Tags : @fancychildmistshake @mariaaaaaaaohmariaaa
Even being optimistic, Y/N Shelby had thought she was in for a rough time after Luca Changretta entered her hotel room and made it clear he knew who she was.
If he didn't kill her, he could torture her for information, threaten the rest of her family, or take her hostage to force her cousins to back down.
Calling reception, he had tea and biscuits brought up, inviting her to share them like two friends who hadn't seen each other in years. They didn't talk much, though.
Nervous, Y/N preferred to sip her tea as slowly as possible, while Luca stared at her silently, smoking his cigarette. He reminded her of Tommy at that moment, and if things had been different, perhaps the two men could have gotten along well.
"I'm sorry about your cousin John." he finally said, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray in the middle of the table.
"You mean sorry that you killed him ?"
"Yes, since it pains you. He deserved it, he chose his fate, but I'm still sorry for those caught in the middle of this without having asked for anything, just as I imagine you're sorry for my brother and my father."
"Oh. right... I heard what happened. It wasn't deserved, for your brother at least. But after his wife's death, I don't think Thomas could have controlled himself any more."
"I hear that. I understand, yes." Luca sighed, taking another cigarette. "If I had a wife I loved and she was killed, I'd massacre the entire town, innocent or not. What are you doing here, Tesoro ?"
Since lying seemed pointless, even dangerous, Y/N simply replied that her cousin had sent her to keep an eye on them, certain that no one would recognize her. She had changed, a little, perhaps even more beautiful than before, but Luca sighed, saying he would have recognized her anywhere. He hadn't forgotten her.
This remark, and the fact that he was furious that Tommy had dragged her into this vendetta, greatly troubled her. While their meeting had made an impression on her, Y/N had never imagined that the feeling could be mutual.
Once she had finished her tea, he escorted her like a gentleman to one of his cars, ordering his men to drive her home and make sure nothing happened to her, or they would suffer the consequences.
Y/N hesitated before calling her cousin to tell him what had happened. Even though he always sensed when someone was lying to him, she couldn't see how to explain to Thomas that she hadn't said anything, absolutely nothing, that could justify her leaving without any trouble.
Not only did he accept her report, but he didn't seem surprised. On the contrary, Thomas sounded satisfied, as if he had always expected things to turn out this way.
"I don't understand, you said no one would recognize me."
"I said nothing would happen to you. Mr. Changretta clearly always had a soft spot for you when he still lived in England."
"... What ? Wait, what ?"
"Don't worry, Y/N. You've done your part, I'll take care of the rest."
She stared at the receiver for several minutes after he had already hung up, wondering if she had understood correctly what her cousin had said. Not only had Luca Changretta liked her when they were children, but it was obvious to many people, especially her family, while she had never had the slightest suspicion.
If she had known this sooner, she could have called him. Sent him a letter. Tried something, even if it had led nowhere. There was even a chance things would have turned out even worse, given how badly her family disapproved of her dating an Italian.
Now, Grace and John were dead. He had sworn to kill every member of the Peaky Blinders. His mother hated the Shelbys for taking her son and husband. There was no future for them.
And knowing all this, Thomas had sent her to his hotel. To hurt him. To taunt him, to tell him he knew. Y/N wondered if her cousin was aware that he had hurt her too by acting this way, or if he had never noticed that she, too, had feelings. He wasn't stupid, but could he be that cruel ?
"Are you going to kill him ?" she asked, trying to maintain a detached expression, knowing full well that he would see right through her no matter what.
"He didn't really give me a choice. Arthur swore to fire the bullet that would go right through his skull. I don't see how this could end any other way than with one of us dead, and I imagine you don't want me dead, dear cousin."
"You know that's not true. But... there can't be a deal ? An eye for an eye, you know ? There have been losses on both sides, why not stop this madness now ? You're good at talking to people."
"As good as I may be, Mr. Changretta doesn't seem inclined to listen to me."
Y/N said nothing. There was nothing to add that would change the situation. She went home to cry and prepare some black clothes. Whatever the outcome, she would need them. If she didn't often speak to Tommy, it was even rarer for her to have any contact with the rest of the family. Seeing Polly Gray at her door could only be bad news, but she couldn't refuse her entry.
Accepting a cup of tea, the Peaky Blinders' aunt scrutinized her, savoring her cigarette, before offering to read her tea leaves. Y/N didn't believe in such things, but she handed her the cup anyway.
"Hmm. Much suffering, much sorrow. Love too. A choice must be made."
"I've already made my choice, Thomas knows that."
"Shh." said Polly, putting a finger to her lips, smiling. "I also see a wedding. The beginning of a new era."
"Who's getting married ? Tom, Michael, Finn ?"
"You are, you sweet, stupid girl."
"... What ? To whom ?" Y/N panicked, imagining the worst.
"Calm down. You need to look more cheerful. It was difficult to convince Arthur. But he understood it was the best thing to do to avoid bloodshed. You'll also have to convince your fiancé."
Without even asking her opinion, Thomas Shelby called Luca Changretta to make him a proposal, a simple proposal, one he would only make once. If he wished, he could marry his cousin Y/N. She wasn't against it, on the contrary, as he might have sensed when he saw her at the hotel, and there was no denying that he wanted it too. It would unite their families, putting an end to the vendetta.
He had to understand that if he said no, then there was a good chance he would die, of course, but if he managed to kill the Peaky Blinders, Y/N would never agree to marry him, true to her kin. He would have to say goodbye to her.
No doubt he'd battled with his mother for hours on the phone, after battling with himself, torn between his love for his family and the love he'd hidden for years for Y/N, a love he couldn't shake, to the point of not being married at his age. The boy in the alley seemed to have won.
"Principessa." he greeted her almost shyly as she accompanied Thomas to a meeting on neutral ground. "I want to hear it from you. If you were forced, not only would there be no wedding, but that asshole you call a cousin would lose his balls as well as his honor."
"How vulgar in front of a lady." Tommy said, lighting his cigarette, detached, already certain he'd gotten what he wanted.
"I know you, Shelby, I imagine you'd be much worse in front of my poor Tesoro. Tell me, Amore, without any fear. I would never hurt you."
"I had hoped... But I was certain it would never happen. If you want me, Luca, I would be happy to marry you."
"Il mio cuore." Luca purred, taking her hand to kiss it.
As there were always tensions, quite understandable, between the Changrettas and the Shelbys, there was a ceremony in England where the groom was accompanied only by his best men and several bodyguards, and a second one in New York with his family. Y/N was accompanied by Michael and Ada.
For many, it was rather sad, even a bad omen, that the wedding took place on a rainy day.
Not for the bride and groom, because, for one thing, her Aunt Polly always said that a rainy wedding was bound to be a happy one. But above all, Luca was able to admire his wife dancing in the rain, not at all worried about getting her dress dirty and laughing like the wild little girl he had fallen in love with.
It was a shame that so many needless deaths had been necessary for them to be together. But life had found its way back, allowing them to welcome little Angel, sweet John, and adorable Victoria.
