Tommy's Girl

Chapter 10

I woke up in a hospital bed, there was a large bandage wrapped round my abdomen. I blinked trying to adjust to the light, I turned my head to see my dad sitting in a chair, he noticed I was awake almost immediately "how are you feeling?" He said and placed his hand on my head, "what happened?" I asked, my voice sounded weak. "You got caught in the crossfire, you got a bullet to your stomach, you'll be alright" I nodded "can I go home?" I asked and tried to sit up, "ey now you need to rest, don't try to move, you can come home but you need to rest." I nodded and reached for his hand, he took it and squeezed my hand gently.

The doctor discharged me and I was able to go home on the condition I rested. I tried to move myself off the bed and walk but a sharp pain shot through my body and I gasped, falling backwards on the hospital bed. I'm only a child so the pain was worse than anything I've ever felt before, my dad moved straight to my side, he didn't say anything just gently lifted me and carried me to the car. The bumps in the road were painful as we drove back to the Shelby home, everyone was waiting in the house as I was carried in and almost immediately greeted by my uncles, Polly and the rest of the peaky boys, although we weren't related the whole gang were like family and were incredibly protective over me.

My dad gently put me down on the sofa and went to the shop to do some work, Arthur came and crouched in front of me "how you doin Webley?" He asked, I smiled "as good as can be with a gunshot to the stomach" I replied, he let out a small chuckle "the man who shot you, he's dead, they all are" he clenched his fists and his breathing became uneven, I reached my hand out and touched his face gently which seemed to calm him down. He got up and left the room abruptly.

I must have fallen asleep because I was woken up by the maid telling me to take my medication, I took it reluctantly, it tasted disgusting but it helped with the pain. My dad returned with Alfie who had a big scar down one side of his face, "Mr Solomons heard that you were injured and wanted to check in" my dad said, he sounded annoyed. I nodded as Alfie came and pulled up a chair in front of me, "how you soon kid?" He said "every single person In this house has asked me that today" I said and let out a small laugh, Alfie chuckled "well you're 8 years out and you've been shot I can't imagine you're feeling all sunshine and rainbows eh?" I smiled then furrowed my eyebrows "what happened to your eye?" I asked and heard my dad tense and change his stance. Alfie nodded "I got shot as well, but they missed" "is that why you disappeared for a while" I said to which he just nodded his head. Alfie left and my dad lit the fire and sat next to me, he seemed stressed. I moved myself round and grabbed his hand, he turned to look at me "are you ok?" I asked and he just put his hand on my cheek "I blame myself for what happened to you, fuck I blame myself for you being taken in the first place, if I just kept you safe none of this would have happened" he said, his voice breaking slightly. I moved myself up and hugged him as tight as possible without it hurting, "it's not your fault dad, it never was and never will be" he sighed and hugged me back.

"I love you dad"

"I love you too Molly Shelby"