I moaned loudly as John buried his face in my neck, his hands on my thighs as he thrusted into me. My grip on his side and back of his head was tight as I could feel myself building around him. The sound of the table drowning out the noise from the busy street outside. "You've got two houses, John, and a room upstairs." Tommy's voice came from across the shop. "Oh, fuck." John muttered, pulling away from me. "Full of kids and blinders and nannies." I told Tommy as John worked on fixing his trousers. "Well the nannies are there to look after the kids and the blinders are there to protect the kids." Tommy reminded me, unlocking the gate to the centre office. "Yeah and they all fucking listen." John told him as I jumped off the table, fixing my skirt.
"Have you done the odds for tomorrow?" Tommy asked. "Something urgent came up." I told him, matter-of-factly. "She's got worse since Benjamin, Tom." John told him, wandering over to the open gate. "I don't hear any complaints." I laughed, crossing my arms against my chest. My face dropped as Tommy handed John a rifle. "Eves, I need you to leave now. Go out the back door and lock it after you." Tommy told me and I shared a look with John. "Why?" I asked, turning to Tommy. "Come on, I left the office. There's two trucks full of coppers out there, John." Tommy said, going over to the window.
"Where the fuck is, Arthur?" Tommy asked. "He goes home to the Madonna of Moseley on the stroke of five." John told him, going over to the window. "You need to talk to him, Tommy. This is getting ridiculous." I told him, going over to the pair. "He's more likely to listen to you than me." He replied, distracted. "Eves, please, go. Now. Please" Tommy added, gesturing towards the door. I stayed where I was as Tommy looked out the window again. "This is very fucking unusual." he commented. "So, call Moss." I told him, moving to stand beside John and looking behind the curtain. "They're from out of town. London, by the looks of their boots.." Tommy told us. "Since when are we scared of coppers, Tom?" John asked as Tommy checked his gun. "Since things changed, John."
There was shouting as the door beside me and John flew open and coppers started streaming in. John pushed me behind him as both he and Tommy raised their rifles. Suddenly, I was pulled to the side by a firm hand on my arm. "Get the fuck off me." I shouted, kicking the offending officer in the shins. "Scotland Yard!" an officer shouted. "Get down! Police!" another added. The copper that had grabbed me struggled to contain me as I fought against him, kicking and hitting with my free hand. There were quickly two more coppers beside me, one grabbing around my waist and another grabbing my arm.
I could hear Tommy shouting behind me but John's voice stuck out the most. "Let her fucking go!" he shouted as the officers pushed me to my knees, holding my hands behind my back. "Leave her alone!" Tommy added. "What the fuck is happening, Tom?" John shouted and I could see him and Tommy were also on their knees. "Let me go!" I shouted as two of the men held me down, trying to headbutt the closest one. "Tell Polly it's Russian business, John." I heard Tommy say as they led him away. "All right!" John called after him.
The coppers finally released me once Tommy was out of sight. They released me first, holding their hands up to John as they released him. "Get the fuck outta here." he shouted as I went over to him, wrapping my arms around him as he stood. "Ya fuckin' bastards." he shouted at the retreating men, holding me firmly against his body. "Are you alright?" he asked once the door slammed shut, brushing a finger down my cheek. I nodded before pressing my lips to his. A slow kiss that quickly turned heated.
The Shelby Foundation dinner was a few nights later and I had spent most of the afternoon getting ready for it. My long dark curls cascaded down my back, landing just past my waist. My lips were painted dark and the glitter and mascara that I had on my eyelids made my green eyes pop. My dress was a dark blue off the shoulder gown that hugged my breasts and waist perfectly before skimming over my hips and down to the floor, hiding my five inch black pumps. John was speechless as I came down the stairs, pulling on my black elbow length gloves. "You like?" I smiled, doing a slow spin at the bottom of the stairs. "Fuckin' hell, you are gorgeous." he told me, slipping an arm around my waist and pulling me into him, kissing me with a grin. I smiled up at him as I straightened his bow tie.
"Mummy! Daddy!" a small voice came from behind us. We smiled as we both turned to look at Lily and James running towards us, holding hands. Lily was wearing a dress in the same colour as mine, her skirts puffing out and stopping at the knee, her dark curls pulled up into two pigtails. James was looking very smart in shorts, shirt, bow tie and blazer. "Well don't you two look very smart." I grinned as Victoria, the nanny, came in with Benjamin in her arms. She handed the baby to John before saying her goodnights and heading towards the kitchen.
