By Order Of The Peaky Blinders

Chapter Three

Tommy Shelby tapped the butt of his cigarette against his lip as he looked at her. She didn't belong. Like he didn't belong but in such different ways. She didn't belong down in the filth; she was too bright for that. Tommy had to lie and manipulate and prey on fears of curses and witchcraft just to be left alone in the filth but he never wanted that. He didn't want to be like his Da, Tommy Shelby wanted more and was destined for more, he knew it as did his Aunt Pol, she always said it.

He'd been on his way to check the horses that were going to be sold to the Lees, while they didn't get along, business was business and they paid good money for their horses.

But as he'd turned the corner into Uncle Charlie's yard a laugh had him stopping dead.

Thomas Shelby had never understood why his mother- bright, vivacious, wild and Gypsy to the core Mother had fallen for his bastard of a father, but when he'd been young, cheek smarting from the smack he got for back talking his Da, Tommy had asked her with wobbly lips and watery blue eyes.

"My boy" she had crooned, gathering him into her arms "sometimes, things just can't be explained, you just...you know, you see and you know as if you've been granted a visage from the Gods as if you've been struck by lightning."

"Why'd you wanna be struck by lightning?" Little Tommy had asked with a scrunched-up nose, distaste coating his voice.

"Oh Tommy, my wild horse, it's not the wanting, it's the fact it's gonna happen either way and then you'll never be the same" His Ma had told him with a knowing twinkle "Good or bad, there's no other after your lightning strike."

Tommy had thought Greta Jurossi was his lightning strike, they had known each other all their life but she'd gone to Italy to visit relatives for four months when she had come back well, he'd be struck dumb, she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman. He had gathered quite the crush on her, convinced she was his one. 

But thinking wasn't certainty and this, this was certainty.

He didn't know the woman, had only seen her with the horse, chatting to Uncle Charlie and Curley and he knew, knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life by her side. Tommy Shelby had been struck by lightning, left blind with his ears ringing and she was his only salvation.

Tommy Shelby wasn't the same, would never be the same and for a man that yearned for power and control, he was perfectly fine with not being in control here.

He observed her, the pretty woman in the deep blue dress, uncaring that the hem was getting dirty, her sleeves rolled up and a happy flush on pale, milk-white cheeks, red lips, full and inviting. Deep chocolate hair that he ached to run his fingers through, to see if it was as silky as it looked and long lashes framing bright brown eyes.

She was so bright in this dull world, a lightning strike against a dark sky and he felt privileged to see it, it was meant for him. She was meant for him.

But how to approach? Tommy felt his palms sweat, this was the beginning of their story, he couldn't mess this up!

"Tommy! Lad! Get over here!" Uncle Charlie yelled at him, snapping him out of his thoughts and making him fumble his cigarette.

"Uncle Charlie" he murmured moving closer and nervously tugging the brim of his cap over his eyes, peeking at the girl who was staring at him with interest. Her eyes were like the stars, he'd swear it. 

"Vi, Lass fetch the grooming gear with Curley won't ya?" Charlie requested and she moved her gaze to him, pretty cheeks flushing and Tommy desperately wanted her eyes back on him.