For the Good of the Family

What?

"What the fuck are you talking about Olive?" Tommy looked at me confused. He stopped sharply, doing an about face to look at me head on. His gaze pinning me where we stood in the yard not too far from the table but far enough the rest of the family wouldn't hear our conversation.

"Everyone knows Ada's your favorite and Arthur's already married. You won't do it or the wedding would be tonight. So it's got to be me or Finn. Which is it?" I asked, annoyed that I had to explain it to him.

"No ones getting fucking married eh." Tommy sighed his brows still furrowed. His arms raised as he spoke like he meant to wave away my questions.

"The Golds are gypsies Tom. You can't buy their loyalty with money." I looked at Tommy with a raised brow. "You really didn't offer to marry one of us off?"

Tommy's pale blue eyes flicked across my face studying my expression. "No, I did not offer a marriage alliance. Aberama Gold kills for money."

"Money is not enough Tommy. If he works for money, he can be bought by someone else. Why didn't you offer a stronger deal? John and Esme tied the Shelby's and the Lee's together forever. A union to the Gold Clan will tie our three family's together for long after the vendetta is over with. Really Tommy it's simple." I waved my hands around as I spoke trying to get my point across to my brother. I always thought it was Tommy's idea to marry John off, but maybe not if he couldn't figure this out.

I stared into my brother's pale icy blue eyes, searching for reasons he wouldn't secure the aid of the gyspsys with a permanent alliance. The reason hit me like a freight train. It shouldn't have. My dreams have been showing me what would happen since four of my family members escaped the noose. He plans to offer me to Luca Changretta. Sick to my stomach at the thought of marrying the man that was responsible for my John's  death I spat at him. "If you won't offer one I will."

"Alright, alright. Polly says there's something he wants that he hasn't asked for yet, Sees something in the smoke." He pulled another cigarette from his silver case, holding it out for me to take one.

I held out my lighter for him. "Polly also says that she speaks to dead people."

"There's a company meeting tomorrow to vote for Pol to come back as company treasurer. You'll need to step back from keeping the books. Go back to just running the distilleries. The Americans are complaining about the last batch of gin, it's not sweet enough." He pointed at me with his cigarette.

I nodded my agreement to the company business. "I'll make a new batch with more juniper, test that out." I looked away for a moment before turning back to him.
"Marriages can start or end wars Tom. John's dead. This war can only end in blood. Preferably Italian blood. Aberama Gold is a dangerous man, we should do everything we can to keep him loyal to us." From the look in his eyes I knew my brother could see how serious I was.

He held in a lungful of smoke for a moment. "You forgot Michael in your speech earlier. Is he not Shelby enough for a marriage pact?"

With an exasperated sigh I said, "You'd never be able to offer Michael without Polly's permission like you can for us. I'll offer myself Tom, I'm ready for a family of my own anyhow." I stomped my cigarette out and signaled to Henry that I was ready to go home.