Illicit Affair|| Thomas Shelby

4

Lucy's pov
It's been a few days and Charlie's taken to me perfectly it seems. So has Tommy. I've hardly seen Grace. Usually off to the shops or with her other friends I don't like. They're bitches to say the least. I haven't moved in. Tristan and I are deciding still. Well...we've decided we will. We're packing and saving money to finish the months payment for the year since our lease was that long.

I finish feeding Charlie his dinner and then clean off his face chuckling at the child who whines and huffs in retaliation. "Lucy" it's Tommy. He's usually at the garrison or at the office this time of the day. I smile picking up Charlie and he coos "LuLu" my heart melts at the boy. And I answer Tommy "yes Tommy?" He replies "I have business to attend at a club in London I was wondering if you'd like to join me." What about Grace?

I say "your wife wouldn't like that Tommy." He replies "she's not in town. She had to go visit family. I'm not known to show up with no one on my arm" I reply "so I'm her place holder? And if you're out, and Grace is out of town, who's going to watch Charlie?" He comes closer "you're more than a place holder to me love. I'm inviting you to come as my date because I want you there. And Charlie will be spending the night with my aunt Polly" his beautiful eyes on me.

"What do you say eh?" He asks. I reply "Tristan won't like it. I'm in a relationship just as you are Tommy" he replies "Tristan doesn't fuckin deserve you Lucy!" I know he doesn't. I don't have a choice though but to go through with it. I ask "and you do? Tommy you're married. To my best friend at that if you haven't forgotten. I'm holding your and her son" his jaw clenches. God he's so....ugh. I shake these thoughts. It's not right. He's Grace's husband. My best friend. My sister damn near.

"Grace don't deserve ya either. You bend over backwards for her, doing what she should. But she refuses. Charlie don't even know her really. She's taking advantage. You deserve more Lucy" he says. And I reply "you're not letting this go are you?" He smirks "not at all. Come out with me love. You can even learn a bit more about my business" I point out "that's a lot of trust Tommy" playing with Charlie's hand. He says "I know. We can have a fun night love. Cmon out with me" "and Tristan? He'll be there right? It'd be weird if I show up on your arm and not his." I point out the flaw. He says "Tristan will be in Capetown when the sunrises." "He never mentioned it" I say.

He replies "just came up. Come to London with me" taking my hand and kissing the knuckles with his thick lips. I give in, finding myself not being able to say no to this captivating man "pick me up at 5" he smirks "wouldn't miss it love" taking Charlie who's happy to go with his father making me smile seeing Tommy kiss his head and play with him. He's been improving on spending time with the boy. His tantrums come and go, they've supposedly lessened when I got here, now they're a rare thing with Tommy making time for him.

He says "I'll settle him for tonight. Stay I wish to know you more Lucy" I nod and take a seat at the table after clearing it. He comes back after a bit and I huff as my lighter doesn't work. He strikes a match and I lean over lighting it taking a huff. He starts "so you and Tristan?" I ask "you want to talk to me about another man?" Raising my eyebrow. His eyes take me in. Fuck those eyes. No. Nope. Not happening. He's Grace's husband. Grace's. "Just curious" he shrugs taking the cigarette as I offer it. He stands and comes back with glasses and whiskey. "Want some love?" I nod and he pours it.

"What are you curious about?" I ask him. He says "you two as a couple doesn't make sense." Because I don't want to be with him. At all. Being with him is what keeps me alive. I point out "I could say the same thing to you about you and Grace" he says "we used to be together and happy. It used to make sense but now...hell if I know" sipping. He asks "what's your excuse love?" "I love him" I say. No I don't. I never have and never will. He chuckles "you're a shit liar"

"So maybe we're both hanging on to our relationships because we feel we have to" I shrug. He says "so we're in the same boat then" I shrug "you know she still loves you right?" He sighs smoking "where is she then? She's here but she's not here. She's constantly abandoning our son. There's nothing there for us anymore" "then leave her. Unlike me. You have that power and no one would think twice" I reply letting a bit slip. He asks "you want to leave him then?" I tell him "I'm not exactly happy" drinking more. He replies "then leave him. He comes near you again after that he'll disappear" I reply "can't"

"Can't or won't Lucy" he asks. I reply "can't" leaving it at that. He nods "what was your childhood like" I chuckle "interesting to say the least" thinking back. Missing my family now more than ever. "Was it now?" He asks a smirk on those lips of his. I nod "I was the second oldest of 5." He nods "go on" I reply "we really valued family over everything. My dad had a business. Wasnt legal. They sold coke and tobacco and whatever else. Sometimes even guns as well. Built an empire. But at the end of the day. Family was most important" he says "you're a heiress then"

I shake my head "everything and everyone is gone now. Besides...I only did the numbers and appointments" he asks "what happened if you don't mind me asking" "my sister Sarah. Young impressionable, innocent to a fault met a man. He seemed perfect enough. Loved her. Got my fathers approval. We took him in. Turns out he was a rat. And my father owed a debt to the cops on our payroll. So they turned on us. We were women in the middle of the night. And the men...god Tommy those fucking men. I watched them, not having a choice. I later felt them too. I watched them kill every last one of them. Helpless. Begging. I can still feel their blood splatter on my face. Hear their cries. My youngest brother wasn't even a teenager yet. My youngest sister younger than he was. My mother carrying another boy. And they didn't care. None of them cared. But they kept me alive." I say smoking feeling the alcohol more than ever. It making me talk more than ever.

He asks "why did they let you live? You went through that and...you're with an ex cop" I spill unable to stop "why do you think I'm with him Tommy? As long as I am. I get to breathe another day. Besides...they killed everything I was living for anyways" drinking more. Rage. It's calculated in his eyes. He says "I can set you free" I reply "good luck with that one Tommy. It'll only mean another war. I've learned to just be content enough" he says "let me get you home lovey" standing. I do the same and he grabs my arm "you alright love?" As I struggle a bit. I nod "yup" he chuckles and leads me to his car and drives me home.