~𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝙳𝙰𝚈 𝙱𝙾𝙽𝙽𝙸𝙴 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙲𝙻𝚈𝙳𝙴~

𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕚𝕗𝕥𝕪-𝕠𝕟𝕖

The night air was thick with tension as SAMCRO moved like ghosts through the shipping yard, the dull hum of the port filling the silence between them. The job was supposed to be simple—smash and grab, in and out before anyone knew what hit them. But as Bellatrix stood near the getaway vehicle, heels clicking against the concrete, she could feel it in her bones. Something was wrong.

And then it happened.

A sudden flood of red and blue lights bathed the yard in blinding flashes, the wail of sirens slicing through the night.

"Shit," Jax snarled, reaching for his piece as the sound of boots on pavement filled the air. "It's a damn setup!"

Bellatrix's heart pounded as she turned to Tig. Their eyes met in an instant of pure understanding. They had talked about this. They knew this could happen. If the law came down, Tig was staying put, but she? She was running.

Tig didn't hesitate. He grabbed her wrist, yanking her toward him for a kiss that was rough, desperate, and far too short. "Let me be your first call," she whispered against his lips.

"Always, baby," he rasped before shoving her back. "Go."

Bellatrix didn't wait. She turned on her heel and ran, her five-inch stilettos clicking against the concrete as she weaved through the stacked shipping containers. Behind her, the sounds of shouting, scuffling, and the unmistakable clatter of cuffs locking onto wrists filled the air.

Her lungs burned as she reached the chain-link fence. The spiked top loomed overhead, a clear reminder that this wasn't built for easy escapes, but she didn't stop. With practiced ease, she tossed her heels over first before gripping the fence and hauling herself up. Her jeans tore at the thigh as she swung a leg over, but she barely felt it.

She hit the ground hard on the other side, the impact jarring, but she was already moving before the sting could settle in.

Sirens howled behind her, the static-laced orders from cop radios barking out in the night. But they wouldn't find her. Not tonight.

Tig was going down. So was Jax, Chibs, Happy—hell, all of them. But she was free. And that's exactly how Tig wanted it.

Her breath came in sharp pants as she slipped into the shadows, disappearing into the city's veins.

By the time the dust settled, Bellatrix would already be three steps ahead, planning her next move. Because if Stockton State Prison was where SAMCRO was headed, she'd be the one on the outside, making damn sure they weren't in there for long.

-

Bellatrix had run maybe six miles, her lungs burning, her feet aching—even through the adrenaline, she felt every punishing step. The cool night air did nothing to soothe the fire in her legs or the raw ache in her chest. She came to a slow stop near an abandoned gas station, gripping her knees, sucking in air like it was slipping through her fingers.

And then it hit her.

Tig was gone.

Her husband had just gone to prison for her. For her.

A strangled sob tore from her throat as she staggered backward, pressing herself against the rusted metal wall of the station. The weight of it crushed her, a tidal wave of guilt, love, and pure devastation slamming into her chest. She slid down until she was sitting on the cold concrete, hands trembling as she fumbled for her phone.

She barely registered pressing Wendy's contact before the call was ringing.

It took a few beats before Wendy's groggy voice came through. "B? Why the hell are you calling me this late?"