The Blood War, Peaky Blinders

𝟎𝟑𝟑 Dangerous Alliances

The blood war
chapter thirty three, Dangerous Alliances
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-1924
Cheshire, England
The boys ride off into the forest outside Tommy's house to catch a stag for Good Friday. Khloè being Khloè couldn't miss a murder of anything wanted to be there. John and Tommy said no but Arthur said yes, Finn didn't get a say because no matter what he would've said Khloè would've went anyway.

Once the stag was caught, they lit a fire. Arthur and Finn were fucking about near it as John and Tommy had called them over, he sounded serious... "right, what is is?" Arthur asked. Tommy looks down at the sheet of paper in his hand and holds it up, "this letter... says that dad's dead..." he hands the letter to Arthur as Khloè looks at it, she couldn't help but feel like this was karma. "He was in Boston in a bar, called the Mickey free... two men waiting in the ally, he was shot twice..." Tommy said.

"Who's Rosie Rice?" John asked, folding the letter as Finn takes it. "Some fucking whore" Arthur sighed. "She was a woman who took the trouble to write to us... she wanted us to know during that during the night... while he was dying, he asked for our forgiveness. The only thing he ever taught us, was how to kill and cut a stag. Finn, John you don't remember... Khloè you weren't even there." "I remember, Cannock Chase, he... parked up at the pub called the griffin. Got drunk. Sang silver dagger about a hundred times" John said.

"Yeah, one weekend... one weekend he was like that..." Arthur said. "The stag is to remember him. We eat. And we forget him. No need to forgive him, agreed?" Tommy asked, "Khloè, you don't really get a vote here, there's nothing for you to forgive or forget." "That's fair" Khloè said. "John, I have to say this... you can name your new baby after him if you like-" Tommy said but John quickly snapped back, "No, fuck that" John said. "Arthur I won't even ask, nor Khloè. So his name dies, it's been in the family a long time, but now it's gone. Right, that's done. Fuck him" Tommy said, putting the letter in his pocket.

"Before we cook and eat, there's some business" Tommy said. "When isn't there with you?" Khloè asked. "Boys!" Tommy shouts, signalling the boys to come over. "But before all of that starts, Khloè, I need to ask you one question" Tommy said. "Oh Jesus" Khloè sighs, rolling her eyes. "Do you wanna come back?" Tommy asked. Khloè's head straightens up and her eyes widen. "Back? As in, back back?" Khloè asked. "Back in the company back" Tommy said. Khloè breaks into a smile but stops herself from screaming excitedly. "Yeah, I'll come back" Khloè said, trying to be humble but she was buzzing. "Welcome back, Khlo" Arthur smiled.

"You all were going up in flames without me so maybe I can bring your luck back" Khloè smirks. "Don't kid yourself Khlo" John rolls his eyes. "Fuck up you" Khloè said. "Now that that's out of the way, business. I wanted to say this out here, cause I don't trust the maids in the house... there's gonna be a robbery" Tommy said. "A robbery?" Khloè asked. "It's two hours work, a bit of grease in your cuffs, that's it" Tommy said. "Tommy, should I really be here for this?" Michael asks.

"Michael, if she's here, you're here" Tommy said, "and i've cleared it with your mother, Michael, there's no way around it. We need you to know..." Tommy said. "Who the fuck wants to buy twenty seven stolen armoured cars?" Khloè asked. "A foolish man" Tommy said. "And how much is this "foolish man" paying?" Michael asked. "One hundred and fifty thousand, cash, diamonds and sapphires. So that's twenty for you Charlie, Isiah, there's five for you... the rest we take to America to invest in legally acquired property, assets bought with untraceable income resold and the profits reinvested to make sure it's clean" Tommy said.

"And after that, I suppose, the old business will be like that stag hanging up over there, right Tom?" Arthur asked. "Not with me back Arthur" Khloè smirked. "Well, with profits on this scale we'll be in a position to stop the off-track businesses for good. Keep the pubs. stop the protection. Horses for the sport. Race days for the lark... I made a promise to Charles's mother, Milly's sister" Khloè's looked up as if she were a dog when an owner was calling their name. This was the first time in weeks Tommy had even mentioned Milly.