Forbidden Alliances // Alfie Solomons Peaky Blinders

(85) Murderer pt. 3

*edited 03/21/23*

When everyone got back to the house, John and Arthur were instructed to put the case of money in Polly's room. Freya clung close, asking about what business he had with the duke and nagging him about letting her come.

"Tommy, I don't know where the fuck your head is at, but this was meant to be a simple robbery, mate," she hissed through her teeth as she followed Tommy through the halls decorated with expensive paint, portraits, and people.

"Things change, Freya," Tommy spat back in a whisper.

"You're digging too deep," she sighed, being separated from her brother when he entered the area where people were dancing. "You've already dug so far you need people on top to help. Who else is gonna have to be dragged to the trenches to get you out?" she expressed in a deep tone.

Tommy sighed, turning his head and leading Freya through the crowd of people and stopping to speak with Polly for a brief moment. She could hear the Romani twang in Tommy's voice but she couldn't make out what he was saying. All Freya knew for sure was that Polly was with a man who seemed pleasantly interested in her.

Tommy then moved back into the crowd, waiting for Freya to follow him. She quickly asked her aunt to be careful and then she was off.

"Compensation will be distributed accordingly... The rest goes to the wharf at Boston Docks." He pulled Freya into one of the many halls he had in the house and seeing as no one occupied the corridor, she fell into place. "That's why I've asked for U.S dollars," he explained sharply. "The extra we make in this endeavor will go directly to you and Arthur and whatever account you want. That's where it will go."

"I don't give a fuck about shillings, Tommy." She shook her head violently.

"Then why do you work with me? Tell me, why are you still working with me then, eh?" He pulled another cigarette from his pocket and finished the dozen he set in his case earlier that day. "Because I'm not worth anything else to people."

"Yes, you are, and you know it, you twat." She shoved him. 

"Tell him the dutchess is waiting to give him the money by the stables, yeah?" he groaned.

"She would never step foot near the stables," she corrected. "We'll take him to the back exit cellar. There'll be less mud," she instructed, turning away from Tommy and going to find Arthur for the execution.

***

"Take him to the cellar. Say, 'a woman is here to see you, Mr. Kaledin. She's just arrived,' and say nothing more. Do you understand?" Freya instructed Arthur as he stared down at the revolver in his hands.

He didn't say anything and his eyes never left the gun.

Freya sighed and put her hand over it. "Why did you agree to a coin toss?" she asked.

He looked up at her with terror reflecting in his eyes. "The Turk said he confided in you and Polly... You know more than you're lettin' on..." Arthur drew out mysteriously.

"I know what I know. I was told this was a shipment robbery. All I was told was that there'd be a possibility this would happen. None of us expected it to be the outcome, alright?"

"How long?!" he thundered, causing Freya's hand to move from the gun.

"We only just found out two weeks ago," she explained.

"Two... Two weeks?!" His hand ran to his hat before he ripped it off and threw it against the ground. "What the fuck happened to family meetings?!"

That was a good question. What had happened? They used to confide in one another before making decisions on the business. What happened?