The party was in full swing when we got there. James and Lily quickly ran off with Karl and Charlie, with a shout from me to stick together, and John had Benjamin in one arm with his other around my waist. I smiled politely at Linda and Arthur across the room. "Do not leave me alone with that woman." I told John, turning to look up at him. He chuckled, pressing a kiss to my forehead and then my lips. "Can't you two keep your hands off each other for two minutes?" Polly laughed, appearing beside us. "Been together nine years and still acting like teenagers." she smiled, pulling me away from John and into her arms. "Hello, Aunt Pol." I smiled, kissing her cheek.
She released me to kiss Johns cheek before looking at the baby. "Oh, my little angel." she cooed, taking him from Johns arms and gently rocking him against her chest before wandering off with him. I smiled as John pulled me back to him by my waist, looking over my head and I turned to see Grace and Tommy approaching us. I smiled at the pair but my eyes were drawn to the large sapphire around Graces neck. My smile dropped slightly as a bad feeling washed over me.
"Unde a primit asta?" I asked Tommy as soon as they were close enough. Grace looked confused as she looked between me and her husband. John's arm tightened around my waist. "A fost un cadou." Tommy replied, frowning slightly. "Nu este unul de la un prieten. Scoate-I pe ea." I warned him, before pulling John away from them and the offending object. "Eve, what's wrong?" John asked as he let me lead him away. "The stone. I think it's cursed. Keep the kids away from it." I told him as Ada approached us. "You look like you've seen a ghost." she laughed, pulling me in for a hug. "Something like that." I told her, trying to shake off the bad feeling as I wrapped my arms around her. "I saw Lily and James running riot with Karl and Charlie." she told us, releasing me and pulling in her brother for a hug.
We spoke for a few moments, mainly Ada complaining about the conversation she had just had with Linda before she saw someone she recognised and went to speak to them. We saw Finn, Isaiah and Michael standing around a nearby table and John guided me over to them, nodding at various people as we went. "Alright, lads." John greeted, grabbing two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handing one to me. "You finally made it over." Finn laughed, pulling me in for a hug. "Eventually." I smiled, releasing him to be pulled in by Isaiah.
A gong went off around the room and we all looked towards the stage as Isaiah released me. "Ladies and gentlemen, the loyalty toast, to His Majesty the King." a man announced. I shared a look with John as everyone around the room, including Finn raised their glasses. "The King." was repeated around the room as Michael laughed, hitting the back of Finn's head. John joined in with the mocking of his brother as he put his arm around me.
Suddenly there was a shout across the room, "For Angel!" and what happened next went in slow motion. A shot rang out and Grace and Tommy fell. Arthur tackled the man that had shot the gun as John wrapped his arms around me, turning and bending me over so his back was towards the man and I was protected by his body. I felt like I couldn't breath as I looked around as best I could. "John, where's the kids?" I asked, desperate and watching as Michael swept a stunned Lily into his arms, turning so she couldn't see what was going on.
John pulled me back up straight, both hands on the sides of my face. "Are you alright?" he asked, searching my face. "Where are our boys?" I asked, tears welling in my eyes as suddenly Polly was beside me and pushing Benjamin into my arms. John released my face as I pressed a kiss to Benjamin's head, doing the same to Lily who was still in Michaels arms beside me. I looked around the room and I could hear Tommy shouting but my focus was elsewhere. "Where's James? John, where is James?" I demanded looking at my husband.
"I'll find him." Finn promised before running off with Isaiah. "Stay with them." John shouted before leaving. Michael wrapped an arm around my shoulders pulling me into him and Lily as I could hear the blows landing across the room. I buried my face in his shoulder as he stroked my hair, shifting Lily on his side. "I've got you, Eves. Isaiah and Finn are going to find James." he whispered reassuringly in my ear. "I've got you." he added before pressing a kiss to my head.
It was only a moment later when Finn came running over, James in his arms and his hand over his head, making sure he didn't turn and see the violence going on the other side of the room. Tommy was still shouting as I pulled Finn and James into me and Michael. I knew the man wouldn't survive the beating. John and Arthur would make sure of that. "Come on." Michael said, breaking up our small group and guiding us all towards the door. He used his body to protect me and the kids from the scene but I knew Finn was watching, wondering whether or not he should join his brothers. "Stay with your sisters." Polly told him as she ran past. Ada was waiting for us by the door, taking James out of Finns arms and leading us with Linda, Charlie and Karl to one of the sitting rooms.
Conversation with Evie and Tommy
Evie: Where did she get that?
Tommy: It was a gift.
Evie: It's not one from a friend. Get it off her.