𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟗

Madeline's eyes fluttered open, still feeling slightly tired. She felt a presence beside her and a hand loosely holding hers. She frowned and opened her eyes fully, waiting for them to adjust to the light first.

She noticed John at her bedside and felt relief. Her heart pounded heavily and her body ached a lot.

John was leaning back in his chair but still had been holding her hand. She just watched him as he slept, admiring the freckles that were dusted across his face and the slight ginger tinge in his hair when the sun shining from the window was shining on it.

In Madeline's mind, he was what an angel looked like. His face was so innocent yet so dark.

John stirred slightly and he frowned automatically when opening his eyes. He used his freehand to shield them from the sun and yawned.

"Morning." Madeline croaked. John almost jumped from his seat. "Maddie." He breathed, moving his hand from his eyes. She offered him a weak smile. "I didn't think you'd be awake." He said.

Madeline nodded. "I didn't think i'd be alive." She admitted.

John stood and leaned over her to kiss her on the forehead. He was careful not to knock her fragile frame as he did so. "Are you hurting?"

"A lot." She confirmed.

John tutted and sat back down. "I've never been so scared in my life, Mads." He said to her. "I'm so fucking relieved that you're alright." He said.

Madeline couldn't help but smile at him. "I'm relieved, too." She said. "Is Michael okay?"

Even in her own time of pain she was thinking of the wellbeing of others.

"Tommy says he's in critical condition but not as bad as you were. He's going to survive." John sighed. "The doctor said it's a wonder you survived, Madeline." He informed. "One of the bullets almost killed you— its position meant you'd have died instantly if it was slightly to the right."

Her eyebrows raised and she shook her head.

"This is my final straw, Maddie." John told her seriously. "We're going to go someplace else. I'm going to withdraw my position in the business. I can't have something like this happen again."

Madeline listened.

"Tommy will understand i'm sure of it. We're not going to disappear or anything just.. start over." John suggested. "Would you like that?"

"I'd love that." She nodded. "Where would we go?"

"I don't know. Somewhere nice, though. With a school for the kids to go to. Somewhere that people won't know us." John said, thinking as he spoke.

Madeline almost laughed.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you. It should've been me." John said truthfully. Madeline shook her head and painfully reached to touch his face. "It's alright, John. I'm okay now. That's all that matters. You can't blame yourself for this."

-

John was forced from Madeline's bedside and to the house on Watery Lane where Tommy was holding some sort of meeting. The moment he walked into the door, James and Katie had clung to his side.

Per John's orders, George stayed with Madeline whilst he was gone.

"Madeline and Micheal are in hospital. Both badly injured. Madeline almost died— she's lucky to have survived. Micheal is badly wounded and they say it's sixty forty in his favour." Tommy explained.

"There are no numbers. There are no percentages. It's only the hand— the hand beneath him that stops him falling. I spoke to someone. My son will live." Polly stopped him.

He raised his brows. "Micheal and Madeline were shot because we killed somebody. Vincent Changretta. His son Luca has come to take revenge." Tommy continued. "Men from New York and Sicily have come to Birmingham. These men will not leave our city until our whole family is dead. That's how it works— an eye for an eye. It's called vendetta."

"Yeah, well. The bullet has been written." Arthur rolled the golden bullet between his fingers. "It says Luca. And when the time comes, and it will come, he as the oldest brother will put this bullet into his fucking head."

"There's been some bad blood between us—" Tommy started.

Polly snorted with laughed and John bit his tongue, not wanting to stir the pot.
Polly began laughing. "Polly, please." Arthur whispered to her.

"Until this business is settled, we will stay together. We stay here. Small Heath, Bordesley, Hay Mills down to Greet— we know every face. Every man is a soldier in this army. These men are professionals. They are good at what they do. So we're gonna need more than what we have. I've sent a message to Aberama Gold."

"No." Johnny lifted his head. "No, Tom. I'll get you fifty Lee boys. Good men, Tom."

"I don't need good men, Johnny. For this i need bad men."

"Tommy, his men are fucking savages. You know. Heathens, Tom. They don't even let them in the fair so they come and steal our horses. Stealing from their own, Tom."

"So this is the plan, Thomas?" Polly spoke harshly. "This is the plan? Bullet with a name on it. Help from a bunch of savages."

"We're gonna go on the offensive. I've spoken to Moss—"

Polly scoffed again. "Moss." She said mockingly.

"I've spoken to Moss. Moss is putting out word, eyes and ears till we can find him. Yet the truth is that the police are busy with the revolution. Moss says they're expecting strikes and riots. When the weather gets warmer the Bolsheviks—"

"The Bolsheviks couldn't plan a fucking picnic." Ada cut him off. "He's reading the wrong papers."

