As the youngest Shelby child and twin to Finn Shelby, Kezia has spent the last 4 of her 10 years locked away for her mental defectiveness.
She returns to Small Heath under the legal guardianship of her brother, Thomas Shelby. Despite knowing she's s...
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CHAPTER EIGHT
Ada was sick.
Kizzie found her sister hunched over the toilet the next day, puking. It was just them and Finnie home.
"I can make you tea," her twin offered.
"N-no, Finn. I'm fine." Ada flushed the toilet. "Tell no one about this."
"Okay."
"Sure."
Ada smiled and held her stomach like she still wasn't feeling well. She left her siblings and returned to her room, only to walk out the front door without another word.
"Wanna play outside, Kizzie?"
The weight of Tommy's coins in her pocket felt like a gun—not that she ever held a gun. But surely these were just as heavy and dangerous. They were used in the war for a reason.
"Not today. My tummy still hurts."
Finn shrugged and thought nothing of her lie. "Okay. I think everyone is coming home later tonight. Want me to show you how to get to the Garrison from here?"
"No, I'm okay, Finnie."
She watched her brother from the window leave and skip down the street to meet with his friends..
Kizzie had to be quick. And discreet. The Blinders practically tripled in size since she left for the hospital. They'd recognize the youngest Shelby and report to Tommy.
There was a side door in the house that only the family had access to. Mainly for the brothers to sneak in to avoid coppers or trouble in general. Kizzie couldn't count all the times she'd seen John and Arthur barrel through after dark. Mostly because she couldn't count.
She dressed herself in a brown, wool dress. Unappealing and too poor for Tommy's favorite person in the world, and that was the point. Last night, she asked Aunt Polly to braid her hair. Another move to prevent being seen. Her unruly curls were always a dead giveaway in a crowd. The day was overcast and cold and damp. The perfect cap weather.
Kizzie looked herself over in Tommy's mirror. She was just a normal low class girl. When she took the train with Aunt Polly, she'd seen many children her age traveling alone. No one would think twice about her either.
She took out the two marbles from her coat pocket. After the coins last night, Kizzie found another bag in his drawer. Tommy said they were marbles. From when he was her age. Said she could have them if she wanted.
Kizzie had opened the bag onto his comforter. Their clinking sounds tickled her ears. The colors resembled the colors she so often saw around people. Just packaged in a smooth little ball. She clanked two together and bit her lip. The vibrations pressed on a part of her that offered comfort. The same way rocking did.
