Elizabeth moved into the kitchen and took hold of Charlotte. She tried not to alarm her daughter as she heard footsteps behind her and she knew Changretta had followed her into the house. She hadn't much option but to let him in. Instead she could only hold her breath as she took hold of Charlotte, hauling her down from the chair.
"Charlotte, darling, I need you just to go upstairs for a few minutes."
"But why?" Charlotte enquired.
"Because I do," Elizabeth said, clearly stressed as she urged her daughter towards the staircase. Charlotte looked to the man who had entered, but two others now followed him inside. She bit down on the inside of her cheek as Elizabeth turned her head over her shoulder and Luca Changretta smiled.
"I take it this is the little Charlotte?" he said.
"Charlotte, please go upstairs," she urged from her daughter.
"She's a beautiful little girl," Luca said with a smirk as he stepped closer to Charlotte and Elizabeth froze as he bent down to look the little girl in the eye. "How old are you?"
"Five," Charlotte answered in a small voice.
"Just a little girl," Luca said with a shake of her head. "A little girl who doesn't know about her daddy and what he really is."
"Enough," Elizabeth snapped, taking hold of her daughter and pushing her behind her, backing her towards the staircase. "Charlotte, darling, please go upstairs."
This time Charlotte did run. She ran up the staircase and towards the bedroom she was using. The door slammed behind her and Elizabeth took her turn to look to Luca as he watched her. She said nothing as Luca took a seat at the kitchen table, placing his hat down on the wooden surface as he nodded to the seat next to him at the head of the table. Cautiously, Elizabeth stepped forwards and took her seat.
"Why are you here?" Elizabeth enquired from him.
"Because I wanted to see you before I see your husband," Luca said. "I hear your story is a fascinating one. A high class girl who married a gypsy."
"I am a girl who fell in love with a boy and that is all," Elizabeth responded. "What happened between your family and Tommy's brother was nothing to do with Tommy."
"My brother's life was ruined," Luca said. "Your brother did nothing to stop his family. This is a vendetta against the entire family…Tommy…Ada…Polly…Arthur…Michael…Finn…I just wanted you to know that it might be for the best if you leave before things turn…well…ugly."
Elizabeth furrowed her brow. "Why would you do that?"
"Because I know that you are pregnant," he said. "And, contrary to what your husband might think, I do not enjoy seeing children being harmed. I could have had your husband killed days, if not months ago. Your husband's security is weak and pathetic. He has no one who I cannot beat, but that is not the honourable thing to do. The honourable thing to do is fight with no civilians or children involved."
"Yet the outcome is still the same," Elizabeth responded. "You still intend to murder my husband and I am not going to sit back and watch that happen because he is my husband and I love him."
"Your loyalty is admirable," Luca nodded his head, "but is it as important as your daughter's life?"
Elizabeth ground her teeth together and clenched her hands into fists. "Are you threatening my daughter?" she demanded from him.
"No," Luca said with a shake of his head. "I am telling you that your daughter could be caught up in the middle of this, despite both parties best intentions."
"I am not leaving him," Elizabeth said with a shake of her head.
"Then you need to be careful because I am not leaving him alone either," Luca said and moved to his feet, picking his hat back up and placing it on top of his head. Elizabeth remained seated as Luca looked down to her one final time. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Mrs Shelby."
Elizabeth said nothing in response, choosing to keep silent as she watched him head towards the door with his two men on his heels. He closed the door and Elizabeth let out a shaky breath, her head dropping to rest in her hands as she tried to keep her composure. Moving to her feet after a minute, she locked the door and looked back into the living room, her hands resting against the back of the door as she wondered what was going to happen.
…
Tommy watched on as his wife flung her arms around his neck as soon as he returned home. Tommy startled, his own arms wrapping around her slowly as he moved a hand up to cup the back of her head, holding it gently as he felt her shaking. He pulled back after a moment and looked at her, seeing the fear in her face.
"What 'appened?" Tommy asked from her.
"Luca Changretta came here," she said with haste. "Tommy, he managed to get through the men you left. He said that he could get through anyone, but he doesn't want to. He wants the fight, Tommy. He wants the fight and he warned me to leave. He said that no children would be involved and he knows I am pregnant. How does he know that?"
"I don't know, Liz," Tommy said to her. "But I'm goin' to get security tightened around 'ere. I don't want yer goin' back to work or Charlotte goin' back to school."
