𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟒

Maeve's eyes widened when she hovered over Tommy's office desk. She turned the page in the diary and read the words on the page.

Artillery Square

Tommy had gone to Artillery Square again, to finish it with Luca Changretta. Or attempt to finish it with Luca Changretta.

She glanced down at the gold bracelet on her wrist and thought for a few moments. "I have a place in this business." She muttered. Maeve knew that going after Tommy would not be a good idea at all. But she knew that he'd be outnumbered four to one.

And the moment Maeve placed that bracelet on her wrist, was the moment she vowed to protect her family.

Clearly nobody had any idea about Tommy's plans for the day. But Maeve now did. And she also knew where Tommy kept his guns.

A wide grin displayed itself across her face as she walked over to the large cupboard that was locked up. She kneeled down and reached underneath it, her fingers trailing against the wood until she felt a key. "You need to think of better places, Tommy." She whispered to herself.

Her eyes glistened when she opened up the cupboard, revealing various types of guns. She knew her own gun wouldn't be of any help in a situation like this.

So instead she grabbed a bigger one, longer one. The type that she was most definitely not allowed to just walk around with in the streets. But when did Maeve Shelby ever care for rules?

Maeve loaded the gun and locked the cupboard back up again before leaving Tommy's office. She quickly backtracked and went back inside to finish the glass of whiskey that she'd poured.

"What're you doing with that!?" Lizzie practically shouted when she saw Maeve walking through the building.

"I have a job to do, Lizzie. And so do you— get those fingers typing on that lovely typewriter that Tommy got you." Maeve retorted without even looking at the woman.

Lizzie just watched her walk out, her mouth open.

Maeve decided to walk to Artillery Square considering she knew Small Heath like the back of her hand. She knew every side road and every shortcut possible — besides, it's not like she could drive there, Maeve didn't know how to drive.

There was a light frustration that sat in her because over time, Maeve had began to notice that it was always her involved in this kind of stuff. Never Finn or John, not even Arthur. Somehow, in some way, Tommy managed to have Maeve involved. Even if it was by choice. She was always involved.

As she rounded the corner to the multiple apartment buildings, she was met with a green van that had been left open.

Maeve held her gun close and went to see if there was anybody inside. Nobody. For whatever reason, Maeve's heart had began pounding.

There was a dead man on the floor not too far from where she was standing. And judging by the pool of blood that sat around him, he'd been dead for a while before she got there.

Maeve heard footsteps echo up the staircases and she took a deep breath, approaching the fire escape stairs. She pointed her gun as she saw an old woman going to an apartment with an open door.

Worried gasps left her mouth but it was only moments before Tommy had ushered her inside.

"Tommy! Uncle Tom, what the fuck?" She whisper-shouted, following the woman into the room. Tommy frowned in complete confusion and tried to find something to say. "What the bloody hell are you doing here? How did you know where i was?!"

"You leave your diary open and your office locked. I'm not stupid." She informed him, practically pushing him inside and examining the room. "How many are there?"

"Three, there was four but i managed to shoot one." He looked around frantically, "we can't wait in here— come on," he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back outside before slamming the door.

They rushed up another set of stairs and Maeve looked over her shoulder. She could hear Luca and his men approaching. Tommy pushed Maeve further up the stairs, trying to make her move quicker.

Shots fired, some bouncing off the metal railings. Maeve ducked and pulled Tommy around to the side, trying to shoot whoever it was who'd fired at them but missing.

Tommy joined in and when he realised it was impossible to get to the man due to the stairs being an obstruction, he grabbed Maeve once more and they were running through washing lines full of clean bedsheets.

She ran through them, looking behind her and shooting a few times at the shadows. Nevertheless, she kept running.

"Maeve why did you come here? You know we can't have you in hospital again." Tommy panted, a hand on her back to shield her as they continued getting shot at.

"I've got a job, Tommy. And the last time I checked, jobs are meant to be done." She winced. "You and I are both sick and tired of what i'm about to say— believe me i know that. But why be afraid of something that'll never catch you!"

Tommy rounded a corner and spun quickly, firing into a white bedsheets. Maeve grinned at the sight of blood that had quickly splattered across the fabric, the sound of a body toppling down a few metres away from them.

"It is me who started the whole thing with the Italians, so it should be me who helps end it all." She whispered.

Tommy hummed in agreement and they ran inside a room, causing a boy in there to jump. "Get away from the window," Tommy ordered, walking into the next room. "Stay inside, stay down."

Maeve followed him throughout the building.

