𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟕

"You sure you want Billy? I had to shut the shop." Finn stood beside the booth in the Garrison. Tommy nodded. "Thank you for inviting me, Mr Shelby." Billy hesitantly sat.

Maeve hovered behind Finn's chair and bit her tongue.

"Mary says not until after six o'clock." Finn said when Arthur tried to pour him a drink. Charlie walked in with Duke. "He said to tell his father that he's okay about it."

"Good. Shut the door Duke." Tommy nodded.

"What— does Erasmus not have a mouth of his own, no?" Maeve tormented. Finn looked down and grinned.

"I told you to stop calling me that."

"I'll call you whatever the fuck I want to." Maeve snapped back. "This is my family. Remember that." She said to him.

"Now, we are all gathered and those who know the truth will know to be cautious." Tommy spoke, the last in Romani. "Apologies, Mr Shelby. I don't speak the lingo." Billy said.

"Well Finn here never even bothered to learn it." Tommy shrugged.

"Yes he did." Maeve stopped him, knowing they used to learn it together from Aunt Polly in secret. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Go on, Finn."

"Said something about truth—"

"The truth is that I called men here that I can trust—" Tommy began. John cleared his throat. "Maeve ain't a man, Tom." He reminded him. Tommy let out a frustrated breath. "And Maeve.."

"What and you trust the horse tamer over here?" Maeve nodded toward Duke. "You've only known him a few days."

Tommy shook his head and Maeve grinned at John.

"I'll be going away for a while. I have to collect payment for a shipment of goods which left Liverpool a few days ago." Tommy told them. "A payment from who?" Finn asked. "South Boston Irish, Finn."

"Are you going alone?"

"Johnny Doggs already sailed for Canada. Micheal will be there and his family. He will be my guaranteed safety. Whilst i'm away i've got a job for you all. I need you to go to Arrow House. I'll be leaving Arrow House for good and there's things that need removing. I need men that I can trust. There is cash and there is valuables—"

"Dunno why you've invited Erasmus then. He's a thief." She said. "Check his left pocket."

Tommy frowned and looked down at Duke. "You'll find your pocket watch in there, Tom." She said after having watched the boy slip it from Tommy's pocket. Tommy raised a brow and reached into his own pocket to find it was indeed missing. Duke looked away and Tommy pursed his lips together.

"There is information about important people— more value than gold. There are also bodies buried in the grounds that need digging up before the contractors start moving earth. Isiah, you'll be in charge with Maeve. In Arrow House there'll be a wine cellar in there you'll find French wines that are worth more than a man's life. You're welcome to them boys. It'll be like a farewell party. Are you ready for the party son?"

"I know the truth." Duke spoke Romani.

"He knows the truth, eh?" Maeve translated it for everybody there with a devious grin on her lips. "The fucking truth again? What truth?" Finn asked.

"You'll need shovels, you'll need boxes. You take the bones to Mr Patches and in the furnace at Greenhams. Got it?" Right. Any questions?"

"If it's a party can we bring girls?" Billy joked.

"No, Billy. All the fun will be laid out for you." Tommy refused. "So when is the party, Tom?" Silence. "Mr Shelby?"

"Party is next Sunday, Billy."

"You mean.. this Sunday?"

"Yeah." Tommy nodded. "Whilst you're digging holes i'll be here drinking champagne with my wife." Arthur referred to Lillian.

"Oh and Finn— please explain to.. what's her name?"

"Mary."

"Mary? Is it Mary? Please explain to Mary that you are a Shelby. It says it on the back of your watch. This means you own the watch, it doesn't own you. It strikes six when you tell it to. Have a whiskey."

-

Maeve walked into Tommy's office and he looked up with confusion. She stopped at the end of his desk and just stared at him.

"When did you plan to tell me that you were sick?" She asked shakily. Tommy's face fell. "Dad told me." She said. "He told me— and you fucking didn't." Maeve pointed a finger at him. "Tom—" her voice broke.

Tommy sucked in a breath and got up to give her a hug.

"I don't know if— I can do any of this if you're gone." She whispered, holding onto him tightly. Tommy closed his eyes. "You'll be alright. You're always alright, Maeve. You're the one person that has escaped death over and over again. I think you can handle the rest without me."

Maeve forced a small smile. "Who knows?"

"Arthur knows. So does Lizzie."

