My heart thumped as I looked into the face of the one person I thought I was never going to see again. John looked at me and grinned, sending me a cheeky wink that sent my heart into overdrive. My eyes were glued to him as a shot rang out in the background. I couldn't make out what Tommy was saying as my head swam. He knew. All along he knew. I could feel the bile rising in my throat and I knew I had to get out of there. I turned, pushing a concerned Finn away from me as I ran from the room, emptying the contents of my stomach once I reached the hallway.
My head and stomach swam as I thought back to the events of the last few months, trying to figure out who had known. Who had lied to me. I threw up again, this time a comforting hand on my back rubbed soothing circles. I didn't have to turn to see who it was as his smoke and whiskey scent assaulted my nose. I let the tears fall freely as John took me into his arms, burying my face in his chest and grabbing fistfuls of his coat. His arms around me were tight and his face was buried in my hair, not wanting to let me go as much as I couldn't let go of him. He pressed kisses to my face and head, going for my lips before I pulled away. "I've just been sick." I reminded him, turning my face slightly. "I don't care." he laughed before capturing my lips. It was a short and sweet kiss and I looked up at him once we pulled away.
"Where have you been, John?" I asked, searching his face. "I've been with the kids, love. With the Lees." he told me, brushing some hair back from my face. "They told me you were dead. We had a funeral." I told him, fresh tears threatening to spill at the thought of my heartbreak and his jaw tensed. "I know. Tommy fucking swore to me that you knew. I only found out you didn't when I saw Arthur again." he told me, the anger in his voice evident. "When Arthur died." I scoffed, slowly piecing everything together and my anger faded once more as I looked into his blue eyes. "I don't want to think of any of this right now. I want you to take me home, John. I need to be your wife again." I told him, bringing my hand up to his face as his own anger slowly faded.
We had locked ourselves away in our house on Watery Lane for the last few days and the range of emotions I had experienced in that time had exhausted me. I had felt sick as his eyes skimmed over the bruises that, unknown to him, his brother had left on the skin of my thighs and chest the day before. I cried as he told me the stories of Lilys birthday, James' first ride on a horse, Benjamin learning to ride a bike and Anna's first words. All the memories and milestones of my children that I'll never get to experience. The joy of having my husband back.
"Tell me what's been going on here." he told me as I laid on his bare chest, his fingers tracing light patterns on my skin. I tensed for a moment before I lifted my head to look at him. He looked at my face for a moment. "You want to know everything?" I asked, searching his face. "Arthur told me how much you were struggling." he admitted, bringing his hand to the side of my face. "Fuck knows what I would've done if I thought I'd lost you." he added, pressing his lips to my forehead. "I love you, John Shelby." I whispered, pressing my lips to his. "I love you, Eve." he replied as I rested my hed back on his chest. "Can you do me one favour?" he asked and I nodded, "Of course." I replied. He paused for a moment before speaking. "Tell me about the one that made you happy." he said before pressing his lips to my head. I paused for a moment. "It's alright. Arthur told me that someone was making you truly happy. Didn't say anymore." he explained. "You don't have to tell me." he added, kissing my head once more.
"His name's Bonnie. He's a Gypsy boy that reminded me so much of you." I started my voice low, John's fingers continued to trace patterns on my side as I spoke. "He's a boxer and he's got a hell of a fucking punch on him but he was also kind. Took the time to speak to me about you and the children. He was everything I needed at the time." I continued before kissing John's chest. "He sounds like a good guy. Arthur approved." he murmured and I looked up at him. "I thought you said Arthur didn't tell you anything else?" I asked, a smile growing on my face. "I may have fibbed a little." he smirked and I lightly slapped his chest. "John Shelby." I scolded, teasingly before I was flipped onto my back. "Yes, Mrs Shelby?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in suggestion before tickling my ribs, sending me into fits of giggles.
