𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 ʲᵒʰⁿ ˢʰᵉˡᵇʸ

-𝟎𝟐𝟏

𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
-𝟎𝟐𝟏-

Valerie exhaled sharply as John was brought in by Finn. "One afternoon, John. One fucking afternoon that i'm not here and this is what you do?" She scolded him, quietly. He avoided her eyes.

Polly was glaring at him from across the table. Arthur had his head down. Finn didn't know where to look. Valerie was waiting for her husband to look her in the eye. But he was too ashamed to.

Not only had he threatened Angel Changretta, he had gone and cut him too.

The sound of Tommy's footsteps echoed and the room was completely silent. "Sit down, John. Sit down." He said. "John, you cut Angel Changretta." He announced. "Even though Arthur told you to apologise and Polly told you to compromise."

Valerie's eyes burned into his back and she crossed her arms.

"You decided not to listen to Mr Apologise or Mrs Compromise and now I have an Italian walking around my back yard saying he's going to kill my brother. So what do we do John? Do we apologise or compromise?"

John said nothing.

"Oh, it was just something John said as a joke." Arthur excused.

Valerie shot her eyes toward him. "He's your brother as well, Arthur." Tommy said. "Yeah.. didn't want to start a war over something John said without meaning it." Arthur added. Tommy looked at Valerie and she just shook her head.

"So should he apologise in Italian or in English? Or should we ask them which fucking language they'd prefer, i'm not clear." Tommy snapped.

Valerie huffed and shook her head whilst Polly began talking about rebellion or.. something like that. Valerie didn't care. She just ran a hand through her hair and spun on her heels. "Where are you going?" Polly called out to her.

"To get my daughter and go home." She hissed, not looking back.

"Valerie— Val.." John tried but Tommy shoved him back into his chair. "Sit down, John."

-

John stood in front of the mirror whilst he tried to do up his tie. Valerie was busy fixing her jewellery when he turned to her and took a deep breath. She paused and waited for him to say something. "Are you sure Francesca will be alright.. you know with us being out tonight?" He asked, trying to make conversation since she hadn't spoken to him much since he had cut Angel Changretta.

Valerie forced a smile at his concern. "I know you're worried John but she'll be fine." She said sternly.

"Yeah but we don't usually do this." He said. Valerie turned toward him and placed her hands onto his chest, deciding that being off with him was going to get them nowhere. "Which? Go out and have fun?" She joked. John raised his brows in slight agreement and she began fixing his tie. "Francesca will be perfect. She sleeps through the night and we won't be gone too long." Valerie reminded him.

John pushed her hair over her shoulder and nodded. "Alright." He said.

The rain was pattering lightly on the window and the sky outside was pitch black.

"The car will be waiting for us." She told him before walking out the room to give their daughter a kiss goodnight. John took another look at himself in the mirror and shrugged his suit jacket over his shoulders. It wasn't often he wore a proper suit.