"Is that it?" Maeve asked. Tommy nodded. "I plan on riding off on my horse. I'll do it alone." He said. She looked down. "You'll kill yourself?" She whispered. Tommy tutted. "Better that than let my loved ones watch me turn incapable." He said.

"And what about Charles?"

Tommy took a breath. "He'll go with Lizzie. She's cared for him like a mother anyway."

Maeve nodded slowly. "And— when do you plan to ride away?" She asked, unsure if she wanted the answer. "Once all of this is over and done with." He said. Maeve couldn't help but feel that something was weird about the whole thing. "I love you, Tom. Have I ever told you that?"

Tommy pursed his lips into a line. "I love you too, Maeve. More than you know." He pulled her in again.

"I plan on killing Micheal." Tommy whispered. She frowned. "I already know he will have something up his sleeve to kill me himself." He said.

"Do what you have to do."

-

Sunday had rolled around quicker than expected and the group gathered outside Arrow House. "Mr Shelby called to say to expect you." Mary said. Isiah removed his hand from Maeve's back and nodded. "Yeah. We've come to do a bit of gardening." He lied.

"We're hearing so many rumours about what's happening to the house." The older woman said with worry.

"Tommy says your second best quality after your baking— is you don't ask questions." He pulled out some money, offering it to her. "Get everyone away from the house until Monday." He interacted.

Mary nodded and scurried back inside the house.

"Okay let's get bottles of wine worth more than a man's life." Isiah grinned. Maeve linked her arm around his and they walked inside the house to begin their work.

A few hours had passed and it was now dark out. Curly sat beside the window and a car seemed to pull up outside. He turned and nodded to the two Blinders that stood near him.

Duke had his head down. "Get out me way." Maeve barged his shoulder to join Isiah's side. Isiah pushed off the wall and opened the door. Billy's laugh echoed through the hall. "What's going on?" Finn asked eagerly.

Maeve could feel a pit of nerves growing in her stomach.

Finn looked around and a slight frown appeared on his face. "What the fuck is this?" His small smile still remained. "I thought it was meant to be a fucking party, lads."

"It is now you're here."

"Where's the fucking booze?" Billy asked. Maeve lowered her head and sighed. "In the kitchen. All the booze is in the kitchen." Duke said and walked out. "Alright." Billy responded.

Maeve had some knowledge on what they planned to do and she felt sick to her stomach.

"Why don't you turn the fuckin light on, eh?" Finn took his cap from his head and looked down at Maeve when she held onto his arm.

"There's no longer any power in the house of Thomas Shelby." Isiah informed him. Maeve could feel her heart beating against her chest. "Why not, what do you mean? What happened?" Finn asked. Maeve squeezed his arm.

"I thought there were going to be girls here."

"Who needs girls when you're in a house bound for hell." Duke spoke. "Shut up." Maeve snapped at him. "Fuck do you mean?" Finn was starting to panic slightly as they walked through the halls. "Eh, what the fuck do you mean?" He shouted.

They got into the kitchen and Isiah dragged Maeve from Finn's side. "No." She whispered, shoving his hands away.

Suddenly, shots fired repeatedly from the gun Duke had and Maeve covered her ears, closing her eyes. "Fuck!" Billy screamed. "We'll do whatever the fuck we want in this house." Duke stated. "It's got a death sentence."

Finn looked around at the circle that had formed.

"I don't want a drink. Are we going to dig up those fucking bodies, yeah?" Finn pointed in Isiah's face. Maeve felt sick. She felt so sick. She couldn't face him. But she had no input on what was going to happen and nobody was going to let her leave.

"Got to wait till all the bodies are ready until you start digging them back up." Duke whispered.

"Stop." Maeve shook her head. "What the fuck does that mean?" Finn hissed. "I'm a fucking Shelby!" He shouted. "So am I.." Duke said. Maeve grabbed Duke's neck and pushed him back. "Do not— fucking say that again. You mean nothing to this family. We earned our place. We felt the wrath of not being good enough for them. And you just waltz in here thinking you're the fucking boss? I'll kill you before you even get close to that." Maeve tightened her grip.

She was not going to let them harm Finn. No way. She couldn't do it. Even if it meant damaging her relationship with Isiah. She would not betray Finn.

