Starting in the Red Night

2.Our First Glance

Ball of memories floats into Darryl's head, walking straight into Small Heath. His childhood before it was stolen when he enlisted to France. His feet felt the touch of the street that he used to roam around playing as a kid, thinking about the fantasies he thought one day he would do. Unfortunately, now all he could see were the sadden faces, slowly walking though their destination, children crying of hunger, men losing the last bit of their mind wasting through bottles of alcohol. Adjusting his white hat before entering into the pub, he dropped a bag of coins around the old men. Without waiting for any further comments he stepped inside, finding his old battle mate, his right hand, Thomas Shelby.

"How was the trip, eh?"

"I promised myself not to walk into this dumpster, yet here I am."

"Whiskey?"

Darryl nodded without any further answer. Tommy slided the glass pouring liquor and lighting a cigarette, an unwritten expression, Darryl proceeded.

"It was easy t'get into 'em, um they entered the port and exited without issue. The man kept his mouth shut and he came along with 'is daughter. Her English is pretty good, a woman that can easily stand around others, and definitely can be hard to let her guard down, eh especially around the gentlemen."
"It wouldn't be too hard for people to fucking fancy you, eh, Jackson."

Darryl dragged his cigarette around his lips, with a smirked face,"By all this, why so eag'r to keep an eye on that man's precious daughter?"

A dry laugh left on Tommy's face, "stay in your ground."

"It was evident that she couldn't stand that you'd be around her family business," he teased.

Tommy lowered his face met a cold stare underneath his unreadable expression, slowly shaking his head, "Stop asking questions, and keep eh doin' your fucking job, soldier."

He observed his watch, hitting the golden needle into the minute left. He stood up, not caring, leaving Darryl at the end of the pub. Adjusting his hat, meeting the door, "eh, welcome back to Birmingham, don't forget who you're workin' for."

Nora reappeared with a black lace dress, modest but still enhancing parts of her body with her voluminous black hair decorating parts of her neck, layered around her shoulders. Still keeping her makeup modest and simple, something that her madre taught her–a lady has to keep her polish, but once you step into the ballroom, your beauty will be your best weapon. Once she finished with herself, Nora came downstairs, admiring the details of this mansion.

The warm enchanting walls, with the touch of the enormous windows, and emerald green of Nora's new room. She would be lying to herself if she didn't admit that this was beyond her expectations when she entered Birmingham. It is gleamy and soft, she is sure to have seen in a painting, but still very silent and cold for her liking. Everything seems lifeless. Plus what is this new associate's intentions towards their business, the business that was meant just for her father and herself.

"Miss, Mr. Shelby is here," one of the maids announced, waking her up from her mind.

And an icy cool blue pair of eyes meet hers, the body of a gentleman, with a devilish easiness that he pressed around the room. Ay Dios, ayúdame por favor.

The man's unwritten expression stretched his hand to her palm, "I'm Thomas Shelby."

"Mine's Leonora Madrigal," She took his gesture, without breaking her posture. "Can you please help him find my father's study?"

"Nice meeting you, hope we'll do great business together." drawing his eyebrows together, Thomas followed one the maid that received him.
Nora waited until Thomas entered the study to follow him, quietly reclining through the doorway. She had the bad habit of putting her nose where she didn't belong, but her father never let him enter his business, even if he repeated how important she is in the distillery, he always kept her out. Her only way to know was to sneak behind his back, even if she's trying to protect him.

Tommy, pleased from meeting for the first time, Leonora Madrigal, she could hide with those speared brown eyes, there's some innocence that spread to her soul. Lighting a cigarette, wondering why a man like Carlos could be desperate enough to take her daughter away.

Carlos greeted him, as both sat next to the smokestack, Tommy started "It seems your eh travel was successful. You didn't got problem enterin' Birmingham?"

"Ah no, very peaceful trip. I wasn't aware that we'll meet again so soon, Señor Shelby."

A sudden footsteps sound, cautelous and sensible through Tommy's ears. He drew a slight smirk directing his face through Carlos, it was evident that he hadn't figured that his daughter, Leonora, was hidden listening to their conversation. Furrowed his brows together," I had the pleasure to introduce to your eh daughter, Leonora, was it?"

Carlos took a drag from his cigar, "you did?"

He nodded, "beautiful, I must say. I have und'r the impression that she's not pleased with temporarily settling in here. Does she know the full extent of this agreement?"

"I... was waiting for us to, for you to have any assurement that our relationship would still be ongoing, Mr. Shelby."