Without A Trace

Thirty-Five.

A few hours later Thomas walks through the door and hangs up his jacket. I walk over to him and hand him a glass of whiskey before resting my hands on his waist. He pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs quietly.

"Relax," I say placing a kiss on his cheek, "Nobody's hurt and everythings taken care of. So just fuckin relax eh?" I say patting his side softly before walking away. I sit back at the table with the girls as our attention turns to Thomas.

Thomas takes a drink of his whiskey and looks at everyone, "Right. Well first things first," he says opening the door. In slowly walks a very tired looking Lewis.

Annas eyes brighten up as she smiles widley at her husband as he makes his way over to her and takes a seat next to her.

"They let Lewis come home but he has to take it easy the next two days. With that out of the way," Thomas says taking a seat next to me, resting his hand on my thigh, "I want to know what happened here," he says looking at Arthur.

"A man and a woman came in for a drink. I told them as long as they keeps to themselves they could stay and have a drink. The woman said they just got off the ship from America and they was traveling to London," Aurthur says taking another swig of his drink.

"Alright," Thomas says as I hand him a cigarette and light it for him, "Then what happened?" He asks calmly.

"The girls and I got here and she said her name was Shaye. And gave us the same traveling spiel that she gave Aurthur. Michael came in and I'm assuming talked with Aurthur about them. Michael looked at them and then went to the phone to call you I'm assuimg, and then the man pulled a gun on him. Shaye tried to pull a gun or something but that was shot down quickly. Aurthur grabbed him, drug him along the bar top and then threw him out," I say taking a puff of my husband's cigarette before handing it back to him, "And they all lived happily ever after, the end." I say leaning back in my chair.

Thomas sits there nodding his head, "Michael did call me yes. And that womans name is Shaye Eden."

"No wonder she made that comment about her sister being a lair," I say tracing the veins on his hand.

His icy blue eyes meet mine, as he looks over at me and he talks lowly as smoke travels out of his mouth and up his nose, "Cora, mind yourself."

I stop and just rest my hand on his before taking a sip of my drink.

"We can only handle one thing at a time, so the next hanful of days we'll be getting ready for the Derby," Thomas says looking at everyone. "I have learned that the man that pulled the gun on Michael tonight, was intending for it to be me." He says clearing his throat. "So I've been getting my affairs in order."

"You what?" I spit out staring at him. My body stiffens as I look at my husband and meet his gaze. I could physically feel a piece of my heart breaking at the sting of those words. I've lived almost ten years of my life with my husband and I'm not ready to live ten more if he's not in it with me. Ivy leans over and rests her hand on my arm, stroking it softly.

"You didn't talk to me about this," I say coldly as I feel my face become hot. "This is one fucking thing you should have talked to me about!"

"Cora," Thomas warns staring at me before turning his attention back to the table. "We need to get ready for next week so for the remainder of the time until the Derby, we will be working over time to get a clear picture of everything Campbell is involved in. I've also dug up some information from Alfie that Campbell has been keeping a very close eye on the girls. For what reason I'm not sure of," he says exchanging a glance with Anna and Ivy. "Lewis you will be staying home the next few days but I want you to trace all of the names in the log book to match the list I have of people attending the Derby. I want to know who is attending and who they're betting on and at what price," he says looking over at his brother. Lewis looks over at his brother and nods his head in agreement.

"Don't fuckin tell me this is going where I think it is," I say slouching in my chair.

"The girls will be on house arrest with Pip until Derby day. Unless otherwise instructed by me personally," Thomas says, rolling his cigarette between his thumb and first finger. "Speaking of the Derby, that will be the day Campbell gets killed," He says putting it back in his mouth.

"I have a plan that will keep the coppers occupied, but that is for me to know and for the rest of you to stick to my plan down to the last fuckin second," He says looking around the table.

"In the event of my death if it should happen, Cora will be head mistress, however," he says looking over at Michael and Ivy, raising his hand to point at Michael, "Michael will become in charge. But nothing goes without Coras say."

Michaels eyes become slightly wide as he clenches his jaw. He nods at Thomas before folding his hands on the table.

"Michael, you've been my right hand man in this family and I know that you'll take it where I've only ever dreamed of it going. So don't fuckin let me down," Thomas says looking at Michael.

I pause for a moment before getting up from the table abruptly, "I have to go. I can't have this conversation."

Thomas grabs my arm and looks up at me, "Sit down Cora," he demands meeting my gaze.

Tears fall down my face as I yank my arm away from him, "I can't have this FUCKING TALK RIGHT NOW THOMAS," I yell resting my hand on my chest. My heart feels like its about to explode out of my chest before walking out of the pub.

I walk through the rain as it drenches my clothes. I walk all the way out to the field by the arena and just stop in my tracks. I cover my face with my hands and sob uncontrollably. I look up at the dark night sky, feeling the rain bead on my face and just scream. I'm not ready to face life without my husband in it. Hes the glue to this family but more importantly the glue thats keeping my pieces together and my demons at bay.

My clothes are now heavy since they're drenched from the rain and I'm starting to get cold. I'm mad he didnt have this talk with me previously before everyone else. I'm hurt my husbands scared for his family. But more importantly, I'm fuckin pissed at the fact that Irish bastard has a hit out on my husband.

Campbell better sleep with one eye open because with or without Tommys permission, I WILL find out everything that fuckin man has planned. And I will put a bullet in his fuckin brain at the Derby.