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 FORTY-FOUR
"You get thinner every time I see you, boy."
"You never see me, Alfie."
The man huffed with an irritated breath. "Jealousy is unbecoming... Where is she?"
"With Arthur."
He managed a soft nod, eyes glazing over the grassy hills.
Family pooled into the backyard. The remaining siblings and Lees. Ozzy caught the back of Tommy as he made rounds, greeting everyone in Kizzie's place. Finn sat himself at the head table, next to Grace. Somewhere upstairs in the house, the baby was sleeping peacefully, watched over by his nanny.
A sweet kid. Big and chubby as could be... But Ozzy was convinced all wealthy babies were. He spent enough time with the elites growing up to see that. Tommy made it very clear that Ozzy would have no interaction with Charles. For Kizzie's sake, but Ozzy couldn't tell for sure. His friend hated how her cousin tore her away from Tommy. The last thing Ozzy (and Tommy and the household staff) needed was for her to resent any further.
Ozzy witnessed the downfall between them better than the family had. Living here meant for constant tense meals and Kizzie's venting. He understood it. Even agreed with her... If Tommy had handled everything better, she would not hate her cousin, and they would not have the Shelby family broken in two. Ozzy had no place telling Tommy how hurt she was. He knew. But it didn't ever seem like he was trying to mend the damage... A far cry from when Ozzy first met the pair. Distractions in the name of Grace and Charles. Fair and understandable, certainly, but...
Ozzy sighed. He was tired of going over this in his head. He knew today would stir up the worst of things. Kizzie was eighteen. His friend was now free (legally) to pursue her own life. And maybe this tension between her and Tommy could be the start of her own life. Away from under his thumb and this gaudy palace. Go back to the city. Continue her reading and writing lessons and whatever the fuck she wanted to do.
Arthur and Kizzie appeared over the grassy hill, arms linked with smiles.
Alfie remained seated at the round table behind Ozzy, but the man's energy dwarfed like a monstrous wave. The youngest Shelby picked it up immediately and found Ozzy in the corner, protecting Alfie from Arthur. Her smile faint but bright, brightest it's been in months.
But then came Ada and Polly, steering her to her seat. Arthur followed like a shadow at their backs, and Ozzy at his.
"You're sure this where you want to sit, Kizzie?" Polly asked, voice delicate.
Their table was near the rear, with lesser Lees around them. The grand table at the center had Tommy, Fin, and Grace. An empty chair between her and Tommy. Across the way sat John and Esme and his family.
