Without A Trace

Fourty-Three.

The next morning Thomas barges through the doorway of Michael and Ivys room. Michael quickly gets off of his wife as Ivy rips the covers up to cover her bare body.

"You could've fuckin knocked Thomas," Michael says breathing heavily, sweat beaded all over his face.

"Todays not a day for knocking Michael. Its Derby Day. Get up, family meeting in 10 minutes," he says before walking out of the room.

Michael looks over at his wife before planting another kiss on her lips and rolling out of bed as he starts to put his suit back on.

Downstairs I meet Thomas in the entryroom before reaching around him and snaking my arms around his waist as I rest my head on his shoulder blades.

"I can feel your heart pounding out of your chest Thomas," I say before giving his back a quick kiss and moving next to him.

"Its just the adrenaline this morning Cora. Nothing to be worried about," he says before lighting a cigarette and taking a puff off of it stressfully as he leans against the wall with one hand in his pocket.

I put his head in my hands and stroke his cheek before giving him a deep kiss and looking him in his blue eyes, "I'm never worried as long as you're around. Everything will always be alright with you here," I say gently giving my husband another small kiss before sitting down in the chair at the table.

As the ten minutes go by I sit and check my watch as I annoyingly stare down the hallway, "Jesus fuckin Christ you give this family ten minutes and they take a fuckin hour I swear it."

"Awe come off it Cora," Aurthur says as he appears from the hallway, "Some of us dont wake with the dead like others."

"Yeah we're here goddamn," Anna says before joining us with Lewis and Ada.

I sigh and yell down the hallway, "MICHAEL YOU GET YOUR DICK OUT OF YOUR WIFES MOUTH BEFORE I FUCKIN COME DOWN THERE. FAMILY MEETING."

Ivy and Michael finally join us after a few more moments into the room and take a seat.

"Gotta fuckin finish what you started eh?" Aurthur jokes to Michael.

"At least im fuckin able to do that Aurthur," Michael snaps at him.

Aurthur gets up from the table and gets in Michaels face as John pushes against Aurthur, "The fuck did you say to me boy?" Aurthur asks coldly.

"Thats fucking enough the two of you," I say shooting my gaze in their direction. "Sit the fuck down before you both regret it."

Aurthur and Michael part from each other and sit down before turning their attention to Thomas and Lewis.

"Right then," Thomas says clearing his throat. "Today during the Derby we're going to take all of the slips from Sabini and the Kimbers and burn them. In doing so the only legal and qualified racing company will be ours. Therefore anyone that bet on any of their horses will have to give their earnings to us since theirs will be illegal and voided out."

"Aurthur and John, I need you two to take the team and wait down by the track. That way when Michael and I cause the distraction, the coppers will be occupied with Thomas and be nowhere in sight," Lewis says looking across the room at them. "You will know when its about to happen when Anna and the Ivy make their way to the eastern ledge of the track rail," he says glancing at his wife. "Once the coppers are occupied, you make your move and burn all the slips."

"Yeah so keep your fuckin eyes peeled. We're not wearing these fuckin dresses the whole time so be sure to watch for us," Anna says before her husband stares at her and gives her a small smile admiring her fierceness.