A/N I am so glad that I got such a good response to my last chapter as I wasn't sure what you would all think! I hope you enjoy this chapter and please let me know what you think and what you want to happen next :)
The next morning I woke with a start. Michael was still sleeping beside me and the sun was beginning to stream in through the window. "Shit. Michael. Michael, wake up." I said, shaking the sleeping man. "Shush, Eves." he muttered, trying to bury his face and go back to sleep. "Michael, we stayed out here all night." I told him, shaking him again. This woke him up as he sat upright with shock. We looked at each other for a moment, both not knowing what to say about the events of last night.
"Come on. We better get inside the house." I told him, kicking off the horse blankets we used last night and standing, stretching. Michael did the same before retrieving his shoes as I folded the blankets. When I turned he had his jacket and coat on as well and was watching me. There was a tense silence in the air. "We haven't got time to talk about this but we will." I told him, running a hand through my hair. He nodded, looking at the floor.
"Michael." I said, causing him to look up at me as I crossed the space between us and kissed him. It was a sweet kiss that he quickly reciprocated, putting a hand on my waist. I pulled away after a moment and he pulled me into his arms, resting his chin on top of my head and squeezing me tight. "Go on. You go first. Say you left early to walk around, clear your head." I told him, pulling away once more. He pressed a kiss to my head before doing what I said and leaving.
I waited about ten minutes before following him. I quickly found Polly, Finn, Ada and Michael in the kitchen. "Good morning." I greeted everyone. Michael, Finn and Ada nodded at me. "And where the hell have you been all night?" Polly asked, raising an eyebrow at me. "I went and stayed by the river with my cousins." I lied, easily. "More than enough beds in this house and you'd rather sleep in a caravan?" Finn laughed, "You should've come and got in with me. It was bloody freezing last night." Ada added, taking a bite of bread.
"Where are Arthur and John?" I asked, sitting next to Ada and helping myself to some bread and butter. "They left early. Wanted to get a start on Tommy's fucking list." Polly told me, going back to what she was doing. I rolled my eyes. "What's everyone doing today?" Ada asked, looking around the room. "I need to get back home, for the kids. I'll take some stuff from Tommy's office and work from there." I told her. "I need to go back to the offices. Michael, you too." Polly said without turning. "Finn, you need to get back to Birmingham, find Isaiah and make sure the shop is running okay. We need some Shelby presence there." I told the youngest Shelby and he nodded in acknowledgement.
"Arthur and John took your car so you can take Arthur's." Ada told me. "Finn, you drive your sister home before coming to Birmingham. Help her get what she needs from the office first." Polly instructed. "You and Karl want to come stay with me for a few days? No point you being here without Tommy." I asked Ada who nodded in agreement. "We will have our breakfast then go. This house is too fucking big." I told the group.
It had been three days since Tommy left. Ada and Karl had been staying with me for that time and I hadn't seen or heard from John. I had explained to Ada what had happened with John, Arthur and Michael on the field that night. Obviously not telling her what had happened between Michael and I after. She was fuming, as I knew she would be but promised me that she would let me deal with it. Michael had rang a few times, asking for my help with a few different accountancy problems but that was it. Strictly professional.
"Tommy's been spotted in Birmingham. He's with John and Arthur." Ada told me coming into my office with Benjamin on her hip. "Do we know where he's been yet?" I asked, looking up from the papers in front of me. It was late evening and the other kids were already in bed, Ada had dismissed most of the maids for the day and the house was silent. "No idea. That's all Finn had time to tell me." she replied, sinking into an armchair and putting Benjamin on her lap. I rubbed my forehead as a car pulled up.
I looked at Ada and she looked at me. Neither of us were expecting anyone. I quickly opened my desk drawer, pulling out the gun I kept there and standing. I walked around the desk, signalling for Ada to stay where she was before going out into the hallway. The engine cut off outside and I heard a door open and close. I kept the gun down at my side as I walked towards the door. My breath hitched as the door opened and I instinctively raised the gun.
