ellie immediately launched into a discussion about their favorite parts of the movie. Cleo sat up, stretching and smiling at Opie.

"That was fun," she said softly, her eyes twinkling.

Opie nodded, squeezing her hand, "Yeah, it was. We should do this more often."

Ellie looked up at him, her eyes shining, "Can we, Dad?!"

Opie ruffled her hair, nodding, "You bet, kiddo."

As they walked out of the theatre, the cool night air greeted them, and Opie felt a sense of contentment settle over him. They piled back into the car, the kids still chattering excitedly in the back seat, as Cleo rested her head on his shoulder as they drove home.

For now, everything was perfect, and Opie was determined to hold onto this feeling for as long as he could.

***

"Told me to deliver a message to you," Letty's eyes locked with her father's. "Stop selling guns to niggas and wetbacks, or we'll find you and do this again," she repeated the words that haunted her dreams, etched in her memory forever. "I tried to fight them off, I did, Dad," she said, her voice shaking, tears blurring her vision. "Just like you always taught me. I kicked, I screamed, but they were too strong. They raped me," she croaked as a sob escaping her lips, the tears uncontrollably fell down her cheeks. 

Tara immediately wrapped her arm around Letty, rubbing her arm soothingly.  

Everyone now had tears in their eyes at that very moment, listening to Letty's heart breathing story. 

Juice brought a hand up to cover his mouth to block his own sob from escaping his throat as his tears poured like a tap out of his eyes. 

"All three of them," Letty continued. "More than once." 

Jax couldn't control his anger any longer as he pushed himself to his feet, his chair screeching across the tiled floor as he whipped around, "Damn it!" he screamed, hurling the chair into the back wall, making Letty jump at the loud impact. 

Locking eyes with his sister, he stormed over to her, pulling her to her feet and wrapping his arms tightly around her, allowing her to cry into the croak of his neck as she clung to him like he was her lifeline. 

Clay rapidly wiped away his tears, but more soon followed, as Gemma had her arms around him, sobbing into the crook or hie neck. 

Juice was a wreck as he stared blankly into space, tears falling into his lap. 

Rey simply remained seated, having no idea what to say as she struggled to keep her own tears at bay. 

Letty finally pulled back from Jax, resting her forehead on his as they both let out deep breaths, "Please don't leave me," she whispered, sounding completely broken. 

"I'm not going anywhere," Jax declared, cupping her face and looking her dead in the eye. "We're gonna get these bustards, Lett," he firmly stated, placing a kiss on her forehead, before pulling away from her and allowing Gemma to pull her daughter in for a hug. 

"Awe, baby," she soothed, rubbing her back as they both cried in each other's embrace. 

Jax wasted no time, placing a hand on both Clay and Juice's shoulders in a show of brotherhood and support. 

Gemma pulled away from Letty, heading over to Clay as he stood from his chair, wrapping his arm over her shoulders, pulling her close to his chest as he placed a kiss on the top of her head. 

Letty turned to Rey, who stood from her seat, sending her a tight smile, "I'm sorry that happened to you," she murmured, pulling her friend into a quick embrace. "Thanks for trusting me," she said as she pulled away, preparing to leave alongside Tara and the others to give the couple some privacy, but before Tara could make her way towards the door, Letty grabbed her wrist, stopping her. 

"Thank you," was all she said, her voice strained from all the crying. 

"Always," came Tara's response, and with a nod of her head, she followed after her boyfriend and his family. 

The door clicked shut behind Tara and the others, leaving Letty and Juice alone in the quiet room. Letty sat herself in the chair beside Juice's bed, her head bowed, tears streaming down her face. The weight of her confession hung heavy in the air, mingling with the sterile scent of antiseptic and the soft hum of medical equipment.

Juice, his own eyes flooded with unshed tears, reached out to her, "Letty," he said softly, his voice a gentle caress.

She looked up at him, her gaze raw and filled with anguish, "I'm so sorry, Juice," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I should have told you sooner. I just, I couldn't. I was so scared--" 

Juice shifted slightly in his bed, taking her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze, "Hey," he murmured, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "Come here," he said softly, patting the space beside him on the bed.

Letty walked over and sat down, her body tense. 

Juice pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest, "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so sorry you went through that. I should of been there to protect you." 

Letty buried her face in the crook of his neck, "It's not your fault," she whispered. "None of this is your fault, baby." 

Juice rubbed her back, more tears filling his eyes just at the simple thought of the horrors she was forced to endure. 

"I'm scared, Juice," Letty confessed, her voice almost inaudible. "I'm scared all the time and I hate it," she cried out, sucking in a shaky breath. "Every time I close my eyes...I'm back in that warehouse and their hands are all over me and I-I can't breathe," she croaked out, clutching her chest as he breathing picked up. 

Juice gently pulled her closer, his arms securely around her as he pressed his lips against her forehead, shushing her gently, "You're safe, baby."

Letty's tears soaked into his shirt as she let out a raspy confession and her biggest fear, "I don't want to lose you, Juice. You're my rock, my anchor. I'm nothing without you."

Juice looked down at her bewildered, lifting her chin up to meet his gaze, "You'll never lose me. You're my world, baby. I'm gonna stand by you no matter what. Ride or die, remember?" 

"Ride or die," Letty echoed in a whisper as their lips moldered together like two puzzle pieces, the kiss filled with so much passion, but also love and commitment. 

Soon Letty's floodgates bursted open once more and Juice wasted no times rewrapping his arms around her and gently rocked her, whispering soothing words as she cried, "I love you, Letty. Nothing will ever change that."

Letty looked up at him, her eyes red but filled with determination, "I love you too, JuJu. More than anything."

As the night wore on, they stayed entwined, drawing strength from each other. And in that moment, they knew they could face whatever challenges lay ahead, as long as they remained each other's...ride or die. 

***

A/N:

12/06/2024

So, this was another chapter filled with hidden clues, so I hope you were paying close attention attention. Can you unlock the big secret before it's revealed? 😉😜😏

AESTHETIC 

Words: 13050