Mrs. Shelby (Thomas Shelby x OC)

Chapter Eight - Leverage

In September 1919, in Birmingham, Ada eloped with Sean while nobody was home, wearing her wedding dress.I received this news from the owner of the flower shop. Everyone in Birmingham knew I was from the Shelby family, but they also felt that I didn't fit in with the Shelby family - because of my Chelsea accent, because I didn't like conflicts, and because I always paid my dues. They were my informants, and they would tell me things they wouldn't dare say to other Shelbys when I "casually" chatted with them.What did Ada see in Sean? She's now like a troublesome rebellious teenager, ignorant of the hardships of life, just enjoying defying authority, and willing to give up everything for her so-called love. But what about her lover? He can't even take care of himself, let alone her and their child. What about their future? Love? Where is a future without bread?I tried to restrain my scowl and bid farewell to the flower shop owner.I walked impatiently through the streets, trying to find any trace Ada might have left behind.But I stumbled upon someone unexpected, Grace, the bartender at Garrison's.She should have stayed at the bar...I saw her tracking a man, so I changed my target and followed her cautiously.Bright golden hair, a striking red jacket. I don't know where the police found this spy, and they didn't even bother with a disguise.I muttered to myself, pushing down my black-brimmed hat.This is... Small Heath, where the Irish Republican Army hides. I hesitated whether to continue. Even their leader knows me and knows I'm from the Shelby family. But it's best not to stir up any more trouble here, for now. We don't want to fall out with the IRA just yet.But thankfully, the man disappeared in front of a shabby house. Then the female spy approached without any suspicion...I hid behind the rubble and watched them tussle. MI6 is done for, that was my first thought. A gunshot brought me back to reality. The blonde woman had killed the man she was tracking. It was almost comical how shaky she was. She couldn't even hold the gun properly, and she wanted to be a spy?But this was good leverage. After all, the Cheltenham races were coming up soon.I smirked, clapped my hands, and stepped out from my hiding place."Look, there's a frightened little kitten here."Grace pointed her gun at me in panic. "Who are you?""Why did you kill him?" I wasn't going to take off my hat here and let the Small Heath people see my face. I pretended to raise my hands and walked towards the corpse, examining the wound. It was an accidental discharge; you could tell. Her nerves were shot, and she wanted to be a spy?"But this is a good leverage." After all, the Cheltenham races were coming up soon.She hesitated. I pressed on."This is Fenian territory. They don't even like the police meddling here. Where did you come from? You know they prefer to deal with murderers themselves. What are you doing here with a gun? Waiting for them to trace the bullets on the body back to you?""I'm different. I'm a Shelby."She compromised, and we walked to a quiet corner. She handed me the gun, and I handed her my hat. Then I watched her take off her coat and put on my hat. I gave her the directions and left.I shook my black hair and looked down at the pocket watch that had fallen from her. Inside was her photo."What a fool." She had blonde hair, and I had black hair. Even if we wore the same hat, it wouldn't hide that. When she had completely disappeared from my sight, I stuck my head out to make sure no one was around, then calmly walked out, using her coat and pocket watch to soak up the blood from the body.I pretended to have just discovered the body, pinched my thigh hard enough to make myself cry, and shouted, "Dead body!""A blonde woman... she killed someone... I was just looking for my sister and happened to hear gunshots... she pushed me down and threatened me with a gun, took my hat, and ran away."I trembled, and someone helped me up from the ground. Most of the people here knew me, even the Irish Republicans. "She's a Shelby."Perfect, that's what I needed. Let them recognize me so that I can distance Garrison's from the Shelbys.The people here gave me a glass of whiskey, asked a few questions, and then let me go.Acting is exhausting.I walked through the eyes of the Fenian Club members.When I returned to the betting office, Tommy told me about Ada.I poured myself a drink and listened quietly.I really didn't want to get involved. I was afraid I would shoot Ada's bastard of a husband in anger and then have to tie her back.After he finished, I poured Tommy a drink and