𝑳𝑨 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑼𝑺𝑬

𝑽𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑻-𝑬𝑻-𝑼𝑵

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞 𝟏.

♱♱

𝟑𝒓𝒅 𝑷𝑶𝑽

There she was, in his bed. She laid out on his chest, both bare skin touching each other.
Her hand traced his tattoo and he felt a wave of calm rush over him.
Tommy couldn't believe what he had almost fought to achieve, to have Salomé Blouin in his bed.
He hugged her small body closer to his.
"Tommy ya gonna smother me now." Salomé chuckled, oh how he loved her accent.
"I want to 'old you like this so you don't disappear." Salomé planted her chin on his chest, looking up at him.
"I'm not going anywhere Tommy, as long as you keep me close I'm not going anywhere." Salomé placed a trail of kisses on his chest.
"Tommy promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
"You don't listen to the shovels?" Tommy looked down at her confused, he had never mentioned anything about the shovels to Salomé.
"What shovels?"
"Those shovels." Salomé pointed up to the ceiling and that's when he heard the shovels.
The harsh & haunting sound of the shovels hitting the walls and ceiling.
Tommy held his head to make the sound go away but the shovels got louder and stronger. Looking up at the ceiling it started to crack and soon it caved in on him.

Just like that Tommy had shot up from his sleep, his body drenched in sweat.
"Another fucking nightmare." Tommy groaned, kicking his feet over the bed he accidentally touched his opium pipe.
He would use it every night to lessen the nightmares of France. He had to start back using it once Grace left, she was his opium stopped all the nightmares of the shovels but now they were back.
At first he had dreams of being with Grace but Salomé plagued his mind.
That dream turned nightmare was evident, it was the first time he had ever dreamt of Salomé in his bed no matter how many comments he had made about it.
It was official Tommy Shelby was going insane, the opium and countless amounts of whiskey was getting to him.
This was another sleepless night-well morning as he had assumed that it was about 4 in the morning.
Tommy groaned rubbing his face, he had really gone insane and Salomé was the reason for it.

𝑷𝒍𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒍𝒂 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒆...

Salomé watched as Arthur Shelby had walked into the Garrison with some unknown older man.
She looked over at her cousins to see if they knew who that man was but they shook their no as they had no clue either.
"I'm gonna go to the ladies room." Salomé informed her band before she left the small stage, she hadn't do much singing today as during this time the men were at work.

Once finished in the restroom, well more like a broom closet that Harry had put a bucket in there for her. A restroom wasn't much of thought since there was no place for a outhouse like back home and the men here just pissed in the allies.
"Hey Salomé." Harry had called her over before she could make it back to the stage. "Can ya bring this bottle to Mr. Shelby in there?" He held out a whiskey bottle and two glasses.
"Of course." Harry was almost ran dry everyday serving drinks & cleaning around the Garrison since the barmaid had suddenly left. Salomé didn't know much about except that she had sanged with the band as she served drinks, the old barmaid was the reason why the Garrison had a band. Since, Tommy didn't like singing that much after he had came back from the war; all of this information courtesy of Louis.
Louis had spoken to Salomé more, Clara told her all the gossip, and Joannes just teased her.

"Coming in Arthur." Salomé announced her presence as she entered the snug.
"Ahh who is this young lady Arthur?" The older men gave Salomé a perverted look as his eyes traveled up and down her body.
"The singer here." Arthur could sense the look his father was giving Salomé but he didn't say anything as he was just happy to see his father again.
"Arthur Shelby senior, the father of this chap." Arthru Sr. held his hand out and Salomé kindly took it.
"Salomé Blouin." Arthur Sr. eyes light up once he heard her name.
"French?"
"Yes." Salomé responded as she sat the whiskey bottle and glasses on the table.
"Came to Small Heath after the war?"
"Oh no, I'm from America."
"French American, where you from? New York?"
"No, Louisiana."
"I knew heard a familiar accent." Arthur Sr. laughed as he pointed at her. "Ya know I've been to New Orleans before, 'ave you been?"
"A couple of times." Salomé responded as she poured their drinks.
Arthur put his hand out to stop her.
"Oh Arthur let the woman pour our drinks, it's her job to serve a man." Salomé felt a small pinch of anger in her when Arthur Sr. said that. She had been raised by her momma & papa that the job between man and woman were equal.
Arthur didn't bite back and let Salomé pour their drinks.
"Like I was saying son, Shelby Casino and Hotel." Salomé ears perked up when she heard that. "The American dream, am I right Salomé." Arthur Sr. had pronounced her name horribly but she agreed.
"I've heard of Casino's in Las Vegas, my papa had performed there once." Salomé said that so she could stay in snug longer, her nosey said was taking control.
"See son, this will be big business for the Shelby family." Arthur Sr. placed his hand on Arthur's shoulder trying to convince him. "The American dream."
Salomé could tell something was up with Arthur's dad but she didn't say anything, she kept it as a mental note though when it would be best to bring it up.
"I'll leave this bottle with y'all, enjoy ya'll." Salomé gave them a kind smile before she left the snug.

Salomé couldn't believe the information she had just found out. It was obvious Tommy was the leader but he wasn't there for that conversation, something wasn't right. Tommy was always there whenever family business was discussed, especially something as big as a casino.
Salomé wasn't sure to tell Tommy what she learned or just keep it to herself.
She knew it wasn't her business to tell and didn't owe Tommy loyalty but Salomé still felt he ought to know.

𝑫'𝒖𝒏 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒆

There stood Inspector Campbell with pure confidence about the guns.
"You might take satisfaction and in a great victory the horrible consequence has been avoided." Inspector Campbell looked over all of his police officers he had specifically chosen. "Those guns that we dug up will never be used to murder the innocent or resort the status quo. Even though we have solved a crime we have as yet held to punish the criminal." Inspector looked down at the sheet that held Thomas Shelby military image and his background on it.
"This man who dug this grave has also dug his own, he has proved a deadly menace to the King's peace and tonight we will strike him down we will drive our swords through his black heart. We will pursue him into the ratholes he infest and finally we will rid this city of his kind, justice will be done and will seen to be done, Amen." All of the officers salute Inspector Campbell before leaving to go prepare for the arrest or death of Thomas Shelby and the whole Peaky Blinders.

Inspector Campbell looked down at Grace's folder that held her information. This was the final information he had just received earlier this week from Grace through a telegram. That was the last piece he had of Grace before she rejected his proposal and ran off to New York.
Inspector Campbell blamed Thomas Shelby for plaguing Grace with the evil of Small Heath, if only she hadn't fell for his charm Grace would be his wife. Tonight Inspector Campbell was going to seek revenge.

♱♱