𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 🍞PEAKY BLINDERS 🥖

Chapter Forty

Please see Author's Note for an important update.

CHAPTER FORTY

"S...sciat...tica."

"Right," Alfie told her. He leaned across the table to enclose his hand around hers. The pen in her grip tightened from the motion. "Let's spell it."

"Okay."

"S-c-i-a-t-i-c-a." He released her.

Kizzie stared at the word. "That's spelled weird." She then spelled the word herself, underneath. Writing, apparently, had to start from the left, but Alfie told her in some languages they start at other places. So, it made sense to start writing with her left hand. Then, if the word was long enough, trade for her right. Kizzie did the same thing when drawing; less ink and oil got smudged on the side of her pinky finger that way.

"What comes next?" she asked.

"T."

"T..." Her smile turned as bright as the morning sun. "Like Tommy."

Alfie grunted a reply. "Want to spell it?"

Of course she did. How he wished she understood the irony of wanting to spell her brother's name, the very same brother who prevented her from reading and writing in the first place.

But he did as she wished. Leaned over the table despite the growing pain shooting through his hips and legs. Held her tiny hand tight around the pen, and spelled her fucking brother's name.

Kizzie used just her left hand to copy his name. What a simple thing. So short with round letters: Tommy. The last letter, whatever it was, stuck out--sharp and blunt. Like a stuck-out leg ready to trip someone. That was her brother.

The telephone suddenly rang. Alfie excused himself and hobbled out the room. Kizzie watched with a frown the pressure he exerted onto his legs. He confessed his pain was from sciatica; nerve pain from the hips that went down his legs and sometimes up into his lower back. From the war, he explained. Lots of heavy lifting and running and falling. Using the cane made it hurt less. But Kizzie noticed he didn't use it much around her.

She'd been at Alfie's home for three days now. Part of her worried about Tommy. He hadn't come for her yet. He either didn't know, or he was taking his time--which was unlike him. Even when she stayed at the Lees for the first time, he visited her every day. Brought her snacks and fresh clothes.

Something was wrong.

Alfie returned into the kitchen. He made the choice this morning to dress up. His brown suede suit vest was lined with heavy vertical stitching. And the cream long-sleeved tunic underneath wasn't as wrinkly as Kizzie was used to seeing. Yet he remained a working man. Leather suspenders hung from his belt. Black slacks and black boots and black porkpie hat. He even trimmed his beard.

Because today was Derby Day.

The day for horses every way Kizzie looked. She and the family went for a few years now. But just to watch. The business wasn't ever big enough to bet on races. But this year, things changed. A lot changed...

Alfie leaned against the counter. "That was your brother."

Kizzie's heart stopped. "Tommy?"

"He wants a meeting in an hour in my bakery. All three of us."

"Did he...sound angry?"

Alfie's denim blues shone. "Hard to tell emotion over the phones. And your brother is stone."

"Are you nervous?"

"Are you?" Gruff and thicker than normal. Like a dam ready to burst.

Kizzie sucked in her lips. The sudden weight in the room landed on her chest. "I won't let him hurt you."

He stood straight and crossed the room to kneel in front of her. But the pain in his legs forced him onto his knees. Kizzie couldn't help but find his positioning reminiscent of Tommy; whenever he tied her shoes. Foot balanced on his leg. So close she smelt his cologne. The tenderness in his eyes. Warm and open and true.

"He's not gonna hurt me, little bird. And nor will he hurt you."

"Tommy wouldn't hurt me."

But he already had. Her fear of the police. Death. Her unwillingness to be without her brother. And there was the hidden pain she did not see. Her inability to write. To read. All lashes against her back to keep her crawling back to T-o-m-m-y Shelby.

Alfie inhaled and removed the man from his mind. Keeping him there would only serve to irritate him further.

"I did have another call, as well." he told her. "Just before your brother."

"From who?"

"One of my men at the races. They were turned away by order of Sabini."

"He broke his promise to you."

Alfie nodded. "He did. Before I could."

His playful smirk melted Kizzie. She couldn't help but smile too despite the terrible news. "So now what?"

He stood with great effort. "Now," he huffed out, readying himself to walk out the kitchen again. He needed a moment to collect himself. Between Sabini and Tommy, Alfie did not want to be clouded and angry in front of her. "Now we make our way to the bakery and get the day started."

"Alfie."

He stopped walking to turn back to her.

"I'm sure Tommy would let you go to the races with us if I asked him. Tell him you really want to see the horses."

"Oh," he started, unable to conceal the tug on his heart. "S'alright, little bird. Too much walking in the mud for me anyway. You go and have fun for us both."

Author's Note:

I had every intention of making this chapter longer, but I had a horrible mental health and PMDD week. Going forward, if I cannot get out a chapter once a week, I will post a message to my profile so please take a look there if I'm late getting out chapters.