then took his cigarette and extinguished it."You have blood on you," he said, pointing to my skirt."Yeah." I smirked and proudly showed him my trophies - a ladies' pistol and a bloody pocket watch."Our barmaid, you know, I've never liked her, but she's a dangerous one, Tommy. She killed a man in Small Heath. It's all hers.""They're Campbell's people." Tommy looked at the things on the table thoughtfully.I nodded and sat at the edge of the table, playing with his tie. "I think so. Remember the police robbery last month? It didn't go to Garrison's. I suspect Campbell ordered it for her.""Cheltenham races must be careful of her," I warned him. "She accidentally fired today, don't push her too hard. I'm afraid she'll cause trouble.""When necessary, use the charm offensive..." I muttered quietly. It was frustrating, Miss Turner, to approve of your young prince selling his charms.He heard my last words and laughed."Today Billy Kimber told me to bring the barmaid. He praised her beauty. And now I'm just glad I didn't let Billy Kimber see you.""You should change your name, goddess of hunting." Tommy held me and kissed me. "My Athena."It seemed he wasn't satisfied from last night."At least not here, please, Tommy... I'm afraid I'll have a phobia about this table." I held my face in my hands. "There are still people outside..."Protests were in vain, but now there was an extra coat between me and the table.Tommy bought Garrison's from Arthur."Arthur isn't the only one who's depressed," I kissed Tommy's face, "my little prince has that right too."He just looked at me without saying a word.I meant it. I didn't want him to be so tired, to keep everything to himself, to treat everything as his responsibility. I wanted him to talk to me about his troubles, his anger, not just the business problems I happened to encounter. I was willing to help him, to be with him forever.Danny, the high-velocity shell, knocked on the door while I was still sleeping next to Tommy."Gosh..." I rubbed my eyes. Tommy signaled that I didn't need to get up, and he opened the door and went downstairs with Danny.I just stared at the ceiling.Every time it was like this, as long as I slept next to Tommy and he woke me up, I couldn't sleep anymore.But he came back soon.I asked him what happened, but he didn't answer, just held me. So we sat there in silence until I thought he had fallen asleep. Then he spoke."I think I should thank Finn properly for bringing you to me."Looking at those loving blue eyes, I was puzzled. "What?""The Irish initially suspected that the Peaky Blinders had killed him, but because of your intervention, they are convinced it's a police spy." He kissed me. "Danny told me that the Irish are angry, believing that the government they were negotiating peace with is a bunch of liars. And they are willing to pay a high price to anyone for the missing weapons. They'll come to Birmingham after I return from the races.""That's good news." Even though I had anticipated all this, I was still happy to see Tommy's smile, which I hadn't seen for a long time."There's another piece of news, Dani." Thomas held my face and looked into my eyes. "Your grandfather is looking for you.""Looking for me? Is the sun going to rise from the west tomorrow morning?" I scoffed.My grandfather was good to me before. But that was when my father, Lord Charles Turner, was still alive. When the Turner family's affairs became known to the whole of London, he didn't lend a hand when my uncle, who had barely escaped, begged him for help. Instead, he had me, who had barely escaped, sent back to 10 King's Road, London.I was still lying next to Tommy, and he was holding me, but we both spent a sleepless night.I slept through until Thomas came back from the races."How did it go?" Long hours of sleep made me feel dizzy, lying on the bed and not wanting to move, just lifting my head to ask him."She bit Kimber." Thomas sat beside me, playing with my hair. "Before her gun went off, I took her away.""How did you manage that?""The Irish should understand Kimber's position. She's a police officer." Thomas stroked my back. "He didn't want to go against the police, so he handed her over to me, giving me a certificate to legally manipulate the races.""It's okay. One step at a time."Our goal, of course, is more than that. Kimber's legal certificate? If that's all we need, we should have wagged our tails like puppies a long time ago, and Tommy wouldn't have let Arthur beat the Li family members to a pulp.We don't seek peace or surrender; we only seek cooperation.Since one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers.Then we'll replace Billy Kimber.