Wear Iron//Thomas Shelby

ten

Tommy and I are walking up the stairs to his room.

"You seem to be spending an awful lot of time here lately," Tommy teases.

"Seems the only way I can get you alone is to show up to your room late at night," I tell him. "Have you thought about what I said?"

I stop when I hear the sound of someone moving in Tommy's room. No one should be in there. Tommy holds his finger up to his lips motioning for me to be quiet. He steps in front of me and draws his gun. As he crashes through the door I can see it's John inside making the noise. He's using Tommy's opium pipe.

"What the hell, John?" I ask.

"I couldn't get it lit. Couldn't even do that," John states.

"Why would you want to be smoking that for?" Tommy asks.

"Same reason as you. Pain in the head," John reasons. He sits down on the bed with tears in his eyes. "I spoke to Lizzie. I told her what you told me. She said, 'Your brother Tommy is a dirty liar.' But then I spoke to her sister and her cousin. Bought them a couple drinks. 'Just a few of the regulars,' they said. 'That's all. To keep the wolf from the door, she still sees a couple of regulars.' You must think I'm an idiot."

Tommy sits down next to John. "I think you're the first Shelby in history... to have a legal licence for anything." John sighs in frustration. "What would our granddad say, eh? He'd be turning in his grave." Tommy imitates his grandfather. "'Honest bloody money? Eh?'" John laughs loudly. "'In this house? Here?'"

"You always used to do voices when we were kids," John reminds him.

"We're not kids now, John," Tommy states.

"But we still have to look out for each other, right?" John tells him.

"Yeah. Yeah. Come on. Go home. Get some sleep," Tommy tells him. "We've got a big day tomorrow."

"We have?" John asks.

"Tomorrow, we finish the war with the Lees for once and for all," Tommy informs him.

"Since when?" John asks.

"Since just now. Ten o'clock tomorrow. Be ready for anything," Tommy tells him.

As John leaves I look at Tommy curiously. "What are you going to do, Tommy?"

Tommy walks over and closes the door. "I'm going to end this war."

I roll my eyes. "Really? I had no idea." Tommy makes a face. "How exactly do you plan on ending this war?"

"Well John needs a wife," Tommy starts.

"You're arranging a marriage for your brother?" I ask.

"A Lee girl is running a bit too wild," Tommy starts.

"So you've decided to marry off your brother?" I ask.

"Yes, Helena. To end a war," Tommy reasons.

"And you think he's going to agree to this?" I ask.

"For family he will," Tommy insists.

"'Cause you Shelby's will do anything for family," I state.

We meet the boys near the Lee family's camp. They get out with weapons even though they won't be necessary.

"Ready, boys?" Tommy asks. "John, ready?"

"Yeah. Yeah I'm fine," John assures.

Arthur hands him a flask. "Have a drink."

Everyone watches John as he takes a sip.

"What? What are you all staring at me for? What?" John shouts.