"Alright." Isiah shouted. Maeve slowly let go of Duke and backed away, her back colliding with Finn's chest. He held her shoulder to steady her and she remained in place, feeling if she stood there she could act as a form of protection for him. Which was ridiculous considering she was smaller than him.

During this, Isiah had sliced Billy's eye with the blade in his cap and Billy sat, holding the wound in pane.

"Take the gun, Finn." Duke instructed. "Arthur says if you don't do it. You can walk away from this family for good." He said. "What the fuck do you know about family?" Finn roared angrily. Maeve held his wrist and shook her head. "You're not family." He ripped away from her. "You're the son of a fucking whore!" He said.

"Just take the gun and do it, Finn." Duke shoved the weapon into his eyes.

"Take the fucking gun." Billy cried. Finn  slowly took it. "Now you have the gun— Finn you have the gun. Use it on these fucks!" Billy said. Isiah punched him. Maeve shook her head quickly. "Finn don't." She knew what would happen. There would be a missing bullet. He wouldn't kill anyone.

Finn pointed it at Isiah and Maeve gasped. He then pointed it at Duke and pulled the trigger.

Bingo.

Nothing happened and Maeve held her head in her hands. "Finn— I told you not to!" She scolded. He looked at the gun with confusion. Duke pushed him to the floor and Maeve pulled her own gun from the holster that sat under the jacket and pointed it at Duke.

"Charlie Strong told me when you give Finn the gun. Make sure the first two chambers are empty. Good old Uncle Charlie." He said. Billy stood and before anything could happen, Maeve shot him. His body fell to the floor beside Finn.

He shakily looked at his friend. Isiah had a somewhat saddened look in his eye.

"You are no longer a member of this Shelby family." Duke said when Finn stood to his feet. "By Order of the—"

Maeve shot her gun into the ceiling before pressing it to Duke's mouth and holding the back of back of his neck. "Do not mutter another word." She whispered, angry tears in her eyes. "You do not call the shots around here, Duke. I do." She said. "And John Shelby told me that if something like this were to happen, I was to kill you."

Duke's eyes twinkled with fear.

"I will die before I allow a piece of shit like yourself do that to my Uncle." She said. Finn breathed heavily. "He has more right to this family than you do. Finn is a Shelby. You are the son of a whore." She said.

Isiah shook his head. "Maeve."

She pointed the gun at Isiah whilst still holding Duke. "What? What are they going to do if I kill him? Are they going to lock me up— no. Will they kill me? I fucking hope so!" Maeve shouted, tears spilling from her eyes. "I hope they fucking do kill me!"

Isiah shook his head in disbelief, scared of what she was saying.

"But you, Duke. By Order of the Peaky Blinders— are no longer a part of this family anymore. Thomas may argue that fact, i'm sure. But nothing proves your lack of loyalty more than what you have just done." She said. "And no man in this family is un-loyal."

Duke breathed heavily. "So you walk away from this house. You have ten seconds before I shoot you in the back of the head. When Tommy returns, and he holds that family meeting— you will never show your face after that. Do you want to know why?"

Silence.

"Because I will cut your head off and hang it on my wall for display." She hissed, her face close to his. "Do not take me for a coward. I am far from it. My family means everything to me and you are not included in that. You have not seen what I have seen. You have not done what I have done. You will never be apart of this family, no matter how hard you try."

She shoved him away and pointed the gun at his head. "Get out."

Duke slowly walked backward and shook his head, reaching for the door handle. He didn't doubt that Maeve would do that. But when he didn't leave, Maeve — without hesitation, shot his knee.

Duke screamed out in pain and Isiah, knowing she would do more damage if he didn't leave, grabbed him and forced him away from the room.

It was now just her, Finn and Billy's dead body. Maeve dropped the gun to the floor and fell to her knees tiredly. "I knew— I knew it would happen and I should have warned you!" Maeve cried. Finn kneeled beside her and held her. She fell into his embrace and held him tightly. "I couldn't let them do that to you. I just couldn't."

"Thank you, Maeve." Finn said shakily. "Thank you so fucking much." He said. The pair were beyond shaken up. He thought he was going to die. She thought she would have to watch her uncle bleed out.

But she knew she wouldn't allow it.
"I'm taking you away." She held his face. "Once Tommy has said what he needs to say we will go away. I don't know where— but i'm taking you away from all this hurt."

Finn nodded and tried not to cry. Maeve had always been there for him.

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