Firecracker- John Shelby

-fourteen-

Johnny dogs held up his white flag for all the lees to see. Tommy looked at me a hint of nervousness glazing his face for a split second.
"I got you ten minutes with her" Johnny said
"You could at least say thank you. it's easier to see the Pope these days"
Johnny knocked on the door and a lee brother opened it. It was cramped inside and I had to duck slightly. We took our seats across the table.
"Put your hand on the bible" zilpha said
"I don't believe" tommy said
I myself obliged
"I know I didn't come here to lie. This war is cutting us all off. A boy almost got killed" tommy said.
She laughed.
"A child"he repeated
"You are all children" she spat
"I say enough. Your boys tried to kill me and it didn't work. I come here with a proposition" tommy said. Handing her the bullet with kimbers name on.
"I thought he was your ally" she asked
"I plan to betray him"tommy said
"No wonder you won't touch a bible"she said
"I have ambitions"tommy said
"You want to play a switch" she said
"I need your boys"tommy said
"For what" she asked
"Kimbers not the brains. There's a gadze who runs the races. I'm collecting smart people. But I need strong men too. Now your boys should know this. We get the winner in one of every three races before the race even starts. No need for chalkers or rafflers. I'm talking certainties." Tommy said
"You coming here boasting your gonna do someone down and in the same breath you ask me to trust you" she said
"That's why she's here, I am returning her to you. To gain your trust"tommy said
"Ah yes, I could smell the gypsy radiating off her, who is she"she said
"My name is Shirley Lovell, my father is Manfred Lovell...aunty"I said
"Dear god" she said, astonished
"Now that you know we are kin, let's talk family business" I said In Romani
"Your father stayed with us for a while, he said you wanted to stay in Birmingham for your mother's funeral, said he'd collect you the weekend after, we woke up one night and he was gone " she said
"I'd expect nothing less from him, take a horse with him did he?" I ask
She ignored my remark
"All this time you've been with the peaky blinders?" She asked
"I have. And does that not make them your kin too?"I asked
"Depends,do you plan to marry into the family?" she asked
When I said nothing she continued.
"I doubt you want to stay here with us. But you must know ,now I've found you,I can't have you running around unwed. We can use you to solidify ours and the peaky blinders alliance"she said
"I don't need to be wed to a shelby, I lived with them and was raised by them. I am a Shelby already"I said
"I need to know your serious, I need to know you won't cross us"she said
"We-" I started
"She will think it over" tommy cut me off.
I scoffed
"We need your answer as soon as possible, and as for you, Shirley, I'm glad we found you." She said
I nodded.

We got back in the car and I turned to tommy.
"Tommy your a bloody prick! I'm not marrying any of you!" I said
"I said you'd think about it shirley,I didn't make any promises" tommy said tiredly
"Oh and refusing is like giving you a death sentence, so what other alternative do I have!"I said
"We will figure it out. Let's just get home for now"Tommy said annoyed

The next day tommy had told us all to get to the betting shop early. That's when he made an announcement.
I knew it was happening, but now more than ever I had to avoid billy kimber, especially now I had reunited with the lees.
Tommy cleared his throat.
"Gentlemen...and lady. I have in my hand a legal betting licence. Issued by the board of control. The Shelby family has its first legal racetrack pitch." He finished
There was an uproar as John pulled me to his side then Arthur pulled me and John towards him so I was crushed between them. Arthur let go to run to tommy and John grabbed the back of my neck to push our heads together in excitement.When we pulled away I walked up to tommy and clapped him hard on the back. He stared down at me remorsefully before Arthur ruffled my hair pulling us back into the chaotic atmosphere.
"Congratulations tommy" I said hitting his arm
"Thank you Shirley"

I knew I'd be able to work around the whole esme situation. What do you think?