The Petals Thorn|| Thomas Shelby

4

Rosemarys pov
The man on the other side of the phone threatened to kidnap and torture and rape me. I didn't tell Tommy. But I know he's going to want me to. He knew everything about me. Everything. John says "small world eh?" I shrug "I guess so" he says "we never got to thank ya for Savin our lives" I reply "you don't need to." Arthur chuckles "of course we do! We wouldn't be here if not for you" Polly says "I should thank you too bringing them home" I shake my head "I just did my job" I pause hearing Tommy yelling and him hang up the phone. He comes out and says "Rosie can we speak?" I nod and John says "good luck angel" finishing off my drink.

Tommys pov
That prick threatened her! He knows everything about her. He even knows where she lives. Just because she works with and for me. She asks "yes Tommy?" "He threatened you" I state. "Tommy" she sighs. I continue "he threatened you. Made you upset. Scared." She looks away but I make her look back up at me "you will never go through that again. Not here or anywhere angel. He knows everything about you as well. That's not something to take lightly. That being said you will be with me or guarded by one of my men or brothers at all times until he is dealt with okay?" Stroking her cheek. She says "he got what he wanted from me there's no reason for it" sweet innocent Rosie.

I reply "rose. He's a dangerous man okay? I'd rather be safe than sorry" she nods "but-" I pull her into a heated kiss and she freezes and moves against me. I pull away and she blushes "we can't. You're my boss" "rose. It's fine. I don't care. Now you see how I care about you angel. Right? Well with that in mind, can you just listen to me and let me make sure you're safe and protected?" I say. She nods and I say "I would also enjoy it if you come out to dinner with me tonight" she nods "yeah" I kiss her knuckles "I won't let anyone hurt you. But know that if you're with me. And remain that way, that this life the one I lead and what I do will be unsafe. And there will be times like now where you'll need protection." She nods "okay"

I kiss her once more "I just want you honest with me Tommy. And to be your only. If this is where it's going" she tells me. I nod and tuck her hair behind her ear "I want honesty with you as well angel. You've saved my life more times than I can count and you've not said a thing. You hid that Grace threatened you too. No more" she says shyly "I didn't do what I did for attention. I just wanted to help and do some good. The title was flattering but it's not why I did it..."

I say "you helping us the way you did mostly is what caused you to have the fears you do now Rosie. Most nurses don't have that. Or have even seen battle. And you did. Because you have a good heart love. And that deserves a title. You took your oaths seriously. You saved more men than every nurse in the war ever has. You deserve to be commended and praised for it. Especially for how you stayed with every new patient you had until you were sure they'd pull through"

I got shot and they didn't think I was gonna make it. Hell they even told her to cut her losses with me. But she refused. Stayed. Patched me up. Made sure I'd make it. She did the same for John when he got hurt. Even while on the way to help others she'd warn us about enemies she saw and where. Even pushed me out the way of a bullet. I wanted to find and thank her for her service and how she saved my life. But she was pulled and put somewhere else and I lost her. I never thought I'd see her again. I knew she looked a bit familiar when I saw her the day of her interview but I didn't know from where.

She replies "I just did what I thought was right" I tell her "you've protected and saved me enough for a lifetime love. Now let me protect you. Yeah?" Stroking her cheek. She nods and flinches a bit from noise outside. I speak "it's okay, love. You're safe. Home. Yeah? It's just some patrons" she nods and sends me a smile "I should get back to work Tommy" I reply "you've already done enough angel" pointing out the work she took home. She replies "no special treatment because we are...what this is Tommy" I chuckle "driving a hard bargain" "Tommy" she sighs.

And I nod noting her slight pout "alright alright love. No special treatment" as she goes and sits at her desk pulling out more papers. So she can run and note more numbers. A knock sounds on the door "come in" I voice and it's John. He grins and says "got some lipstick on ya Tommy" I chuckle and grab a napkin wiping it off and he adds "figured I can get to know the reason I'm still breathin more" I reply "perhaps you could. Our new issue found out everything about her and threatened her. He's dangerous. If I'm not with her John. I'm entrusting you with her safety. And in that time you can get reacquainted" he looks to her "that alright with you love?" She nods "yeah" they already somewhat know one another from when we served. They got along. I tell John "get dogs on this too. You and him. If ya need a break, and to go home to your kids, have him and Charlie on it rotate if need be. But this is your main priority until that issue is dealt with" he nods "guess we're about to be best friends huh Rose" she sends him a smile writing a number "I guess so"