"Mama Mama!" Charlie ran at his mother, she lifted him up and kissed him
"What is it my boy?" She smiled at her son
"I played with the horses" He giggled, his accent was a thick brummie one just like his Dad's.
"Did you now?" She said excitedly "Did you feed them?"
He nodded
"Who was with you?" She asked
"Johnny Dogs" He beamed at her, he spent a lot of his time with their son and she didn't mind he was a good influence. He was kind and played to Charlie's interests with the horses, and he was patient with him, unlike his Dad could be.
Johnny joined them over the hill
"Ah Mrs Shelby" He announced
"Florence, Johnny" She corrected
"Sorry, I don't mean any harm. Tommy sent a message for you, he would like you to go to Small Heath. There's a meeting he can't attend"
"When?"
"You'll need to leave now, he wants me to drive you"
"I can drive myself Johnny"
"I know but with the Russians" he whispered the word Russians he knew that business was not to be discussed in front of children.
"Fine, but I'll drive"
"No offense Miss but your driving's scary"
Florence shot him a dangerous look
"Okay…fine then…I'll shut me eyes"
Charlie was left with his Nanny and Florence made her way to Small Heath, despite his protests he kept his fear to a minimum. She really didn't see anything wrong with her driving but it may have been because of who her teacher was, Tommy was pretty reckless himself.
"I didn't want to say in front of the boy, but it's the Changreta's. They are in touch again about the truce, Tommy set up a meeting but he's not around" Johnny explained
"I know where he is" She smiled
"Where is he?"
"Can't tell you, he tells me everything as long as I keep it between us"
"Is it nice to know?"
"Sometimes ignorance is bliss, but if I am likely to become a widow I'd like to have some notice"
They pulled up by the canal where Arthur and John were waiting
"Afternoon" She smiled as they pulled her in for a hug "How's married life"
"Great" Arthur beamed
"I bet it bloody is" John teased
"Is Changretta here yet?" She asked
"Naw, just us" Arthur said "Made 'im a tea party"
He gestured to a table where a cloth was laid and filled with a tea pot and cups
"Whose idea was this?" Florence scoffed
"Mine" John replied proudly
The Changretta's arrived and were searched by the Shelby's men, the Italian looked them up and down sheepishly
"You asked for a meeting out in the open, can't get more open than this. The aroma of shit and neutral territory" Arthur stated
"This is hardly neutral" Changretta sighed "Where is Thomas, he said he'd be here?"
"He got called away, we made you a nice tea party" John laughed
"I don't want English tea, I want Tommy" Changretta said stubbornly
"I don't believe we've been introduced" Florence smiled holding her hand out. "I'm Mrs Shelby, I'm more rational and reasonable than these two, Tommy asked for me to be in here in his absence"
"We've had peace for more than 2 years now, but I want an explanation. My brother in-laws restaurant burnt down, you burnt it down" Changretta stared at them
"That weren't us we was at a wedding" John argued
"The fire stopped my son being at that wedding" Changretta muttered
"He wasn't missed" John smirked
"I remember you as a boy, borrowing my suits to look like Men. You tell Tommy from me that we pay whatever he wants, we stay out of Birmingham and off the tracks. However my son can walk with which ever girl he chooses, even if she works for the king himself. My son loves her, and if he wishes he will walk with her."
"It'll be hard for your son to walk with a bullet in each knee"
"John!" Florence scolded "He has spoken out of turn, I'm sorry your son feels that way. I will speak with my husband and the woman in question. We can work something out"
"Too late, he said too much" Changretta pointed at John, he spoke in Italian furiously before smashing a chair.
"What the fuck John, you didn't need to antagonise him" Florence snarled
"We're not scared of fucking wops" John sneered
"No we're not, but we don't need war with them either"
"Fuck em"
"This is on your head" She pointed at him
"She's right John, we need two extra men on our pubs and we don't tell Tommy about the chair" Arthur reasoned.
"I won't hide anything from him, he doesn't hide from me" She argued.
She left the meeting in a mood, as much as she loved her brothers they couldn't half be stupid at times.
"Are you ready to go home Miss?" Johnny dogs asked
"No, I need to see Poll"
Polly was in the betting shop as usual, she'd been having a heated argument with Lizzie it was no doubt about the Italian in question whom she wasn't allowed to bring to the wedding.
"Pol you need to have a word with John" She muttered taking a seat at Polly's desk
"Why? What has he done now?" Polly asked nervously
"He's started a war with the Italians again"
"I thought there was a truce?"
"He just fucking broke it"
"Shit, does Tommy know?"
"Not yet, this is the last thing we need Pol. That lad is getting too big for his boots, he thinks the Peaky's run the country. But even we can't fight everyone, we can't be spread too thinly. We don't want Sabini and the Changretta's teaming up"
"I know Love, I'll speak with him. Where is Tommy?"
"London"
"When's he back?"
"God knows, I need to head back I want to put Charlie to bed"
"Isn't that what you pay that Nanny for?" Polly raised an eyebrow
-
Tommy came up the next day as soon as he'd heard from Florence about what John had done with Changretta. He called a family meeting in the betting shop and she knew it wasn't going to be pleasant. She arrived before he did and Polly was arguing with John
"You didn't have to fucking cut him!" She screamed.
"Whose he cut?" Florence asked taking her gloves and coat off
"Changretta's son" Polly murmured.
"Are you fucking dumb John? What part of apologise or let Lizzie apologise didn't you understand?" Florence demanded.
"No you don't talk to me like that" John snarled getting up out of his chair and squaring up to Florence "You might be a woman but that doesn't mean I won't knock ya lights out"
"You won't be laying a finger on my wife" Tommy said, no one had heard him come in, John stepped back still glaring at Florence
"Apologise to her. Now." Tommy snarled
"Sorry" John said sheepishly
"How hard was that, that's all you needed to do with Changretta and now look what you've done. There's a Italian wandering my yard saying 'e's going to cut you"
"Let him" John sneered
"So how are you going to apologise today? In English or Italian, either way I don't give a fuck but I know you will be apologising to my wife."
"And to the Italians?" Florence asked
"No, you did the right think John, we can't allow for revolutions that's what will bring us down. Tonight we take two of their pubs"
"Tommy no, whilst you have the trouble in London you need peace at home"
"I won't allow for weaknesses, Changretta crossed the line. The pubs are taken tonight"
"Go and get yourselves fukcing killed then" Florence shouted and left
"She's right Tommy" Polly said before leaving.