The next morning, on the fourth day of our isolation, there was a persistent banging on the door. "Alright! Alright!" John shouted, getting out of bed. "You're meant to be dead, Mr Shelby." I scolded as he headed for the door. He shot me a look as I got up, pulling one of his shirts over my head followed by a knee length robe. "Whoever it is, tell them to fuck off." he told me, kissing me as I passed him. "Alright, my love." I laughed, making my way down the stairs. I opened the door to find Tommy, Ada, Arthur, Polly, Finn and Uncle Charlie looking at me. "John says fuck off." I told them before going to close the door but Tommy stopped me, holding the door open. "We need to talk." he told me. I glared up at him before moving out of the way, allowing them all in as I went back upstairs. "You can wait in the kitchen." I called behind me.
"Your family want to fucking parley." I told John who swore under his breath. We both quickly got dressed, John buttoning me into a dark red dress once he had done up his shirt. I swept my hair up into a messy bun with the use of a ribbon and stepped into some black heels before looking at my husband who was in a full navy suit, minus the jacket. "Are you ready, love?" he asked, kissing my head. "No. Do you think they'll notice if we climb out the window?" I asked, earning a laugh as we remembered my favourite trick as a young teenager. "We'll face them together." he promised, taking my hand as we both left the room.
The family had made themselves at home downstairs, a pot of tea in the middle of the table with a bottle of whiskey beside it. "Drink?" Polly asked as we entered. I shook my head as John asked for a whiskey, lighting up a cigar. "Hello again, brother." Arthur greeted, hugging John as Finn did the same. Arthur pressed a kiss to my head before rejoining Linda. "John, brother, it's good to have you back." Tommy said, raising his glass in John's direction and John's jaw tensed. I crossed my arms leaning on the counter as I looked around the room. "I have a question. Who knew?" I asked, turning to Polly who watched me for a moment. "Thomas and I knew from the start as did Michael." she told me and I fought to keep my emotions in check. Now I knew why Tommy was so angry with Michael. "Charlie and Curly found out about a week ago. Arthur when he died. Finn found out when you did and Ada found out when we got back." Tommy finished and I slowly nodded my head.
"You fucking swore to me that you told her." John said, his voice low and angry. "We decided it would be best not to." Polly told him, hoping to calm his anger. "Yeah? And who fucking decided that?" he spat, glaring at his older brother. "We did what we thought was best." Tommy said, his voice calm but I could see the emotion in his eyes. "Best for fucking who?" John spat, taking a step forward. "There was a lot going on here, John." Polly said, trying to diffuse her nephew's anger. "Yeah, I fucking heard." he said, still glaring at his brother. I hadn't told John about me and Tommy but I knew that he had suspected and the look on Tommys face had confirmed his suspicions. I rested a hand on his arm, causing him to look down at me as I pulled him back beside me. His anger went nowhere as he put a hand around my waist and took a long drag of his cigar.
"Why are you all here?" I asked, leaning into John as I looked around at the people in front of me. "We've come to find out what your plan is. Where you're going to go from here." Ada said, looking at me with sad eyes. "We are gonna go and get our children and then we are getting the fuck out of Birmingham." John told them. This was something we had mulled over for the past couple of days, coming to decisions then changing our minds before settling on the one decision that we thought was best for our family. "What?" Finn asked, looking at us with wide eyes. "There's been too much damage done to us in Birmingham. We need a fresh start." I told them. "We fucking deserve it." John added. "We'll be sad to see you go." Arthur told us, emotion in his voice.
"And the business? And the houses?" Polly asked, getting straight to business. "We will sell our shares of the business back to you. With Johns thirty percent passing to me when he died I own forty percent and will sell this back to you at stock value. You can elect to buy this house at market value or we can sell it on. The big house will be emptied and kept for when the children grow up." I told them, showing that we had thought this through. "We are leaving this afternoon but you can forward any necessary paperwork and correspondence to Alfie Solomons and I will get back to you in due course." I added and Tommy looked surprised. "Solomons?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Solomons." I confirmed, looking him in the eye and not feeling it necessary to give him an explanation for the alliance.
