BRUTAL LOVE || JOHN SHELBY

Chapter 12

Danny Whiz-Bang was dead.

That was the news Libitina woke up to today. It broke her, Danny was like a proper brother to her before the war, but the war left his brains in the dirt and brought him home as a changed man.

No matter how much it broke her she still had to get up and get ready for the day. Today she had a day off of work so she was going to look after John's children while him and his brothers went to the fair. When she was ready she headed over to John's house across the street and let herself in. The kids were already up and running about when she walked in, when the kids realised it was her they all ran up to her and hugged at her feet.

"Auntie Lib!" They all shouted out.

John heard them shout her name so he ran downstairs to say hello.

"Hi Lib, they've been running around shouting all morning I'm so sorry I have to leave them with you." John said.

"It's alright John, I love them either way, now you must go they boys are waiting for you!" Libitina said to John who was putting his coat on.

"Yeah yeah alright, kids behave yourselves for auntie Lib, and if your good enough she may take you to see mummy alright?" John told the kids and they all nodded in unison.

"Okay goodbye kids, I love you, I'll be home for dinner I promise." John stated kissing all his children on the forehead.

"Bye Lib, sorry if they run circles around ya." John said while hugging the woman in front of him.

"It's alright Johnny don't worry, now off you go, you can't be late." Libitina said untangling herself from his hug.

And with that John gave her a light kiss on the cheek and was out the door.

"Right should we get you some breakfast?" Libitina asked the kids with a smile on her face.

All the kids ran into the kitchen, Harry being far behind as he's only just learnt how to walk.

"Aw are they leaving you behind ey?" Libitina asked Harry as she picked him up and walked him over to his highchair placing him in it.

After they finished breakfast she let the kids go play upstairs while she read a book to herself.

About an hour later she heard horses coming down the street and a Irish man talking.

She ran upstairs to kids and told them to go to Aunt Pols through the back when the noise stopped. The kids all ran to the back of the house to a alleyway where they usually hid if something happened and Libitina went downstairs pretending like nothing was happening.

After a few seconds there was banging on the door, she headed towards it but when she was about open it she got knocked out by the door being kicked open. She fell to the floor within seconds of the door hitting her, she felt hands on her dragging her outside and slamming her to the brick walls of Watery Lane. She got searched but the police officers didn't stop there. They felt up her thighs and touched her boobs, she felt weak.

When everything died down she was still lying on the cobblestone floor of Watery Lane. The kids did as they were asked and went to their Aunts to tell her what happened. Evelyn however saw Libitina lying on the floor and ran to her. She tried to wake her from whatever sleep she was in but it didn't work. Evelyn saw bruises forming on her aunts arms and thighs and she had no idea why they were there.

After what felt like forever for Evelyn her Aunt Polly ran outside and sat next to Libitina's knocked out body. Polly couldn't get Libitina into any of the houses so she just had to sit outside with her. Polly asked the eldest daughter of John's to go grab a blanket to throw over Libitina so she didn't get too cold. Katie did as she was told and grabbed a blanket out of their living room and threw it over Libitina.

It seemed like hours had past when the boys got bac but in reality it was only about 30 minutes. The boys stopped the car outside of John's house and once it stopped John got out the car and ran to his Aunt. He was shocked when he saw Libitina's knocked out body on the floor.

"Can you please help me get her inside her room! I couldn't move her on my own." Polly pleaded with her nephew.

"Okay let's go Poll." John said as he helped his Aunt pick up Libitina and carried her to her bed at 6 Watery Lane.

"The copper told everyone Arthur'd agreed to it when he was arrested. They said the Peaky Blinders had cleared out to the fair to let them do it." Polly stated when the boys got into the dining room.

"I never said anything to that copper about smashing up bloody houses." Arthur said defensively.

"Alright which pubs did they do?" Tommy asked his Aunt.

"The Guns, The Chain, The Marquis. All the ones that pay you to protect them. The only one they didn't touch was the Garrison. Make sure people think we were in on it. He's smart this copper." Polly stated.

"So go on. Drink your beers, get out. You'd better show people you are still the cocks of the walk." Polly told the men.

"Hand out some cash to the landlords of the pubs. Pay some veterans to fix the places up." Tommy told the men around the table.

"Nipper give us the bag." John said.

"So, what about you Tommy?" Arthur asked his brother.

"I have to go to Charlie's yard to stable the horse. She looked footsore in the box." Tommy answered.

"Let them see your faces." Polly told the men before she closed the double doors to the betting shop.

"So we both know what they were looking for. You don't read the papers." Polly said.

"Racing Papers." Tommy told his Aunt.

"So let me tell you the odds. I reckon it's three to one, there will be a revolution." Polly stated.

"I wouldn't bet on that." Tommy said.

"That copper's betting on it. He's not going to let it rest till he gets those guns back. Look what he did to Libitina! Them coppers will go to any extent to find them guns Thomas!" Polly explained.

"Did he talk to you Pol?" Tommy asked.

"In the church." Polly answered.

"Did he try to find our Ada?" Tommy asked.

"She was sleeping." Polly said.

"Where was she sleeping Pol?" He asked another question.

"Thought you didn't care for woman's business." Polly stated.

"He knows your the boss. He wants to meet you." Polly told him.

"Will you talk to him?" Polly asked

"No." Tommy said quite quickly.

"You don't parley when you're on the back foot." Tommy said.

"We'll strike a blow back first for what they did to our Lib." He stated.