Without A Trace

Twenty-Two.

The past few weeks since the meeting have been absolute hell in this family. The rain that we've been having is really starting to take a toll on Lewis and now that we have permission to kill Campbell Michael's been on a fuckin rage trip. Him and Thomas have gotten into it a few times already. The girls and I are fucking exhausted trying to keep the peace in this house. Ivy stayed home with Michael today and are doing some stuff with Pippin, hopefully to help calm him down.

At the warehouse by the port in Camden Town Thomas punches one of Campbells spies, "Who the fuck told you about this place? I'm done playing games with you. Answer my fuckin question, last warning."

The man breathes heavily, peeling his eyes open to look at Thomas, "Campbell is taking orders from a fuckin American. I just carry out the orders and mine was to find this fuckin warehouse and blow it up. But you obviously knew I would be here so you lucky bastards get to live another day."

I look over at the Anna as a thought flickers in my head about who the person in America could be that they're taking orders from. I puff on my cigarette and look over at Lewis, concern growing across my face before I nudge Anna causing her to look over at her husband. I take my hand and wipe the blood off of the edge of my eyebrow as it starts to drip down my face. I hand Anna my handkerchief, she takes it and holds it up to her cheek, pushing against the laceration to make the bleeding stop.

Lewis stands there death gripping his jacket pockets. Sweat beads on his forehead and his vision fades in and out of being blurry.

Thomas grabs the mans face, digging his fingers into the laceration wounds on his face causing the man to scream out in pain. "But you wont be one of the lucky bastards today now will you?" He pauses, "You almost killed my wife today mate," He says letting go, "Take care of him," he orders.

Lewis charges over to the guy and starts hammering away at him with his fists. He absolutely loses control and doesnt stop beating the man in the chair. His face is becoming disfigured with how hard hes punching him and how much he wont stop.

"Lewie boy that's enough, come on now," Thomas says running over grabbing ahold of his brother pulling on him to try and restrain him.

"Lewis stop it," Anna says running over as Arthur and John grab ahold of each of Lewis's arms. Lewis screams out as Anna puts her hands on each side of his face.

Thomas tightens his grip on him and leans over to him and talks loudly but calmly, "Lewie boy you're alright. You're fine brother everythings fine your wife is right in front of you just fuckin LOOK AT HER."

Anna wipes the blood off of Lewis's eyes with tears filling her own. Lewis focuses his attention on his wife as she strokes the sides of his face with her thumbs, "You're safe Lewis you're home with me. Relax now," She says wiping her tears away with her shoulder.

Lewis breathes heavily staring at his wife, tears fill his broken eyes as his relaxes and wraps his arms around her. He pulls away running his hand over his head as tears stream down his face.

She hugs him sharing a glance with Thomas who is breathing heavily from restraining his brother. "Take him home Anna. Cora and I have a meeting," He demands walking out grabbing my wrist and pulling me with him.

"Thomas we dont have-" I say following him in the direction of the stables and the arena.

"Shut the fuck up Cora," He says pulling me to the middle of the arena before he sits there and stares at me. He blinks the tears out of his eyes walking through the field and into the back entrance of the arena.

I blink a few times looking around anxiously, "What is it Tom?"

He walks up to me and gently wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a warm and loving embrace before resting his head in the crook of my neck. I wrap my arms around him and hug him back, resting my head against his, "Whats wrong Tommy?"

He pulls away and rests his forehead on mine. I reach my hands up and wipe his tears away, "Talk to me," I say softly.

"I almost lost you today. Because I was almost too late. I don't know what I would do if I didn't get there in time," He says taking my hands and bringing them up to his lips kissing them softly. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't get there in time. I can't live my life without you in it Cora."

I smile slightly to my husband, placing a kiss on his lips before meeting his gaze, "You'll never have to live your life without me Thomas Shelby. Because im not going anywhere. No matter what happens," I say smoothing out his coat jacket.

"My heart doesn't beat if you're not with me," he says taking a deep breath. "I love you with every ounce of my being, and I will not ever let anything on the face of the fuckin earth happen to you." He says stroking the side of my face with his thumb.

"I know. I love you too. The air in my lungs, my heart beat, its all for you. You're my life," I say wiping the blood off of his face. "Dont worry about losing me. We're Cora and Thomas Shelby from the Peaky Blinders. Nothing happens to us, because we dont let shit fuckin happen to us," I say giving him a wink. "Lets get you home and cleaned up. You're exhausted I'm sure from today and the lack of sleep from the past couple nights."

"Cora I'm fuckin serious," He says grabbing me. "I cant fucking do this without you. I don't want to do this without you," He says staring into my eyes.

"You won't Thomas, I promise. Relax eh? I'm standing right in front of you for fuck sakes," I say with a smile giving him another hug. "Lets go home Thomas," I say grabbing his hand pulling him back towards the door.

"I'm fuckin exhausted Cora," He says following me. "I'm fuckin exhausted from all of this."

"I know Tom, me too," I say sighing quietly before walking down the road towards our home.