~𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝙳𝙰𝚈 𝙱𝙾𝙽𝙽𝙸𝙴 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙲𝙻𝚈𝙳𝙴~

𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕪

The early morning sun cast a faint golden light over Teller-Morrow as Clay pulled his bike into the lot. He swung his leg over and stood for a moment, stretching out the stiffness in his back. It was just another day—until he pushed open the shop door.

The metallic tang of blood hit him immediately, and his sharp eyes scanned the room. His brows furrowed when he spotted a crumpled figure lying in a heap on the cold concrete floor.

"What the hell?" Clay growled, striding forward.

As he approached, the figure became clear—Jax Teller, his face barely recognizable under the swelling and bruising. His blonde hair was matted with blood, his lip split, and one eye swollen shut. He was breathing, but it was shallow and labored. Clay crouched down and shook his head, a mixture of anger and exasperation flaring in his chest.

"Jesus Christ, Jackson," he muttered, grabbing Jax by the collar and hoisting him halfway up. Jax groaned weakly, his head lolling forward.

Clay eased him back down, his tone sharper now. "Who did this to you?"

Jax tried to speak, but his words were slurred and barely audible. "B...Bellatrix," he finally mumbled, a grimace contorting his battered face.

Clay sat back on his heels, rubbing a hand over his mouth to hide the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Bellatrix, huh?" he said, his voice laced with something between admiration and frustration. "Guess you finally pushed her too far."

He stood up and called out toward the office, his voice booming. "Somebody get their ass out here! We got a situation!"

Chibs and Happy appeared almost immediately, their expressions hardening when they saw Jax. "Holy shite," Chibs muttered, crouching beside Clay. "She really did a number on him."

"Think she left anything unbroken?" Happy asked flatly, his tone betraying no emotion.

Clay crossed his arms and looked down at Jax. "Serves him right. Kid's been screwin' up left and right. Bellatrix just did what needed doin'."

Chibs sighed, pulling out his phone. "We gonna patch him up here or send him to the hospital?"

Clay shook his head. "Patch him up here. He's not gonna like the questions they'll ask at St. Thomas." He turned to Happy. "Go grab the first aid kit."

As Happy disappeared into the back, Clay crouched beside Jax again, leaning in close. "Listen to me, boy. You're damn lucky it was Bellatrix who taught you this lesson and not someone else. But if you think this is the worst of it, you've got another thing comin'. You better start pullin' your head outta your ass real quick. You've humiliated yourself, and you've made me look weak."

Jax's good eye fluttered open, and he rasped, "I get it."

"Do you?" Clay said coldly, standing back up. "Because if you don't, next time, it won't be Bellatrix you're dealin' with."

Chibs reappeared with Happy and the first aid supplies, and the two of them set to work cleaning Jax up as best they could. Clay watched for a moment before turning to leave.

He paused at the door, glancing back over his shoulder. "And someone better clean that damn floor before Bellatrix sees it. She's not gonna let us forget who's runnin' things around here now."

The door slammed behind him, leaving Jax groaning softly on the floor, a hard lesson burned into every aching muscle and broken bone.

Happy peered out into the lot once again and let out a resigned sigh. "Too late. She's here."

The rumble of Bellatrix's tahoe cut through the air like a warning siren. She climbed out of the large SUV smoothly, the curve-hugging black leather bustier and ripped skinny jeans catching the last rays of the setting sun. Her 6-inch Louboutin stiletto booties clicked sharply against the concrete as she made her way into the shop, every step carrying the weight of authority—and fury.