When Tommy is assigned the deadly task of rescuing kidnapped duchess, Alena Petrovna, he quickly realises his mission doesn't quite end with her once he's completed it.
•••
[tommy shelby x oc]
[mature]
RANKINGS:
#1 Birmingham [28/12/23]
[10] "hearts are strangers that need a warm place to stay."
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SMALL HEATH, BIRMINGHAM 5:45pm
THE DUCHESS KNEW notto come here. It was a forbidden zone, a place below hell. You couldn't hide from God here. Or perhaps, the thing was, God hid from here himself.
Small Heath.
The bleak land of drunken men, whores, and vagabonds. Workers with black stained hands were in every corner, making a living. Blind beggars roamed around like ghosts. Children played out on the streets no matter the hour, running barefoot in tattered clothing.
Therefore, it was no surprise that a Russian duchess wearing white lace cut from royalty and a russet brown fur jacket with pearls, stood out like a sore thumb. Yet she smiled at every local that glanced her way, waved at every child sweetly.
"Hello?" Alena knocks on the door, finally reaching her destination. She had caused quite the ruckus coming here as everyone's eyes were glued to her.
"We're closed at this hour!" A voice shouts back from inside. "We're not accepting bets at the moment!"
"I'm not here to place a bet, I'm looking for Mr Thomas Shelby, it's erm, important." Alena responds, although coming here was quite the gamble in itself, and now, she was desperate to get inside.
The door eventually swings open and a young woman stands there, her arms crossed. Her chestnut brown hair loosely braided and her eyelids smokey. She was beautiful. Yet her face was unimpressed, confused and curious at the same time.
"If they see I'm letting you in, they'll all come rushing like fucking flies." Esme complains. "You better get in quickly."
Alena nods profusely, walking inside the Shelby Betting Shop.
"So you're here to see Thomas, right?" Esme questions, a little on guard. "You do know he has all his proper meetings in his other office?"
"Oh, I didn't know that." Alena felt a bit stupid now. "I've heard of this place in the papers and thought to come here." She takes off her white gloves and starts walking around, taking in her surroundings.
Documents scattered on desks, bets written in chalk on boards, glasses of whiskey— it was fair to say this wasn't her usual environment.
"And who are you to Thomas?" Esme stands right in front of Alena, purposely blocking her view.
"I do business with him, we're working together." Alena explains, a little uncomfortable as Esme stared her down from head to toe.
