𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 ʲᵒʰⁿ ˢʰᵉˡᵇʸ

- 𝟎𝟐𝟗

𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
-𝟎𝟐𝟗-

Valerie pushed open the door and was met with Tommy and Arthur. "You're cursed!" She screamed, running at Tommy who looked at her with wide eyes. "You're cursed— he's dead!" She screamed, her voice full of pain as she began hitting Tommy.

He grabbed her wrists and fought against her.

"You're cursed!" She sobbed as he wrapped his arms around her. She collapsed into him and gripped onto his shirt as her head turned to the side, her eyes landing on John's body, his shirt no longer covering the damage that had been done.

She pushed away from Tommy and stepped closer to John. She took his hand and her heart broke when feeling the coldness of his skin. "Leave me with him," she whispered, "you've spoken to him. Now it's my turn."

Tommy nodded to Arthur and they hesitantly left the room.

Once hearing the door close, she burst into tears again. She placed her hands over her face and felt her knees grow weak. "You said you wouldn't go," she croaked, touching his face. "You said you loved me." She whispered.

Valerie looked at his hand and lifted it. She removed his ring and stared at it for a few moments. "They'll pay for this— they all will. I'll make sure of it." She whispered, taking his other rings and removing the chain from around his neck. "Once this is over i'm going to take Francesca away. Just like you wanted to do." She said.

A tear rolled down her cheek and she leaned down to kiss his forehead. "I'll make sure she doesn't forget her father." She breathed, "I love you, John. One day we'll be back together, do you hear me?" She asked despite knowing she would get no response. "One day i'll come back to you."

—

Valerie was the last to walk in to the house on Watery Lane. All eyes followed her as she walked into the room where they had gathered. Ada looked at her with sorrow and Tommy looked at her with regret.

They remained silent as she sat down and Ada reached for her hand.

"John is dead." Tommy's words were cruel and blunt, "Michael is badly wounded, they say it's sixty forty in his favour."

"There are no numbers, there is no percentage. It's only the hand beneath him that stops him falling. I spoke to someone— my son will live." Polly interrupted.

Valerie glared at the woman, her eyes burning into Polly's skin as she smoked a cigarette. "Good for you, Polly." Her voice trembled. "At least he'll go on to have children and watch them grow up. John no longer has that privilege." She said bitterly.

Ada and Lizzie looked at Tommy to see if he would intervene to prevent an argument.

"Michael and John were shot because we killed somebody. Vincent Changretta. His son Luca has come to take revenge. Men from New York and Sicily have come to Birmingham— these men will not leave our city till our whole family is dead. That's how it works: an eye for an eye. It's called Vendetta."

"Yeah, well." Arthur hummed and took a bullet from his pocket, "the bullet has been written. It says Luca. And when the time comes and it will come, me as the oldest brother will put this bullet into his fucking head."

Valerie stared into her lap, twisting the ring of John's on her finger.

"There's been some bad blood between us." Tommy began. Polly laughed. "Polly please," Arthur sighed. Nobody was finding her behaviour acceptable nor funny. They all felt she was being disrespectful. "Until this is settled we stay together and we stay here. Small Heath, Bordesley, Hay Mills down to Greet. We know every face, every man is a soldier in this army. These men are professionals and are good at what they do so we'll need more than what we do."