"Fuckin' hell, Eve." John exclaimed putting his hands in the air. "What the bloody hell are you doing?" I hissed, lowering the gun and relaxing. "Coming home!" he replied. "Well, you haven't bothered for the last few days." I countered as my heart steadied. "I know. I'm sorry." he said as he stepped into the light and I could see how disheveled he looked. "What's happened?" I asked but the pain in his eyes gave me a hint. "Changrettas?" I asked, taking a step towards him. He nodded and suddenly I was pulled into him. His arms around me and his face buried in my hair.
"Come on. Ada and Benjamin are in my office." I told him after a few moments, pulling away from him and taking his hand. I led him into the office and he sat on the sofa while I made him a drink. I sat next to him on the sofa but put my legs over him, sitting up so my shoulder was resting on his, my hand on his arm. "Tell us what happened." I told him after he had taken a big gulp from the whiskey and placed his hand on my legs.
He explained everything that had happened over the last few days. Ada and I glanced over at each other every so often, both of us thinking the same. Shit. "So it was Arthur that pulled the trigger in the end?" she asked, shifting a sleeping Benjamin in her arms. John nodded. "Yeah, he didn't think Tommy would've been able to do it." he told us, finishing his drink. "I'll get you another one." I told him, untangling myself from him and going to the side. I brought the bottle over along with two more glasses. I refilled John's glass before pouring Ada and I one.
"What happened to Mrs Changretta?" I asked, sitting beside John once more. "I couldn't do it. We left her under the pier." he admitted, avoiding both of our gazes. I shared another look with Ada before wrapping John in my arms, pulling him into me. I pressed a kiss to his head as Ada stood quietly, giving me a small smile before leaving with Benjamin. "I'm sorry for what I said. That was out of order." he told me, face buried in my chest as he brought a hand to my waist. "It's okay. It's a difficult time for everyone." I replied, resting my cheek on the top of his head.
"It's not okay. I would kill any man that harms you and I was a prick to put you in that situation. You are my rock." he told me, squeezing me close to him. "I love you, you bloody idiot." I laughed, kissing his head again. "I love you, Evelyn."
"Why are we here, Arthur?" I asked, leaning back in my chair. It was the next day and Arthur had asked for Uncle Charlie, Curly, John, Tommy and I for a meeting down at Charlies yard. We were all here, except Tommy. Arthur ignore me as he put a cloth over a stool and continued rummaging in the bag he had. "Arthur, for fuck's sake, what is it?" John asked, also growing impatient. "No. We wait for Tommy." Arthur told us, pulling out cigars and a bottle wrapped in a paper bag.
"I've got a stolen statue back there with its dick hanging out waiting to be melted down. Tell us. Tell Tommy later." Uncle Charlie told him. "Yeah, look, he's not here. Evie's got meetings. We are going." John told him, standing and holding his hand out to me. I took it, sliding my fingers through his as I stood. "Sorry, Arth." I told the eldest Shelby as we turned, walking towards an approaching Tommy.
"There he is." I heard Arthur say from behind us as we continued walking away. "All right. What is it?" Tommy asked. "Arthur's fucking giving us all this shit." John told him as we went past him. "Come on. Come on." Tommy told us and John turned, pulling me back to the group. "Right." Arthur began, trying to open a champagne bottle with his teeth. "Arthur you got wire on the fucking cork. Give it to John." I told him and he handed it to John before jumping up on a chair.
"Gentleman! Evelyn!" Arthur started, taking off his cap. We all looked up at him, expectantly. "Linda is up the swanny. I'm gonna be a fucking dad." he told us. "Fuck off." John said as I shared a look with Tommy. He wasn't pleased. Curly was laughing as Charlie congratulated him. "September she reckons." he told us, his eyes on Tommy. "Her tits feel different already." he added and I scrunched up my face at his crudeness.
"Yeah, that's not the only thing that's gonna be different, brother." John told him, a smile on his face, "You're fucked now, man. Fucked, absolutely fucked," he laughed, hugging his brother. I rolled my eyes at my husbands antics. I knew Arthur was still waiting for Tommy's reaction. "Oh, nothing's gonna change, John." Arthur assured him.
"Goodbye, Arthur. I have a meeting I have to go to." Tommy told him, walking closer to him and wrapping his arms around his older sibling. "Yeah. Yeah, of course you do." Arthur muttered, returning the embrace. I looked up at John as he put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side.