𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 🍞PEAKY BLINDERS 🥖

Chapter Fifty-Two

Unedited and a little short but I had to get something out. There's a lot to unpack in this one though, so please enjoy! Next chapter is Grace's party. 

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

"It's written all over your face, little bird."

Kizzie touched her cheek. "Really?"

Today felt different. Stranger. The smell in the air was sweet as hot caramel and crisp as a winter's morning. No where in Birmingham or London smelled so nice. And Kizzie couldn't remember how she got to London.

Alfie's blue eyes etched over her face like a chisel.

"What?"

Kizzie barely had a moment to take a breath before his lips were on hers.

Tightness in her chest gathered and spread down into her stomach and thighs. She'd only been kissed once before. This one was much nicer.

But then Alfie was gone, and Kizzie stared at a concerned Ozzy.

"You alright?"

"What?"

She was laying on a restaurant booth, tucked in the corner of the room.

Ozzy held out his hand. "Hurry. Your brother is coming."

Kizzie gripped his hand and sat straight. Tommy turned the corner as Kizzie rubbed her eyes with the palm of her wrists. His sister always slept well, he made sure of it... What was going on?

"Sir."

Tommy looked over the boy and nodded. "You are dismissed, Ozzy. Please make sure no one interrupts us."

Ozzy bowed. "Sir." Then he leaves, quick as he could.

"You're tired," Tommy said, kissing her forehead. "What's the matter, lambkin?"

Did she risk being honest or dishonest?

Kizzie watched the way her brother eyed her, ready for her reply. The way his lips dipped then back up. Each purposeful blink.

"I was nervous."

Tommy takes out his cigarettes and lights one. "Nervous. Why?"

The finality in his voice was cold. He'd been in the dark about Kizzie. She sensed his own colors shudder.

"About...talking to you. About...everything."

"Kizzie--"

"There's other things to do now," She quickly said. "I know. But I'm...I'm..."

I'm worried you don't love me the same anymore.

Tommy's warm hand covered hers, splayed out on the table between them. "Kizzie. Hey, look at me."

Not a demand. A plea.

Kizzie swallowed and met his worried gaze. "I'm sorry."

"No." He tugged her fingers. "None of that, ey? You don't apologize to me, lambkin. You know that."

"Okay."

He sighed. "I should have spoken to you about Grace. I see that now."

"It was fast."

"I know."

Kizzie went to pull her hand away when Tommy stopped her. He needed her.

"You said...you said that sex was bad. I remember. I don't understand why you would hurt her like that. Was it just to have the baby?"

Every shade of blue erupted from her brother.

What a fucking fool he was. Never once, when Kizzie was a child, did Tommy believe he would be married with a son. He even forgot he told Kizzie that. That lie.

"This was different, Kizzie," he finally said.

She cocked her head like a parrot. "Different?"

"And I should have told you. Explained to you. Not all sex is bad, Kizzie." He wanted to crawl out of his skin.

"You had said she was the exception," Kizzie reminded him.

He smiled. "Aye, I did. And it's true. And with Charles--"

"I know. You're a real dad now."

Her words slapped him in the face. A hot iron to the skin. Worse than any bullet he received.

"What?"

Kizzie lifted a shoulder and pouted, unsure of her next words. Tommy would find it adorable if he wasn't ready to begin sobbing. "He came from sex. I don't know what sex is but I know it's how babies are born." A sad smile brightened her face. "You're a real dad."

He suddenly stood and crouched beside her. His blues encircled her fingers, trying to soothe the war within his body. She said something that upset him greatly, but she didn't understand what.

"You are and will always be mine, Kizzie. No child I ever have, no woman I ever marry, will change that. I've raised you and known you since you were born."

"Okay."

He shook his head, unblinking. "No. Tell me, Kizzie. Please."

"I'm your child, too."

"You are my very soul, lambkin. You are before everyone and everything in this fucking world." His hands covered her suddenly wet cheeks. Their foreheads pressed together. "Nothing will ever change that." 

Author's Note:

Also I updated my Regulus Black story, Metanoia, for anyone reading that. 🥰