"So you are going to keep us locked up here?" Elizabeth asked.
"While he is out there, yeah," Tommy said with a nod as he dropped his hands to his hips. "He might 'ave said he 'as no intention to do anythin', but I'm not takin' that risk. I'm keepin' yer 'ere and I'm 'avin' more men guard this place."
"I would rather they guard you," Elizabeth said, her hands running down his cheeks. "Tommy, he threatened all of your family. Pol…Ada…even Finn…Finn, Tommy."
"Finn will be safe," Tommy said to her. "I'll keep 'im safe. I'll keep all of 'em safe."
"It just feels real now," Elizabeth said. "It all feels as though it is coming to an end."
"Because it is, eh?" Tommy said, taking hold of her hands and kissing the back of one. "I'm goin' to make sure it's the end and nothin' 'appens. I can deal with this."
"Just be careful," Elizabeth demanded of him. "How was the funeral?"
"As I thought," Tommy said and moved to sit down on the settee as Elizabeth followed him, perching down by his side as she saw him pull his gun from its holster and toss it onto the table. "Some of the Italians attacked."
"And Gold stopped them?"
"Aye, he did 'is job," Tommy said. "I take it Charlotte is sleepin'?"
"After I explained to her what Luca was doing here, yes," Elizabeth nodded. "She is scared and confused. I keep trying to make it better for her, but she is clever."
"We will keep 'er safe," was all Tommy could say to his wife.
"I know," Elizabeth said. "But, apart from the hit men, how was the funeral? I know how hard it must have been, Tommy. You try to hide things, but I am your wife. I know you better than most."
Tommy's lips quirked as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I suppose yer do," Tommy whispered. "It was 'arder than I thought. Now I know he 'as really gone. I know it's goin' to take a while to come to terms with it, but I don't 'ave time to grieve. John wouldn't grieve either if 'e were me. He'd want 'is wife and kids safe just like I want yer, Charlotte and the unborn baby safe."
He moved a free hand to her stomach, his fingers splaying over it as they both looked down to where they knew a bump was soon going to form. Looking over to her husband, Elizabeth moved a hand to his cheek, turning his gaze onto her as she kissed him chastely.
…
Pol and Finn were looking after Charlotte after Elizabeth had told Tommy that she wanted to go to the factory with him. He had tried to tell her that he didn't think it was a good idea, but she reminded him that she was not the one with a target on her back. Besides, her husband was supposed to be meeting Jessie Eden today and Elizabeth was intrigued about the woman.
Pol had promised that Charlotte would be safe with her and Gold's men now doubled the patrol outside. Tommy also doubted they would attack Small Heath now. Luca had made his presence known. He was biding his time until his next move. Entering the factory, Tommy had his wife's arm looped through his as the two of them walked up the steps towards the office. He opened the door for her and let her in, moving through his office to the meeting room.
"When is she due?" Elizabeth enquired.
"Another ten minutes," Tommy said, pulling out a cigarette as he tossed his cap onto the coat stand and Elizabeth placed her coat there too. The cigarette dangled between Tommy's lips as he used his hands to pull out his glasses and place them onto his eyes.
"You know, for some strange reason you look even more attractive with glasses," Elizabeth commented and Tommy's brows arched at his wife while she let out a soft laugh.
"Yer tryin' to seduce me, Mrs Shelby?" Tommy joked with her as she took a seat to his side and looked down on the paperwork in front of her.
Judging by the baby in my stomach I would say that has already happened," she responded and Tommy chuckled, pulling his cigarettes from his lips and leaning over to kiss her, completely ignoring the knock on the door.
"Mr Shelby, oh…sorry…"
Elizabeth pulled back and looked to the door to see Niall stood there, clearly embarrassed as he loitered in the doorway. Elizabeth smiled as Tommy looked to him and let out a sigh, stubbing out his cigarette while his wife looked over the accounts for him.
"What is it, Niall?"
"Jessie Eden is here. I told her she was a few minutes early and I would see if you were ready for her."
"Send 'er in," Tommy nodded.
"Now I am very intrigued," Elizabeth commented.
"Don't be," Tommy said. "She's just goin' to nag at me because I didn't change the pay."
"What did you do?"
"It is to my understanding that nothing has changed since our previous meeting, Mr Shelby."
