Rebound // Alfie Solomons

45. Invitation to an Ass Whopping

"Hey dad." Cora called out stepping into the gym. 

"Cora bear!" Mark declared hugging his daughter. Alfie looked around the gym. Not too big, but had a slew of rings and bags set up. "Thank God you are back sweetheart." Mark declared leading her to the ring. "These two bimbos are still being difficult." 

"Cleganes." Cora remarked nodding to the brothers. 

"Stark and Lannister can't work together to save their lives." Mark went on pointing around the gym. 

"They doing a tag team?" Cora asked. 

"Yep." Mark agreed. 

"Against the Cleganes? Because they cant work together either." Cora remarked. 

"HEY!" Sandor grumbled. 

"Where is Robert? Him and Stark got on last time I was here." Cora remarked. 

"Dead." mark informed her. Cora turned back around to him. "He was working for the peakys, got him killed." 

"Idiot." Cora grumbled. Cora looked around at the men. "Do a fatal four way."  Alfie loved that Cora knew her stuff. He knew that she had grown up in a gym but seeing her here, so easily commanding the room was so sexy. 

"I like that. I need you back, these cunts dont listen to me." Mark remarked. 

"Fatal four losers!" Cora shouted pointing at the Cleganes, Ned Stark and Jaime Lannister. 

"I would rather have a go at you." Jaime mused. 

"No you wouldnt.' Sandor corrected and Cora smiled innocently. 

"Stop procrastinating your loss blondie." Cora instructed. 

"New guy." Mark remarked turning to Alfie. "You need that cane or is it for show?" Cora spun around. 

"Oh, no. Dad he's not." Cora ran to Alfie's side. "Sorry, I see them all pathetic and I just need to step in." She whispered. 

"It's very sexy." Alfie assured smiling down at her. 

"Dad, I wanted to introduce you to Alfie." Cora remarked. "Alfie, this is my dad, Mark." 

"Nice to meet you Sir." Alfie said extending his hand. Mark looked from Alfie to Cora hesitant. Alfie cleared his throat putting his hand down. 

"Alfie what?" Mark asked. 

"Alfie Solomons Sir." Alfie offered. 

"Cora... a word." Mark hissed. 

"That was great. Honest." Cora whispered as she left Alfie's side. 

"Cora." Mark seethed. 

"What?" She countered. 

"Solomons. Alfie Solomons. Camden town bakery."

"Yes. All correct." Cora agreed. 

"Cora, I thought you werent going to do this again." Mark reminded her. 

"Do what?" 

"Fall in love with the bad guy." Mark reminded her. 

"Alfie isnt the bad guy. He is a good guy." Cora corrected. "I really like him. I want you to like to him too."

"Cora, I don't want to see you get hurt again." Mark remarked. 

"I don't think Alfie is-"

"You never think they are going to hurt you." Mark corrected. "They seem wonderful and perfect and then you are heartbroken and run away." Mark reminded her. "You moved to London, where will you go after he breaks your heart Cora bear?" 

"I like him." Cora shouted back. "I'm not running."

"You ran before. You thought Thomas Shelby was the one and then he broke you and you ran and now I don't see my girl as much, what happens when that gangster breaks your heart? You gonna run to the states? I don't want to lose my girl. Not again."

"You never lost me." Cora corrected softly. 

" I don't want him to break your heart." Mark whispered bringing a hand to her shoulder. "Sweet heart... I'm just worried about you... falling into old habits." 

"Alfie isnt..."

"The man in charge? The big bad gangster? The man with the power and control and oh so eager to take your heart and break it when it suits him." Mark countered. 

"He's not like that. We are going slow." Cora corrected. 

"I love you Cora, I lost your mother, I felt like I lost you when Thomas broke you. You were not yourself. Now I got you back, you have that smile on your face... I just dont want you to get hurt." Mark told her honestly. 

Mark hated seeing cora so miserable after she found out about Tommy's affairs. She thought there was something wrong with her. That she wasnt good enough to keep him from wandering off. But there was nothing wrong with Cora. She was sweet and loved with her whole heart, she was strong and protective. She was resilient and Mark hated seeing her so broken after she ended things but she was doing better. 

Mark looked to Alfie and wondered how long they had been together for her to be introducing him to Alfie. She wouldnt do that after a month or two, surly... He just didnt want her to get hurt again. He knew men like Alfie, so did Cora. He wanted to protect her, because he couldnt protect her from Tommy before. 

"So I just never find love again? I just hide from all men because they might hurt me?" Cora countered. "I'm young dad, I don't want to be alone forever. I like being with Alfie, he makes me smile, laugh, he isnt Tommy." Cora told him confidently. "I love him." 

Mark nodded and walked back over to Alfie, Cora turned around watching him. Alfie stood straight as Mark approached and stuck out his hand. Alfie shook it. Mark gripped tight to Alfie hand pulling him closer. 

"You hurt my Cora and I will tear you apart." Mark warned. 

"I think Cora would beat you to it." Alfie remarked. "But you don't have to worry Sir. I love your daughter. I wouldn't dream of hurting her." Alfie assured. 

Mark let go of Alfie's hand satisfied as he clapped out turning back to the ring. 

"Go on, what are you waiting for? An invitation for an ass whopping?" 

"I'm sorry." Cora whispered coming up to Alfie. 

"Don't be." Alfie assured. "I'm just going to have to prove to the both of you that I'm more than just some gangster rebound."

"You dont have anything to prove." Cora corrected kissing him.