"Everyone stay indoors and stay down! By order of the Peaky Blinders!" His voice echoed down the halls. Maeve smacked his arm, "what the fuck are you doing? Are you mad! Just because we're inside don't mean they can't fucking hear us!" She hissed.

They came to a halt at a winding staircase and Tommy grabbed her shoulders. "I'll go up, you go down. I'll meet you round the back of the fire escape." He nodded.

Maeve nodded and let him go upstairs. She glanced at a young boy who was standing by a door and she walked to him, pulling out a ten pound note. The boy's eyes lit up as he accepted the money, watching Maeve place a finger on her lips.

He nodded quickly and stepped aside, allowing her to hide behind the wall.

It wasn't long before more footsteps approached.

The boy moved slightly and Luca had turned, pointing his gun. "Come here," he instructed. The boy discreetly looked at Maeve and she nodded slowly.

The boy inched forward, closer to Luca. He pulled out two coins and offered them to him, ragging him forward by his shirt. "Which way? Which way did they go?"

The boy slowly pointed down to the staircase that led downstairs.

"You sure?"

He nodded and Luca grinned, ordering one of his men to up whilst he went down.

Maeve slipped out of a side door and walked slowly around the back exits.

Tommy leaned against a wall whilst reloading his gun and peaked outside to try and spot Maeve. "Fucking hell, where are ya?" He whispered.

She paused at the sound of gunshots, praying it wasn't Tommy who'd been shot at. Maeve ran down a set of fire escape stairs and saw Tommy below her, pointing his gun.

"Oi!" He shouted. The man looked up but before he could do anything, was shot dead. Maeve took this as an opportunity to get Tommy's attention. "Tom," she shouted.

He turned to look at her and ushered her down the steps. He withdrew a smaller gun and shot the man in the head to ensure he was dead.

Maeve could feel the presence of the two other men. She couldn't see them but she could feel them.

Luca came from a corner, gun pointed. Tommy had ducked down behind something and Maeve pointed her own gun, firing until she couldn't anymore. This time, she somehow had managed to do this without being shot.

She ran behind a barrel, reloading her gun and watching Tommy fire a few shots. "Come on," she whispered, her hands shaking as she tried to reload it.

Maeve stayed on her knees and continued shooting. Luca placed his gun down when he realised he was out of bullets.

Tommy raised a hand to stop her.

"I know you run the cops in this dirty fucking town! But you'll be dead before they get here." Luca shouted. "Come on," he said, pausing. "Me and you Maeve."

Both their hearts dropped. Luca had came for Tommy but wanted Maeve. "Come on," Luca urged.

Maeve sheepishly stepped out from the barrel and looked at Tommy. Tommy watched carefully from where he was stood. Luca was mumbling things too quiet for them to hear.

Tommy slid his smaller gun across the cobble for her to grab.

Everything moved in slow motion as Luca slowly pulled a gun from his pocket. Maeve clutched her weapon and stared Lucas dead in the eye. "You want me dead, Luca. So fucking kill me! Don't be a coward." She tormented.

That's when she realised that a part of her wasn't afraid of dying — well none of her was scared of dying but there was this part of her that was hoping he pulled the trigger.

Tommy winced at her stupidity.

But before either of them could shoot, police came running. Whistles echoed and loud shouts were heard. Tommy grabbed Maeve by the arm and pulled her to him. "This is why you've almost died—" he paused, "so many fucking times."

Maeve stood close to him and felt herself being dragged to the floor by coppers, as well as Tommy. She shouted and kicked her feet. Police kicked and punched the two Shelby's.

Maeve had her arms guarding her head and her knees to her chest.

"Stop! Enough— I said enough!" Moss marched over, dragging the coppers off the pair. Maeve stayed in her position and couldn't open her eyes.

"The fuck are you doing here?" Tommy hissed, kneeling down and helping Maeve to her feet. "Saving your life, or his. I'm a police officer, Tommy. I'm a fucking police officer Tommy! Doing my duty. Stopping all this."

Tommy breathed heavily whilst he went to retrieve his weapons. "Three bodies, clean it up." He said.

"No, enough. Tell the people that live in these office that they're free to go about their lawful business. Tell them that the level of law has been restore!" Moss shouted.

Maeve held her bleeding nose and trailed close behind Tommy.

"Haven't you heard, Tommy, eh? Soldiers are coming!"

-

Maeve sat at the table with a face full of frustration whilst she watched Arthur empty some cocaine onto the table.

