Created by the devil

A pleasure.

When Giovanna arrived in Birmingham two days ago. She wasn't looking to stay long-term in the small heath but she needed an environment other than New York to breathe. Even if this place smells like horse shit, it is better than the problems she has back home. 

The only thing she had for sure was a work space and a place to live. With her being the youngest of the family, it was hard to see her go. That's why she's working with her Cousin Mario, who has two enterprises, one for daylight and one for night, as he always says.

She bought a house in Watery Lane with her father's agreement. His name is James Colosimo, or, as they call him back in New York, 'Big Jim'. Her father was known as the ruler of petty crime in her birth city. He was the boss of prostitution, gambling, brothels, racketeering, you name it. Her brothers are if not worse, than their father. Her father is known as the head of the family because he makes all of the decisions without having to personally carry them out.

Her mother, on the other hand, is known to be sweet and gentle. Growing up, Gia never understood how such a lovely woman could end up with such a devil, but they love each other. Gia has come to realize over the years that her mother's kindness should not be taken for granted. The Chicago madam had done a lot to survive. The question with survivors is not why, but how.

The idea of walking around a city without being recognized for what her family stands for thrilled Gia to the point that it would be the only thing she could think about. So, the first walk she took today in Birmingham was nothing short of exciting. Though she realized quite early on in her walk that the women are dressed very differently from her, Making her stand out with her 'typical' Changretta clothing.

Changretta is a name that many are frightened of or despise. It was her mother's maiden name. Her oldest brother, Luca, is a bastard, so he took the name Changretta. When her mother got married to her father while she was heavily pregnant.

They decided that they would keep that name for business, as they were already called the Changretta family when her father started the gang called the 'Chicago Outfit.' The name would make an innocent person laugh, but people who were aware of the family's history didn't even think about finding the name hilarious.

It's now 1919, which means that her father has been the head of his gang for almost 33 years, but that will not last. Her father is getting weak.

She notices that the air is so different from the one in New York as she walks past a pub. The pub holds the name, 'Garrison' That's written in big, bold letters right above the door. She also notices the paper that sticks to the window. They're searching for someone to help them out behind the bar.

A small smile finds its way onto her lips at the idea of working in a bar. Something her dad would get a heart attack from just thinking about it. She walks into the pub and takes a seat at the bar.

"A whiskey, please.' She orders. The man behind the bar can't seem to believe his eyes. "Lady, trust me when I say, you don't want to be here." He whispers to her as he keeps going with his work. "It's 'right away' that you are supposed to say," She states with a cocked brow. 

She can already feel the differences in modernization between a city as big as New York and a city as small as Birmingham. "Right, I'll get you that right away." The man ushers with a crooked smile. Seamingly something about a woman sitting at his bar made him feel uneasy.

The man passes her drink, for which he receives the money that she had already prepared beforehand. "That's a half too much." He states with a bored look. "That's all right, keep the change. I saw that you put up a notice at the window. Is the job already taken?" She asks searching for his eyes. "And what would a beautiful lady like you want to do in a pub? I can clearly see that you are not struggling for money like most people in this part of town." He puts down his rag and leans on his hands.

"Looking for a change. Is the job taken or not?" She asks. "I'm sorry to inform you that the job is indeed taken." He speaks out slowly and picks up his rag again. "Now, we both know that is not true." She states with a small grin. "I'm doing you a pleasure. This is not a place where someone like you would want to be." He comments with his eyes directed at her. 

"Well, someone like me knows that it isn't smart to keep a notice up when the job is already taken. It comes off as quite unprofessional. Either way, I'm not scared of a little challenge. Are you?" She asks. "I'm not getting rid of you, am I? Start Monday, the pub is closed on Sundays." He sighs. And with that, she drank the last of her whiskey and exited her new workplace.

While she's walking home with a sort of pride shining off her, all the people start to clear the road. Gia looks around, not understand why, but then an older woman grips her arm and takes her to the side of the street. "Do you have a dead wish?" She asks more concerned than mad. "what's happening?" Gia questions following the woman's eyeline. 

"You're new here, aren't you? That man there is Tommy Shelby. He's the head of the 'peaky blinders' gang. If you don't want to be cut, I would advise you to keep your head down." The older woman explains while Gia eyes this man who sits tall on his horse, which is blacker than the night.

It feels like she changed positions with the many people who used to look at her like that in New York, and she isn't sure if she likes it.

The day after, Gia's body buzzed with so much anticipation for her first day that she left her house in about 25 minutes after she woke up. Upon arrival, she's directly greeted by her cousin. "Gigi, come give your cousin a hug." His Italian accent slips at the end of his sentence.

She laughs, "Good morning to you too, Mario." He's a very cheerful and excited person, but you do not want to get on his bad side.

"Do you remember the beautiful black Italian bullmastiff?" He asks knowing the answer. He trains attack dogs, besides his devious business. "Last time I checked, I didn't have amnesia. Of course, I remember the dog." She responds sarcastically.

"Yeah, well, nobody seems to be able to calm her down. She's too aggressive and old, for the first time in my life, mi arrendo." He sighs. "So, you are asking for my help?" She makes sure. "I guess I am." He sighs, knowing where this is going.

"And what did this faci il grande say to me less than two weeks ago? huh?" She asks with a big grin on her face. "That I didn't need help." He mumbles while trying to avoid eye contact. "You said, and I quote, 'I do not need any of you. I can do it all by myself, which means without you people being closer than 5 feet next to me." she impersonates her cousin.

"Well, people change, and I'm pretty sure you did not understand me." He mumbles. "Yeah, sure, what about it?" She asks. "Well, you are very good with dogs, and she likes you a lot. So I thought that maybe-" He was cut off. "No, there is no way. I'm not taking that dog." She says sternly.

"But the dog likes you, and now she's going to be very sad. What will happen to her if she has no one like you?" He smirks. "Ok, that's just plain mean. I'll think about it." She sighs.

"Grandioso, I'll let il tizio bring the dog to your house. Oh, before I forget, you need to drop some dimes." He yells while walking away. "Mario, wait, I never agreed with the do- Oh, I can't with that fucking bastard." She lowers her voice. After her work, she informed Mario that she was going to be working a little less as she accepted another job at a pub, which he didn't mind.

Mario kept his word because when Gia opened her front door, there was indeed a dog waiting for her.