Walking through across the cobbles, respect radiated from passers-by as children play in the street, "Morning, sir." Nodding in recognition and walking past.
"Morning, Mr Shelby." Reaching his destination, he pushed the wooden door and stepped through, catching the attention of the ten-year-old, sneaking a cigarette by the fire.
Snatching the cigarette and throwing it in the fire, looking down with a look, the man speaks again. "Finn?"
"Arthur's mad as hell."
"What does a ten-year old know about hell, eh?" he spoke with a small smile.
"I'm 11 Sunday." Finn shouts as he watches as the doors to the betting den fly open.
"Tommy. Tommy! Tommy, look at the book. Just look. Tommy! All on Monaghan Boy." John shouts, an excited smile shown on his face.
"Good work, John." Tommy replied.
"Tommy! Get in here, now!"
Arthur, pouring a glass of whiskey and standing, staring Tommy down sternly.
"You was seen doing the powder trick down at Garrison Court."
"Times are hard. People need a reason to lay a bet." Rolling his eyes at the accusation in Arthurs voice.
"There as a Chinese."
"The washer women say she's a witch. It helps them believe." Speaking with an air of confidence and an emotionless expression.
"We don't mess with Chinese"
"Look at the book"
Arthur bangs his fist against the desk, "Chinese have cutters of their own."
"We agreed, Arthur. I'm taking charge of drumming up new money." Tommy spoke.
"What if Monaghan Boy wins, Tommy? You fixing races now?" Arthur questions, getting increasingly angrier as he continues.
"Do you have permission from Billy Kimber to be fixing races, hm? Then what's got into you, Ainsley leaves for a few days and you lose all sense?"
"You think we can take on the Chinese and Billy Kimber. Billy's got a bloody army!"
"I think Arthur. That's what I do." Tommy retorts quickly, a cold stare onto his older brother. "I think so that you don't have to."
"There's news from Belfast. Down from tens over eights... I'm calling a family council tonight at eight o'clock. I want all of us there. You hear me?! There's trouble coming!" Shouts Arthur as he watches Tommy walk away.
A train whistle sounds, a beautiful brunette steps from the train, bag in hand, a cold snare on her face as she walks down the platform. Eyes turn to her from all angles as she moves, respectful nods come her way, a path is made as men move out of her way. She made a direct line for the Garrison, knowing the person she wanted to see would be waiting there for her.
Inside the Garrison, Tommy takes a seat at the bar, nodding to the barman in respect.
"On the house, Mr Shelby." Taking some coins from his pocket and placing them on the bar top despite the insistence of the barman.
Freddie Thorne left his companions and took a seat next to Tommy, "I'll take a mild. Right. Cheers, Thomas. Good health to you."
Looking upon the cap on the bar, Freddie spoke again as Tommy remained in silence, "The crown of a prince. Soon to be King, I'd bet."
Tommy spoke, breaking the silence, "You don't bet."
"No, but these past few days I've been speculating."
"About what?"
"One of my Union comrades has a sister, works in the telegraph office at the BSA factory. She says over the past week they've had messages coming up from London to the brass from Winston Churchill himself. Something about a robbery. A 'robbery of national significance', it said." Freddie spoke with arrogance and accusation, staring down Tommy to gage his reaction, Tommy remained stone faced, staring ahead whilst calming sipping his whiskey.
Freddie continued to speak, "She found the list of names left on the telegraph machine. And on that list was your name and my name together. What kind of a list would have the name of a Communist and the name of a bookmaker side-by-side?"
Tommy spoke, the same cold tone and carelessness remained in his tone, "Perhaps its a list of men who give false hope to the poor. The only difference between you and me, Freddie, is that sometimes my horses stand a chance of winning."
Freddie scoffed in disgust at Tommy and remarked, "You know, there are days when I hear about the cutting and beatings that I really wish I'd let you take that bullet in France."
"Believe me, there are nights, when she's not with me, that I wish you had."
Suddenly a loud commotion could be heard from outside the pub, shouts, and screams echo through the open doors, both men take a glance at the other and nod in agreement, they rush outside only to see a large man on the ground being comforted by a brunette beauty.
"Danny! Danny, you're home. Were all home in England. You're not in France, You're not a whizz bang. You're a human being, Danny, a man, eh?" After calming down, the beauty helped him from the position, she had forced him to on the ground with gentle soothing words. "You're all right, you're all right, you're all right, Danny."
Danny looked on distraught at the people watching around him, "Oh, hell. Did I do it again?"
She replied with a cool tone, and a comforting glance, "You did it again, Danny."
Sobbing he starts profusely apologising all in which she dismisses with a relaxed gesture. "Oh, God, Mrs Shelby, I'm sorry."
"It's all right, but you've got to stop this, you go home to your wife now, Danny. Get all that smoke and mud out of your head, eh."
"Thank you, Ms Shelby, I'm sorry."
She dismissed his apologies and beckoned him on his way, glancing around at all the staring faces, catching a glimpse of the man she came to see, ignoring him for now, she addressed the crowd.
"HEY! Never seen a man in distress before, quit your staring and get on with your day." The crowd immediately turned from the intimidating woman and scurried away, continuing with their day as they were before the commotion.
"Mr Shelby, you have to do something about him, if he's not creating a fuss on the streets, its In the pub and I can't deal with that damage," The barman spoke up from the doorway next to Tommy as the crowd dissipated, not daring to mention the woman waiting just outside the door, collecting her things from where she left them to deal with Danny.
"Damn right, Harry. Freddie spoke from the other side of Harry, You pay the Peaky Blinders a lot of money for protection."
Turning to face Tommy as he walked backwards slowly, "You're the law around here now, Tommy, aren't you? Maybe you should put a bullet in Danny Whizz Bangs head like they do with mad horses." Leaving the doorway and walking away, nodding with a mocking smile to the woman as he passes, which brings about an eyeroll from the brown-haired beauty.
"Any damage that needs paying for, you bring the bill to the Peaky Blinders. We'll take care of it." Stepping away from the door and finally taking in the woman stood in front of him, he held out his hand and waited.
Sauntering over to him, with a sway in her hips, she grasped his hand gently with her own. As he brought it to his lips to place a gentle kiss upon her knuckles, a smile graced itself on her face, breaking the cold exterior she once held.
"Hello, Tom." Two words came from her rouged lips, and yet still he felt weak at the knees.
Pulling her close, he grasped her waist and held her tight against him in an embrace, allowing her gentle scent of vanilla and smoke to waft through his senses. Not caring about his surroundings nor the reputation he holds as a 'heartless bookmaker' he captured her lips with his and gave a passionate kiss to his wife.
Finally separating, the ability to speak renewed itself, "Hello, Ainsley," softly spoken, with vulnerability no one else were allowed to see but her.
YOU ARE READING
Unconditional Love
FanfictionAinsley and Thomas Shelby, are madly, no, insatiably in love with each other. Ever since they were children. They went from fighting away bullies to fighting their feelings - although they inevitably lost that fight. Where you see one, the other is...