"What the fuck happened today, Tom?" He asked. Maeve quickly smacked Finn's hand away as he was helping clean up her face. He frowned and kept his hand hovering. "Are you going to let me help you or what?"

She bit her tongue and nodded. Finn carefully held a wet cloth on her nose in hopes to reduce swelling.

"We all heard— shooting. In Artillery Square." Arthur added. Tommy nodded slowly. "Yeah, there was. Today I killed three men, with the help of Maeve. And now are enemies are out to act."

They all looked at Maeve and she raised her eyebrows. "What ya looking at me for?"

John sat back in his seat and sighed.

"I suppose they took you by surprise, did they?" Arthur asked. "No, i knew they were coming." Tommy told him. Arthur seemed angry.

Polly took a breath. "Just after Christmas, i received a letter from Luca Changretta offering to spare my son if I gave up Tommy. And I gave Tommy up."

Maeve hit her fist into the table and snapped her head around to face the woman. Words couldn't explain the anger that had flooded throughout her.

"Because that was the plan that Polly and I agreed on. I knew that Luca would want to pull the trigger himself. But i also knew that he was out for my niece too." He said. Arthur leaned down and snorted the cocaine. "I used the set up as bait to bring him in."

"Did you use it to bring Maeve in as well? Said you knew he was out for her and she just so happens to turn up and help you?" John tilted his head, somewhat accusing Tommy of something.

"You're a fucking idiot, Tom." Arthur quickly moved away from John's accusation.

"Look, i didn't get Luca. But i got three, alright? That's what happened." Tommy saw Charles peek his head around the corner and lifted him up.

"And i thought you'd gone soft," Johnny Dogs tormented. "So you got three?"

Finn continued holding a cloth to Maeve's face, despite the burning in his arm. After a few seconds, he finally removed it and placed it on the table.

"Yeah i got three."

"Well i drink to you, Tom. You mad bastard."

Arthur stood before Tommy. "Pretty soon..you're gonna get the shakes when your blood cools down. Let's go get a drink." He smiled.

"Dad— you got three what?" Charles spoke up happily.

"I got three shillings for a two shilling horse, my boy." Tommy smiled, walking away with them.

The den slowly emptied out: Arthur, Tommy and John going down to the Garrison. Polly going god knows where. Finn getting ready for bed.

Maeve stayed at the table with her head in her hands.

So much time had passed that Maeve didn't know she'd fallen asleep at the table. It was only when she heard noise coming from the safe, she woke up.

She looked around confused and rubbed her eyes.

"I'm just looking!" Arthur muttered, a glass smashing shortly after. Maeve rolled her eyes and stood to her feet, rounding the corner quietly.

She watched as Arthur snorted a large amount of cocaine off the desk and pick up a bottle of whiskey. "Dad?" She asked quietly. Arthur hummed and looked over his shoulder.

As he stood, he toppled over. "For christ's sake—" Maeve quickly kneeled to his side to help him back to his feet. "Dad what are you doing? What have we said about the cocaine and the whiskey."

"I know, i know." He mumbled, holding onto her arms as she helped him up. "I love you, Maeve! My little girl." Arthur whispered. Maeve swallowed hard and smiled slightly. "I love you too, Dad."

"I'm sorry."

She frowned. "For what?"

"Bloody everything? I haven't been there for ya— i really haven't. A-And i should've been. I'm your dad and i've not done my duties." He stuttered.

Maeve placed her arms under Arthur's in attempt to hold him up. "It's okay, dad."

"No it ain't," he sighed, stumbling over his own feet whilst they walked. "I promised myself i wouldn't be like my father but look at me. I'm halfway there, Maeve."

"Don't say that."

"No, i am. I really am. And i'm sorry, Maeve." Arthur continued rambling, repeating the same things over and over again. "I'll be better, my girl. I swear i'll be better."

Maeve felt tears gather in her eyes and she looked up, trying to get rid of them. "Okay, dad. That's really good. Listen, you need to get home to Linda and Billy." She whispered.

"And where are you going?" He asked quietly.

Maeve sniffed. "I'm staying here with Finn. I'll be alright, dad." She assured him. "Now get in the car and go home to Linda."

"How did ya.. how did ya get me a car— where the fuck did this come from?" He slurred. Maeve held back her groan and opened the door, pushing him inside gently. "My driver is always on standby, dad. He's one of he's only people i can trust."

All she heard was a light grunt. She slammed the door closed and thanked her driver before going back inside.

He said he'd change. And hopefully this time he'd mean it.

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