Created by the devil

A seat at the table.

Silence hangs in the air as they're all seated around a wooden table in Tommy's childhood home. Everybody arrived early this morning, except Michael and John. Some soldiers of the Changretta's made their way past John and Esme's house at exactly eight a.m. John is hanging on to his life; Michael has a chance to make it out alive; it was neither of their fault.

Everybody is sitting neatly on their place as if they're children in class who are getting a lesson. In life, everyone requires a guiding force or compass to which they can turn. Gia's compass is Tommy, but as she's looking around, she realizes that Tommy is also their compass. Tommy opens the doors and walks into the room before someone can say something about his absence. Tommy hasn't changed in the years that Gia has known him. He always looks calm and put-together, even if the world is turning against him.

He stops in front of the table and slowly starts explaining, "Michael and John were shot because we killed someone important to the Changrettas. There are men from New York and Sicily here in Birmingham searching for anyone with the last name Shelby. These men will not leave until our whole family is gone. That's how it works, an eye for an eye. It's called a vendetta."

Polly interrupts him. "Are we going to ignore the obvious elephant in the room?" She puts her cigarette down and looks at Arthur and Ada. "Polly-" Ada tries to calm her down, but Polly is having none of it. "No, my son was almost killed under the order of someone named Changretta. Yet, we let them have a seat at our table." Tommy's eyes shot up toward his aunt. Gia sighs in regret and gets her courage together.

"I'm well aware of my family's wrongdoings, but through it all, I've stood by your side, Polly. I will not allow you to call me a traitor when I've looked my brothers in the eye while defending your every breath. Now, I'm the best shot you've got at actually making it out alive. I would suggest you use that shot right." Tommy clears his throat as Polly shoots daggers into Gia's head. "They've got a lot except one thing: a family who'll stick together through hell and back. We're safe here; let's not let the bad blood get us."

Arthur gets an engraved bullet out of his pocket and rolls it on the table. "Tommy's right. They tried to get me, but it didn't work. This bullet has been written." The bullet rolls over the table and falls into Gia's lap. She picks it up and turns it around to see the name. "It says Luca. Me, as the older brother, will put this bullet in that fucker's head." Gia looks at Arthur and gives the bullet back. Arthur is the opposite of Tommy and always looks as if he's got trouble in his head. Yet, his eyes seem as clear as day.

"Until all of this is over, we stay where we're safest: in Small Heath, Bordesly, Hay Mills, and Greet. We know every face, and we are surrounded by people who will give their lives trying to save ours. These men we're up against are professionals. They've been trained to do these kinds of jobs and will do anything to finish their mission. We're going to need more soldiers than we have. So, I have decided to send a message to Abarama Gold-"

Johnny Dogs cut him short. "No, Tom. I'll get you as many Lee boys as you want. They're good men, Tom." Tommy reasons, "I don't need good men for this, I need bad men." Johnny still tries: "His people are savages. You know, fucking heathens, Tom. They don't even let them into the fair because they steal from their own. What will they do to us?" Tommy remains quiet, and Polly sees this as an opportunity to express herself. "So, this is all we got? A bullet with a name and help from savages. This is the fantastic plan?"

Tommy ignores both remarks and keeps going with his speech: "We're going to go on the offensive. I've spoken to Moss-" Polly stands up and makes her way to her bag, where she gets another cigarette. Tommy repeats himself, but this time his patience seems to be gone. "I've spoken to Moss. He's putting out words, eyes, and ears so we can find the people who did this. He's doing what he can, but the coppers already have their hands full with the revolution. We're mostly on our own, like before. Let's win this war." He ends the speech.

The people who are standing slowly make their way out of the room to go do tasks they were ordered to do, and Polly leaves the room with them. Both Lizzie and Linda stand up and make their way towards their house in Watery Lane that's been given to them. Gia stands up and catches Tommy's attention. "What are you doing?" She pushes the seat back into its place under the table before answering. "Like you said, I'm going to help win this war." Tommy gets up from leaning on the back of a wooden chair and walks over to her. "Gia, you're six months gone, you're not doing anything. Stay safe, stay here with Elijah."

She stares back at his eyes, which show a small amount of emotion on his cold face. "This is about life or death, Tommy. We have no other choice. You said that we needed to stay around people we know and trust. The people who get my business done are my people. I can link every face to a name. I risk nothing over there, okay?" Tommy slowly shakes his head and looks down. "I'm sorry, Gia, but I can't let you go."

She can understand that he doesn't want her to go, but this war is as much his as it is hers. "You fucking what?" Tommy rubs his eyes and looks behind him to see his siblings looking back at him. He clears his throat and goes into the next room with her. He gets close to her face and says with a low voice, "I can't let you go, Gia. There are men walking around asking for our heads. I don't think I'd be able to live with myself if you went out there and never came back."

Gia takes her right hand and lovingly caresses his cheek. "You fell in love with my recklessness, Tommy. Not my cautiosness. I'll be on high alert out there, but you can't forbid me from intervening in something my family started." He closes his eyes slowly and kisses her on the forehead. "Promise me you'll stay safe." Gia nodded and left via the front door, leaving him alone.

She hopped into her car and arrived fifteen minutes later at her office. She steps out of the car and gives her keys to the valet. Her heels sounded loud on the stone steps that lead up to the grand opening of the building she holds in her name. She is greeted by nods and bows, which she doesn't mind. Her head has been filled for days with possible attacks her brothers might have in store, that it might explode.

She walks up the stairs to her office and stops at the desk of her assistant. The twenty-year-old stands up when Gia arrives. "We didn't expect you today, Gia, but you came just on time." Gia furrows her brows and looks over at the girl her assistant is pointing at. In the waiting room, a woman with dark hair, around thirty, is waiting. "Who's that?" Gia asks. "Her name is Saraya Jones. She said that her visit is of high importance but nothing more. She asked for you personally."

"How long has she been waiting?" Gia looks back at her assistant, who answers. "About an hour." Gia nods and walks over to the woman. She stops right in front of her and states, "You're quite eager to meet me. What's the reason for your visit?" Gia wouldn't normally have a conversation out in the hall, but a surprise visit from an unknown person after everything that happened the past couple of days is reason enough for her to be suspicious.

The woman slowly stands up and looks around shyly. "It's about a family matter." Gia takes a step back towards her office and asks, "For whom do you work?" The woman looks questioningly at Gia. "I work in a shoe store in Brooklyn. I think I found some information that you'll find interesting, but maybe we should go inside for it." The woman refers to her office.

Gia's suspicion rises with the second. She is very aware of the gun she holds in her handbag as they enter the workspace. Gia sees the opportunity when the woman turns around to close the door. She drops her handbag to the ground and takes the gun out. The woman turns back around to be met with the cold metal weaponry against her forehead. Gia whispers to be sure she isn't heard outside in the hall. "I will ask you once, so think about what you're going to tell me. What's this information you have and what does he want?"

The woman looks frightened at Gia. "I don't know what you mean." The woman is on the verge of tears. Gia furrows her brows together and lowers her gun. It's obvious this woman isn't aware of the situation Gia's in. "What are you here for?" The woman slowly takes a paper out of her bag and gives it to Gia. She recognizes the writing as her mother's.

"I think I'm your half sister."