Rebound // Alfie Solomons

72. Bad Blood

Arthur wasnt dead. Tommy had to tell Cora because she was whimpering that it was all her fault. Then she promptly punched Tommy in the chest. Cora told Tommy to handle his shit, Cora needed to find Alfie and Tommy respected that. He didnt like it but he didnt try to stop her either.

'I would've buried you all but my mother she knows you she said... It would be worse for you if I let you live and take away everything you had,' Luca told Tommy. 'Search them' he took out Tommy's gun from him moving to Polly. Luca ripped her blouse checking for weapons 'especially this bitch.' He added. 

 'Sign every fucking one of them' Luca told him dropping a pen in front of him 'you can sign them on your knees on the floor' he said dumping the papers from the desk to the floor before them. No one moved through so being a temperamental man child he flipped the table over. 'Get on your fucking knees and sign' he demanded Tommy got down to his knees

'A friend of mine once said big fucks small so I had to find someone bigger than you, you may know two families in Brooklyn that have been importing liquor into new York,' tommy said from the ground.

'They will start a war between the families if we die,' Polly told him

'But if you die the vendetta and some bookmaker in Birmingham we can take up our business with Oswald.' Tommy told him.

'We also contacted a business in Chicago' Polly went on. 'he's also interested in business in New York.'

'You see all the blood relatives you brought with you to New York, they are dead Mr. Changretta and these men here work for money. For the highest bidder and they now have a new orders.''

+

"ALFIE!" Cora demanded. "Fucking hell, Margate..." 

"What are you doing here Cora?" 

"I was looking for you at the match to tell you I tore up the contract." Cora shouted. 

"You what?" 

"I fucking tore up the contract with Luca. Alfie I want you." Cora begged. 

"About damn time you got your head out of your ass." Alfie agreed pulling her to him. She kissed him and didnt stop kissing him. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him like he was the breath he needed to breath. 

"Can you do the honors?" Cora whispered breathlessly. She pulled off her ring and held it out to him. 

"Miss Cora, will you be my wife?"

"Yes." 

+

'I hope your gonna leave the Dog out of this.' Alfie said Cyril at his side as he stood on the beach.

'Youre a hard man to find.' Tommy told him.

'theres a good reason for that.' Alfie informed him. 'I wanted to be here... wanted my happy moment with Cora, knowing she loved me and I could have a moment of peace... but God, its going to kill her too." Alfie informed him. 

'I once told you Alfie that for business reasons or bad blood I would kill you. I have no business reasons and it seems like you retired...' tommy told him.

'so this is purely bad blood is it?' Alfie questioned.

'yeah.'

"Stealing Cora from you maybe?"

"Maybe." Tommy agreed. 

"Loving her better than you."

"Yeah." Tommy agreed. 

'Alright, yeah I told you I wanted it to be here. You gonna look after this dog? Make sure Cora gets him?'

"No.' tommy said.

'well his name is Cyril and he is going to be very upset and destressed, hes gonna need Cora if he cant have me. hell he likes her better than me.'

'most do.' Tommy informed him. 'you armed?"

'don't be dull.' Alfie replied as tommy loaded his gun. 'the only thing I got on me is fucking cancer mate. Yeah. Riddled with it. Doctor told me I might have picked it up in France he showed me a photograph of it.'

'Alfie stop talking,' tommy said pointing the gun at him.

'so I said margate and here I am.' Alfie went on. "Cora, she's here, shes perfect... I dont know how you ever let her slip away... at least I got a yes, a great fuck and a promise of forever that I no longer get to keep... but she will understand... hate you forever, but you are used to that." 

''Alfie look at me.' tommy demanded.

''it's an honorable reason to pull that trigger-'

'Alfie.' Tommy shouted.

'Yeah, yeah pull the fucking trigger.'

'Alfie.'' 

"THOMAS FUCKING SHELBY!" Coras voice echoed and Tommy put down his gun. "NO!" 

"Cora-"

"No. Arthur is fine, Luca is dead and I get to be happy." Cora demanded. Tommy held out his gun to her and she took it quickly. "YOu want me to kill you?" Cora pondered. Tommy shrugged. She cocked it back and stared him down. "You honestly fucking think, I spent this long trying to keep your family alive that i would kill you now?" Cora hissed locking the gun and wedging it in the back of her pants. 

"You are a good person Cora." Tommy remarked. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I ever walked into that gym and fucked up your life." 

Cora stared back at him silently. 

"I know this cant make up for it but..." Tommy pulled out a folder. Cora snatched them from him. "Legal documents, Charles is yours. I wont come and steal him away, he will be officially yours. If you want him."

"What?" Cora rasped. 

"Cora I fucked up. I'm sorry. I can't say it enough but I can do this. Charlie loves you, he asks for you constantly. He loves you. I know you will treat him right, love him... better than I ever could." Tommy remarked. 

"I want him." Cora agreed. Tommy whistled out and Polly came down the path with Charlie, he ran to cora when he saw her. 

"You were going to kill me with your kid around the corner?" Alfie questioned appalled. 

"Mama!" Charlie shouted as she hugged him tight. 

"Oh, baby I missed you." Cora coed. 

"Never leave me again." Charlie begged. 

"Never again." Cora agreed. Tommy nodded and headed up the sandy beaches. 

"I wish you all the happiness in the world, Cora." Tommy called back but he didnt dare turn around and see her face, he loved her, he hurt her, but this was something good, maybe the only good thing he ever did in his life.