"Ada! Real or not real the coppers don't give a fuck about us, alright? Which means, that here today in this room, we have to agree to end this war between us. Take a vote."

"Peace." Arthur put the bullet on the table. John nodded in agreement. "Peace." He agreed. "I was never apart of this but peace." Ada spoke. "Peace." Lizzie said. "Peace." Charlie said. "Peace." Finn joined in.

"Shut up, Finn." Arthur mumbled.

"Why can't I say peace?" Finn asked. "Arthur, let him have his say. Finn sit at the table." Tommy told him. "Little bastard," Arthur joked.

John smiled at his little brother and nodded.

"My son isn't here to speak so i'll speak on behalf of us both. Truce." Polly glared.

"If that's how we're doing it then I speak on behalf of Maddie too and she'd pick peace." John said. Tommy nodded. "Six for peace, one abstention. Two for truce, one abstention." He said. "Let's get on with this war." He walked away.

"Tom— Tom said." John stood and followed him.

Tommy stopped at the door.

"I need to talk to ya." John said, hands in pockets. Tommy waited for him to speak. "When this is over— or whenever the time is right, I think me and Maddie should go someplace else with the kids. I don't want any part in this shit any more. I've got a family now and I want to protect them. I don't want anymore trouble or bloodshed."

Tommy nodded slowly. "I understand. I'll sort something for you."

John was surprised at his understanding. "Relax, brother. I'm not gonna bite you." Tommy joked. "I know what it's like to feel the need to protect your family. If you want to go then i'll let you. You love you wife and I see that. I'd do anything to have Grace back. So you can go, John. You won't be banished from the family of course but if you wish to withdraw your position then you can."

"That's what I want to do."

"And if you ever wish to come back then you can also do that." Tommy held his shoulder. "I'm proud of you, brother."

"Thank you, Tom." John whispered.

"But for now we need to keep you, Madeline and the children away. They can't get to you again because as of this moment, you are the weakest. They got to you once and they won't hesitate to come for you again whilst you're vulnerable. I'll have men watching over her room in the hospital and when she is discharged, men will watch older wherever you stay."

John nodded. "Alright, Tom. Thank you, brother."

-

When John returned, he returned with a small bundle of flowers. Madeline had been sat up in bed and had a more lively look on her face. George had made her laugh whilst he was there.

The moment John stepped into the room, George stood. "I'll see ya then, Lina." He nodded at her, a smile on his lips.

Madeline hummed and watched him leave. John mumbled a quick thank you to him. "Are those for me?" Maddie grinned at the flowers in his hand. John looked at them and nodded. Madeline smiled widely. "Who said romance was dead?" She joked.

John laughed and placed them in the table before leaning down and kissing her forehead. "I spoke to Tommy."

"And?"

"He's willing to let us go. He said he would look into it for us. He also said that for the time being, until it's over, we need to stay out the way. We are vulnerable now and they're more likely to come after us again." He said.

"I understand." She said. "How are the children?"

"Juliette is sleeping fine. Katie and James were glued to my side from the moment I got inside the house." John laughed. "James is saying a lot more."

James had never been the talkative type so to hear this gladdened her.

"That's good." She said.

"Have the doctors said when you'll be out?" John asked. Madeline shrugged, wincing at the pain it brought her. "Not really. They're dancing around my questions— not giving me real answers." Her eyes wandered to the wall. "What if they come after me in here, John?"

"Tommy said he'd have men watching over your room." He said. "I can bring the kids to see you if you want?"

"That'd be nice." Madeline hummed. "I've missed Katie's smile." She added. "And James' laugh." She said.

John could tell she was being truthful by the look in her eyes. She really did miss her children.

"Listen, if you want me to stay just tell me and i'll stay." John said. Madeline shook her head. "You need to be there for the kids. They'll be missing their dad." She said. John nodded slowly. "Don't be surprised if Katie climbs into bed beside you."

John frowned.

"That's what she did whilst you were locked up. She missed her dad more than anything. She wouldn't sleep unless she was in bed with me."

"I wish I could change the way it all happened." John said.

"But you can't." Madeline reminded him. "One day we will get peace, John. A permanent peace. I'm sure of it." She said. John looked up. "I want a horse."

John laughed slightly. "What?"

"When we move— wherever we go, I want a horse."

"I'll get you a horse." He assured her. "A black stallion." He said. Madeline grinned. "We can teach the kids how to ride a horse." She said. "Just like how I was brought up."

"Of course." John laughed.

"And we will take the dogs," she continued. "The night I went into labour, Marley didn't leave my side. And then he slept beside Juliette's crib during the night."

"Somebody had to be the man of the house whilst I was gone, eh?" John joked. "Yeah," Madeline sighed as tiredness came over her. "This will all be over soon, Maddie. All of it." He muttered to her as she drifted to sleep. "The bastards that did this to you will pay."