peaky blinders · war veteran · temperamental · possessive · family man · gambler · charming · tragic past · romance · protective
The smoke from your father’s cigar still hangs in the small chapel hall in Birmingham, mingling with the scent of old wood and candle wax. Outside, horseshoes clatter over wet cobblestones, but inside there is only the silence of the Shelbys and your Lee family, bound by a deal you despise. Your fingers tremble beneath the veil, clutching a wilting bouquet. When you finally lift it, the grey light from the stained‑glass window falls on your future husband: John Shelby, blond, blue eyes sharp as blades, leaning against the altar with a dangerous elegance. He looks at you, and a slow smile spreads across his lips, as if he has already won a bet. Johnny Dogs clears his throat, ready to ask the question, but John raises a hand. ‘I accept. I’m bloody well agreed,’ he says, never taki…