"Where are you going to go?" Ada asked and my eyes went to her. "We aren't sure yet." I told her honestly, not sure where Alfie had managed to secure us a house. "We just want our family back together and out of danger." I added, knowing she'd understand. "Everyone still thinks I'm fucking dead anyway. It's our way out." John added, squeezing me tighter to him. "Well, we wish you both all the best. I'll get the paperwork drawn up and sent to Solomons." Tommy told us, downing his drink. He glanced at us once more before leaving. Uncle Charlie said his goodbyes next, coming over and hugging us both. "Keep each other safe." he told us before leaving, not a man that likes showing his emotions.
"We're gonna miss you two around here." Arthur told us, pulling us both in for a group hug. "We'll miss you too, Arth." I told the man, inhaling his familiar scent. "Don't do anything stupid, alright?" I told him once we pulled apart, imploring with my eyes. "Ah, you're taking all the stupid with ya." he chuckled, gesturing to John and we all chuckled. "I mean it, Arthur Shelby." I laughed, pointing at the man. "Alright, alright." he chuckled, kissing my head. "You'll have to come visit us when we're settled." John told him, pulling his eldest brother in for another hug. "Yeah, yeah, we'll bring the boy to see ya." Arthur promised, emotion thick in his voice. "I'll see ya later, brother." he added before leaving.
Finn and Polly were the next to say their goodbyes. Polly quietly apologised and making Finn promise he would come visit us. Ada was last to leave, the only one to make me cry as she hugged me fiercely. "Stay safe, alright? And you better write to me." she said into my hair. "I will, Ada, I promise." I told her, tears making their way down my cheeks. "You stay safe as well. God knows what Tommy is going to drag you into next." I told her, holding her close as we looked at each other. "I can handle Tommy fucking Shelby." she laughed, sniffling, earning a chuckle from me and John. "Come here." John said, wrapping his arms around us both, pressing a kiss to mine and Adas heads. "Right. Off you go. My nieces and nephews are waiting for you." Ada told us, pulling away and wiping her cheeks. "I love you." she whispered before taking her leave.
A few hours later we were ready, the car was out front and loaded up. We stepped out of the house, looking up and down the too familiar road. I gasped when I saw who was waiting on the other side of the road, leaning against the bricks outside the shop. "Go on." John encouraged, nudging me towards the Gypsy boy. "I'll just be a minute." I told him, crossing the road. "Bonnie, what are you doing here?" I asked, greeting him with a hug. "Came to see ya off." he smiled once he released me. "You didn't have to do that." I told him, smiling. "Came to see my competition." he teased, gesturing across the road at John who was now leaning against the car with a cigar in his mouth. I laughed, nudging him.
"No, no. I'm joking. I'm glad you're happy. He is taller than I was expecting." he told me, sincerely. "If it makes any difference, when I first heard Tommys actual plan minus the ressurection of my husband, I told him that I was leaving with you." I said, looking up at the man that had been my rock over the last few months. "In another life maybe." Bonnie told me with a sad smile. I gave him a small smile back before looking over my shoulder. "John." I called, beckoning him over and Bonnie straightened beside me. John made his way over, looking wearily up and down the street before he reached us. "Bonnie Gold, this is John Shelby." I introduced and silently prayed they would both be on their best behaviour. "Alright, mate, I've heard a lot about you." Bonnie greeted, holding out his hand. There was a moment's pause before John shook his hand. "Yeah, you too." John replied, no hostility in his voice. "Thanks for looking after her." John added, clearing his throat. "No problem, mate. She deserves the world." Bonnie replied, genuinely. "Yeah, she does." John agreed.
"As cute as this whole thing is, we better get going." I said, looking between the two men who both agreed. "Look after yourself. Contact us if you ever need anything." Bonnie told me, pulling me in for a final hug. "Yeah, you two, Bon." I smiled before following my husband across the road. We got in the car and both looked at each other. "Are you ready?" John asked, searching my face. I looked up at him for a moment. "I'm ready."
A/N I have one last chapter to do then that is the end! What does everyone think? I hope you liked it! I was going to do a big showdown thing between Tommy and Evie but I thought he didn't deserve it and she deserved better!
I have also been working on an alternative ending so let me know if you want to see that as well. :)