Breathing fire

Chapter eleven

The car stopped in front of the pub,which was now very well known to be the Shelby's tavern.She jumped down the car,her feet almost touching the horse shit right beside

Ruth sighed tiredly and closed the door behind,she tapped on the door twice and the car drove off.

She walked inside opening the doors with both her hands.A line of people were sitting inside on chair waiting to meet Thomas Shelby OBE.

Some reading newspapers,some smoking and some staring at her.She ignored the looks and she walked to the office.People knew who she was so they didn't question her going in first.

Ruth opened the doors to see Arthur holding a man at gunpoint.She stopped abruptly and took out her gun.It was a reflex she couldn't get rid off

Arthur and Tommy snapped their heads at her.The man on the chair looked Chinese and he was staring at her with much admiration

Arthur had someone on the phone,she could hear someone's panicked voice

"What the fuck is going on?Both of you!"she scolded them.She recognised the phone voice as Finn,their youngest brother.

"I'm fine arthur!"he said on the other line.Arthur's body was shaking with anger.He shouted a curse at the man and then put his gun down at Tommy's command

"Ruth put the gun down"tommy said.She put the gun back not leaving eye contact from the Chinese man

"So it is true"the man spoke,his voice deep and rusty,a small hint of his accent in his voice.He leaned back on his seat and stared at her up and down

"Ruth Galiardi is now in a truce with the Shelby's"she huffed at him and put her gun back in her pocket

"Buddy why don't you mind your own fucking business?"she said nonchalantly.The man was a little taken back but he didn't let it show

"Why don't you two finish with this first and then I'll come back"she didn't wait for them to reply and left the room.Tommy sighed and rubbed his eyes with his hand and continued with his business

Ruth leaned against the bar counter and waited for them to be done.To keep herself busy she had a drink of whiskey and was talking to a young scared boy who was standing in the corner

She called the boy to her and kneeled down on his level

"Why are you here?"she asked.The boy was nervous to answer her because even he knew who she was but she nodded at him to speak

"F-father hits m-mother.He threw a glass bottle at her-she's in the-h-hospital and I want-To ask Mr-Shelby for a loan-to give her fee"he mumbled.Ruth sighed softly feeling sorry for the boy

"It's brave of you to come here on your own.Why don't you give me your house number,I'll ask one of my men to give your father a visit"she smiled knowing clearly what she would order them to do

"And as per your mothers hospital fee,I'll talk to Mr Shelby about it and I'll pay for it Hmm?"she ruffled the boys hair.A smile covered his features and he hugged her.She was a little taken back because she wasn't that used to hugs but she hugged the boy back

"And don't come here alright,I don't want you to turn into these peaky scums.They are all nuts"she joked and the boy giggled and ran out of the pub.

"Thank you for your help Ruth.You should sign up for OBE"Tommy lighted himself a cigarette.Ruth turned at him and stood back up.

"My father was OBE.Didn't like what it did to him"she sighed grabbing her drink and she walked inside his office.The Chinese man walked past her eyeing her once with a smirk.