Birmingham Rhapsody

Chapter XV

  A silence falls between us as we make our way to the Garrison. I look over at Tommy. He reaches into his pocket with one hand and pulls out a cigarette. I watch him as he places it between his lips and then takes out his lighter. He struggles to light it with one hand. I reach out and take his lighter, flicking it open. His eyes quickly dart to meet mine then back to the road. I light the cigarette dangling between his lips then slip the lighter back into his pocket.

  "I shouldn't 'ave brought you with me," he says finally, breaking the silence. I shake my head and pull out one of my cigarettes, lighting it. "You smoke?" I inhale deeply. "Not often," I say, laying my free hand on his leg. He nods. "And it's fine. Wouldn't be the first time someone's used me like that." I say, thinking back to my previous relationships. "Who hurt you, Kat?"

  I shake my head. "Kat answer me!" Thomas grabs my wrist and squeezes it tightly. I wince. "Well right now you are," I say shortly. He glances down at our hands and releases his grip. "Sorry... now answer my question Kat, who fucking hurt you?" Do I tell him? I know how he'll react. Do I want to be responsible for someone getting hurt? Or even dead? Even if that someone is Alfie Solomon...?

"Jesus... Kat answer the fookin' question!" I look over to Tommy. "Alfie." is all I say. He swears in a language I don't recognize. "Alfie? As in Alfie fucking Solomon? That fooking Jew?" he asks. He's really mad. "It's fine,". Tommy swears again. "It's not fooking fine Kat! What did he do to you? Beat you? Did he rape you?"

I glare at him. "He didn't rape me! He beat me a few times. Attempted to sell me and pass me around to his men." Tommy slams on the brakes, stopping in front of the Garrison. "I'll kill him, I'll fooking kill him," I shake my head. "Don't... it'll break the truce and alliance you hold with them," His head snaps toward me. "What do ye know about that?" I shrink away from him. "Not much... only that you and Alfie had a sit-down."

He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. "Well that's over now, isn't it? I don't do business with men who abuse their women." He gets out and comes around to open my door. I jump down and walk past him into the Garrison. Arthur's sitting at the bar and looks up as we enter. "Tommy. 'Allo again there beautiful," the older Shelby brother gives me a wink. "Stay here," Tommy says to me. "Arthur to my office,"

Arthur looks at Tommy, then at me and back at Tommy. "Sure Thomas. Wot's this all about eh?" Tommy doesn't answer. Instead, he grabs his brother's arm and drags him into the small room off the side of the bar.