Nothing Left To Break

7

THOMAS COULD SEE THE PANIC AND WORRY ON HER FACE THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO HIDE AS ISAAC HENDERSON WALKED TOWARDS THEM.
Ani was practically shaking on the inside, the only visible sign being her hand. She was obviously trying not to show it as she tucked her flowing dark brown hair behind her ear.

"You need to leave" she says, pushing him away slightly, a look of despair growing in her eyes that she was trying her best to hide.
"No. I'm not going anywhere" he says calmly, not listening to the woman's orders.

"Oh for fucks sake" she says, rolling her eyes and still trying to push him away.
Before Tommy could answer Isaac is beside them.

"And what's going on here?" He asks. Too nicely, putting a hand on Ani's arm.

"Isaac-" she starts.
"No, shut the fuck up, Ani. I want to here it from your fella here" he shouts. Pointing in Tommy's face. Using his other hand to dig his nails into Ani's arm, breaking her skin.

Tommy Shelby was rarely not known. For example, when he walked down the streets in Birmingham everyone knew him. They would either be his comrades and shake his hand. Or be strangers and avoid eye contact with him.

And on the rare occasion that people did not recognise him, and did what Isaac Henderson was doing now. He found it amusing.

"He's not my-" yet again, Ani starts speaking but is cut across, starting to get agitated.

"I am. We are deeply in love actually" Thomas says. Deeply amusing himself by the facade. He breaks Ani out of Isaac's grasp,  and pulls her in by his arm, resting it on her shoulder.
Sending a sharp pain through her arm briefly.

"Right. Who the fuck are you?" He shouts.

Ani looks around nervously. Very aware of the fact that Alfie has men lurking around every corner.

"Oh, me? My name is Tommy Shelby"

He watches as Isaac's face falls.

He gulps and looks between Ani and Thomas.
"I think you should leave Miss Solomons alone now. Don't you?" Thomas asks condescendingly.

Isaac doesn't say anything. He just leaves. Just like that, he's gone.

That went easier than expected. Funny, how when a man does the talking...People listen.

"Why did you do that?" Ani asks, trying to regain her steady voice.
Thomas steps away from Ani and starts walking again. Walking in the direction of her and Ada's house. Knowing that Lani was following him.

"I saw how he spoke to you. A man like that doesn't deserve a woman like you, Leilani" he says casually, like it wouldn't effect Ani. He used her full name. No one uses her full name. Why was she fixating on that?

"You called me Leilani" she states. God, she hated herself sometimes.
"You called me Thomas"
ani chuckles slightly.
"Touchè" she says smiling.

"So. How long have you been living with my sister?" Thomas asks, slowing down so he walks beside Ani, taking her in. Even if he had a good first impression on someone his guard was always up. He was inspecting her to see her weaknesses. To see if she lied, what her tell was. But so far, there was nothing to be shown.

"Well, about a year, Ada just turned up on my doorstep with a baby. She said that she needed a place to stay, she would pay half the rent and she wasn't an axe murderer. So I let her in" Ani says, smiling fondly at the memory.

For Thomas, however, it was nerve racking. She would rather live with a stranger in a dangerous new city, where she knew no one, than live with her family. Honestly, he felt guilty and a bit hurt by this.

"Right" he says, snapping a bit.

"Back to that are we?" Ani asks, rolling her eyes.

"Back to what?" He asks, back into his monotone and harsh voice.

"Back to the short answers and big alpha male attitude. Honestly, it's boring" she says, looking at him and smiling sarcastically.

"Now, why would my sister want to stay with you,eh?" He asks, avoiding the question, asking a little spitefully. A tone that Ani did not appreciate.

"She wanted a change. You can't be angry with someone for wanting a change" Ani says, looking ahead of her. Alfies men were there. They must have seen or at least heard what went on with Isaac. Meaning that Ani would be called into her brothers office by tomorrow.

Thomas remains silent for a moment.

They arrive back at Ani's house a second later, before Thomas could say anything.

"Well. Thank you, for helping me with Isaac" Ani says. Fully meaning it. Without Thomas there Ani wouldn't have known what would have happened. In all honesty she could be dead by now.

"Anytime" he answers. Ani laughs slightly at the short answer.

As Ani begins to walk into the house Thomas stops her.

"Goodbye Leilani, I will see you tomorrow"
He says before walking away. Not giving Ani a chance to ask what was happening tomorrow. Leaving her confused, she walks back into the house. Noticing Ada at the window, watching the interaction.

-------------------

Ada had froze up once she saw the two walking together. She cared deeply for Ani and didn't want her getting hurt, and that's exactly what would happen if she were to get involved with Ada's brother. Thomas had made so many enemies that everyday the Shelby family and their loved ones had to look over their shoulders.

Ada knew that Ani most likely had to do that herself already because of her brothers. So why would she risk it? Ada didn't understand why women were like this, what the attraction was in her brother apart from money. And ani wasn't like that.

Maybe she was just confused.

When Ada's beloved Freddie died she was lost. She knew the pain of having the love of her life ripped from her grasp. He died of pestilence. But he was taken far before that. Her own brother had taken Freddie away and put him in prison as soon as Karl was born. That was no way to live.