METHOD OF MADNESS ━ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲 ¹ (Under editing)

𝒾𝓋. 𝓉𝓌𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓎-𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑒𝑒: grace's motive

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : fake - the tech thieves

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iv. twenty-three: ❝grace's motive❞

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Small heath, Birmingham

Thomas Shelby, ever the vigilant leader, tightened his security after Marianna's cryptic warning. As she had foretold, the coppers had swept through several of the Peaky Blinders' wharves over the past few nights. The first night's raid led Tommy to allow Marianna back to the Garrison to resume her duties, despite his confusion over why she was eager to work when he was providing her with money to rest.

The nagging worry about the other barmaid, Grace, consumed his thoughts. Arthur had relayed disturbing news: Grace had been snooping about their storage and operations, even suggesting improvements. Her curiosity came dangerously close to the raids, and Tommy, though far from blind, couldn't shake off the suspicion that Grace might be more than just a curious barmaid.

One evening, as the rest of the crew headed home, Tommy lingered behind. He planned to confront the Irish barmaid responsible for locking up the tavern. His intent was to scrutinize Grace up close, with a scheme brewing in his mind to use her as a front secretary for the organization. It was a strategic move: by keeping his enemy close, he hoped to keep a keen eye on her.

Thomas led Grace into the dimly lit church, his skepticism barely masked as he watched her fidget nervously, clutching her skirt in a display of anxiousness. This was no ordinary interview; it was a calculated move to determine whether Grace was a threat or simply a pawn in a dangerous game.

"You keep the books in order." Thomas asked with a smirk, his voice dripping with mock charm.

His plan was straightforward: use his infamous charm to get the Irish woman to play along. He wasn't blind to Grace's obvious interest in him and intended to manipulate her into thinking he felt the same way—a trick he'd been perfecting since he was a lad.

"They were chaotic." Grace replied with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"But you're a liar." Tommy said, sliding onto the pew next to her, his gaze fixed on the altar. As he watched her smile falter and her body stiffen, his own expression turned icy. "No Catholic girl would enter a church and forget to make the sign of the cross."

Grace met his gaze directly. "You're very perceptive."

"First, you lied about that pub you used to work in, and now I find out you're a protestant." Tommy kept his eyes forward, feeling the tension rise as Grace's breath quickened and her eyes bore into him.

"Do you care?" she asked, her voice edged with defiance.

"No." He replied with a dismissive shake of his head.