Created by the devil

Unrequited love.

Gia opens one eye and is met with the sun shining straight in her face. The warmth of the sun makes her smile. 

Her smile only grows when she realizes that two hands are holding her tightly. She didn't expect that he would stay, especially since nothing happened the night before. She closes her eyes for a couple of seconds, enjoying the body heat that is pressed against her back.

There they lay in each other's embrace. She feels him slightly move, so she decides to turn around. No words need to be said; just them getting lost in each other's eyes is enough conversation.

Gia always has a target on her back when she walks around, yet she feels safe in his arms, safer than she has ever felt before.

Tommy lifts his hand and slides his finger over her jaw. "I'm going to need to go." He whispers as if he also doesn't want to start the day. His eyes slide down to her lips, where his finger had stopped just a second before. 

He dips his head down and slowly kisses her plump lips. Not long after, does his body leave hers. He sits up with his back to her. Gia sighs and stands up to start her day.

She walks over to the screen protector, where she changes out her nightwear for a pearl silk blouse and a black skirt that stops right above her knee. 

She hears Tommy scoff and asks, "What's wrong?" As she peeks her head out from behind the screen protector.

"Nothing. I don't hear them anymore." He answers in awe. She wants to ask him about what he's talking about, but a feeling in her decides not to. He looks... happy? 

He has a soft smile that's hanging onto his lips, knowing it could be exchanged very quickly. She walks from behind the object towards her dressing.

"Your sister came by yesterday in the midday." She explains before stopping to put on lipstick. "She was worried about you and Freddie. She looked stressed and in pain. That's not good for a woman in her condition. She needs peace."

 He puts on his shoes and speaks up after a moment of silence: "I didn't know she was that comfortable with you." She puts her lipstick down and explains, "Women talk."

Tommy sighs and stands up. "That they do." Gia turns around and leans on the table. "She talked about you. Said you keep everything locked up."

"Well, that's what men do." Tommy says as the buttons of his shirt meet each other. "That's what you do. Your sister is nice. It can't be easy for her. Her brother and lover are fighting over the same thing. Men should talk, too." Gia goes on as she puts her earrings on.

"To you?" Tommy asks with a smirk. "I'm a barmaid. That's my job." She answers with a laugh. "You're not just a barmaid. I'll meet you at 9 o'clock Saturday morning." He says when he stands right in front of her.

"Did you buy a dress?" He asks her while putting a piece of hair behind her ear. Gia nods in response. "How does it look?" His eyes flicker at hers. "You'll see it for yourself Saturday morning." Gia smiles, making him also smile. He kisses her forehead before leaving her.

The days passed without them seeing each other, but before she knew it, the day had arrived. Gia woke up extra early. She made herself some tea and ate breakfast. She then went back to her room and started making herself ready. Tommy did the same thing on the other side of the road.

Gia took out of her closet one of the most beautiful dresses she had ever seen. She stepped into the dress and zipped herself up. She put her leg on the little poof and took her gun out of her dresser. She tacked on the gun to her stalking.

At 9 a.m., is she standing outside her door, waiting for Tommy. Tommy was not a minute late, which she expected. The car stops in front of her house. The idea that she would be in such close proximity to Tommy makes her smile instantly. She opens the car door and steps in.

"Is it just the two of us going to the races?" Gia asks once she is sitting in the car. "Something like that." Tommy answers before starting the car again and leaving Birmingham behind them to go to Cheltenham.

What Gia doesn't know is that in the same part of town, two streets further from Gia's house, Tommy's brothers and some of his men are briefing about what is going to happen during the races. They are going to stop the Lee family and show Kimber how it was really done.

During their car ride, Gia looks up at Tommy's side profile. His hat hides his dirty blond, almost brown, hair. His eyelashes expose his blue eyes, the ones Gia loves so much. His lips look soft and plump. 

She suddenly asks, "Tommy, where are your men?" He looks at her and denies her question. "What do you mean? It's just the races." Gia goes on, "I know you are meant to meet Mr. Kimber there. Are you going to do that alone?"

"I'm not alone, right?" And with that, the once-comfortable silence is replaced by a more unsure air between them. They arrive not long after. Tommy puts his hand on her lower back after they get out of the car. They enter the race through the back.

"Will we get to lay a bet?" Gia asks as she looks around. "Nah. Gambling is for mugs. This way." Tommy guides her while still holding his hand on the small of her back. 

"That's ironic coming from you." She laughs. "I fix races. I don't participate in bets." He explains as he gives her a little look before looking back at where they're going.

The closer they get to security, the more stressed Tommy looks. "Listen, you're going to do the talking." He starts. "What?" She stops but is pushed further by him. 

"You say who you are. Tell them I'm Prussian and don't speak a word of English if they ask after me. You'll be fine." He continues

"Seriously Tommy?" She argues. "They won't dare question someone-" He starts. "Like me." She cuts him off. "Come on, earn your three quid." Tommy gives her a short nod, not daring to look down at her facial expression.

"How may I help you?" The man asks. "I would like two places to watch the race." Gia answers before she gives Tommy a mad look. 

"Well, are you on the list?" He questions the woman. "No, but I'm sure you'll find a place for the name Changretta." She looks down at the board he's holding.

The eyes of the man trail back to hers before looking back down at his clipboard and swallowing loudly. He has never seen a Changretta before but sure as hell has heard from them. 

"Welcome to the races, Miss Changretta." And as easy as that, they were inside.

She gives him a tight-lipped smile before gliding past the entrance. A lot is going through her head. 

Did he only take her with him to use her as a safe pass? Was she part of a bigger plan that might involve her position back in New York?

She has all these questions from all different voices in her head. And suddenly she doesn't know how she felt regarding Tommy. 

Before that night, she felt attracted to him, but not to the point of thinking about him all the time. Yet this week, all she could think about was him and the way his hand slid against her skin.

 She might have a war of stuggles going on in her head, but on her face, there is no trace to be detected of any form of struggle.

On the contrary, if you laid eyes on her, you would see a young lady having the time of her life. She praises herself for being lucky that no one is able to look into that confused head of hers.

The cold metal from the gun on her thigh is a constant reminder that she is safe because of it and not because of the hand on her lower back.

But like every foolish person who is in love with the idea of being loved itself, she looks past all of what's happening.

It is in the back of her mind that her poor soul might never be loved by the man next to her, but with the little hope she has for them, She gives him the benefit of the doubt.

Maybe she could be loved the way a woman should be loved by a man, or maybe she is an example of unrequited love.