A new voice entered the room and Elizabeth turned her head to see a young woman marching towards them. Elizabeth's brow rose on her forehead as the woman stood by the door and Niall closed it, almost looking relieved to be out of there. The woman said nothing as Tommy leant back in his chair, hands moving to rest on his stomach as he eyed her with intrigue.
"As I said," Tommy spoke, "if the women want equal pay then I'll 'ave to dock the men's wages to make up for it."
"I know your business, Mr Shelby," she said and Elizabeth continued to let her eyes widen, wondering if this woman had any manners or if she just had guts and brains. "Your profit margin is enough for you to still live in your fancy mansion and give your workers better pay."
"What is the pay discrepancy?" Elizabeth piped up.
Jessie looked to her and Elizabeth studied her. She was an attractive woman with dark hair and strong eyes. She had a pale face and her lips were pouting, her cheekbones high. Although it looked as though there were bags forming under her eyes from strain. Her fringe looked slightly wonky while her trouser suit seemed slightly baggy. Elizabeth suspected she was a hard working woman with little time to take off for herself.
"Almost half," Jessie said and Elizabeth looked to her husband.
"You kept that quiet."
"The men 'ave families to feed."
"And the women do not?" Jessie pushed on. "Perhaps your accountant needs to do a better job of your books?"
With that, Jessie looked to Elizabeth who in turn looked confused. Tommy snorted and leant further back in his chair.
"This could be interestin'," he mumbled as Elizabeth looked to Jessie.
"Do you think I am his accountant?" she wondered and Jessie looked confused then.
"Why else would you be interested in pay?"
"I am his wife," Elizabeth responded and moved to her feet, offering her hand to Jessie. The other woman took hold of it and they shook hands. "I do his paperwork sometimes when he falls behind, but I am not so well versed in his accounts. Perhaps I should be."
She turned to shoot her husband a glance and Tommy rolled his eyes.
"I apologise," Jessie said. "I did not think to find his wife with him."
"Well, we try to work together," Elizabeth replied in a soft voice. "But if what you say is true then we can look into it."
"Can we?" Tommy decided to ask, looking at his wife with an amused look on his face as she nodded back to him. "Liz, I'm doin' what needs to be done. If the women want equal pay then I need to dock the men's pay. Yeah, I might make a profit, but with that profit I need to invest."
"You do know that I have the power to bring my members out on strike?" Jessie said. "All it takes is a blow of my whistle."
Tommy moved his hand in front of him. "Then blow that whistle, sweetheart," he said, his tone patronising as Elizabeth ground her teeth together and Jessie clearly didn't appreciate her tone. She stormed out as Elizabeth turned back to her husband, hands flapping by her side.
"Why did you talk to her like that?" she demanded from her husband.
"Because I need the men out on strike," Tommy said and moved to his feet.
"And the sweetheart?"
"I guessed she didn't like men patronisin' 'er."
"And I don't like it when it is my husband doing it," Elizabeth said to him and Tommy chuckled, taking her by the waist.
"Want me to save the terms of endearment for yer, eh?" he teased her and she rolled her eyes.
"No, I want you not to talk to people like that. She would have gone on strike without you saying that to her," Elizabeth responded. "Regardless, why do we need them on strike?"
"Because I 'ave a favour Gold asked of me," Tommy said. "He wants his son to fight one of our workers. I need the place empty so that can 'appen at some point."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes before they heard a knock on the door. She kept a hand on Tommy's chest as she turned her head over her shoulder, still feeling her husband's hand around her waist.
"Mr Shelby, you have a meeting with one more person. He says he is a businessman from Paris."
"Send 'im in," Tommy urged.
It was only as he entered the room did the two of them realise that this was no businessman from Paris. Luca Changretta was back. He stepped into the room and tilted his hat from his head, looking between the two of them before his gaze settled on Elizabeth and the door closed behind him.
"I see you didn't take my advice," he said as she turned around in Tommy's grip and folded her arms over her chest.
"I told you that I would not run," she said. "So why are you here?"
His eyes shifted over to Tommy then. "Because we have business, Mr Shelby, don't we?"
Tommy took hold of his wife's hand and pulled her to sit down besides him on the other end of the table as he nodded his head. "It would seem so, Mr Changretta."
Luca simply smiled as Tommy kept his grip on his wife and the two men prepared to go head to head.
…
A/N: Do let me know what you think!
